The Lone Bird and the Star

Huayue was truly at a loss for words when faced with this disgusting teacher who had no concept of personal boundaries, especially when the man had chosen to approach him disguised as a woman.

"Did it fail? This face clearly tricked the previous Eight-Tails Jinchuriki into losing control before. Or do you prefer women who are a little younger, Lord Huayue?"

The skin peeled away, revealing Orochimaru's sharp, cold-featured face. His vivid red lips had returned to their usual thin lavender color, while the smile at the corners of his mouth was full of curiosity.

"Just how did you please the White Snake Sage to leave Ryūchi Cave—the place only madmen would visit, where countless people seek the power of the sage caves—unscathed?"

"Could it be that you obtained the power I have always wished to master? The power of a sage?"

Under Orochimaru's curious gaze, Huayue merely smiled without answering. After a long silence, he finally asked a meaningful question.

"My, my. Wasn't Orochimaru-sensei's dream to learn every jutsu in the world? By the way, the Sage Modes mastered by the Three Great Training Holy Lands are all quite different."

"A human life has limits. Even if one spent an entire lifetime studying, it would only amount to a century. Even if one learned one forbidden jutsu each month, one could only master twelve hundred forbidden jutsu in a lifetime."

"Not to mention all the ninjutsu, Secret Jutsu, forbidden jutsu, and so on that have vanished over the long course of history. Anyone with eyes can see what your true goal is."

The wind howled as the immobilizing Genjutsu slowly lifted. Orochimaru stared deeply at the young man propping his cheek in one hand, someone who never seemed to tire and never revealed a flaw.

A trace of excitement appeared in his snake-like vertical pupils, a rare expression born from those all-seeing eyes that did not exist among the foolish masses.

This was someone who truly understood him, someone walking a path similar to his own—a disciple he had always regarded highly, yet whose depths he had never been able to fathom.

"Then..."

"Don't misunderstand. Just as you cannot die for the village, I have no interest in becoming a stepping stone on someone else's path to immortality."

"Enough idle chatter between teacher and student. What exactly did you come to see me for?"

Cold and merciless, leaving no room for compromise—an outstanding disciple even more like a cold-blooded animal than himself. Orochimaru gathered his thoughts and slowly spoke.

"Konoha's current defensive strength is severely lacking. The village—Sarutobi-sensei... Lord Third Hokage has assigned you a mission: hold Ōnoki back."

This time, it was Huayue's turn for his mouth to twitch. So the Third Hokage had really awakened the Mangekyō, sending him to deal with the prototype of the Imperial Release: Nine Clans Severance Technique. Very impressive, Third Hokage.

"Ōnoki of Both Scales, wielder of the Kekkei Tōta, Dust Release? Should I be grateful for Lord Third Hokage's faith in me, or should I pray to the gods that I do not encounter him?"

"Hehehe. My most prized disciple, with the power you keep so deeply hidden, even if he is the Third Tsuchikage, you are not without a chance. I have faith in your strength beyond imagination."

For once, Orochimaru did not leave by means of a giant snake. It was as though he had merely come to see how Huayue had escaped the White Snake Sage's grasp, while passing along the village's mission.

Has the Tsuchikage joined the war? That means, as the war between Konoha and the Land of Earth draws to a close, the Third Great Ninja War is also entering its final stage...

The malice that had been fixed so tightly on Obito has also vanished without a trace. As expected, he has already made his preparations and chosen an heir to his will.

The night rain fell in silence, and dim starlight pierced through the clouds and mist.

At the same time, in another important location at the center of Konoha, within the Hyuga Main House's residence.

Members of the Hyuga Main House and Branch House had gathered together, every face grim. Facing those accusing gazes, the Branch House members remained silent.

"Why are the Main House and Branch House divided? They are divided to prevent the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai from falling into outsiders' hands. But what has happened now?"

"You Branch House people have utterly failed in your duty, allowing the Main House's Kekkei Genkai, the Byakugan, to fall into Kirigakure's hands!"

Seated in the center, Hyuga De'en, an elder of the Hyuga Clan, spoke in a grave tone. The many Main House members looked on with questioning gazes.

"Wait, Hyuga Menfeng acted recklessly and made his own decisions. He even caused quite a few clansmen to die on the battlefield..."

The elder slammed his hand against the floor and turned to rebuke them.

"Silence! No matter what, your Branch House bears responsibility for this. Why did you not keep watch over him, allowing the Byakugan to fall into Kirigakure's hands?"

The members of the Hyuga Branch House dared to rage but not speak, and could only turn pleading looks toward their current head, Hizashi Hyuga.

"Hyuga Menfeng brought his death upon himself. The seven Branch House clansmen responsible for protecting him all died in battle. The Byakugan was lost because he himself failed to fulfill his duty as a Main House member."

"Anything can happen on the battlefield. Were the entire Branch House supposed to protect him together, ignoring the missions assigned by Lord Third Hokage?"

Hizashi Hyuga argued reasonably, but what he received in return were the elder's cold, merciless words.

"If that lost Byakugan can be recovered, then even if all of you die, it would be worth it. That is the Branch House's duty: to protect the precious Kekkei Genkai!"

Their suppressed dissatisfaction and hatred could only accumulate in their hearts. The Curse Mark engraved upon their foreheads, sealing away freedom and light, faintly throbbed with pain, yet they did not dare reveal even the slightest hint of it.

"Since things have come to this, this old man can only ask Lord Hokage and the experts of each clan to kill that detestable Mist Jonin Ao and reclaim the precious Byakugan."

"You Branch House clansmen, remember this. In the coming war, no matter what happens, a second Byakugan must not be lost, even if the entire Hyuga Branch House must stake their lives..."

The discussion ended on an unhappy note. The current head of the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Hiashi, looked toward the brother born only moments after him, whose talent was nearly equal to his own, and fell silent.

After everyone dispersed, the gathering place of the Hyuga Branch House was filled with people whose eyes were red with rage and whose faces twisted in fury. Seven members of their Branch House had died in that battle, along with an underage youth. Did that not deserve mourning?

Just for one Main House member who had acted rashly and sought his own death, it did not matter if their entire Branch House died?

In that silent atmosphere, no one could speak for a long while. Hizashi Hyuga remained silent until everyone had left, then wandered the streets alone without purpose.

At some point, on a training ground used for drills at the edge of Konoha, Hizashi slowly raised his head and looked at the figure in black clothes and a black cloak, a figure utterly devoid of presence. His brows furrowed tightly.

"What do you want to become?"

The figure turned its head. The Three-Eyed Demon Fox, woven from red and white, was like a wandering ghost of Konoha, drifting aimlessly.

"What do I want to become?"

"A lone bird with broken wings, imprisoned in a cage? Or a star that tears open the night with fangs and blood, burning with bloody fire?"

"What do you want to become?"