And then he froze.
"My home is like a great tree with deep roots and lush leaves. Grandpa Third is the trunk. Sometimes balancing what's inside, sometimes supplying nutrients. Father is the branches and leaves. Sometimes keeping us warm, sometimes shielding us from wind and rain. Though they are old and weak, though eaten through by worms, they still drive the roots deep into the soil, supporting and protecting the whole family and its fruits. We are the fruits. Our birth brings joy to the family, and often we enjoy the nourishment, often someone shelters us. But we forget who gives us nutrients, and who shields us from wind and rain. I have been too high above it all. Maybe when I fall, get eaten, and am thrown to the ground, As a seed, taking root and sprouting, I will understand."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was tired of adults' flowery praise and children's blind admiration. Yet this piece, without fancy words, fit the Will of Fire perfectly and even hinted at the conflict between clans and the village, sincere and gentle in its childlike voice.
Especially the last three lines pierced straight into his heart, making his weary body feel warm. The clans only taught children to protect clan interests, never to see themselves as part of Konoha, and those children only saw the branches above, never the one supporting the entire tree and all its fruit.
Without doubt, this was a child who could rise above clan limits, look to all of Konoha, and inherit a pure Will of Fire. If anyone dared say Yunchuan Hyuga was a bad child, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have smashed their head in on the spot.
But now, this child was…
Watching the figure collapse onto the operating table, the complicated feelings he held for Orochimaru quietly vanished, veins standing out on his aged face. He glared at Orochimaru in fury.
"Orochimaru! What are you doing!" "What have you done?!"
Seeing how truly enraged Hiruzen Sarutobi was, Orochimaru's heart skipped a beat. He had never expected such anger, since by his understanding of his increasingly indecisive teacher, even if the experiments were exposed, there was still a strong chance he could escape Konoha.
But now, why was it like this?
Before Orochimaru could think of Yunchuan Hyuga, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already formed hand seals in rage.
Boar, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, Goat.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Bang!
With a burst of white smoke, a massive monkey wearing a fur coat and a Konoha forehead protector appeared beside Hiruzen Sarutobi. The monkey instinctively spoke.
"Hiruzen, is there trouble?" But when he looked up and saw Orochimaru, he froze. "This…"
"Enma!" Hiruzen Sarutobi roared, cutting him off.
With another puff of smoke, Enma transformed into a thick staff. Using Enma right away made Orochimaru's expression sink.
He had no time to wonder why the old man's anger was so great, or why his white snakes had given no warning. If he hesitated any longer, he might truly die here.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
A roaring gale filled with cutting wind blades burst from Orochimaru's mouth, the pressure warping the air itself. Bottles and jars shattered instantly, flying toward Hiruzen Sarutobi and blocking the two ANBU's view.
Even now, Orochimaru still wanted to take Yunchuan Hyuga with him. But Hiruzen Sarutobi did not even look, extending the staff and smashing it down toward Orochimaru.
Pfft!
Already drained from organ transplant surgery, Orochimaru was sent flying by the blow as he reached for Yunchuan Hyuga, vomiting thick blood mixed with fragments of organs in midair. He glared down at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had already used Body Flicker to appear beside Yunchuan Hyuga, and knew he could not take the boy this time.
Realizing that, he forced himself to calm down despite his unwillingness. Using the momentum, he quickly formed seals.
"Earth Style: Underground Projection!"
His feet touched the ceiling, solid stone turning fluid as his body dove into it like a fish into water.
"Third-sama!" The two ANBU stepped forward, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's cold profile.
Hiruzen Sarutobi withdrew his gaze, his anger easing slightly, and looked at Yunchuan Hyuga. "Take this child for treatment immediately. His life must be saved."
"Yes." Without questions, the two nodded, lifted Yunchuan Hyuga, and vanished in an instant.
Meanwhile, underground, Orochimaru clutched his chest, his face deathly pale. His chakra was nearly exhausted, and even at full strength he could not have defeated Hiruzen Sarutobi.
All he could do now was escape Konoha with everything he had. Yunchuan Hyuga would have to remain there for now, alive, and kept secret until later plans could be made.
Thinking of this filled him with deep frustration. How had everything suddenly slipped out of control?
It was that damned brat. But was all of this really done by him?
Had that child spent years plotting against him, even pulling the old man into it, with everything today within his plan? He was only fifteen. Could he really be a monster?
Lost in thought, Orochimaru burst out of the ground and came face to face with a figure. An ANBU mask, a short blade on the back, and distinctive silver hair.
Kakashi Hatake.
"Raikiri!"
Without a word, Kakashi charged, and Orochimaru almost laughed in anger. Were these brats all so overconfident?
Just as killing intent rose, a faint sound reached his ears. Tss.
"What is this…"
He looked down to see a black cat dart past, then turn its head to look at him once. On that feline face was a mocking expression.
Most importantly, that white eye.
"Byakugan?!"
His pupils shrank sharply. Before he could react, the explosion erupted.
Boom!
Multiple detonating tags went off at once, shattering the silent night as the entire base was torn apart by terrifying force. The ground collapsed in cracks, and flesh and blood scattered through the blast like rain.
At the same time, in the opposite direction, two ANBU leaping through the trees halted when they felt the distant shockwave. "Was that Third-sama…" they murmured, unable to hide their fear.
They did not see the faint smile on Yunchuan Hyuga's face in their arms.
"So you still held back," he laughed inwardly. "I hope Orochimaru likes my final gift."
He had never expected Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger to truly kill Orochimaru. Emotional bonds could not outweigh decades of master and student ties, and once calm returned, regret might follow.
It did not matter. What Yunchuan Hyuga wanted was to clear suspicion, and whether Orochimaru lived or died was irrelevant.
Besides, a useful piece like Orochimaru was not easy to find. Dying before being fully drained would almost be a shame.
With that thought, Yunchuan Hyuga glanced at the sky. It was already five in the morning, and dawn glow painted the horizon.
The sun is always both sunset and sunrise. When it seems to fade as it goes down the mountain, it is burning its way up the other side.
"Next comes the Tenseigan," Yunchuan Hyuga thought with a quiet smile.
The Hyuga Clan, the Caged Bird. What is empty becomes real, what is real becomes empty. The strong appear weak, and the weak appear strong.
From today on, offense and defense have changed places.