Chapter 172: Releasing the Caged Bird, Tobirama's 'Medicine' to Save a Life: Uzumaki Shio
Inside Kirigakure's Internal Affairs Department.
Kimimaro's whisper drifted gently into Kisame's ears.
Though low in volume, it sent wave after wave of shock through Kisame's heart.
Was he alright?
How could he possibly be alright!
The moment he first returned to Kirigakure, Kisame had been excited.
He was eager to see the changes in the village after over a year under the Third Mizukage's governance.
After all, Madara Uchiha had painted a grand picture for him.
But just a few days after returning to the village, Kisame noticed something was wrong.
Unlike Guy, who called himself Konoha's Noble Green Beast, he truly had the blood of a ferocious beast flowing in his veins; he possessed the bloodline of the shark-men.
Because of this, he possessed a special intuition in certain regards.
From the numb faces of the Kirigakure shinobi, he could smell the foul stench of an unlivable environment...
At first, Kisame tried to console himself, thinking it might just be necessary growing pains.
But later, wanting to understand the village better, Kisame, through Kimimaro's maneuvering, joined the Kirigakure Internal Affairs Department, which was responsible for internal purges.
Kisame originally thought that perhaps his vision and perspective were too narrow to comprehend the grand designs of the Third Mizukage and Lord Genji, and he was merely blinded by the suffering in front of him.
He worked in the Internal Affairs Department with an incredibly full work ethic.
But over these three months, his stress had increased exponentially, and his mental state had become increasingly unstable.
Killing one person—you could say that person was born evil.
Killing ten people—you could say it was a clique, an interconnected opposition force.
But killing hundreds?
These people were scattered across the major shinobi clans of Kirigakure, with no collusion between them.
The old grudges between the remnants of Gengetsu Hozuki's faction and the Third Mizukage were also constantly being dug up.
Some were Kekkei Genkai shinobi, some had merely voiced slight dissatisfaction with the Bloody Mist policy, and some were simply implicated in the private vendettas of shinobi clans.
Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that the vast majority of these people still remained loyal to Kirigakure at heart.
The problem was that the Village of the Bloody Mist was intensifying, and the situation had slipped from the Third Mizukage's control.
The Kaguya clan, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and the major Kekkei Genkai clans all harbored their own ulterior motives, using the policy as a pretext to crush each other and eliminate dissidents.
Moreover, a group of shinobi had suffered mental breakdowns under the high pressure. Their actions became increasingly brutal and crazed, turning the Village of the Bloody Mist into a deteriorating vicious cycle.
Recently, Kisame had executed a group of Kirigakure shinobi who had rebelled against the Third Mizukage.
And what shocked him was...
This group of Kirigakure shinobi actually had ties to Konoha!
They were the very ones rescued by Konoha from Kusagakure.
The reason for their execution was: being weak enough to be captured damaged Kirigakure's reputation in the shinobi world!
The Shinobi Code of Conduct also dictated that it was normal for shinobi who failed missions to be executed.
But among their charges was an eye-catching one:
"Praising the weak Konoha and belittling our own village; they are unforgivable spies!"
A major reason Kisame and the others had gone to Konoha was that the Kirigakure shinobi previously sent to receive these prisoners had been killed, so they went as the second echelon.
And these Kirigakure shinobi, having stayed in Konoha for three or four months, had experienced some of the ways Konoha was different, even under strict supervision.
Shinobi are highly observant.
The problem was, they didn't have Madara Uchiha disguised as Genji to warn them not to speak carelessly. Under the high-pressure environment of the Bloody Mist, it was inevitable that they would draw comparisons in their minds.
When being a prisoner in Konoha was more comfortable than being a shinobi in Kirigakure!
Such words were clearly exceptionally grating to the Third Mizukage.
They had to be disposed of!
"What did those shinobi say wrong? Konoha is exactly as they described, and what they said wasn't even the whole picture; it only scratched the surface..."
Kisame ignored Kimimaro, turning his palms up and staring unblinkingly with his small eyes at his hands, as if he could still see the blood on them.
"As a Kirigakure shinobi, yet forced to kill my own comrades from the same village."
"It makes me feel that my existence is utterly meaningless, like a walking corpse immersed in falsehood, worse even than the fish in the ocean."
"Fish don't easily cannibalize each other, and they huddle together for warmth against the biting cold currents."
"As a shinobi, living brings me pain. Where exactly can I find a place with only truth and inner peace..."
Kisame spoke in a calm tone, but his body involuntarily trembled continuously.
Watching Kisame's reaction, Kimimaro smiled faintly.
"Just as Great-Uncle Tenzo predicted..."
"For stubborn, principled shinobi, you can't give them the chance to gradually adapt to the environment. You have to let Kisame confront the bloodiest side of Kirigakure right when he's still fresh from Konoha..."
"He really couldn't handle it!"
Kimimaro spoke softly: "What did you think of the place we stayed at before?"
"You mean..." Kisame suddenly turned around, but then shook his head: "That's fake too!"
Kimimaro smiled silently and gestured for Kisame to follow him into the breakroom of the Internal Affairs Department.
Kisame hesitated slightly.
He had already lost trust in most of his Kirigakure comrades.
But Kimimaro, Mei Terumi, and Yuki were different, after all. The four of them had lived under the same roof in Konoha and spent what could be described as a rather relaxing and enjoyable period of time together.
Stepping into the secret room, Kimimaro jutted his chin: "Can you use Water Release to secure the room?"
Kisame sighed and methodically formed hand seals.
A compressed, thick wall of water sealed the breakroom seamlessly, ensuring no sound could escape.
A complex look flashed across Kisame's heart.
In the past, he actually didn't possess such refined Water Release techniques. He had always relied on his massive chakra reserves and his special chakra-devouring constitution to brute-force his way through.
"I learned this from an old man named Kosuke Maruboshi while I was in Konoha. Even though he's just a Genin..."
"But he's really strong, and very warm-hearted," Kisame said softly to Kimimaro after the surroundings were soundproofed, his mindset relaxing somewhat.
"Genin or not, he's actually a Konoha Commissioner, a shinobi who received personal instruction from the Second Hokage."
Kimimaro shrugged.
Under Tenzo Hyuga's tutelage, he was already an "expert on Konoha."
He knew far more about the key figures and history of Konoha than he did about Kirigakure.
"Is that so?" Kisame felt a heaviness in his heart.
He thought again of the Ninja Academy in Konoha...
Compared to Kirigakure's deathmatch graduation method, Konoha's Ninja Academy was a paradise so perfect it would be hard to construct even in a genjutsu.
Kisame highly doubted if Kirigakure's genjutsu shinobi could even imagine such a scene.
"Kimimaro, don't you know that Konoha is also a facade?"
Kisame stared directly at the companion he still barely acknowledged in his heart: "Lord Genji said that Konoha's prosperity comes from excessively overdrawing their potential, and it's fundamentally unsustainable in the long run!"
"Even though I despise him, I have to admit his analysis makes sense."
After all, Kisame hadn't read many books, nor had he seen much of the world.
Madara Uchiha's rhetoric was highly deceptive to him.
After all, most shinobi found it difficult to grasp the relationship between supernatural commodities and the mundane economy, and they certainly didn't have access to the ins and outs of the 'Sovereign Sage Pill' project.
"Where is the sense in it?"
Kimimaro chuckled lightly, his tone smooth: "Let me ask you first, you must have also heard the recent intelligence in the village regarding Konoha's weakness, right?"
Kisame nodded with an ugly expression: "They're exaggerating it too much, making it sound like Konoha is on the verge of collapse!"
Although Kirigakure was in a state of closed-door isolation, a certain number of merchant caravans still arrived.
This was specially permitted by the Third Mizukage.
On one hand, to obtain intelligence on other hidden villages from Konoha, and on the other hand, to obtain information from a different perspective through the caravans. Only by cross-referencing the two could he ensure he wouldn't fall into an information echo chamber.
The Third Mizukage's measures were not flawed.
He was, after all, a Kage.
He understood the danger of relying solely on Konoha for intelligence.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi was a pushover who was easily bullied, there was still Danzo Shimura.
Konoha wouldn't necessarily pass all true intelligence to Kirigakure, so corroboration from other sources was needed.
But the problem was, the source the Third Mizukage used to corroborate Konoha's intelligence was, in a sense, also a former Konoha shinobi: a man named Madara Uchiha.
Thanks to the hard work of Madara and A-Huo, an elite group of highly capable intelligence White Zetsu temporarily abandoned a portion of their surveillance work in the shinobi world to play the role of merchant caravans arriving in Kirigakure.
It could be described as a man-made "Infinite Tsukuyomi"!
And the information they leaked cleverly misled the judgments of the Third Mizukage, Genji, and the others, trapping them at the crossroads of interpreting a single event in two different ways.
"Konoha is indeed very prosperous now, but there are always shinobi who worry it won't last..."
"Oh my, there are so many Hyuga branch family members active in the village, but you never see the Main Family!"
"The Uchiha clan is so fierce, and they're not just in the Police Force anymore; they've come out to take on missions..."
"The service attitude of Konoha shinobi nowadays is really terrible. If they fail a mission, they just pay a fine. They don't even punish those derelict shinobi, and the Hokage doesn't care!"
These details, which allowed one to 'see the big picture from small clues,' gradually coalesced into a tangible net in the minds of the Third Mizukage and Genji, carrying their line of thought wildly forward...
Conclusion: Konoha's higher-ups have completely lost control over their shinobi!
As a result, the Third Mizukage and Genji became even more emboldened.
No matter how great the internal pressure was, military victory and plunder could easily resolve these sharp contradictions, perfectly proving that the Bloody Mist measures were correct!
First, fiercely suppress those disobedient shinobi, then use the loyal forces to bite off a juicy piece of Konoha to replenish themselves.
This back-and-forth would not only make the various factions in the village obedient but also yield a profit.
"Do you know why Genji and the Third Mizukage are spreading that propaganda?"
Kimimaro said slowly: "Naturally, it's to keep Kirigakure's Bloody Mist going! If Konoha is developing well, how could Kirigakure, which is essentially doing the exact opposite, possibly maintain its footing?"
"Also, what you said about Konoha's policies being unsustainable—you were deceived by Genji about that as well."
Kisame's small eyes instantly widened!
It wasn't that he was shocked at feeling deceived, but rather, a massive voice suddenly sprang up from the bottom of his heart:
There is still hope in the shinobi world!
If Konoha wasn't a facade, then a village where people could work with peace of mind truly existed!
Seeing Kisame's expression, Kimimaro couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
He had never used words to make another shinobi panic like this before...
Let alone a genius like Kisame.
In the past, other shinobi only felt wary upon seeing his Macabre Bone Pulse.
"Is this what it feels like to use your brain?"
Kimimaro took a moment to savor the feeling, then spoke slowly: "Listen closely. Next, I am going to show you the operational logic of Konoha's economy and welfare system!"
Kisame stared at Kimimaro in disbelief.
Wait...
What was with this research-shinobi-like tone?
Was this still the Kaguya clan!
"Let me tell you, this is how Konoha and Lord Hokage operate..."
Kimimaro recalled the words of his Great-Uncle Tenzo. This was a model essay he had read and recited thoroughly.
Starting from how the "Sovereign Sage Pill" displaced the stagnant wealth of the nobility, the necessity of a "small but beautiful" industry...
Then to the establishment of the shinobi welfare system, the practical manifestation of the Will of Fire, Hiruzen Sarutobi's status as Grand General and his reconciliation and binding with the nobility, the establishment of scientific research projects, the orphanage, and other invisible measures...
Item by item, piece by piece, this was the result of Tenzo Hyuga working day and night for half a year to cram into Kimimaro.
When Kimimaro finally mastered it, Tenzo sighed with profound gratification: "Actually, Kimimaro is quite talented, definitely better than Hiashi. That bastard is nowhere near Hizashi. I still had to sell my old face to beg Lord Hokage to find him a job..."
"I didn't help Hizashi much either..."
"But Kimimaro can be called my most perfect masterpiece!"
Kisame listened with rapt attention.
Whenever he encountered something he didn't understand, he straightforwardly interrupted Kimimaro to ask, seeming unable to tolerate even the slightest deception or selective wording.
But Kimimaro answered fluently with complete composure.
Tenzo had prepared the standard answers for him long ago; these were all expected test questions.
Finally.
Kisame exhaled a long breath of stale air, feeling like he wanted to cry.
Thank goodness...
Even though he wasn't a Konoha shinobi, the shinobi world at least possessed a village that treated people with genuine sincerity, not completely immersed in damn falsehoods.
And as a Kirigakure exchange student, compared to his other comrades, he had been very fortunate to experience that for a year.
It was pretty good...
"Kimimaro, what do you want me to do?"
"You understand Konoha so well, you must have seen through Kirigakure's hypocrisy long ago, right? Why didn't you tell me sooner!" Kisame said with a hint of anger.
"Because we are brothers."
Kimimaro looked straight at Kisame: "If I didn't let you see this bloodiness, you might have gradually adapted to it, just like some hardy fish can adapt to different water temperatures..."
"Only a sharp blow to the head could awaken you from your illusions."
"If my actions hurt you, I'm sorry..." Kimimaro bowed to Kisame as he spoke.
This completely threw Kisame off.
A Kaguya clan member bowing and apologizing?
It wasn't that he was ignorant, but he had truly never seen this model in his entire life!
"Don't..."
Kisame hurriedly helped Kimimaro up: "I—I know your intentions were good! If you didn't treat me as a brother, you wouldn't have risked coming to the Internal Affairs Department to tell me this."
"I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you, sorry."
A simple and sincere apology appeared on Kisame's face.
Kimimaro smiled inwardly, slowly standing up, his face full of helplessness.
Just as Great-Uncle Tenzo predicted, this guy was an honest man; speaking straightforwardly was the ultimate killer move.
As for why Tenzo knew Kisame's personality...
It was because the large influx of Hyuga clan members into the Anbu allowed them to easily obtain intelligence on anyone in the village, naturally under the Hokage's approval.
Tenzo Hyuga had obtained the special privilege from Hiruzen Sarutobi to monitor Kisame, dissecting his personality profile from his words, actions, and every move, creating a tailor-made plan.
However, this wasn't instructed by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Tenzo Hyuga simply wanted to produce results too badly!
After all, his son Hizashi was doing so well as a branch family member.
As the clan head and father, if he didn't produce any results, even with the title of Konoha Commissioner, he really wouldn't be able to hold his head high.
"So what should we do?"
"The village is terrible. Both the Third Mizukage and Genji are rotten to the core!"
"Are you thinking of defecting?" Kisame sighed: "I understand you. If you defect, you can take me with you."
However, surprisingly, Kimimaro shook his head.
"No..."
"Or rather, I originally intended to defect, but now I've changed my mind."
"Kisame, do you know my identity?" Kimimaro asked softly.
Kisame looked at him in confusion: "The strongest genius of the Kaguya clan in thirty years?"
"Sort of."
Kimimaro nodded unceremoniously: "Actually, at first, I didn't care much about the so-called village or clan. I just wanted to kill people to prove my existence..."
"Because of the Kaguya bloodline, and also because I have a severe Kekkei Genkai illness."
"People who subconsciously know they won't live long can't think far ahead."
"But after Lord Hokage's fireside chat, I became interested in Konoha. I talked with Great-Uncle Tenzo many times, and he discovered the problem with my body."
"Great-Uncle Tenzo not only brought out the Hyuga clan's treasured secret techniques, using Gentle Fist to heal my injuries, but also used his authority as a Konoha Commissioner to apply for treatment for me."
"I'm much stronger now than before!"
Kimimaro stared at Kisame: "So, do you understand? I am a Kaguya, but more importantly, a Kaguya closely affiliated with Konoha's noble Hyuga clan."
"The Hyuga clan has two Konoha Commissioners. One is Great-Uncle Tenzo, the Hokage's advisor."
"The other is Brother Hizashi..."
At the mention of this name, the previously proud Kimimaro unconsciously lowered his tone, speaking with a hint of awe: "He is Lord Hokage's right-hand man, his most trusted person!"
Whether it was the degree of trust from the Hokage, or the aspect of martial prowess...
Before Kimimaro left Konoha, Hizashi's surgery had already been completed.
Kimimaro had seen how this Brother Hizashi transformed his arm into a crossbow, using Storm Release compressed to the extreme to kill an enemy spy from a thousand meters away.
Although the Macabre Bone Pulse's defense and regenerative abilities were astonishing, Kimimaro thought about it for a long time and still felt that if he ever faced off against Hizashi, there was a very high probability he would be used as a living target and forcefully shot into a hedgehog.
To put it bluntly, if he truly angered Hizashi, even if Hizashi broke the rules and killed him directly, Kimimaro felt Lord Hokage wouldn't say a word.
"You've been secretly connected with Konoha all along?"
Kisame frowned deeply.
"Of course..."
"Because I saw the truth of Kirigakure long ago. If you, like me, had two relatives who were Konoha Commissioners explaining your confusions to you, would you still be blindly loyal to Kirigakure?"
Kimimaro said righteously.
Kisame fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
He wouldn't either.
He was honest, but not stupid.
Kirigakure didn't even treat him like a human; why should he be loyal to the Third Mizukage and Genji?
"Since you're not defecting, what do you want to do?" Kisame asked, puzzled again.
"I want to let all Kirigakure shinobi live a life like Konoha shinobi." Kimimaro's eyes brightened, ambition and ideals flashing within them.
"I can run away, but what about the others?"
"Moreover..."
"If we just join Konoha like this, our strength is decent, to be sure. But the Konoha shinobi's ancestors paid the blood tax for generations to achieve those perfect guarantees. We haven't."
"If we're going to do this, let's do something big! We are still young; we must have ambition!"
Kisame's expression lifted: "Keep going!"
"Kisame, do you know why the Bloody Mist is so terrifying?"
"Because it is the oppression of the individual by organized violence. The collective punishment of the Bloody Mist makes everyone fear for themselves. And the naturally aggressive and competitive nature of the village makes everyone lack trust in this extreme environment, allowing them to be defeated one by one."
Kimimaro continued reciting Tenzo's key points: "But we are different."
"You and I have the shared experience of living in Konoha, along with Mei Terumi and Yuki. Building an alliance with the four of us as a foundation of trust is enough to withstand the storms of the Bloody Mist."
Kimimaro wasn't intending to challenge the Third Mizukage openly.
He intended to form a secret, impenetrable small alliance within Kirigakure.
"After all, the Kaguya clan controls the Internal Affairs Department, making it the shinobi clan with the most overt power in Kirigakure right now. Combined with the connections of the Ice Release clan, Mei Terumi's family, and you, a candidate for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen..."
"As long as we stick together, we have enough authority and resources to save a group of people from the Third Mizukage's grasp and absorb them into our organization."
Kisame frowned and asked, "The idea is good, but although the Third Mizukage is brutal, he won't fail to notice."
"I will give him a pledge of loyalty." Kimimaro revealed a cold smile: "You know, some people in the Kaguya clan are born with brains ruined by combat desire. They have been blinded by the authority of the Internal Affairs Department and are showing signs of wanting to take over Kirigakure."
"There is no room to win over these clan members, nor can they be reformed."
"I will instigate them to rebel, then kill them, and turn around and report it to the Third Mizukage to prove my supreme loyalty to him!"
Kisame looked at Kimimaro with great shock.
Wasn't this still killing their own people?
But thinking about it carefully, he felt the situation was different, because the Kaguya clan's situation was indeed too unique.
There was a handful of Kaguya clan members who were so hyper-aggressive they hardly seemed human. They purely enjoyed destruction and slaughter, not the thrill of combat.
They couldn't be reformed!
Rather than letting them disrupt Kimimaro's rhythm, it was better to put trash to good use and use them to deceive the Third Mizukage.
"You..."
"Did Commissioner Tenzo teach you this too?" Kisame couldn't help but ask.
"No, I thought of this myself." Kimimaro smiled proudly: "Great-Uncle Tenzo is still too kind-hearted. The methods he thought of for me would take effect too slowly. I need to combine his wisdom with the current situation of Kirigakure and the Kaguya..."
Kisame pondered for a long time, increasingly feeling that this plan was feasible.
With Kimimaro as the core, sacrificing a portion of the Kaguya clan members as capital, and connecting the power of Ice Release, Kaguya, Mei Terumi, and himself, they could become the Third Mizukage's 'confidants' and rescue some innocent comrades.
This was clearly more meaningful than defecting.
"And after that? We can't just keep making do forever. Kirigakure must change!" Kisame said in a deep voice.
"With the Third Mizukage and Genji's methods, Kirigakure's internal pressure will only grow greater. Within two years, they will definitely use a foreign war as an excuse to dissipate the contradictions."
Kimimaro said slowly: "Their current propaganda states that the Bloody Mist can cultivate powerful shinobi, so they will absolutely need a war to prove it."
"Do you think Kirigakure can defeat Konoha?"
Kisame instinctively shook his head.
Just Seisui and Minato Namikaze together would be enough to overwhelm Kirigakure's younger generation.
Not to mention the shinobi of other age groups.
Thinking of this, Kimimaro also sighed deeply.
He was very curious where Genji and the Third Mizukage got their information from.
To actually believe that Lord Hokage had lost control of Konoha?
This intelligence capability was simply too poor!
Kimimaro felt that even before he learned some culture, he wasn't this incompetent. He could only say that these two insects truly deserved to be swept into the garbage bin of history.
"We must be clear: even if we can form a team, we cannot openly rebel against the Third Mizukage."
"When the war starts, we let the radicals go fight Konoha, while we accumulate strength on the sidelines. I will get in touch with Great-Uncle Tenzo when the time comes."
"Then, coordinating from inside and outside, we will eliminate the traitorous Third Mizukage for the Land of Water!"
"From then on, Kirigakure will enter our era!"
Kimimaro said sonorously, "I will have Great-Uncle Tenzo plead our case, allowing Konoha and Kirigakure to reach a deep cooperation, forming a tight and inseparable community of shared interests."
Next, Kimimaro detailed the specific plan.
It was roughly the same as what Hiruzen Sarutobi had discussed with Hanzo.
Starting with the Sovereign Sage Pill, first appeasing the nobility, then providing work relief, step by step restoring normal order to Kirigakure and the Land of Water, ensuring all shinobi found jobs.
Of course, this essentially turned the Land of Water and Kirigakure into Konoha's massive rear base.
But to Kisame, this sounded like an incredible life!
Compared to the Bloody Mist, just having children attend the Ninja Academy normally, and having less talented Chunin and Genin work in initial processing industries, was an incredibly rare blessing!
"But..."
"Will Lord Hokage agree to this measure? Kirigakure will be attacking Konoha, after all..." Kisame said nervously.
In his view, if Konoha actively attacked Kirigakure and pushed back, it might not mean national annihilation, but suffering inhumane treatment wasn't impossible.
After all, such things happened far too often among shinobi.
"Therefore, this is where our necessity lies—we must help Konoha minimize its losses as much as possible and win the war against Kirigakure's radicals!"
"We need to demonstrate our value, so that Lord Hokage and Konoha can value us."
Kimimaro said softly: "Kisame, you must understand that Lord Hokage is a man who believes in the Will of Fire—he inherited the God of Shinobi's conviction for peace. You should be clear about this too."
"If it were the leader of another hidden village, like Kumogakure, then naturally there would be a question mark. They would very likely turn hostile, storming into Kirigakure and the Land of Water to burn, kill, and pillage."
"But Lord Hokage is different. Great-Uncle Tenzo guaranteed it to me."
"Besides, we don't have a choice." Kimimaro stared at Kisame: "Are we just going to watch the Third Mizukage continue his rampage?"
"Trusting Lord Hokage is always better than trusting the Third Mizukage."
Kisame closed his eyes.
In his mind, the memory of Hiruzen Sarutobi's fireside chat surfaced once again.
That was a man who truly practiced the Will of Fire, the disciple of the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, and a famously generous man in the shinobi world. The example of Kusagakure was right there.
They only killed the radicals who harmed Konoha. The other shinobi were untouched, and even the prisoners were repatriated.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation wasn't merely built on Hashirama's propaganda, but was supported by actual examples where justice was evident in the hearts of the people.
And soon, Amegakure would become the best example for Kirigakure.
"You're right. We have to do something."
"I'm in! Whatever you need me to do, just tell me. I will cooperate fully." Kisame said in a deep voice, as if he had made some firm decision.
Kimimaro nodded in satisfaction.
After dispelling the soundproof water wall, a rejuvenated Kisame left first.
Kimimaro sat in a chair in the Internal Affairs Department breakroom, lost in thought.
Actually, he hadn't told Kisame the truth.
Was he doing this for Kirigakure? No, he dreamed of becoming a Konoha shinobi!
But just being an ordinary Konoha shinobi wasn't what Kimimaro wanted.
He hoped to become a shinobi with a certain status in Konoha. His ideal was to become a "Konoha Commissioner" like Tenzo Hyuga, and wear clothes with the Hokage's mantle pattern!
But Kimimaro knew that to reach that step, he must make an astonishing contribution to the village.
Kirigakure was his capital!
"Great-Uncle Tenzo said that Konoha has no intention of annexing Kirigakure, because educating and managing these shinobi is a massive cost, and an immediate annexation would trigger rebellion."
"It's best to have a proxy slowly assimilate them, raising the quality of Kirigakure shinobi to Konoha's standards."
"And I will become this proxy! Holding this merit firmly in my hands..."
This was a classic strategy dating back to the Han and Tang dynasties, the so-called "Jimi system" (loose rein system).
It was also the grand baseline determined by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tenzo after joint discussion.
There was no need to try and swallow everything in one bite, only to suffer from indigestion later.
It was better to walk steadily and solidly, step by step.
Kimimaro slowly stood up.
He was thinking...
If Great-Uncle Tenzo could become a Konoha Commissioner, then why couldn't he, inheriting his will, achieve the same!
"Lord Hokage is truly amazing." Kimimaro looked towards Konoha.
Tenzo Hyuga had calculated Kisame's reaction and Kirigakure's situation almost perfectly, fully demonstrating the judgment expected of the head of a millennial noble clan.
But...
After Kimimaro returned to the Kaguya clan, he reviewed the letters the Hyuga clan had sent over the years and discovered something that shocked him.
The former Hyuga seemed disloyal to Konoha, essentially 'listening to orders but refusing to mobilize.'
Yet within a short four or five years, they had become what they were today.
"Even Great-Uncle Tenzo couldn't resist Lord Hokage at all?"
"Fortunately, Lord Hokage is a generous man. If he had a personality like the Third Mizukage's, it truly would bring the most terrifying disaster to Konoha and the shinobi world..."
Kimimaro thought with emotion.
At the same time, a White Zetsu hiding beneath the Internal Affairs Department yawned.
Its orders were to monitor the internal changes in Kirigakure.
But this White Zetsu never expected that Kimimaro and Kisame, unlike other Kirigakure shinobi, would be so cautious, even using soundproofing...
"Forget it, if I can't hear, I can't hear."
"Lord Madara and A-Huo have been having so much fun acting lately, and they didn't even bring me!"
This White Zetsu sulked and went on strike right there.
Meanwhile, in Konoha.
Just as Kimimaro was pondering the former relationship between the Hyuga and Lord Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also came to visit the Hyuga clan as a guest.
"Don't be tense, Hiashi."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a sip of tea and laughed heartily: "And Ko, what's wrong with you two? We're just here for a casual chat."
In the Hyuga clan head's reception room.
Tenzo sat directly across from Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Ko and Hiashi, the two Main Family members, sat slightly stiffly to the side.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage, for coming in person."
Tenzo said, his face glowing: "And you even brought gifts! I'm truly embarrassed!"
"Just some everyday pastries your sister-in-law made, the taste is passable."
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand: "We're all family!"
Was Tenzo Hyuga short on money?
He wouldn't refuse more, but it wasn't a vital necessity.
As the head of the Hyuga clan, Hizashi, a branch family member, breaking through his authority—even though Hiruzen Sarutobi compensated him somewhat later—still challenged his prestige.
So what he lacked most now was something that could bolster his prestige within the clan.
And Hizashi's energy largely came from Hiruzen Sarutobi's support.
Now, the Hokage personally delivered commonplace but highly affectionate souvenirs to Tenzo.
The items were cheap, but they proved even more that he was Hiruzen Sarutobi's 'own man.'
Sure enough, as soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, the looks in Hiashi and Ko's eyes subtly changed.
So Father/Lord Clan Head was also deeply trusted by Lord Hokage?
"I will definitely savor Sister-in-law's craftsmanship!" Tenzo laughed loudly; that address truly hit the spot.
Nowadays in Konoha...
Who wouldn't want to be like Hanzo and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, able to call Hiruzen Sarutobi 'Big Brother' in private?
Casually bringing this up outside was incredibly face-giving.
Tenzo was already imagining the surprised and envious expression on that old ghost Isshin's face when he casually mentioned it during their next walk.
"I came here today, firstly to see Tenzo, and secondly to discuss work matters regarding the Main Family."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said smilingly: "Ko, you've been waiting anxiously lately, haven't you?"
Ko Hyuga smiled honestly: "Not anxious, but I do indeed want to contribute to Lord Hokage as soon as possible!"
Hiashi also nodded repeatedly.
"Regarding the cooperation between the village and Amegakure, you all probably know about it." Hiruzen Sarutobi paused and accepted the cigarette Tenzo handed him.
Quite perceptive.
Tenzo lit it for Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Hokage patted his hand in thanks, exhaled a puff of smoke, and continued: "Amegakure lacks the ability to handle affairs with nobility."
"My idea is for the Hyuga Main Family to specifically take charge of the village's liaison with foreign nobility. You are a millennial noble clan, and because of your stratified system of Main and Branch families, nobles naturally feel an affinity towards you."
Ko and Hiashi exchanged a look, both very excited.
With Tenzo setting an outstanding precedent, they knew diplomacy was absolutely no small matter.
Furthermore, Tenzo had briefed them beforehand. While navigating the nobles of the Land of Rain to secure more funds for the village was one aspect, the more important goal was laying the legal foundation for the annexation of the Land of Rain.
This was absolutely a massive merit, and an unprecedented mission in shinobi history!
"Thank you for your trust, Lord Hokage! The Hyuga will give it our all!"
Ko and Hiashi said in unison.
"Don't thank me just yet. There is one issue we need to discuss together."
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his cigarette: "Regarding the Caged Bird."
Tenzo's heart tightened.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi mentioned earlier that the Hyuga's stratification was similar to the nobility, he had a premonition.
"The original intent of the Caged Bird Jutsu was good. The uniqueness of the Byakugan led to it being coveted by shinobi from other hidden villages. Having protection is also safeguarding Konoha's strategic resources."
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke, looking closely at Tenzo, Ko, and Hiashi one by one: "But this jutsu is fatal to the branch family."
"If you are going out of the village for diplomacy, you will inevitably interact with all sorts of shinobi. You know that if an accident occurs, intelligence can be read from a shinobi's brain even after death."
"If the method of activating the Caged Bird Jutsu becomes known to others, it will be a catastrophic blow to the Hyuga branch family, and to the village as well."
Tenzo instinctively wanted to explain, but opened his mouth and could only drop it.
The Caged Bird required the Byakugan to drive it...
But the problem was, couldn't someone else just transplant a Byakugan?
No one could guarantee against that.
Ko and Hiashi's hearts trembled; they also knew this was the truth.
"Of course, I'm not saying we should abolish the Caged Bird Jutsu. The village has always supported the protection of Kekkei Genkai."
"How the Hyuga differentiates between Main and Branch families internally is not something I, as Hokage, want to interfere with. But the problem is, Main Family members working outside the village cannot have the trigger method for the Caged Bird in their memories."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said smilingly: "Furthermore, although clans have clan rules, overall, the village's rules must take precedence. Using extrajudicial punishment is a rather backward practice, wouldn't you agree, Tenzo?"
"Exactly!" Tenzo hurriedly agreed: "Lord Hokage, I completely support this!"
Tenzo acutely caught the scent of the accusations being levied.
Clan rules overriding village rules? The Caged Bird determining life and death to enforce personal subservience?
What was the meaning of this!
Tenzo had no doubt that if Danzo were here, he would already be raising his voice and shouting.
In fact, it wasn't as if Danzo hadn't done this before, leaving him sweating bullets in the past.
Moreover, with a large number of Hyuga clan members now in the Anbu ranks, the punishment of the Caged Bird Jutsu couldn't be used against clan members directly under the Hokage anyway.
That would truly be seeking death.
"There is an issue of mindset here. The Main Family's work requires using your brain."
"Interacting with nobility doesn't require front-line slaughter."
"Regarding Amegakure, because the village is sending personnel to guide them, Hanzo will provide a considerable fee. The village won't take a mission cut from this money."
"The baseline will be set according to the pricing of the Sovereign Sage Pill in the Land of Fire. For any surplus exceeding the price, one-third will serve as a sales commission to remunerate the Main Family."
Tenzo was shocked: "You mustn't, Lord Hokage!"
This sum of money naturally wasn't huge for the village, but for a clan, it was not small.
"The remaining two-thirds will be used for charitable causes, implemented by the Hyuga clan."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile: "Comfort the clan members on the front lines more. Think more about what they lack or need in daily life. This way, the Main Family and the Branch Family will naturally get along more pleasantly, and the conflicts between you will also fade significantly."
Tenzo felt he understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's thought process.
This was helping the Main Family transition?
Using the Hyuga clan's reputation as a millennial noble clan to act as diplomatic experts interfacing with nobility.
While securing the logistics and fallbacks for the Branch Family youths fighting on the front lines for the clan's future, and providing timely comfort and assistance.
This was indeed impeccable.
And the core of all this came from Hiruzen Sarutobi's generosity.
Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed Tenzo's expression and smiled without speaking.
He could vaguely understand Tenzo's thoughts...
A good rice bowl, one always wants to hold onto it forever, but this was detrimental to Konoha.
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't intend to discuss this with Tenzo today; he was just here to set a framework.
As long as the general direction of abolishing the Caged Bird extrajudicial punishment was set, everything else would be easy, and Tenzo couldn't be allowed any illusions.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
Tenzo said with heartfelt conviction: "I will immediately issue the order. The punishment aspect of the Caged Bird Jutsu is henceforth abolished within the Hyuga clan. Without the village's order, no Main Family member may use it; it will merely be used to protect the Byakugan."
"As for the memories regarding the Caged Bird in their minds..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smilingly took over the conversation: "Besides some food your sister-in-law made, I also brought a secret technique provided by the Yamanaka clan. You should be able to learn it."
Tenzo's heart completely settled.
Letting others know about the Caged Bird, he truly wouldn't feel at ease, not even the Yamanaka clan.
But doing it himself was different!
"Everything will be done according to your will!"
Tenzo guaranteed once again.
"Alright then, I won't stay any longer. Tenzo, chat more with Ko and Hiashi. You need to head to the Land of Rain as soon as possible. Hanzo's reorganization of his shinobi is almost complete, and he will be liaising with the nobles soon."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, and Tenzo walked him all the way to the door.
Tenzo couldn't help but think...
When could he find an opportunity to call Hiruzen Sarutobi 'Big Brother' in a private setting, to further close the emotional distance between them?
He couldn't let just Hanzo and the Daimyo have all the luck!
Meanwhile, on the other side of Konoha.
The other dojutsu clan famous alongside the Hyuga, the Uchiha, or rather, the most talented shinobi of the young generation, "Seisui," had completed his experiment.
With Orochimaru's help, he successfully developed specific Parasitic Destruction Insects capable of cleansing blood toxins.
So...
It was time to cure Tomie Uchiha!
Tobirama left the R&D Division to confirm the final required component...
Uzumaki Shio!
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you