Chapter 40: Hinata Hana's Turning Point, New Recruits, and Iwa's Investigation
Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina listened with rapt attention. Especially when Naraku talked about the Teigu he had forged—the two kids' eyes practically sparkled with stars.
While Naraku was busy bragging, Sarutobi Hiyori spotted him like he had seen a ghost. He had thought Naraku had already lost interest in academy life. He never expected Naraku to return to the classroom after half a year.
Sarutobi Hiyori tried to adopt a relatively gentle attitude toward this great forger of Konoha. But he ended up listening to Naraku, Minato, and Kushina whispering nonstop—completely ignoring him.
Finally, after enduring for half an hour, he politely asked the three to leave the classroom and let them go free.
Following his usual habit, Naraku treated Minato and Kushina to a Sea King feast, then handed each of them one of his Naraku-brand toy swords.
"What are these?" Minato and Kushina asked curiously. "These aren't Teigu you forged, are they?"
Naraku gave Kushina a solid knuckle to the head: "What are you thinking? With your current academy-student level, how could you possibly be qualified to use my Teigu? Wait until you're a jōnin first! These are just regular weapons I forged. They don't have any special abilities, but in terms of sharpness and toughness, they're far ahead—and they also provide reinforcement to chakra natures!"
Kushina really wanted the ninja blade, but she couldn't just let Naraku off after that knuckle. She struck a threatening pose and declared: "Uchiha Naraku! Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west! Don't bully a poor girl! Uzumaki Kushina will become a jōnin very soon! After all, I'm going to be the wife of the Hokage!"
Naraku hadn't expected Kushina to learn that line.
He thought for a moment—she wasn't wrong. But unfortunately, even ignoring the butterfly effect that gave Minato an extra competitor in Nawaki, by the time Minato became Hokage, Naraku might already have abolished the ninja village system and established an empire!
So, to fulfill Kushina's dream of becoming the Hokage's wife, Naraku decided to make one more sacrifice—he'd take Kushina for himself, saving her from failing her wish!
...
Hinata Hana was walking alone through the ninja academy, seemingly very withdrawn—whether because of the Caged Bird Seal or just her nature. Even when eating, she preferred to be by herself.
Finding a secluded corner, Hinata Hana quietly sat down and took out her bento—several large rice balls and a little miso soup. She ate in big mouthfuls.
It was at this moment that Naraku found her. Hinata Hana looked at Naraku in front of her and suddenly blushed—after all, according to ninja world customs, women eating too much was considered inelegant.
Naraku opened fire immediately: "Hinata Hana, have you given up?"
Hinata Hana: "What?"
Naraku: "After failing to get Yatsufusa, have you given up on escaping your cage?"
Hinata Hana's pupils shook. Then she forced herself to stay calm: "I don't understand what you're talking about!"
Naraku smiled meaningfully: "Even wild beasts know the value of freedom—let alone humans!"
Looking at the silent Hinata Hana, Naraku continued: "Actually, you were the one more suited to Yatsufusa. But I couldn't give it to you directly! I'm not wrong either—I saw that you seem to have already given up on freedom and are willing to become the Hyūga main family's slave. Find another slave later, give birth to little slaves, and spend your whole life, generation after generation, devoting everything to the main family. Sounds like a happy life, doesn't it! So are you prepared to do exactly that?"
At this point, Hinata Hana could no longer stay calm under Naraku's repeated armor-piercing critical hits. This seemingly withdrawn girl lifted her head, stared straight at Naraku, tears still unshed in her eyes, and said: "Uchiha Naraku, what exactly do you want!"
Naraku didn't answer her question directly. He just stared seriously into her beautiful Byakugan and asked one more time: "Hinata Hana, are you willing to gamble once more—for your own freedom, your personal fate, or the fate of the branch family—until death?"
Hinata Hana replied coldly: "Of course I won't give up. As long as there's even a one-percent chance, I can easily give my life! But I'm not doing it for some ridiculous branch/main family distinction—I'm doing it for myself! For Hinata Hana's freedom and dignity! I'm asking you one last time—what do you want?"
Naraku was very satisfied with the spirited girl in front of him. He said to Hinata Hana: "I'm planning to create an organization that will change the ninja world in the future, so I need to recruit some capable and not-so-stupid subordinates. As for you—focus on getting stronger right now. Like a caterpillar accumulating nutrients before breaking out of its cocoon into a butterfly. I will help you complete that breakthrough and gain your freedom! But I need you to work for me!"
Hinata Hana collected her emotions and said flatly: "Fine! As long as you help me remove this damned Caged Bird Seal from my head, I will do anything for you! But Uchiha Naraku—if you deceive me, even in death I will take a bite out of you!"
With that, Hinata Hana glared dangerously at Naraku's neck and lower body, baring her little tiger fangs! If Naraku weren't so experienced, his little brother might have been trembling in fear!
Naraku's only evaluation: Tiger fangs hurting the ding!
Naraku tossed Hinata Hana a toy sword and some processed dried Sea King meat, saying: "I don't have that kind of twisted taste to deceive you! Just train hard. Your chance will come soon! But make sure you never forget today's oath!"
Hinata Hana took the toy sword from Naraku and stared blankly at him.
Meanwhile, in his mind, Naraku pondered how to remove the Caged Bird Seal for Hinata Hana. Should he give her a Stone Mask and let her stop being human? Or help her get Yatsufusa and massacre the main family? Or maybe both?
...
At the same time, in the Senju clan grounds, Tsunade was seeing her little brother Nawaki off.
With some worry, Tsunade said: "Nawaki! Be careful once you're on the battlefield!"
Nawaki replied full of confidence: "I'll be careful! Don't forget—I still have Lord Orochimaru as my teacher, and Incursio to help me!"
Nawaki raised Incursio as he spoke. At that moment, the First Hokage Necklace gem on Incursio's transformation device faintly glowed green.
Tsunade forcefully suppressed her worry. After all, if Nawaki wanted to become Hokage, he couldn't stay sheltered behind his elders forever—he had to fight!
...
Ōnoki's small figure sat in his office chair reviewing documents while ANBU reported to him: "Third-sama, we have investigated the information you requested about Kirikabe Ichimonji and the possible forger behind it. That weapon was forged by Uchiha Naraku of the Uchiha clan. It's said that this Naraku has also forged several ninja blades and other weapons stronger than Kirikabe Ichimonji! Mainly several ninja blades and one that can transform into armor. We don't yet know the specific abilities!"
--------------------------
Support us on patreon (+Gain access to 100 chapters in advance)
patreon.com/inkshield