Konoha Notes.

Chapter 528 Hidden Vision

Chapter 528 Hidden Vision

Neji graduated from Konoha in 1961. At the time of his graduation, there was no consensus on graduating early, but it was already the choice of a considerable number of people.

His primary task after graduation was to represent Konoha, playing full matches in various village tournaments.

Then he was not involved this year because, starting with Deidara, and then him, for two consecutive years a genin had dominated the tournaments held by the village with the hosting rights.

Subsequently, new rules were urgently introduced, mandating that these champions with overwhelming strength prepare for the Joint Chunin Promotion Exam.

The reason given is that "it is an insult to the fairness of the competition for someone with overwhelming strength in their year to only retain the title of Genin, and it should also be used as a reward to encourage them."

Neji had no objection to this. On days when there were no matches to play, he routinely completed D-rank and C-rank missions, waiting for the formal formation of the fixed squad.

Therefore, when Ash told him that he needed to go to the Taketori territory a month later, the only person he needed to ask for leave from was Kabuto at the West Suburbs Experiment Building.

That was the person directly in charge of him.

"The Sixth Hokage has already agreed, so of course there's no problem."

He had received the relevant notification earlier, so he had no intention of stopping it.

Just as Neji was about to say that he could adjust the subsequent examination schedule himself, Kabuto raised his hand, signaling him to wait a moment.

"Neji-kun, now that we have this opportunity, there's something I'd like to ask you."

The researcher's tone remained mild.

"While fulfilling your goodwill mission with the Hyuga clan, could you also take a look at the true situation within the Kaguya clan?"

Considering that this might be a request that leans towards betraying the interests of the clan for the Hyuga, Kabuto specifically emphasized: "The village has no ill intentions towards the Kaguya clan, but they are hiding something very important within them."

"If all goes well, this might provide some good guidance regarding the future development of your eyes, as well as the issues of the Hyuga clan's main family and branch family."

Neji, having also noticed the insight that Taketori had gained about him, replied, "I understand."

After Neji agreed, Kabuto added, "There's no need to be too deliberate in gathering information. Just remember what the other side is willing to show."

"If you can go the first time, you'll have a second chance."

This reminder is not superfluous. The amount Konoha has invested in Neji has far exceeded the level expected of an ordinary Jonin.

If Kabuto were to cause Neji unnecessary risks because of his own request, then that would be a dereliction of duty on his part.

Neji indicated that he understood.

And that was the end of it.

After learning that Neji had made all the necessary arrangements, Hiashi Hyuga officially sent a letter informing the Taketori clan of the specific time of his visit.

The reply was delivered to the main gate of the Hyuga clan's territory the following evening.

The messenger was still dressed as a regular attendant of the bamboo keeper, his entire body mostly covered in cloth, with only his eyes showing.

Hijikata opened the letter in front of him, his eyes sweeping over the neatly arranged ink marks on the paper.

This letter is somewhat different from those of the past.

It's not a problem with the handwriting or the format, and the wording is perfectly appropriate; it's just that it lacks a bit of warmth compared to my usual gentle writing style.

Hiashi speculated that it was written by a child from the Kaguya clan.

Judging from the urgency shown by Yu Yi, the intention is probably to get the child used to interacting with relatives.

At the end of the letter, there is a line of inquiry that is worded more formally than the rest.

"I wonder who Lord Hiashi will be bringing with him to our territory this time. If you could inform me in advance, I would be extremely grateful."

Hinata Munenaga saw through their little scheme.

The other party was urging him to bring Hinata along.

He hasn't made a final decision yet; preserving a path is one thing, but hastily deciding the future of a clan is quite another.

As Hiashi read the letter, the puppet spoke: "Please allow me to deliver your gift, sir."

Its tone was stiff, but its movements were fluid as it took out a piece of cloth.

The fabric is solid-colored and meticulously woven. The seemingly understated base color conceals fine patterns, and when light falls on it, it reveals a subtle sheen.

It's obvious at a glance that this is no ordinary free gift, but a present that has been prepared with considerable thought and expense.

When a gift is given to this extent, the meaning is already very clear.

Hiashi did not show any displeasure. It would be inappropriate to refuse rashly; even if he had his own considerations, he still needed to maintain sufficient respect when facing Taketori.

So he asked the messenger to come inside and wait, informing him that he still needed to prepare a reply, and instructed that the gift be carefully put away.

The puppet was led to one side of the front hall. Once it stood still, it remained motionless, its posture submissive, like a waiting statue.

But its gaze did not completely cease; the courtyards and layout of the Hyuga clan's territory, the movement of the servants, every detail was captured by those unblinking eyes.

After Hiashi finished writing his reply, frankly stating that he was only taking Neji with him on this trip, and expressing his apologies to Hinata and Hanabi for not being able to travel far due to their young age, the puppet accepted the letter, bowed, and took his leave.

Above the clouds, the flying fortress floated silently.

Shennong's aerial ninja force has been dispatched, with ninjas wearing wings searching repeatedly in the sky, while ships hidden underwater are also working together to create a net.

The combined air and sea operations were impressive enough to impress any inspection.

But another person present didn't see it that way.

Hiruko's gaze swept coldly over the flying ninjas.

He was a ninja from the same batch as the Legendary Sannin. Although he embarked on the path of researching forbidden techniques because his talent ceiling was not as high as those three monsters, he was still a proper Konoha Jonin.

It wasn't Shennong, the leader of a small village that had been wiped out once.

"How long will it take you to find any clues at this rate?"

He spoke in a tone that was half questioning and half reminding.

"Investigate the enemy's whereabouts and send manpower to various islands. Inquire about any unusual material movements and new shipping routes."

"The other side has plundered people and looted goods; they definitely need someone to take action. Determining the basic location first, then searching, is much more effective than casting a wide net."

Shennong said, "Your Ghost Sprout Technique has run out of new breakthroughs, hasn't it?"

"After the fusion of the five bloodline limits is completed, trying to incorporate a new bloodline limit will disrupt the balance."

Instead of responding to Hiruko's accusations, he spoke of his experiments.

Hiruko did not deny this point. He once thought that the five bloodline limits represented perfection. Since it was already a perfect state in his plan, it was naturally not so easy to introduce new variables.

Shennong said, "To make further progress on a project that can be called perfect, it's better to increase the values ​​than to destroy the existing reactions."

"The upper limit of a technique is never in its design, but in the user himself."

Bei Liuhu turned his head to the side.

Shennong was one of the few members of Akatsuki who, like himself, didn't have particularly high basic talent. Since the other party wanted to discuss forbidden techniques, he also shifted his focus to them.

There was no immediate rush to continue questioning about the search operation.

"Your Zero Tail and Body Transformation Technique can gather a portion of energy."

When Hiruko spoke, there was no sarcasm in his tone, only pure judgment.

"But this level of enhancement is far from meeting the standards required by the Oni-Garuru Technique."

"Similarly, it's not enough to provide me with a higher-level breakthrough. And the extent to which that power overdraws my body is far greater than that of the Ghost Sprout Technique."

"You're a doctor, don't you realize that?"

Shennong replied, "Of course I know."

"The world overseas is ultimately not as valuable as the territory occupied by the five great nations. The only thing of value left is the leader's demonic statue."

"But those items belong only to the leader."

Hiruko had a different opinion. After trying to incorporate new bloodline ideas into the Oni-Garaku technique but not finding a breakthrough, he also tried to turn his attention to the Gedo Mazo.

It was a being capable of containing the chakra of the Tailed Beasts, and when he was first brought into the organization, he had heard that the Gedo Mazo could fuse the power of the Tailed Beasts into one.

This is consistent with his approach to the Ghost Sprout Technique.

The organization's plan to collect Tailed Beast Chakra has temporarily stalled, so the potential use of his forbidden technique could be used to persuade Pain.

Shennong, who was in the fortress, vaguely sensed Hiruko's thoughts through Zero Tail.

He said, "Even for a golem, achieving its original goal is not an easy task."

"The organization's original goal was a complete Tailed Beast. After simplifying it to chakra, it would require a huge amount of energy to fill the gap caused by the lack of chakra at the level of a Tailed Beast."

Upon hearing this, Beiliuhu had confirmed that this incident was related to Shennong.

He could report to Nagato, but one person left a rather profound impression on him.

In that year's operation, Juzo Biwa chose to die so that Juzo could live.

Hiruko felt he was the one more likely to survive. But that choice did awaken something—something he thought he had completely abandoned when he decided to leave Konoha.

Since the moment had not yet reached the point where conflict was absolutely necessary, he decided to give this man, who was at least a fellow member of the organization, a chance.

"You haven't faced that level of power directly. The combat power of a Tailed Beast is nothing to brag about."

"Stop thinking about attacking Konoha. It's impossible to succeed without the leader's cooperation."

"That person cannot be dealt with by a flying fortress or a monster fed on dark emotions."

He made his point clear, but didn't reveal the final unspoken truth.

"What the leader wants to know is where the enemy is and whether they have been defeated. He only cares about the result, nothing else."

"Take a look at this first, Hiruko." Shennong took out something. "You'll understand once you've experienced it. Besides, our actions don't conflict with the organization."

Hiruko finished looking at the item.

His reply to Nagato was only a few words: "Shennong is currently showing no abnormalities and is continuing its mission."

When Nagato received this news, he was still in the Land of the Moon and did not set off to inspect it again.

The door leading to the terrace was pushed open, and a tall, white-haired man barged in.

Pain said, "Jiraiya-sensei, are you very free?"

Even though he was overseas, Jiraiya became more vigilant when he heard this question, even though he knew that his disciple's trust in him had not yet recovered to the point where he could entrust him with regional affairs.

"My book is nearing its end, and I'm very busy every day, Nagato."

Nagato said, "In that case, please go back and write your book."

"That matter is still unresolved."

"There haven't been any new attacks yet. Has Konoha become so desperate? Or is it regretting keeping those useless people around?"

"Nagato." Jiraiya dropped his earlier flippant tone. "I have some ideas about that matter."

"Orochimaru, he and that Zetsu are probably the ones who orchestrated this incident. They've returned."

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Nagato asked calmly, "Where are they?"

Jiraiya said, "I don't know yet, but Nagato, don't underestimate them."

"That black thing can immobilize you for a period of time, even when Shuji isn't paying attention."

Pain concealed his true form very well, and the Six Paths of Pain were theoretically just corpses, so it wouldn't matter if any of them were temporarily controlled. Therefore, Nagato simply said, "I understand."

The conversation seemed to have come to an end. But Jiraiya remained standing still.

"If anything happens, you can trust me, Nagato."

"

"Could you go and patrol the surrounding area for me, Jiraiya-sensei?"

Jiraiya's expression stiffened slightly: "This—"

"Aside from that, there's nothing else I need you to do for the time being."

"As for telling you my location," Nagato said, "when that time really comes, what choice will you make?"

"Please don't let this issue affect my opinion of you anymore, teacher."

"We both know very well which side you're more inclined to stand on."

Jiraiya remained silent.

He couldn't reveal any more information. Since the day he left Konoha, he hadn't checked on the village's progress, not wanting any unexpected events to occur from his side.

Therefore, he could not tell Nagato that the tolerance level between Konoha and Shuji was so high that as long as there was no risk of losing the Rinnegan, he could be treated however he wanted overseas.

In the end, he could only turn around and leave again.

But this trip was not in vain.

Green Aoi warned him carefully, and after much deliberation, Jiraiya narrowed it down to only two names: Orochimaru and Zetsu.

The final possibility is that Nagato's attitude will change.

At least this time he was certain the danger wasn't coming from Nagato, which made things simple. It was still about that old buddy.

As for what kind of danger it was, he didn't press Green Sunflower for details. Since the intelligence officer didn't dare to be more explicit, the most likely explanation was that he, too, had only sensed the wind direction.

That's about all the things you can touch from that position.

The terrace door closed behind us.

Jiraiya looked up at the thin clouds above the sea and let out a long breath.

"Do you really want to go down a path of no return, Orochimaru?"

"Can't you just hide properly? —"