An ANBU Ninja looked at the gate of the Senju Residence before him, feeling immense pressure. He raised his hand and lowered it, then raised it again and lowered it, his finger hesitating before the doorbell for a long time.
This was an order from Hokage-sama and the two Advisors; he had no choice but to execute it.
However, this was the home of First Hokage Senju Hashirama, the one known as the God of Shinobi. He had to be very careful with his attitude.
Since becoming an ANBU Ninja, this was the first time he had come through the front door to find someone; before, he always appeared silently in the target's home.
"Hey! What are you doing at my house?"
Tsunade stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at the ANBU Ninja with an unfriendly gaze. Every time she saw these masked ANBU Ninja, it never boded well.
"He must be looking for me, right?"
Orochimaru placed her hand on Tsunade's shoulder and stepped forward, asking, "Mr. Anbu, am I correct?"
"Orochimaru, Hokage-sama requests your presence at the Hokage Building. Hokage-sama wishes to see you."
The ANBU Ninja spoke respectfully. In Konoha, who didn't know that Orochimaru was the one person not to provoke?
Not only was she on good terms with the Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka Clans, but the Iburi Clan even referred to her as "Adult." Not to mention the commotion that shocked all of Konoha not long ago, which showed everyone how much Konoha valued Orochimaru.
(Aburame Shisuke: What about our Aburame Clan?)
"Hiruzen-sensei?"
Tsunade pulled Orochimaru behind her and looked at the ANBU Ninja, saying, "What does Hiruzen-sensei want with Orochimaru? It's not another troublesome matter, is it?"
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you."
The ANBU Ninja said flatly.
"Is that so? Then I can't let Orochimaru go with you."
Tsunade was deliberately making things difficult for the ANBU Ninja. She felt that Hiruzen-sensei calling Orochimaru to the Hokage Building was not a good thing. Besides, it was almost dinner time, and she was really looking forward to Orochimaru cooking!
Moreover, this meal was something she had pestered Orochimaru for a long time before she finally agreed. How could it just end like this?
Facing Tsunade's obstruction, the ANBU Ninja looked at Orochimaru with a pleading gaze. He truly had no way to deal with Lady Tsunade. Who could blame him? Her grandfather was the First Hokage, and her granduncle was the Second Hokage. He truly couldn't afford to offend her; he was just a lowly ANBU Ninja!
"Tsunade, don't worry, Hiruzen-sensei probably just wants to chat with me."
Orochimaru knew very well why Hiruzen Sarutobi would send an ANBU Ninja to find her. It was nothing more than the messy business of the Hyuga Clan, and she had no interest in getting involved. A decaying and inflexible clan would eventually rot away.
Given that Hyuga Mio and her companions didn't betray her even in that situation, Orochimaru didn't mind settling this matter for them, provided that the Konoha Higher-Ups didn't make a foolish decision.
"Then I'll go with you."
"Tsunade, go home and wait for me."
Orochimaru handed the ingredients to Tsunade and, for once, gave her a brief, gentle hug.
"It shouldn't take too long."
Probably... Orochimaru added in her mind, if the Konoha Higher-Ups didn't intend to protect her.
Then, she would leave Konoha very soon, perhaps never to return.
Go home and wait for me... Tsunade took the ingredients Orochimaru handed her and was hugged by Orochimaru. This phrase echoed repeatedly in her mind, and she felt her face getting hotter and hotter.
After Orochimaru left with the ANBU Ninja, Tsunade didn't even know how she got home.
"Xiao Gang, why is your face so red?"
Uzumaki Mito looked at Tsunade, who walked in with a flushed face and a dazed expression.
"Ah! Red face? Why would my face be red! It's just too hot outside!"
Tsunade shook her head, waving her hands repeatedly.
"Where's Orochimaru? Didn't she go buy ingredients with you?"
Uzumaki Mito looked at the ingredients Tsunade was carrying in both hands. Two people went out, but only one came back?
"Orochimaru! Hiruzen-sensei wants to see her. I don't know what it's about, it's so annoying!"
Tsunade said, a little annoyed. She was still looking forward to Orochimaru's lunch!
"Xiao Gang, it's not good to always let Orochimaru cook. You should learn a bit yourself by now."
Uzumaki Mito's face showed a kind smile.
"Grandma, are you sure you want me to cook?"
Tsunade recalled the food she had cooked on a whim before. It couldn't even be described as unpalatable; it was simply inedible, a torment to put in one's mouth.
She didn't understand why she made such terrible food, even though she followed every step of the recipe Orochimaru gave her.
It couldn't be that Orochimaru's recipe had problems, could it?
Tsunade, who had eaten Orochimaru's cooking countless times, was more inclined to believe it was her own problem.
"Just kidding, just kidding, let's forget about it."
Uzumaki Mito thought of the black, unidentifiable dish Tsunade had cooked on a whim before, something called 'soy sauce chicken.' It was truly indescribable, even more unpalatable than the old soldier pills.
Hokage Building
"Hiruzen-sensei, Danzo-sama, two Advisors."
Orochimaru arrived at the meeting room, feigning surprise as she looked at the Konoha Higher-Ups gathered there. Her gaze fell on Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Hiruzen-sensei, did you call me here for something?"
Homura Mitokado looked at Orochimaru and said, "Orochimaru, you've been close with Hyuga Mio of the Hyuga Clan. You must have heard about the internal strife that occurred in the Hyuga Clan today."
"Were you the one who tampered with the Caged Bird Curse Mark? Orochimaru, I hope you can answer this question truthfully."
Utatane Koharu inquired.
"I didn't tamper with the Caged Bird Curse Mark?"
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado breathed a sigh of relief. It was good if it had nothing to do with Orochimaru; if it did, it would be difficult to handle.
Is it too early to breathe a sigh of relief now?
Danzo Shimura, who already knew everything, observed the expressions on their faces, thinking with schadenfreude.
Just as the three of them were celebrating that it wasn't Orochimaru, they heard Orochimaru continue, "I studied the Caged Bird Curse Mark on Hyuga Mio's forehead. I unsealed the Caged Bird Curse Mark and improved it. The new Caged Bird Curse Mark cannot be controlled by the Main Family of the Hyuga Clan. The purpose of the new Caged Bird Curse Mark is solely to protect the Byakugan."
They realized they had breathed a sigh of relief too soon. Wasn't this tampering?
This was completely cracking the Caged Bird Curse Mark and even developing a new Caged Bird Curse Mark based on it!
The Main Family of the Hyuga Clan would go mad if they found out!
This was no longer just touching the foundation of the Hyuga Clan, but directly uprooting the foundation of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family.
For a moment, the meeting room fell silent.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado looked at each other. They clearly had many things they wanted to say, but they were now like people deprived of the right to speak, unable to utter a single word of what they wanted to say.
Surprised? Shocked?
For them, who had long guessed that Orochimaru might have tampered with the Caged Bird Curse Mark, there was no surprise at all. The only thing they hadn't expected was that Orochimaru had not only cracked the Caged Bird Curse Mark but also developed a new one.
Danzo Shimura leisurely took a sip of tea. Having known what was going on all along, he wasn't surprised at all. After so many things, nothing that happened to Orochimaru would surprise him anymore.
"Orochimaru, you've truly given us a difficult problem."
Utatane Koharu looked at Orochimaru with a hint of reproach in her eyes, yet no anger. On the contrary, her heart was blooming with joy.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi dared to make a bad decision, not only would they object, but even the ninja clans who benefited from Orochimaru's research results would not stand idly by. At that time, it wouldn't just be the few of them sitting there, but the clan heads of numerous ninja clans.
"Orochimaru, didn't you consider the consequences?"
Homura Mitokado frowned slightly. He felt that Orochimaru's actions were too thoughtless. He considered that she was still a child at heart; no matter how mature she seemed, how mature could she truly be?
"I wanted to study the Caged Bird Curse Mark, and Hyuga Mio was willing to be a test subject for me to research it. I have no interest in the Main Family and Branch Family system of the Hyuga Clan. She and I simply had a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship."
Orochimaru said calmly.
"Orochimaru, why would you want to study the Caged Bird Curse Mark?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't understand. No one had ever wanted to study the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird Curse Mark.
"I observed the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family. The Main Family's Byakugan has a 360° field of vision, while the Branch Family's Byakugan has 359°, with a 1° blind spot extending backward from the first thoracic vertebra."
"I suspect this symptom is due to the Caged Bird Curse Mark affecting the optic nerve, which is why the Branch Family's Byakugan has a 1° blind spot. Furthermore, Main Family members can activate the Caged Bird Curse Mark to destroy the brains and Byakugan of Branch Family members."
"During that time, I was interested in Medical Ninjutsu and read a large number of books, which is why I wanted to study why the Caged Bird Curse Mark caused the Byakugan to have a 1° visual blind spot..."
Orochimaru explained why she had initially become interested in the Caged Bird Curse Mark, how Hyuga Mio had rejected her, and then why Hyuga Mio later sought her out and agreed to let her research the Caged Bird Curse Mark.
"This is how I became interested in the Caged Bird Curse Mark and began researching it."
Orochimaru concealed the fact that Danzo Shimura had provided her with books related to curse marks.
Listening to Orochimaru's words, they fell silent. Every one of Orochimaru's research achievements began with her interest, and the Caged Bird Curse Mark was no different.
"Orochimaru, the Caged Bird Curse Mark..."
Danzo Shimura had previously shown no interest in the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird Curse Mark, but now that Orochimaru had completely cracked it, he became interested.
In short, he wanted to utilize Orochimaru's research results. The Caged Bird Curse Mark was incredibly convenient for punishment; it was a terrifying curse mark that could make people suppress any rebellious thoughts and obey orders obediently!
"Danzo-sama, I cannot give you anything related to the Caged Bird Curse Mark."
Orochimaru knew exactly what Danzo Shimura was thinking and continued, "Including Hiruzen-sensei and the two Advisors, I hope you can understand. I have no interest in changing the Main Family and Branch Family system of the Hyuga Clan, nor do I want my research results to appear on someone else's forehead one day."
She didn't mind her research results being utilized, but the prerequisite was that her research results would not become a tool for others to oppress others. Clearly, the Caged Bird Curse Mark was such an existence that, if it fell into the hands of others, would become a tool of oppression.
"Cough, I was just a little curious."
Danzo Shimura lightly coughed, thinking he had been a bit too eager. After all, facing such a temptation as the Caged Bird Curse Mark, who wouldn't be tempted?
"The Main Family of the Hyuga Clan wants us to find the person who tampered with the Caged Bird Curse Mark."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Orochimaru and asked, "Orochimaru, what do you intend to do?"
"Hiruzen-sensei, Danzo-sama, two Advisors, what do you intend to do? Will you hand me over to the Main Family of the Hyuga Clan, or do you want me to help the Branch Family of the Hyuga Clan gain freedom and truly integrate into Konoha?"
Orochimaru's quiet, cool little face showed a faint smile. Kikaichu with Flying Thunder God Technique formulas were distributed throughout Konoha and the nearby forests. She could pack up and leave at any time she wanted, and could also go to the Land of Waves via the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Because of this, even if there was an extremely small chance they decided to hand her over to the Main Family of the Hyuga Clan, she could still pack up and leave right before their eyes, and even take some people and all the Forbidden Technique scrolls from the Forbidden Jutsu Chamber. It wouldn't be impossible.
Thinking about it, the benefits of packing up and leaving would be much higher than staying in Konoha, especially those incredibly precious Forbidden Technique scrolls. It's just that doing so would be a bit too... she, Orochimaru, wouldn't be considered an ungrateful person, would she?
"Orochimaru, how will you resolve the problem between the Main Family and Branch Family of the Hyuga Clan? The Main Family of the Hyuga Clan won't be easily persuaded; they won't give up control of the Branch Family."
Utatane Koharu waved at Orochimaru, expressing her stance very directly. On the matter of the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird Curse Mark, she stood with Orochimaru.
Orochimaru walked over to Utatane Koharu's side, thought for a moment, and said, "The discord between the Main Family and Branch Family of the Hyuga Clan is not new; the hatred has accumulated over many years. The Main Family members certainly cannot tolerate the Branch Family members, whom they have always arbitrarily driven and oppressed, becoming equals. Persuasion is impossible."
"If I were to do it, I would replace the Caged Bird Curse Mark on the foreheads of all Branch Family members.
The Main Family would no longer be able to control them through the Caged Bird Curse Mark.
At that point, would the Hyuga Clan's Main Family still cling to their current beliefs?" Orochimaru watched the expressions on their faces, then continued, "The Main Family would actively seek peace to avoid being killed by Branch Family members who are not consumed by hatred.
When you appear at that moment to take charge of the situation, the Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family system will naturally become obsolete.
And you won't arouse the suspicion of other Ninja Clans by intervening in the Hyuga Clan's internal affairs.
On the contrary, the entire Hyuga Clan will be grateful for your timely appearance and for taking charge of the situation, preventing a bloody conflict."
"Then let's do as Orochimaru says!" Utatane Koharu hugged Orochimaru, ruffling her hair, extremely satisfied with Orochimaru's decisive plan.
It was perfectly to her liking. "Indeed, this is the best method." Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his pipe, took a drag, and slowly exhaled smoke.
Handing over his beloved disciple, wouldn't that be like taking his life?
He was certain that as soon as he made such a decision, Lady Mito and the clan heads would come knocking to pressure him.
Orochimaru's research achievements brought tangible benefits to various Ninja Clans and contributed to Konoha's overall strength.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also felt that Orochimaru's plan was excellent, giving them, as Konoha Higher-Ups, both substance and prestige.
They would neither interfere in the Hyuga Clan's internal affairs nor seize the opportunity to abolish the Hyuga Clan's unreasonable Main Family and Branch Family system.
Their intervention was to prevent a bloody conflict.
Both the Main Family and Branch Family of the Hyuga Clan were members of Konoha, so how could they stand by and watch the Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family fight to the death?
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