My Villainous Life Starting with Naruto

Chapter 228 Konoha Year 57, The Remnants

"These are the people."

Uchiha Shisui handed the list to his subordinates:

"Let the Hokage take a look." He paused, then said softly:

"Night, your application has been approved... You will be joining the team on the expedition."

The boy wearing the fox-face mask bowed and made a gesture of respect.

"Your Excellency, I will prove with my life that your decision was correct."

He left Zhishui's office, went upstairs, and knocked on the door to enter after receiving permission.

Inside the Hokage's office, Orochimaru, with his pale skin and cold expression, sat behind the desk, his golden snake eyes seeming to gleam with a sharp edge.

Even after becoming the Fifth Hokage, deeply loved by the villagers, Orochimaru still possessed a dangerous aura that instilled fear in others while simultaneously drawing them closer.

"Lord Hokage." Hyuga Yoru handed over the scroll with both hands:

"This is the list of reinforcements."

Orochimaru took it, glanced at it, and immediately saw Hyuga Yoru's name.

He raised an eyebrow and looked up at the boy in front of him, but Hyuga Yoru, who was wearing a fox-face mask, just stood with his head down, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"Not bad willpower, no wonder you were able to wear down your captain." Orochimaru gave a nonchalant compliment, waving his hand dismissively.

"Go back and say goodbye to your family. Although the overall situation is settled, this is your first time going on a campaign. The battlefield and the secret service are two different things."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Hinata Yoru breathed a sigh of relief as he left the Hokage Building. As he stepped onto the street, he touched his back and realized that his clothes were soaked through.

He glanced at the Hokage Rock and thought that the craftsmen's skills were really mediocre, not even capturing a tenth of the Fifth Hokage's imposing presence.

Hinata Yoru skillfully navigated the bustling city streets, buying dorayaki in Tiedong Street, small windmills in Nanfang, and kunai and shuriken on the right side of the Uchiha clan compound. Only when his wallet was empty did he return home with a backpack full of items.

"Brother Ye!"

"Night Lord is back!"

"Xiaoye, you've worked hard."

"Night, why did you buy so much stuff again? Your allowance isn't much..."

In the fairly spacious courtyard, both women and children looked at Ri Xiangye with trust and respect.

"It's nothing, I'm going out on a mission. I'll buy everyone something before I leave... Where's Neji?"

"Neji-nii is still practicing his boxing on the outskirts of the village." A little girl who only reached Hyuga Yoru's shoulder stuffed a dorayaki into her mouth, her eyes narrowing into slits.

"Okay, then we'll give him this bandage when he gets back. It's a really good thing from the Land of Lightning, it's especially durable... Mami, eat slowly."

Hyuga Yoru patted the girl's head, sat down on the tatami mat, and looked at everyone with a smile.

The people in the room, like him, all had pure white eyes.

This mansion is the residence of the Hyuga clan.

Since the clan's territory was burned down, the pregnant women and children have lived here under Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrangement. Six years have passed, and the conditions provided by the village are not bad.

"Xiaoye, come here for a moment." The elderly woman in the corner stroked the exquisite fabric and winked at the boy.

The two of them tacitly went to the small room next door and knelt down facing each other.

"Xiaoye, are you going to the battlefield?"

"Hmm." The boy scratched his head.

"The village has granted my request, and tomorrow I will depart with the minister..."

"How could they do this!" Hyuga Meiko said through gritted teeth, her eyes red-rimmed.

"You're only nine years old!"

"There shouldn't be any problem with that, right? Back in the time of the First Hokage, even five-year-olds could take up swords and go to the battlefield."

"Saya, is it alright if we don't leave? I can ask the Hokage... no, maybe the Third Hokage would be easier to talk to..."

"No need to try to persuade me, Aunt Meiko." Hyuga Yoru smiled, her tone devoid of any confusion.

"The Land of Water is about to collapse. In this decisive battle to destroy Kirigakure, we need the Byakugan to make its voice heard. Besides, everyone in the village is fighting desperately on the front lines, and the Uchiha clan is holding funerals every few days. If we don't send anyone out, people will gossip."

"But...but..." the woman murmured, trying her best not to sob.

"Sorry, I wish I were stronger, if I were a Jonin..."

Before she could finish speaking, the muscular boy hugged her.

"Aunt Meiko, don't underestimate yourself. After the clan's territory was burned down, you were at the forefront and raised us little ones to be plump and healthy."

Hyuga Yoru raised his head, revealing a radiant smile that his ANBU comrades rarely saw:

"In my eyes, you're much more powerful than the Hokage!"

……

Late at night, Hyuga Yoru finished his evening training routine and returned to his room.

Don't underestimate the importance of "having your own room". In the dilapidated Hyuga mansion, the space is quite cramped, and usually several people sleep together. Having your own independent room is an incredible privilege!

At only nine years old, Hyuga Yoru is already the top fighter in the impoverished Hyuga clan. Having become a Chunin last year, he was granted special permission to join the Anbu, and his future is bright. Among his peers, only Uchiha Itachi, who is seventeen months older than him, can consistently outclass Hyuga Yoru.

Back in her room, Hinata rubbed her shoulders, washed up, and then fell asleep.

For ninjas, achieving fame at a young age is no easy feat, especially for the Hyuga clan, whose secret techniques have mostly been lost and who lack guidance. To achieve this, Hyuga Yoru put in an astonishing amount of effort, with his training reaching the level of "self-torture."

When the first ray of light shone on Hyuga Yoru's face, he sprang up with a thud, showing no intention of staying in bed. He quickly dressed, washed his face, grabbed the ninja tool backpack he had prepared the night before, and left the Hyuga residence.

It is said that when the clan was still in its infancy, newly appointed clansmen would be summoned to the chief's residence for a private talk and sometimes even taught some life-saving tips. However, for the Hyuga clan now, "pre-battle guidance" has become an impossible dream. The clan has only a handful of members, and not a single experienced veteran ninja.

However, Hyuga Yoru was not the kind of person who would dwell on past glories. He quickly moved through the streets in the early morning and soon left the village.

At the gate, a large number of Konoha ninjas had already gathered, arranged in a radial pattern. At the very center, of course, was Uchiha Shisui, the head of the Anbu.

As Shisui's close subordinate, Hyuga Yoru had several hidden privileges. He squeezed through the crowd, came to Shisui's side, greeted him respectfully, and then stood still.

Another half hour passed, and the reinforcements were all assembled. Shisui opened his half-closed eyes and drew the short sword from behind him.

"In the name of the Will of Fire, let us set out." He flicked his finger, and the blade resonated.

"Three days later, the Water Kingdom will become history."

(End of this chapter)