Immortality begins with the ninjas of Konoha

"I would like to leave with Kabuto, but you would probably stop me, wouldn't you?"

"If the teacher survives and establishes his stance, I won't stop him as long as Dou is willing."

"That child is special; his talent in medical ninjutsu is outstanding, and he can definitely help the teacher."

Furukawa Osamu responded calmly, but Orochimaru understood the implication: he was likely to die. Thinking of this, he made up his mind that he needed external support.

"It seems you didn't tell Tsunade and Sarutobi-sensei. That's fine, they simply can't understand our thoughts."

"Maybe this is an opportunity I've created for you, Xiu. Don't die in front of me."

"If Konoha loses you, war might break out again."

Orochimaru turned around and said these words, indicating that his mind was made up. Seeing Furukawa Osamu lower his head, he reminded him again:

"You have a few months to prepare, and I really look forward to you creating some opportunities for me!"

Thinking of the scene where Osamu Furukawa and Madara Uchiha were both severely injured, Orochimaru smiled and stuck out his tongue to lick the ground.

If he can survive, he might be the biggest winner, and that would allow him to take another step forward in his pursuit of truth.

Upon realizing Orochimaru was planning to call for reinforcements, Furukawa Osamu's lips curled into a slight smile. He also needed to remind Obito to stop indulging in "spying" and get back to work.

"That's good too. I hope the teacher can attain the truth."

As Furukawa Osamu disappeared, Orochimaru's smile vanished. He then used a summoning jutsu to slip a scroll containing information about his disciple into the mouth of a small snake, whispering instructions:

“Send it to Jiraiya.”

Although his old friend was a bit foolish, Orochimaru believed that he was someone who genuinely cared about the village. Tsunade, being an emotional person, was not suitable for handling certain matters.

As fellow seekers of the truth, Orochimaru understood Furukawa Osamu well. He himself was willing to leave for the sake of truth, and perhaps his future disciples would follow the same path.

Hopefully, these preparations will never be needed.

When the spotted snake returned to Ryuchi Cave, it was about to crawl in another direction to deliver the scroll to the communication frog that had made an appointment with Mount Myōboku. However, after crawling for a while, it suddenly saw a huge figure.

The green snake, with two bulges on its head, flicked its tongue, lowered its massive head, and revealed a human-like playful expression in its vertical pupils. It warned in a clear voice:

"If you want to go this way, I'll eat you up!"

"Lord Xiu, let Qingqing sever the ties of the past, then my body will belong entirely to you!"

"..."

Chapter 203 Ninjas and "Seekers of the Way" (Part 2)

At the end of November, Itachi Uchiha, who had been back home for half a month, had been secretly reading through his collection of books.

According to existing records, in the history of the Uchiha clan, only Madara Uchiha possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan, and he also participated in the founding of Konoha.

Recalling his experience in the Land of Tea, Itachi Uchiha had basically confirmed the other party's identity, but he still remained skeptical about his age.

For some inexplicable reason, Itachi Uchiha thought of the "bloodline plan" mentioned during the clan meeting, and couldn't help but ponder:

"A descendant of Uchiha Madara? Did someone within the clan make contact before proposing this plan?"

Silently contemplating in the room, Itachi Uchiha couldn't find any records of foreigners being able to activate Susanoo after transplanting Sharingan. He had always thought that his teacher only possessed Yin Release.

"Brother! Why are you still in your room?"

"Brother Shisui has come to see you again. You promised me that we would practice shuriken together."

Sasuke ran to the room door and complained loudly, his little face full of resentment. Both of them liked to say "next time," their tones almost identical...

"Next time, Sasuke!"

"It's too early to get involved in these things now. The skills I've taught you are enough to handle any mistakes."

"Don't always win, or you'll have no friends. Happiness needs to be shared."

Uchiha Itachi smiled, stood up, tapped his younger brother's head, gave him some instructions, and then quickly left.

Sasuke was furious and yelled that Shisui had taken his brother away again.

The temperature dropped, and it was even colder deep in the dense forest near the Nanga Shrine. The two, still locked in a sparring match of shuriken throwing techniques, remained evenly matched. Shisui looked at the young Uchiha Itachi and sincerely praised him:

"I didn't have that kind of ability at your age!"

"As expected of everyone's recognized genius, Itachi, perhaps you can fulfill the clan leader's wish."

Upon hearing "father's wish," Itachi Uchiha shook his head. The Mangekyou Sharingan wasn't easy to obtain, and he didn't know the conditions for awakening it. Remembering Madara Uchiha's words during the genjutsu, he suddenly asked in a low voice:

"Shisui, has the teacher ever mentioned his dream?"

"Dream? The senior did mention it, but that was when I was a child. It seemed to be about immortality!"

Shisui stroked his chin, thinking carefully, and finally nodded in confirmation, a smile spreading across his face as he teased:

"Your senior sometimes likes to tease children. I was teased when I was little too. My real dream is to become Hokage!"

As he spoke, Shisui's face showed reverence. Recalling the years of teaching he had received, he couldn't help but sigh once more:

"Senior perfectly inherited the Will of Fire; he will surely become the greatest Hokage of all time!"

"Besides the Hokage mindset, the senior was also able to shoulder the darkness of the village; no one could match his magnanimity."

“I’ve been helping to reclaim the root labs and some outposts during this time. There are some things you’re not ready to understand yet. You’ll be able to understand your teacher better when you’re a few years older.”

Itachi Uchiha nodded. Although he wasn't sure if the genjutsu was real, his teacher certainly had another side.

Shisui thought it was a joke, but Itachi Uchiha seemed thoughtful, thinking that immortality might truly be his teacher's dream...

"How is your father? The clan has been talking about it for a while now."

Uchiha Itachi changed the subject, and Shisui didn't think much of it. When he mentioned his father's situation, his face once again showed a look of reverence:

"With the help of a senior colleague, the prosthesis was installed very successfully!"

"My father's calves can even be turned into weapons. If he can adapt for a while longer, he might be able to return to the Jonin class."

"Even if I can't go on missions, it's still no problem to work in the guard unit. To be honest, this has relieved a lot of pressure on my family."

"It's a pity you're so busy, senior; I've never been able to find the time to properly express my gratitude..."

As Shisui finished speaking, his face inexplicably flushed red. He scratched his head sheepishly and looked at Uchiha Itachi, whispering:

"Your senior still cares about you, Itachi. You should also understand his work."

"There have been some changes in the Dark Division recently. No one mentioned it at the clan meeting, but you can keep it in mind."

Itachi Uchiha nodded. He was certain that the clansmen who had joined the Anbu had completely sided with their teacher, which wasn't a bad thing, but he still felt that something was off.

"Speaking of which, it seems my pupil power has hit a bottleneck. Shisui, is this a problem with the medication?"

"The medication will not cause any problems up to the third level. The bottleneck is probably due to your age; your brain is protecting your body."

“It’s not easy to take on the special chakra in the brain. My senior mentioned pharmacology to me.”

Shisui began to share his experience of taking medication. Over the years, after repeatedly changing to targeted medications, his pupil power had been slowly increasing, and he had extensive experience in developing the Sharingan.

Itachi Uchiha realized that Shisui's words were true, and coupled with his father's strong advocacy for medicine, he began to doubt the words in the genjutsu.

As a fellow member of the Uchiha clan, Shisui was also very perceptive. He vaguely sensed Itachi's emotions and finally whispered a suggestion:

"If you have any questions, you can talk to your seniors."

"Experienced mentors will guide you in the right direction, so your heart will no longer be lost!"

Unexpectedly, he realized he had been seen through. Uchiha Itachi lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before asking:

Would a teacher intentionally instigate a war?

"If the teacher possesses such great power, why doesn't he kill those Kage? Wouldn't that bring peace to the ninja world?"

Shisui didn't mock Itachi's somewhat childish ideas; instead, he patted Itachi on the shoulder and responded earnestly:

"There are many reasons that trigger wars, and often the leaders of the ninja villages are powerless to do anything about them."

"More importantly, humans always have various desires. When ninjas master power, they amplify these desires, eliminating conflict and making mutual understanding impossible."

"It's difficult for us to change a person's mind, let alone make all ninjas advocate peace."

"The only thing I can do is to become stronger, starting with protecting the people around me. I want to protect my senior, Itachi. You can understand this feeling, right?"

Young Itachi Uchiha thought of his younger brother Sasuke and nodded subconsciously. He had indeed been too simplistic in his thinking. Recalling the genjutsu scene again, he couldn't help but sigh once more:

“Completely different from my father’s teachings, my teacher doesn’t seem like a ninja.”

"That's why you'll be able to become Hokage in the future, and the village will get better and better!"

After responding, Shisui thought of the scene where Furukawa became Hokage and he served as the head of the Anbu, protecting him at all times. A look of longing appeared on his face again. This was the desire in his heart.

-

With December approaching, the Hyuga clan begins preparations for Hinata Hyuga's 3rd birthday party.

Unlike the Uchiha clan, the Hyuga clan is more traditional. When the eldest daughter of the clan head is three years old, members of the branch family should also be marked with the Caged Bird Seal.

Birthdays also serve as a reminder to those who have separated from the family to prepare, as they will assume their due responsibilities and vow to protect the main family to the death.

Osamu Furukawa had been invited long ago. On the battlefield, the Hyuga clan's ninjas were the best eyes, and the two sides had cooperated well. Naturally, they would use a banquet to continue to strengthen their relationship.

Unexpectedly, Hyuga Hizashi and Hyuga Shuichi took the opportunity to visit on the last day of the month. After Furukawa Osamu entertained the two at his apartment, the atmosphere became somewhat dull.

Osamu Furukawa patiently poured the tea, the tea leaves of which Kakashi had brought back from the Land of Tea. It turned out he'd bought a tea brand that Kakashi, Mei Terumi, and Konan had founded together...

"Shu, Lord Hizashi has made a decision. The change will begin with Neji."

Hyuga Shuichi bowed his head as he introduced the situation, a hint of anticipation appearing in his pure white eyes. Furukawa Osamu, however, shook his head again, looking at the two and reminding them:

"The child's opinion should be taken into account in this matter."

“Senior Hizashi, Chief Hiashi probably wouldn’t deliberately use the cursed seal, would he? If it’s for a secret technique, I’d be willing to act as an intermediary.”

"If Shuichi can be brought back to life by the teachings, as long as Neji has outstanding aptitude, the main branch of the ninja family is also willing to impart more secret techniques. After all, the ninja world is in turmoil, and it is necessary to accumulate strength at this time."

Hyuga Hizashi thought of his brother's personality, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded slightly. This was also the reason why the branch family members were content with the status quo; having multiple cursed seals had no effect.

"I'm worried that Neji's exceptional talent might arouse unnecessary jealousy."

"Lady Hinata may not meet the expectations of her brother and the clan. It is my incompetence as a father. Neji's talent should not be buried."

Four-year-old Hyuga Neji has already shown exceptional Gentle Fist skills. The thought that his son will be marked with a curse seal in just over a month and will no longer be able to practice secret techniques makes Hizashi, as a father, feel heartbroken.

“I understand that feeling. Since Clan Chief Hiashi insists on adhering to the clan rules, let’s have a chat with Neji.”

"Although he is still young, he has the right to decide his own destiny."

"Hiding is ultimately not a good solution, after all, it's not true freedom."

Hyuga Hitsugu nodded. He had originally planned to let his son fake his death and leave when the cursed seal was removed at the appropriate age, but upon careful consideration, he realized that this was just wishful thinking on his part. Neji might prefer to live within the clan.

Hyuga Shuichi sighed regretfully. If the plan had worked, he would have taken care of Neji. Although it was somewhat selfish, Neji longed for freedom.

In the end, Furukawa Osamu reassured the two that such a plan was too crude. Without protection, the Byakugan would become a target for hunting, and many ninja villages would go to any lengths to obtain it.

When they revisited the banquet, the two talked about the eldest daughter again. Hyuga Shuichi was extremely envious; such talent, the ability to learn all the secret techniques, and the protection she received were unimaginable in the branch family.

As the two prepared to leave, Osamu Furukawa whispered a final word of advice to his friend, who yearned for freedom:

"Only death can break the curse, and the price of freedom afterwards is heavier than you can imagine."

Hyuga Shuichi thought of those clansmen who left the Hyuga clan and ultimately disappeared without a trace, and finally responded in a low voice:

"Freedom is priceless."

Watching the two figures disappear, Furukawa thought of the Otsutsuki on the moon. That "regressed" Toneri also possessed considerable resources. Given the right opportunity, the Byakugan was worth studying.

If we can create suitable eyes, along with that body, even a slightly degraded Otsutsuki puppet would be a great help.

Hyuga Neji, unaware that he had just been almost "sent away" by his father, saw the two at the gate of the clan compound and immediately ran over, happily saying:

"Father, Brother Shuichi, I saw Lady Hinata at the dojo!"

"She's so cute!"

Hyuga Hizashi felt a pang of pain in his heart upon hearing this. He tried to calm himself, gently patted his son's head, and said softly:

"Neji, I hope you won't blame me in the future."

Hyuga Neji looked up, blinked in confusion, then happily pulled his father up to share:

"Can I practice with Hinata-sama from now on?"

"Her soft boxing style seems to be just beginning to be learned."