At the end of the Third Shinobi World War, at the border of the Land of Fire.
A figure dressed in Konoha attire leaped through the dense forest like the wind.
He stopped only when he saw a ninja wearing a Kirigakure forehead protector. Perched on the tip of a tree branch, he handed over a scroll with both hands.
“This is the information Lord Orochimaru asked me to deliver to you.”
He handed over the scroll with those words, cautiously looking at the Kirigakure ninja.
Young and handsome, with green eyes and long white hair, he exuded a gentle and calm demeanor.
However, the Konoha ninja knew it was all an illusion.
This Kirigakure ninja was Naoki, the current number one genius of Kirigakure. Like most members of the Kaguya clan, he was bloodthirsty and insane.
One could only wonder why Lord Orochimaru would deal with someone like this.
“Sigh,” Naoki’s sigh immediately drew the Konoha ninja’s attention.
Sensing the Konoha ninja’s gaze, Naoki regretfully remarked.
“Such information could have been delivered by a single snake. Yet Orochimaru insisted on sending you.”
“Does he really think I am a nice person?”
With those words, Naoki flicked his wrist, sliding the scroll into his sleeve. Simultaneously, a sharp, pure white bone shot out at lightning speed.
Thud!
The white bone pierced straight through the Konoha ninja’s eye socket into his brain, causing blood to spurt out and scatter.
As the Konoha ninja’s eyes widened in shock and unwillingness, Naoki spoke apologetically.
“Sorry, but this deal involving the Hyuga clan and Byakugan cannot be known to anyone.”
Watching the body fall, Naoki wiped the blood off the bone and reinserted it back into his body.
He then began to recall the detailed information Orochimaru had given him about the Konoha camp.
Attack directions, escape routes, and ninja distribution were all clear.
Orochimaru went to great lengths for a pair of Hyuga clan’s Byakugan.
However, knowing Orochimaru’s style, Naoki had to be extremely careful as an ally. Falling into a trap would be unpleasant.
Discarding his lazy posture, Naoki became a blur, swiftly heading in the direction the Konoha ninja had come from.
Ten kilometers in that direction lay the vast Konoha military camp.
Within the camp were several powerful Jonin, the elders of the Hyuga clan, and one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, in command.
No one believed any foolish ninja squad would dare challenge this mighty force.
The campfire flickered, and the Konoha ninjas enjoyed a rare moment of leisure, but the thickening fog disrupted the atmosphere.
Sensing the anomaly, someone cursed quietly.
“Damn Kirigakure scum!”
At the sound of the curse, the well-trained Konoha ninjas instinctively gathered around the Hyuga clan members.
The fog was thicker than any Konoha ninja had seen, but they all wore fierce expressions.
With the Byakugan, no matter how dense the fog, it would be useless!
No amount of Kirigakure scum could escape these eyes—incompetent fools who couldn’t even gather information deserved to die here.
The Hyuga clan members formed seals, their veins bulging, and the Byakugan activated.
With its penetrating vision, far-sightedness, and chakra detection, everything was clear to these eyes as day.
However, upon seeing their surroundings, cold sweat broke out instantly on the Hyuga members, their voices trembling with fear.
“There’s a massive chakra presence in front of the camp, taller than a mountain!”
As the words left his mouth, before the surrounding Konoha ninjas could react, roaring water filled their ears.
Boom!
The outer walls of the Konoha camp had already been breached by the rushing water pouring inside!
The well-trained Konoha ninjas leaped to higher ground without hesitation.
However, in a ninja battle, every second counted.
In that brief moment, the massive chakra presence had already followed the water into the Konoha camp.
Countless kunai were thrown, but before they could hit their mark, there was only a loud explosion!
Boom!
The massive explosion spread from the giant chakra presence, obliterating buildings and ninjas alike.
Run! Run! Run!
The mysterious and terrifying jutsu filled the Konoha ninjas with immediate fear!
They knew only one of the Sannins, Orochimaru, could counter such a powerful enemy!
Just then, a gigantic snakehead suddenly appeared in the center of the battlefield, shielding most of the remaining ninjas.
Konoha ninjas quickly turned from fear to joy.
“It’s Lord Orochimaru!”
“Lord Orochimaru will definitely kill that damned Kirigakure ninja!”
“Something’s wrong!”
The surviving Hyuga clan members shouted alarmingly, “A chakra presence similar to a tailed beast is in our main camp!”
“The main camp has the clan leader!”
Ignoring their comrades, the Hyuga members desperately rushed towards the center of the camp.
When Orochimaru saw this scene, he didn’t have the slightest intention of helping. Instead, he leisurely licked his parched lips, a trace of fanaticism in his eyes.
Naoki, what a grand commotion.
Shikotsumyaku, Hozuki clan’s secret techniques, and Bijuu-level chakra.
How many more surprises do you have that I don’t know about?
Such prime material. If only I could keep him.
At that moment, the screams from the central camp interrupted Orochimaru’s thoughts.
Reflected in his serpentine pupils, a dark figure leaped out from the central camp, fleeing outside.
Along its path, there wasn’t a single Konoha ninja in sight. Orochimaru’s lips curled up, his hoarse voice echoing through the camp.
“The Kirigakure shinobi is strong. I’ll go after the Byakugan. Do not act rashly, and be on guard for enemies!”
The Konoha ninja, visibly excited, followed his orders and dispersed defensively.
Only the branch members of the Hyuga clan were discouraged because the central family had died, and even the bodies had disappeared entirely.
They were finished.
Whoosh!
Orochimaru and the shadowy figure leaped out of the Konoha camp one after another, with the occasional explosion telling the Konoha ninja that Lord Orochimaru was still fiercely battling the Kirigakure shinobi.
They silently prayed in their hearts.
“Lord Orochimaru, you must win!”
“Retrieve the Byakugan!”
Amid the flying dust, Orochimaru coldly spoke to the white-haired figure.
“Naoki-kun, you must give me Byakugan. A deal should be honored!”
Naoki turned his head, responding with a cold smile: “Orochimaru, I am a Kirigakure ninja.”
“Do you think we care about honor?”
Orochimaru paused briefly, frowning as he gripped his kunai, speaking hoarsely: “Naoki-kun, we will be cooperating for a long time. Don’t ruin your reputation over one deal.”
Naoki stopped, turning around and deliberately hiding the object in his hand behind his back.
He then smiled at Orochimaru: “Lord Orochimaru, at that time, I will have a new trading partner, such as Lord Danzo.”
Standing on the tip of a branch, Orochimaru’s eyes showed disdain: “Naoki-kun, Danzo is a shortsighted fellow. He has no credibility, and compared to me, he falls far short.”
“But he’s stupid enough.”
Naoki quickly retorted, pausing before continuing: “Lord Orochimaru, I currently need the Byakugan’s power. I can’t give it to you for now.”
“Moreover, the Hyuga clan’s body was stored in your scroll, making me take the blame, which wasn’t part of the deal.”
“If you insist on continuing…”
Naoki stopped talking and casually pulled a pure white bone from his body, holding it before him.
“My bones haven’t tasted the blood of one of the Sannin yet.”
Seeing this, Orochimaru’s eyes showed no fear. Instead, his eyes filled with an intense desire.
The Hozuki clan’s explosive secret techniques and the Kaguya clan’s unique kekkei genkai—such a perfect masterpiece must be held in my hands.
Orochimaru suppressed his enthusiasm, his hand hidden in his sleeve, slowly forming seals.
Outwardly, he nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with Naoki’s words.
Then he chuckled hoarsely: “Naoki-kun, according to you, when will my Byakugan arrive?”
Naoki reinserted the bone through a tear in his clothes.
“Lord Orochimaru, I see two possibilities.”
Orochimaru listened intently.
“First, when this war ends, Kirigakure trades a Byakugan for a large amount of strategic resources. The Konoha ninja escorting it back to the village are attacked by the rogue ninja Orochimaru, and the Byakugan falls into his hands.”
“Or the second possibility, when this war ends, the rogue ninja Orochimaru secretly joins Kirigakure, obtaining the Byakugan and other kekkei genkai for his research.”
Naoki paused, spreading his hands: “Which possibility does Lord Orochimaru prefer?”
Orochimaru didn’t respond, deeply imprinting Naoki’s figure in his serpentine pupils.
In the depths of his eyes, a trace of killing intent emerged.
His current situation could have been more favorable. The old fool was unlikely to grant him the position of Hokage.
Defection wasn’t out of the question. His dark experiments could get him expelled by the righteous old fool at any time.
But how did this Kirigakure brat know about my situation?
Was it Danzo?
Orochimaru’s evaluation of Danzo sank even lower.
“Lord Orochimaru, if you accept my proposal, why not…”
Hearing this, Orochimaru looked up, not hiding his coldness.
“Naoki-kun, enough talk. Compared to the Byakugan, I want you more!”
Before he finished speaking, a giant snakehead shot toward Naoki.
Orochimaru’s hands rapidly formed seals, gathering immense chakra in his mouth, ready to release it. But upon seeing the scene before him, he paused, his fierce expression returning.
Before him, there was no trace of Naoki, only a heap of white bones.
Orochimaru immediately realized he had been fooled.
From the beginning, he had been tracking nothing more than a clone.
A clone so lifelike that even he hadn’t noticed? That clone feels like a person.
Orochimaru licked his lips, the surprise fading, replaced by even greater excitement.
Naoki is indeed a perfect vessel!
At the same time.
Dozens of kilometers away, the real Naoki paused, integrating the memories of his clone, then stopped.
His previously calm face now showed a gleam of excitement.
He hadn’t expected the Shikotsumyaku’s evolution to be so beneficial.
Creating bone clones through his bones, though time-consuming and labor-intensive, made them indistinguishable from real people.
They even deceived the eyes of the Shinobi World’s scientist, Orochimaru.
Naoki formed seals, summoning a pre-made bone clone by his side.
This one was modeled after Nohara Rin’s body. Fooling White Zetsu’s eyes should be more than enough.
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