Chapter 155: Orochimaru Is Moving! The "Leaf Village Troublemaker" Value System

The next morning, Hyūga Neji learned that last night’s Branch Family meeting had failed to select any one faction to replace the Main Family. Seven or eight competing factions had argued fiercely, faces flushed and voices raised. During the chaos, some Branch Family members who didn’t understand the dynamics quietly left mid-meeting—just like Neji had done. After all, not every Branch member coveted the Main Family’s position.

This morning, Neji didn’t accompany Hyūga Hinata to the Ninja Academy. He no longer needed to serve as her “guardian.” Alone, he arrived at the Academy and immediately sensed that several students were eyeing him with strange, uneasy glances.

He realized at once: the news from last night had spread. The entire Leaf Village likely knew by now.

Sure enough, whispers reached his ears.

“Hear that… it was him who brought Uchiha Iizumi into the Hyūga Clan. Then Uchiha Iizumi arrested every single member of the Main Family and locked them up in the Leaf Village Prison.”

Neji’s brow furrowed. That person had clearly gotten it wrong. The Main Family still had a few innocent survivors.

“Isn’t he Hyūga Neji? The genius from second year. Only second year, and already holding his own against graduating sixth-years. A real powerhouse.”

“Better not get close to him. He brought Uchiha Iizumi into our clan—what’s to stop him from bringing her to our clan next?”

“Speaking of which, there’s a first-year girl named Hyūga Hinata—supposedly the Main Family’s heiress. Wasn’t she arrested too?”

“Why don’t you go ask him?”

“Like I’d waste my time? A traitor like that could stab us in the back any second.”

…

Some Leaf Village troublemakers were born with the trait. They could isolate anyone with backstabbing whispers, treating every person with equal, quiet disdain.

Neji listened to the murmurs, his expression unmoved. For the sake of Absolute Justice, he could afford to ignore what others said about him. He’d prepared himself for this.

After all…

In his mind, Uchiha Iizumi—that man—had once endured even harsher isolation from the village. More than Neji had. In that light, why should he care?

Unconsciously, Neji was already beginning to emulate Iizumi.

“Hey! Hyūga Neji!!”

A familiar voice called from nearby. Neji turned—and saw Naruto Uzumaki, mouth half-full of a near-expired rice ball, shouting between bites: “Wait up! Slow down!”

Behind him, Uchiha Sasuke groaned, clearly embarrassed: “Dobe, can you swallow before you talk?”

Neji blinked. Behind them stood a girl with pale golden hair.

“Neji,” Naruto said, gulping down the last of the rice ball, then stepping aside to reveal the girl. “Let me introduce you—Yamana Ino!”

Ino gave a bright, easy smile. “She’s also a follower of Absolute Justice. In fact, she’s been one longer than me and Sasuke.”

…

There’s seaweed stuck between your teeth.

Neji thought to himself.

Then he turned his attention to Ino. “Yamanaka Clan?”

“Yes,” she replied, nodding. Her gaze flicked subtly across the surrounding students, then she said, “Don’t pay attention to their gossip. Their values are corrupted by the toxic Ninja World. If they don’t change, one day they’ll fall into darkness—and pay the price.”

Neji wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt this girl—Yamana Ino—was more mature than Naruto or Sasuke.

“I know,” he said.

…

In a quiet corridor of a Leaf Village inn, a plain-looking traveling merchant passed by Shizune without a word. His body was rigid, muscles taut, drawing Shizune’s curious glance.

But she saw nothing out of place. She paused, then shrugged. Staring at a stranger was awkward. She turned away and walked off, cradling her piglet.

Inside his room, the man closed the door behind him.

“Phew… almost ran into Kushina’s disciple,” he exhaled, visibly relieved.

From his sleeve, a tiny Shiro snake slithered out.

He bowed his head, whispering: “Forgive me, Orochimaru-sama. I failed to carry out your mission—nearly exposed your White Snake Clone to Kushina’s student.”

“Hōh… no harm done,” the snake replied, its voice identical to Orochimaru’s—soft, eerie, and laced with malice. “It wasn’t discovered, was it?”

The snake continued: “The Hyūga Main Family… nearly wiped out by Uchiha Iizumi. Hōh… this is perfect. Now I have a golden chance to collect Byakugan. No Cage of Birds seal on them. No Branch Family guards to protect them.”

The man stiffened. “Orochimaru-sama… you wish me to infiltrate the Leaf Village Prison and hunt down the Byakugan?”

“No,” the snake said coldly. “Why hunt in a prison? Outside the walls, there are two pairs of Byakugan… just sitting there, helplessly exposed.”

“And there are still a few Main Family members not captured… like Hyūga Hiashi’s two daughters.”

Orochimaru wasn’t just interested in Sharingan. Byakugan fascinated him too.

He suspected the two eyes—though different—might share a deeper connection. Bloodline Limits forged over a thousand years… perhaps they held secrets he hadn’t yet uncovered.

For immortality, Orochimaru would try anything.

Once, he’d had no chance. The Hyūga Main Family rarely went to battle. And their members were always guarded by Branch Family ninja—brainwashed, fanatical, willing to die to protect the Byakugan.

But now…

The Branch Family could no longer protect the fallen Main Family.

A chance had opened.

“You have a new mission,” the Shiro snake hissed. “Secure the Byakugan of Hyūga Hinata and Hyūga Hanabi. Alive or dead—doesn’t matter. The eyes are what count.”

The disguised spy stiffened. “Yes, Orochimaru-sama!”

…

Pfft!

The Execution Sword severed a bandit’s head. Biwa Jūzō planted his massive blade into the ground, sighing.

He turned to the Uchiha Iizumi Wood Clone beside him. “We could’ve crossed the Land of Fire border into the Land of Rain over an hour ago. Why waste time on these bandits?”

The Wood Clone pulled its sword from the bandit chief’s chest. It wiped the blood on its sleeve, then replied, voice flat: “Absolute Justice cannot ignore evil within reach.”

Without waiting, it turned to Biwa Jūzō. “Free the hostages.”

Biwa Jūzō blinked.

Me?

A Seven Swordsmen. A top-tier ninja from Kirigakure. A new recruit to the Akatsuki.

And now I’m being told to help a wooden puppet clean up a bandit camp?

He stared at the clone, eyes narrowing. But the clone didn’t even look at him—just walked straight into the bandit’s lair.

Biwa Jūzō paused.

…Wait. It wasn’t commanding me. Just asking for a little help.

Why didn’t you say so?

He cleared his throat, shouldered the Execution Sword, and followed.

The air reeked of blood and decay. Inside the compound, Biwa Jūzō froze.

Rows of crude wooden cages—small, dark, suffocating—lined the area. Inside them, emaciated men and women, half-naked, huddled in silence. He estimated thirty or more.

Three or four bodies were already dead. Corpses piled up, bloated and stinking, untouched.

If Biwa Jūzō hadn’t crawled out of the blood-soaked ruins of the Mist Village, he’d have vomited on the spot.

“The bandits of the Land of Fire,” the Wood Clone said softly, “mostly rob, steal, and trade in slaves. Most of them are like this. Rarely punished—too many villages, too few ninja. And they’re usually backed by local nobles. The samurai won’t bother to hunt them.”

It turned to Biwa Jūzō. “You once asked me to help you reach the Land of Water. You said you couldn’t stand the blood-soaked tyranny in Kirigakure. You despised the cruelty that defied your sense of justice.”

“So if you saw this—children and innocents being tortured, ordinary people suffering under these bandits… would you still call it ‘trouble’?”

Biwa Jūzō stayed silent for several seconds.

“…I think I finally understand why you have such a polarized reputation in the Leaf Village,” he said, voice quiet. “Those who’ve been helped by your Justice… they’ll follow you. Those who fear being exposed… they’d rather you choke on a sip of water.”

…

Hyūga Hinata arrived late to class—her first time walking alone from the Hyūga Compound to the Ninja Academy. She’d always followed Neji before—just a quiet little shadow.

At the classroom door, she folded her hands tightly, standing there, trembling and silent.

Iruka saw her. He sighed softly.

“Come in,” he said. No scolding. He knew what had happened.

But whose fault was it?

Only the Main Family adults could be blamed. Their actions brought down the consequences—leaving a few women and children vulnerable.

As Hinata sat down, Yamana Ino suddenly raised her hand.

“Iruka-sensei… may I sit next to Hyūga Hinata?”

Haruno Sakura blinked. “Ino? What are you doing? Stay away from the Hyūga Clan right now.”

Ino shook her head slightly. Said nothing.

“…Alright,” Iruka said, after a pause. “Go ahead.”

Ino moved seats. She didn’t pay attention to the lesson. Instead, she gently tapped Hinata’s arm.

The touch made Hinata flinch.

“You’re scared?” Ino whispered—only she and Hinata could hear.

“…Yes.”

Hinata’s fingers twisted together, then untangled—over and over.

Perhaps she sensed the genuine concern in Ino’s voice. Her guard lowered.

“My father… he’s in the Leaf Village Prison,” Hinata whispered, voice trembling. “Some of the elders… they’re in there too. Only I and my little sister are left at home.”

“I couldn’t sleep last night… I just kept thinking… what if they come for me too? I don’t even know why my father was arrested.”

“I heard some Branch Family members say… he was cruel to them. So they took him.”

Her words were broken, soft, barely audible.

But Ino understood. This girl was painfully shy, withdrawn.

She thought for a moment. “Have you ever done anything wrong? Hurt a Branch Family member?”

“No!” Hinata shook her head violently.

“Then there’s no reason to fear,” Ino said. “Absolute Justice only targets those who do evil. If you’ve done nothing wrong… why would you be arrested?”

Hinata hesitated.

So… Father was arrested because he hurt someone?

“Are you serious?” Ino raised an eyebrow. “You really don’t know?”

How could someone be so… innocently blind? Surrounded by chaos, her father locked up—yet she didn’t even try to find out what happened? She just waited passively.

Is she really the Main Family heir?

Hinata looked down. “No one would tell me. Neji brother only said some strange things… then left.”

Ino paused. She remembered what her father had told her this morning—about the Hyūga Clan’s truth.

She gathered her thoughts. “Do you know about the Cage of Birds?”

Hinata blinked.

“Your father, Hiashi, and the Main Family… they use the Cage of Birds to control the Branch Family. They hold their lives in their hands.”

“So you’re saying… the Main Family treated the Branch Family like slaves?”

Hinata froze.

She remembered when Hiashi’s brother, Hyūga Hitoshi, was still alive—how he’d once screamed in agony, clutching his head.

Was that the Cage of Birds?

She couldn’t speak.

“You’re not angry at Absolute Justice,” Ino said gently. “That means you’re kind. Go ask Neji. Ask him what the Cage of Birds is. Ask him what the Main Family did to the Branch. Ask him what Hiashi—your father—did for them.”

“He might not have answered before. But now… he follows Absolute Justice. He’ll answer. And when you hear it… you’ll have your answer. That’s Justice’s duty.”

Hinata repeated the phrase, barely audible.

“Absolute Justice…”

…

By noon, she was still in a daze. Seeing other students pull out beautiful lunchboxes, she realized—she needed to eat too.

But when she reached into her pocket, it was empty.

No one was left to make her lunch.

A Main Family special ninja had been told to look after her. But clearly, he had no experience with children.

She fumbled in her pocket—found a few bills. Her pocket money.

Hunger gnawed at her stomach. She left the Academy and walked toward the market.

“Ah-choo!” She sneezed, hugging herself. She looked up at the trees—leaves already turning yellow.

It’s autumn… Father always made sure I wore extra clothes in autumn. He’d say, “Don’t catch cold.”

She sighed, heart sinking.

As she walked, she found herself in front of a small ramen shop.

Ichiraku Ramen.

The smell hit her—rich, savory, mouthwatering.

She swallowed hard and stepped inside.

“H-Hello… I’d like…” she began.

Then she saw him.

A towering figure in a familiar cloak. And beside him—plump, orange, unmistakable—was a cat. From behind, it looked like a giant orange drumstick.

The money in her hand slipped from her fingers.

Her face paled. Fear flooded her.

When he slowly turned—those cold, piercing eyes meeting hers—her fear peaked.

Her body recoiled. Tears welled in her large, glassy eyes. She trembled, on the verge of crying.

He… he’s the one who arrested my father…

Uchiha Iizumi’s gaze drifted from Hinata to the crumpled bills on the ground—five thousand ryo total.

He stepped forward. Just as she was about to burst into tears, he bent down and picked up the money.

He handed it back.

Hinata took it, trembling.

“Four classic ramen, large portions,” Iizumi said.

The “Te Da” owner was about to reply—then stopped.

“Wait… nine bowls,” Iizumi added.

Tachibana Jiro—Ninja Cat—eyed Iizumi, then Hinata, who was frozen in terror.

“Uh… Iizumi-sama… isn’t this a bit off? Usually it’s two for me, two for you. Even if you’re treating the little Hyūga girl, that’s only five bowls, right, meow?”

After a pause, no response.

Tachibana Jiro coughed awkwardly. “Hey, kid… don’t be scared. If he wanted to arrest you, he’d have done it yesterday. No need to wait.”

Twenty minutes later… Tachibana Jiro regretted every word.

It stared, jaw dropped, at the seven-year-old girl devouring four bowls—and still eating.

She finished the fifth. Then the sixth. Then the seventh.

The empty bowls stacked up.

Finally, she whispered, voice faint: “I’m full.”

Her stomach, now seven parts full, made her dazed. She didn’t know why she sat down. Why she accepted his offer. Why he’d even invited her.

Maybe she just couldn’t say no under his gaze. So she kept eating—ramen, broth, everything.

She’d eaten nearly twice her body weight.

Tachibana Jiro stared, mouth agape.

Did she just eat more than her own size?

Was she a hungry ghost reborn? Or has she never eaten a real meal in her life?

And…

Maybe…

Hyūga Hiashi had been abusing her.

That thought wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

After a long silence, the cat finally asked: “Meow… did Hiashi really abuse you?”

Then, Iizumi spoke.

“Hyūga Hinata. You should leave the Hyūga Clan.”

She froze.

“Branch Family members… some of them will hate you. You’re Hiashi’s eldest daughter. The heir. Never underestimate the darkness in people. If you don’t want to die for no reason… don’t stay.”

“I’ll arrange a new home for you.”

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end