Chapter 158 – Konan: "Biwa Jūzō betrayed Akatsuki?"

Dusk.

Hyūga Hinata returned to the Hyūga Clan grounds with a heart full of nervous dread. As she stepped through the clan’s entrance, she kept her head down, barely daring to breathe, let alone speak.

She could feel the sharp, curious stares of several Branch Family members burning into her back. Each glance intensified her unease until she felt like burying her face into the cracks beneath her feet.

"Master of the Main Family, hah…"

A Branch Family ninja, passing her by, sneered, glancing back at Hinata’s fleeing figure. "When the Main Family fell from grace, no one even bothered to call her 'Miss Hinata' anymore!"

Nearby, another Branch ninja watched her retreating form and murmured, "We all bear the Cage of Birds Seal on our foreheads—yet hers remains untouched."

"Perhaps…" His eyes flickered with a dangerous glint, "we should carve one onto her forehead ourselves? And her younger sister too. A modified version, made by the Main Family. One that explodes with unbearable pain the moment it activates—like your skull splitting open."

The memory of his own past suffering under the Seal made his fingers twitch with anticipation.

"And don’t forget the others in the Main Family who haven’t been imprisoned yet," someone else added. "If we’re to establish true fairness between Branch and Main, they all need to be marked."

"Speaking of which," another voice mused, "if we choose a new head of the Main Family, would both of their children still need the Seal? Or should we mark both?"

The whispers followed her like shadows—many of them aimed directly at Hinata.

Cold sweat dampened her palms.

She finally understood why Shiro had insisted she take Hanabi and the other unimprisoned Main Family members away from the clan.

If she stayed, the fate awaiting her might be far worse than anything she could imagine.

Yet, as she hurried forward, she suddenly froze.

What they were saying… were those words born from their own suffering?

Did Neji-nii-san and Uncle Hiashi once endure this pain too?

That’s why Neji-nii-san resented Father… why he hates the Main Family so much…

The realization slipped from her lips in a whisper.

She stood still, lips slightly parted, trembling.

At only seven years old, she had just now grasped what others had understood the moment the truth was revealed. The one inside the storm, she had been the last to see it.

Just then…

She collided with a young man from the Main Family—exhausted, his face etched with worry. The last surviving Special Jonin of the Hyūga Main Family.

Seeing Hinata, he forced a smile, trying to hide his fatigue.

"Miss Hinata… I was just about to prepare dinner for Miss Hanabi. She’s only two—some adult foods are dangerous for her."

"Uncle Keizuke," Hinata whispered, mustering courage to look up, "we need to leave the clan grounds."

Uncle…?

I’m only twenty…

Hyūga Keizuke paused, then frowned. "Why? What’s wrong?"

"It was… the man… Uchiha Iizumi…" Her voice trembled. "He told me… to take Hanabi, bring the others who weren’t arrested, and meet him at Ichiraku Ramen tonight at eight."

Uchiha Iizumi?!

Keizuke’s breath hitched. His throat went dry. He couldn’t form a single word of refusal.

The man had already sent nearly all the Main Family elders to Leaf Village Prison.

To Keizuke, he was the most terrifying figure in the village.

Defying him… the consequences could be catastrophic.

He took a deep breath, then forced a smile.

"Then if he said so, he must have his reasons. He follows Absolute Justice. He wouldn’t harm anyone unjustly. So… we’ll obey him. There’s no reason to fear."

"Eight o’clock, right?" Keizuke muttered, anxiety thick in his voice. "Even if we have two hours… we can’t let him wait. That would make the Main Family look rude."

"We should arrive early. Show we’re sincere. That we accept Absolute Justice… and have no ill will."

"Exactly!" Keizuke said urgently. "Miss Hinata, please go with the others and inform the remaining family members. Let’s meet at the compound gate in ten minutes."

"...Alright," Hinata nodded.

…

"Orochimaru never valued human life. He only cherished his own. My memories were altered—many secrets about him are now lost to me. I can only recall that he had countless escape techniques."

Inside a sweet shop in Leaf Village, Mitarashi Anko picked at a trio of colorful dumplings, her expression grim.

"In other words… killing him is nearly impossible. You never know how many backup plans he has."

"Was he really able to escape unscathed even when surrounded by the Third Hokage and Anbu?"

Izumi asked curiously.

Konoha Rin nodded slowly. The sweet taste in her mouth turned bitter.

"I didn’t even realize he’d gone until it was too late."

"Afterward, I was interrogated by Anbu. They confirmed I’d been abandoned. Once they were satisfied, the questioning stopped… but someone was still watching me."

"Even when I bathed… I’m certain a female Anbu was watching me from somewhere I couldn’t see."

Her voice darkened.

"Only in the last couple of years did the surveillance end."

She gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Maybe they’re short on manpower. After all, Iizumi’s been eliminating so many Anbu who stood in the way of Absolute Justice."

Izumi studied her. "Do you still resent being abandoned by Orochimaru? Feel like he never valued you?"

Anko was silent for a beat.

Then she nodded. "I did. For years. I resented him. But since I chose to follow Iizumi’s Absolute Justice… I’ve come to terms with it."

"There’s no point in being angry that he left me behind. I should be grateful he didn’t take me. Otherwise, I’d have been lost in a pit I could never climb out of."

Izumi’s face was serious. "Iizumi won’t let you down. Not after you’ve placed your faith in Absolute Justice."

Konoha Rin smiled faintly. "That’s exactly why I follow him."

"Orochimaru… an Evil Offender…"

She snapped the wooden skewer in half. Her eyes flashed with cold fury.

"He must be destroyed!"

…

In a quiet corner of the sweet shop, an Anbu Ninja on break sipped his tea, his expression unreadable.

He recognized both Mitarashi Anko and Uchiha Iizumi—now widely known as loyal followers of Iizumi.

To those with guilty consciences, seeing them was like encountering a plague.

They didn’t kill as mercilessly as Iizumi—but in the past months, they’d thrown countless people into Leaf Prison.

Even spitting on the street? If they caught you, you’d have to clean it up—and pay a fine that made your wallet bleed.

Suppressing his shock, the Anbu paid, then casually walked out like any other villager.

Without hesitation, he vanished in a blur of movement—heading straight to report to the Third Hokage.

…

"Phew… phew…"

Hyūga Hinata clutched Hanabi’s small hand, panting as she followed Hyūga Keizuke, trailed by several women and children of the Main Family.

"Here… it’s Ichiraku Ramen."

Keizuke stared at the sign. Swallowed hard. Took a deep breath.

"I’ll go in first. If I come out… you follow. If I don’t… run."

No lie—he was terrified.

He stepped inside.

No Uchiha Iizumi in sight. Just a few customers eating ramen and the Te Da owner bustling behind the counter.

He turned back. "You can come in."

Hinata stepped forward carefully, guiding Hanabi to an empty seat.

"Listen," she whispered to her little sister. "If you see that man… don’t speak to him. Don’t do anything."

She feared Hanabi—so young, so innocent—might anger Iizumi.

Even she wasn’t much older.

Hanabi blinked, her big eyes wide with confusion.

The entire Main Family sat tense, the atmosphere in the ramen shop thick and unnatural. The shopkeeper’s daughter, "Shōbu," looked torn, wanting to speak but holding back.

Finally, Keizuke realized: They were sitting here, taking up space, but hadn’t ordered anything.

That was… awkward.

"Go ahead," Keizuke said. "Order whatever you want. Any amount. I’m treating tonight."

"R-Really?!" Hinata looked up, eyes lighting up.

"Really," Keizuke said, confident.

A Special Jonin’s salary wasn’t small. With only a few of them left, the cost was nothing.

But an hour later…

Keizuke began to regret it.

The others were fine—most had eaten two medium bowls and were full. But Hinata?

How many bowls had she eaten already?

Every one was large.

The stack of empty bowls beside her was already eleven high.

And she was on her twelfth bowl.

"Miss Hinata…?" Keizuke’s sweat poured down his temple. "Are you… full?"

"Eight… eight percent full…" Hinata mumbled, embarrassed.

She’d never eaten so much in her life.

And today, she’d been fed by two people.

"Eight percent?" Keizuke stared, stunned.

Did Hiashi-san never let her eat properly?

He didn’t dare say it aloud.

Hiashi was still in prison. His authority still loomed.

But now another problem arose.

Keizuke patted his pocket. His money… wasn’t quite enough.

Damn it…

…

"Orochimaru’s whereabouts?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned after hearing the Anbu report. "Iizumi didn’t tell me. He must not want me involved. Perhaps he thinks I’d show mercy… that I’d side with Orochimaru."

He sighed, knowing exactly what Iizumi thought.

"Iizumi always assumes the worst of me. He believes I’d collude with Orochimaru… He still doesn’t trust me."

"Hmph."

Tsunade Konoha’s voice cut through the silence. "Iizumi doesn’t just suspect you, Hiruzen. He sees you as the same kind of man as Orochimaru."

She narrowed her eyes. "Orochimaru holds research data that even Danzō coveted. It’s invaluable—our village’s treasure."

"But because Orochimaru used extreme methods—human experimentation—Iizumi will destroy every scrap if he finds him."

"That data is Leaf’s. It could still be useful. I won’t let it be reduced to ash."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "So you’re planning to find Orochimaru before Iizumi does… and take him—along with the research?"

"Exactly."

"But, Lords," the Anbu interrupted, "neither Anko nor Iizumi mentioned Orochimaru’s exact location."

Tsunade Konoha replied, "I’ll send someone to find out."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. "Be careful, little one. Don’t act recklessly."

Tsunade took a deep breath. "Don’t worry. I know my limits."

…

Land of Rain.

A hidden rendezvous point.

Biwa Jūzō shook off rainwater from his coat, standing at the edge of a cliff, feet sinking into mud.

After a pause, he coughed softly.

"The meeting spot… she said it was here. But… I’m not sure she’ll still show after seeing you. She’s suspicious."

Subconsciously, she thinks you might interfere.

He didn’t say it outright—couldn’t. Not even to a Wood Clone.

But the implication hung in the air.

One second. Five. Ten.

The Wood Clone remained motionless.

Biwa Jūzō began to wonder—was his hint too subtle?

Maybe even a clone wouldn’t understand?

"Maybe you should—"

"Needless."

The Wood Clone cut him off, eyes fixed on a distant cliff face—opposite, across a deep chasm.

"She’s here."

Biwa Jūzō stiffened. His gaze snapped to the spot.

There, atop the cliff, stood a slender, cold figure—like a rare flower blooming on a sheer rock face. Her amber eyes were icy.

"She hasn’t fled after seeing your true form. Either she’s confident in her strength… or she’s not the real one either."

The Wood Clone spoke, voice devoid of warmth.

…

"Uchiha Iizumi…"

Konan stared at the unfamiliar silhouette.

She studied the young, stern face.

"Biwa Jūzō… betrayed Akatsuki?"

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end