Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 202 Confidence

As the figure drew closer to the gates of Konoha, the guards at the gates gradually got a clearer picture of who it was.

The other person was a member of the Hyuga clan; after all, his unmistakably prominent Byakugan eyes already indicated his identity. He was tall and imposing, with a mysterious and ethereal aura. His eyes were deep and sharp, as if they could see through everything. His long hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall, swaying slightly, exuding an indescribable charm.

His movements were elegant and fluid, as if he had become one with his surroundings. His steps were light, as if he were gliding through the air, and every movement carried a unique rhythm.

His expression always carried a faint smile, but this smile seemed unfathomable, as if it concealed endless secrets. His voice was deep and magnetic, as if it could penetrate one's soul.

He exudes a powerful yet understated aura, compelling people to explore the depths of his heart. He is like a mystery, drawing people to unveil his enigmatic veil.

The guards at the gates of Konoha looked at the newcomer with somewhat dazed expressions. But they quickly snapped out of their daze amidst the questions from the merchants queuing to enter Konoha, and dared not look closely at the Hyuga clan member who had arrived.

The person who arrived was none other than Hyuga Kanan, who had returned from the border of the Land of Fire. He appeared relaxed, but a hint of mystery lingered in his eyes. He glanced at the large and imposing caravan at the gates of Konoha, and a sense of curiosity welled up within him.

However, Hyuga Kanan didn't linger. He knew his time was precious and didn't want to waste any time on such trivial matters. So, he quickened his pace, his figure moving swiftly through the caravan like a ghost. His movements were light and agile, as if he had blended into his surroundings, making it difficult for onlookers to follow him.

A moment later, Hyuga Kanan arrived at the gates of Konoha Village. He stopped, took a deep breath, and then smiled and nodded to the guards at the gate. His smile possessed an indescribable warmth that instantly won over anyone.

The guards at the gate seemed to be infected by Hyuga Kanan's smile; their gazes became unfocused, as if they had lost their ability to think. Without any obstruction or questioning, they silently made way, allowing Hyuga Kanan to pass through smoothly.

The moment Hyuga Kanan stepped into Konoha, a strange sense of emotion welled up inside him. This was the place where he grew up, yet it felt somewhat unfamiliar. Now, after so many years, he had returned to Konoha, and he felt a different kind of emotion as well.

Upon entering the village, Hyuga Kanan didn't linger. Instead, he headed straight for the Hyuga clan's territory in Konoha. He didn't want much interaction with Konoha. This trip was only at the request of his second brother, Hyuga Hizashi, to take his nephew, Hyuga Neji, away from Konoha to his own training grounds for proper upbringing. It was a small way of repaying his brother.

Along the way, many ninjas who saw him immediately distanced themselves after showing expressions of panic, making Hyuga Kanan feel somewhat strange about the atmosphere in Konoha. His Byakugan was incredibly prominent; any Konoha ninja with any knowledge of the clan would recognize him as a member of the Hyuga clan. Hyuga clan ninjas held a very high status in Konoha and had excellent relationships with many other Konoha ninjas. Even if they didn't recognize him, they shouldn't have reacted this way, avoiding him as if he were a plague carrier.

It seemed the Hyuga clan might have undergone some significant upheaval, for the Konoha ninjas were now so distant from their members. Hyuga Kanan's brow furrowed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. He believed he had repaid the Hyuga clan for all the kindness they deserved. Besides, even if the Hyuga clan encountered some serious problems, they were unlikely to be in danger. After all, the Hyuga clan was a vital strategic force for Konoha, and even if something happened, Konoha would never allow them to suffer significant losses. At this moment, Hyuga Kanan didn't want to get involved in any trouble; his only wish was to see Hyuga Neji and leave with him. As for what problems Konoha might face, that was of little concern to him.

At that very moment, in the spacious and bright Hokage's office in the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already received intelligence that Hyuga Kanan had entered Konoha and was heading towards the Hyuga clan's location. He narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering how to lure Hyuga Kanan out of the bustling areas of Konoha so that Uchiha Shisui could successfully go and confront the enemy.

"It seems I'll have to rely on Danzo to solve this thorny problem again. I just need to wait patiently. I trust Danzo won't let me down." Hiruzen Sarutobi regained his composure, his gaze fixed intently on Uchiha Shisui, whom he had just summoned.

Hyuga Kanan continued towards the Hyuga clan's headquarters, but slowed his pace slightly. As he walked, he surveyed the prosperous scene of Konoha Village. However, his attention was entirely focused on the Konoha ANBU ninja hidden in the shadows. The palpable killing intent emanating from these ANBU ninjas towards him puzzled Hyuga Kanan. After all, he had only recently returned to Konoha Village and had resolved the enormous problem of Kumogakure for them. Even if Konoha Village didn't appreciate it, they shouldn't harbor hostility towards him, let alone display such intense killing intent.

Soon, a group of masked ninjas appeared in front of Hyuga Kanan, blocking his path. These ninjas exuded a chilling aura, causing Hyuga Kanan to frown slightly. Their killing intent was almost impossible to conceal, and all escape routes seemed to have been quietly surrounded by these ninjas.

"Hyuga Kanan, Lord Danzo wants to see you!" The lead Root ninja spoke to Hyuga Kanan in an icy tone, while several other Root ninjas around him placed their hands on the hilts of their swords. Clearly, these ninjas would not give Hyuga Kanan any chance to refuse. If Hyuga Kanan refused, they would immediately attack, completely disregarding the fact that this was a bustling area of ​​Konoha Village, and that there were many ordinary villagers around.

"It's Shimura Danzo again. Does this guy have even the slightest bit of intelligence?" Hyuga Kanan's face was full of disdain, and his tone was full of sarcasm and contempt: "You bunch of Danzo's lackeys are exactly the same as him, without any improvement whatsoever. I have absolutely no interest in seeing someone with such low intelligence!" Before he finished speaking, Hyuga Kanan's aura suddenly erupted, sweeping outwards like a surging wave.

Under the oppressive force of this powerful aura, the Root ninjas were completely immobilized, forced to watch helplessly as Hyuga Kanan walked further and further away. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, as if they might collapse at any moment. However, Hyuga Kanan didn't even glance at these ninjas, simply passing right past them. The Root ninjas hiding in the shadows were equally stunned by this aura, completely losing the courage and ability to fight.

As Hyuga Kanan withdrew his aura and gradually disappeared into the distance, the Root ninja collapsed to the ground in relief, panting heavily as if they had just survived a life-or-death ordeal. That powerful aura had locked them in place, instilling in them an unprecedented fear—a primal, instinctive terror that rendered them completely immobile. After a brief rest, they quickly rose and resumed their pursuit. Meanwhile, some rushed to Danzo's location to report in detail what had just transpired.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared solemnly at the crystal ball before him, now riddled with cracks and bruises. Just moments before, he had been observing the confrontation between Hyuga Kanan and the Root ninja through the crystal ball, but after Kanan uttered certain words, the crystal ball was suddenly struck violently by a mysterious, invisible force, ultimately resulting in its current wretched state.

Uchiha Shisui appeared unusually calm, seemingly unaffected by the scene before him. However, when he witnessed Hiruzen Sarutobi's serious and somber expression, a sense of confusion and bewilderment welled up within him. He was completely baffled by what was happening and couldn't comprehend what the shattered crystal ball truly meant. Nevertheless, his keen intuition told him that Hyuga Kanan's strength was likely extraordinary, perhaps even exceeding Hiruzen Sarutobi's expectations.

As the most outstanding genius of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Shisui had absolute confidence in his Mangekyou Sharingan. He firmly believed that as long as he used these unique eyes, he would be able to defeat any opponent. At this moment, he asked Hiruzen Sarutobi in a resolute tone, "Hokage-sama, should I go to carry out a mission immediately?"

Uchiha Shisui's eyes revealed confidence and decisiveness. He knew he had to follow Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders and could not act on his own. He understood that only by following Hiruzen's plan could he better deal with the current situation. Therefore, he quietly awaited Hiruzen's next command, ready to engage in battle at any moment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's initially grave expression softened slightly upon seeing Shisui Uchiha's confident demeanor. He knew that, given the current situation, only Shisui's intervention could salvage the situation. If Kanan Hyuga were to return to the Hyuga clan compound and reunite with the rest of the clan, the pressure they would face would be even greater.

"Right, Shisui! But be careful, and don't reveal that I assigned you to this mission. If it's revealed that I assigned you to this mission, it won't be so easy to resolve the conflict between the Hyuga clan and the village in the future," Hiruzen Sarutobi instructed Shisui Uchiha.