Naruto World Through Tenseigan - Chapter 32
Hearing this, Hyuga Kyo’s face changed, but he quickly returned to normal and respectfully replied, “The assessment went smoothly. The Third Hokage has arranged for me to join the Anbu.”
The fact that Orochimaru knew about the Special Jonin assessment so soon after it concluded surprised Hyuga Kyo. Orochimaru had more spies in the village than just him.
Orochimaru put down his sake cup and stared sharply at Hyuga Kyo, asking, “Kyo, your recent growth has been beyond my expectations. Do you have any secrets? Or has your research on the Byakugan yielded results?”
Hyuga Kyo’s recent improvement in strength was quite notable. To those unfamiliar with him, it might seem like a natural progression, especially since he was at an age where rapid increases in strength were common. His peers like Guy and Asuma were also improving quickly, almost changing daily.
But Orochimaru was different. He knew Hyuga Kyo well and was aware that Hyuga Kyo didn’t belong to the prodigy category. Thus, Hyuga Kyo’s recent performance made him suspicious.
Hyuga Kyo naturally wouldn’t admit to anything. He shook his head and said, “Research on bloodline limits is not something that can be accomplished overnight. You, more than anyone, should understand this.”
Orochimaru squinted his eyes and replied, “Is that so…”
He knew that Hyuga Kyo had only been involved in the research for a few years, not enough time to yield significant results. Plus, he’d checked Hyuga Kyo’s lab, finding only basic genetic data without any signs of live experiments.
Of course, Orochimaru didn’t know that Hyuga Kyo had conducted a live experiment on himself, which was why there were no related data records.
After a moment, Orochimaru smiled and said, “It seems I underestimated you. You not only have the potential to be a researcher but also an excellent ninja.”
“Thank you for the compliment!”
Suddenly remembering something, Orochimaru smiled and said, “Recently, I encountered an interesting fellow who inquired about you.”
“Who?”
“Sasori of the Red Sand from Sunagakure.” Staring at Hyuga Kyo, Orochimaru asked, “Have you two met?”
Hyuga Kyo nodded calmly, “Yes, we have met once.”
Both Sasori and Orochimaru had already joined Akatsuki. As one of the Legendary Sannins, it was natural for Sasori to ask Orochimaru about Hyuga Kyo.
Hyuga Kyo had expected this, so he didn’t show any surprise.
Seeing Hyuga Kyo’s calm expression, Orochimaru continued, “He seems very keen on killing you. What did you do to provoke him?”
Hyuga Kyo believed that Sasori wouldn’t detail his failures to Orochimaru, so he briefly recounted the Konoha operation to clean up Sasori, omitting the part where he unexpectedly obtained the Third Kazekage puppet.
After he finished, Hyuga Kyo laughed and said, “A small fry like me escaping from him might have bruised his pride.”
Orochimaru rarely laughed out loud, but he did this time.
What Hyuga Kyo didn’t know was that Orochimaru and Sasori, though temporarily partnered, didn’t get along well.
Both obsessed with immortality, they had taken different paths—Orochimaru with biological technology and Sasori with mechanical technology. Each had touched the threshold of immortality in their respective fields, leading to sharp differences in their scientific views.
After laughing for a while, Orochimaru said, “I didn’t tell him about you, but he must have other sources. Be careful. He’s a stubborn guy, and I wouldn’t want to see you among his puppet collection.”
Hyuga Kyo immediately smiled wryly, “Being targeted by someone that strong is not a pleasant experience.”
#### Uchiha Clan Compound
Seeing Shisui’s figure, Itachi, who had been waiting by the roadside, hurriedly approached him. “Shisui, how did the assessment go?”
Shisui patted Itachi’s head, “It went well enough.”
“So, you’re a Special Jonin now?” Itachi said with delight, then asked, “What was the assessment like? Tell me about it.”
Shisui began to recount the interesting moments of the Special Jonin assessment.
Itachi listened intently for a while, then suddenly asked, “Shisui, you must have easily defeated all your opponents, right?”
Shisui’s expression froze, and he gently shook his head, “I lost in the final round. But the Hokage considered my performance exceptional and still promoted me to Special Jonin.”
Itachi was shocked, “Lost? How is that possible!”
Shisui’s title as the top genius of the Uchiha Clan was not self-proclaimed but backed by his combat achievements.
Shisui’s strength, recognized by the clan, was at the Jonin level, so Itachi couldn’t fathom anyone defeating Shisui in the Special Jonin assessment.
“I didn’t expect to lose either,” Shisui smiled wryly, then continued, “The one who defeated me was your acquaintance from the Hyuga Clan, Kyo.”
Itachi was momentarily enlightened, “Kyo…”
From a young age, Itachi had extraordinary perception and keen observation skills, often noticing details others overlooked. Because of this, during their previous encounter with the Cloud’s Two-Tails Jinchuriki, he sensed that Hyuga Kyo wasn’t very afraid of her.
At that moment, he guessed that Hyuga Kyo was far from an ordinary Chunin.
Shisui then said seriously, “Itachi, the village is full of strong individuals. We must not let the power of the Sharingan blind our hearts. Always stay humble.”
Itachi, still a bit puzzled, nodded earnestly.
Looking at the bustling clan members, Shisui said somberly, “What do you see in them?”
After observing for a while, Itachi replied, “Pride!”
“Yes, they are proud to be Uchiha.” Shisui paused, then continued, “But there’s too much pride, so much that it’s becoming a burden.”
In the match against Hyuga Kyo, Shisui didn’t use any Mangekyo Sharingan abilities. Even in terms of regular techniques, he held back.
The reason was not only due to sensing the village’s suspicion towards the Uchiha but also because he felt the undercurrents within the Uchiha clan.
The damage to the village’s strength was well known, even to other ninja villages. Naturally, the Uchiha, living in the village, were even more aware.
The Uchiha Clan had always had ambitious members. Previously, the presence of strong individuals like the Sannin, the Fourth Hokage, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki kept the Uchiha in check.
But now, only Jiraiya remained of the Sannin, and he was rarely in the village. The Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki were dead. The only ones left in the village that the Uchiha feared were the Third Hokage, Danzo, and a few old hands, causing many in the Uchiha Clan to let their ambitions surge uncontrollably.
Shisui couldn’t extinguish the raging ambitions within the clan. All he could do was try to curb them. So, he chose to lose to Hyuga Kyo in the selection, hoping to show his clan that the village was full of strong individuals and that blind ambition would only lead to the Uchiha’s destruction…
Become a Patron to read chapters ahead of public release and support me 😉
Read up to 40 chapters ahead on p atreon.
