Cheers, flowers, and supreme glory.
These all belonged to Aburame Ryoma and Kakashi at this moment.
They were the heroes of Konoha, the initiators of this great, just, and honorable war.
This battle between two great nations was waged out of necessity—to protect their comrades. It was an ultra-righteous war that had to be fought!
It was a war of national defense!
Every ninja who participated in the battle should feel supreme honor.
Every fallen warrior's spirit would linger above Konoha, watching over the village's growth.
This was Danzo's Will of Fire.
However, the celebration didn't last long.
After all, this was still technically the front lines, and excessive indulgence was not allowed.
Although the two repeatedly emphasized that they were in perfect condition and ready to return to battle at any moment, Danzo insisted that Tsunade and Shizune conduct a thorough examination of them—both physically and psychologically.
After enduring such prolonged torture and captivity, it was not something an ordinary person could withstand.
Fortunately, both of them were elite ninjas who had performed numerous missions in the ANBU and ROOT. Their mental resilience was strong enough to endure it.
The final medical assessment confirmed this.
"With the help of that Hyuga brat, we can confirm that their injuries are not life-threatening."
"Although there are some hidden wounds, with active treatment and sufficient rest, they should recover."
"Kakashi's eye is also healing rapidly."
"As for their psychological state, there are some issues, such as emotional fluctuations and frequent nightmares."
"But it's not too serious. Right now, what they need most is rest."
"Plenty of relaxing rest will gradually heal the scars in their hearts."
Tsunade finished her report to Danzo, who sat in his wheelchair.
Beside her, Shizune stood ready with a folder in her arms, waiting for further instructions.
"That's good to hear."
Hearing Tsunade's assessment, Danzo finally sighed in relief.
Both Ryoma and Kakashi were crucial subordinates to him—he couldn't afford for anything to happen to them.
Suddenly, Tsunade's gaze fell on a red stain on Danzo's chest, and she frowned.
"I admit your speech was quite moving, but you'd better be careful."
"You're no longer the hero who could single-handedly battle two Kage-level opponents, Danzo."
Tsunade's rare teasing made Danzo smirk slightly as he replied with a smile:
"Don't worry, I know my limits."
Tsunade scoffed with disdain.
"You old geezers always like to act tough."
Then she extended her hand toward Shizune.
"Bring me the bandages."
Shizune, as both her disciple and assistant, was momentarily stunned before quickly handing over the bandages.
Taking them, Tsunade skillfully redressed Danzo's wound in just a few swift movements.
"Honestly, you're a hassle, Danzo."
A kind smile appeared on Danzo's face.
"Heh, if it weren't for the fact that your speech was decent, I wouldn't have bothered treating your wound."
Tsunade scoffed arrogantly before turning to leave with Shizune.
After they left, Hyuga Hizashi, who had been dragged over as an extra pair of hands, finally stepped forward.
He respectfully greeted Danzo before preparing to leave.
Unfortunately, the hint of panic in his eyes was all too obvious to Danzo.
"Wait a moment, Hizashi."
Even though Danzo was just a patient sitting in a wheelchair, at this moment, he exerted immense pressure on Hyuga Hizashi.
It felt as if he were a mouse being watched by a wild cat. His neck instinctively shrank slightly before he turned back to look at Danzo.
"Lord Danzo, do you have any further instructions?"
Danzo smiled, pushing his wheelchair closer to Hizashi.
"You must have seen it while assisting Tsunade in treating me, haven't you?"
His tone was extraordinarily calm.
Yet, to Hizashi, these words struck like a thunderclap!
He struggled to hide the panic on his face and hastily replied,
"I don't know what you're talking about, Lord Danzo..."
Danzo showed no surprise at his reaction.
That day, in order to help Tsunade overcome her hemophobia, Shikaku had arranged for Hizashi to work with Inoichi, allowing Tsunade to use the perspective of a Byakugan.
With the Byakugan's nearly 360-degree field of vision, it was almost impossible to conceal the one hidden on Danzo's forehead.
Under normal circumstances, Danzo would have used a seal to cover it. However, at that time, he had lost consciousness completely.
The intense battle had also destroyed his seal, forcing his Byakugan to be exposed to Hizashi's sight.
The moment Danzo woke up, he realized this.
Fortunately, before losing consciousness, he had already given orders for all medical personnel treating him to be strictly monitored by ROOT.
Hizashi had no opportunity to inform the Hyuga clan.
After waking up, Danzo secretly observed Hizashi using his Byakugan for a long time.
He confirmed that Hizashi had not reported the matter to the clan—hence, this conversation today.
Otherwise, Hizashi might have mysteriously "died on the front lines" by now.
"You must be torn, aren't you? And also curious."
Danzo ignored Hizashi's feigned ignorance—he had no patience for inefficient conversations.
"You're torn because you don't know whether to report my possession of a Byakugan to the clan."
"You're curious because I'm not from the Hyuga clan, yet I possess this bloodline limit."
"Even though all branch family members are marked with the Caged Bird Seal..."
"I'm right, aren't I, Hizashi?"
Danzo's words cut like a blade, laying Hizashi's inner turmoil bare.
His breathing grew rapid, and panic flashed across his face.
"Lord Danzo..."
Danzo interrupted him, continuing his explanation at his own pace.
"My Byakugan came from a branch family ninja—one who once served in ROOT."
The Hyuga clan, despite being a prestigious noble family in Konoha, like other clans, was required to provide "promising recruits" to ROOT every year.
Danzo's claim was flawless.
"He was a ninja who refused to be controlled by the main family—one who longed for the sky, a free bird seeking to escape his cage."
As Danzo spoke, he watched Hizashi carefully out of the corner of his eye.
When he mentioned the words "a free bird seeking to escape his cage," Hizashi's face showed a clear expression of agreement and longing.
"In the end, he succeeded."
"I removed his Caged Bird Seal, and this eye was the reward he left me after his death."
Danzo's words were light, yet they made Hizashi—the brother of the Hyuga clan leader—breathe even more heavily.
But then, as if reminded of his status as the clan leader's brother, he suddenly calmed down and even began to refute the Hyuga ninja's actions.
"As a branch family member, how could he secretly remove the Caged Bird Seal? That is disrespectful to the main family! It is disrespectful to our ancestors!"
Hyuga Hizashi suddenly became enraged. Even with Danzo right in front of him, he couldn't control his emotions.
Because of the restrictions of the Caged Bird Seal, the branch family had been taught from childhood—
The main family was their sky.
The orders of the main family were their everything.
And now, he was suddenly told that a branch member had broken free from the Caged Bird Seal?
How could he accept this?
Wouldn't that be a complete denial of everything he had been taught and believed in all his life?
Danzo was not surprised by Hizashi's reaction.
A person who has knelt for too long cannot simply stand up—this was expected.
"So, are you saying you don't wish to break free from the Caged Bird Seal on your forehead and gain true freedom?"
Without even thinking, Hizashi reflexively answered with the standard response—
"The Caged Bird Seal exists to protect the Byakugan. It is a shield for the branch family, not a prison!"
Danzo smiled slightly at these words.
"Then what about the main family? Do they not need such protection?"
This question left the agitated Hyuga Hizashi completely stunned.
That's right…
If the branch family needed protection, didn't the main family need it too?
If it was truly about protection, then why didn't everyone have the Caged Bird Seal? Why was it only the branch family?
Seeing the confusion on Hizashi's face, Danzo let out a cold laugh.
"And if it's only for protection, then why does the Caged Bird Seal also grant control over the branch family?"
"Why is it that with just a single thought from the main family, they can make the branch members suffer a fate worse than death?"
Danzo's relentless questioning pierced through Hizashi's psychological defenses like arrows.
He recalled his childhood—when he had once tried to attack his older brother and was punished by his father using the Caged Bird Seal.
He could still vividly remember his father's words—the very man who had been the previous Hyuga clan leader:
"Hizashi, you are just a branch family member!"
"The duty of the branch family is to protect the main family and obey their commands!"
"Under no circumstances is the branch family allowed to harm the main family!"
At this moment, those words seemed to echo across time and space, whispering into Hizashi's ears once more.
Accompanied by the soul-crushing pain of the seal, it was a cage that bound his very existence.
"But deep down, you've already been tempted, haven't you?" Danzo continued.
"You, too, long to soar in the sky, to become a free bird."
His voice was calm, yet it carried an almost hypnotic allure—
Like a devil from the depths of hell, fully aware of the darkness within the human heart.
"If that weren't the case, then why haven't you reported this to your clan?"
"Beyond your wish to avoid conflict between your family and me, isn't there also a part of you that… desires this?"
Hizashi's breathing grew heavier and heavier with every word.
"Admit it, Hizashi."
Danzo slowly extended his hand toward him.
"Everyone has the right to pursue freedom—including you."
"Follow me, and I will grant you true freedom."
Staring at the old man before him, a surge of emotion suddenly welled up within Hizashi's heart.
Why should the main family be born to rule over the branch family?
Why should the branch family be condemned to servitude for the main family?
All because of a few minutes' difference at birth?
No…
He, too, deserved to be a free bird.
With that thought, Hyuga Hizashi bent down and lowered his head under Danzo's outstretched hand.
"Lord Danzo, Hyuga Hizashi is at your command."
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