Sogetsu returned to the hotel deep into the night.
Tsunade still hadn't come back. Judging by her habits, she was almost certainly fighting an all-night "battle" at the casino. He could only hope she wouldn't lose too miserably.
Since he finally had the chance to stay at a hot-spring hotel—and it counted as "official mission expenses"—Sogetsu fully intended to enjoy it.
Warm steam enveloped him as he sank into the bath, eyes closing, mind still spinning.
"I wasn't planning to move this fast… but today changed everything."
Running into Cixian had shattered the comfortable timeline he had planned.
He left the hot spring, changed clothes, and returned to his room. After carefully checking the surroundings and setting traps, he pulled out the bronze candelabrum of Hermes from a storage scroll. Soul power ignited the wick.
"Ten souls' worth of spiritual mass—any more and the backlash starts to itch."
A strange force tugged at him.
Darkness swallowed his vision, dragging him downward like a falling star.
The Church of Bones
Across the village, Orochimaru felt sudden drowsiness.
He paused, recognizing the sensation as a summon.
He settled himself in a chair, closed his eyes, and let the dream take him.
Consciousness drifted through endless black fog until a grand cathedral built of pale bones rose before him. Ancient pressure permeated the air.
At the long bronze table sat two figures—blurred by dreamlight.
Orochimaru bowed deeply.
"Good evening, Lord Adam. Thank you again for your guidance last time."
Sakumo—White Fang—stood calmly at the other end. "Adam."
"Sit," Sogetsu said lightly, his form wrapped in shifting haze.
After they took their seats, silence lingered.
Orochimaru spoke first.
"My lord, may I ask why you summoned us again?"
"The world has been peaceful for far, far too long," Sogetsu replied, tapping a finger on the table. "Some people are beginning to get restless."
Sakumo's expression sharpened.
"You mean… another Great Ninja War is about to begin?"
Orochimaru sneered softly.
"White Fang, you're still as naïve as ever. The other villages have been eyeing Konoha's fertile lands since the Second Hokage died. They've been waiting for an opening."
He paused, glancing carefully toward the high-backed chair where Sogetsu sat.
"But from your tone, Lord Adam… it seems this conflict will not be simple?"
"There are always those who hide in the dark," Sogetsu said. "Normally, I would not care. But they intend to obstruct the will of the 'Master.' That I cannot allow."
Orochimaru's golden eyes flickered.
"Coincidentally, my research has hit a dead end. Perhaps it's time I stretched my legs… maybe even discover something new."
"You cannot be the one to move," Sogetsu said calmly. "Your presence will only scare them deeper underground."
"Then let me go, Lord Adam," Sakumo offered. "To the world, I am already a dead man. And dead men draw no suspicion."
Sogetsu nodded.
"Very well. I'll send you the faces of those you must find."
Then he turned to Orochimaru.
"And you—I have another task for you."
Orochimaru straightened.
"My lord, whatever it is, I will carry it out."
Sogetsu's voice remained even.
"Collect Byakugan. As many as you reasonably can."
Orochimaru blinked, genuinely startled.
"The Byakugan? Forgive me, but compared to Senju cells and Sharingan evolution, I never believed the Byakugan held equal value."
Sakumo nodded. Everyone who understood bloodline limits knew the same thing.
Sogetsu chuckled softly.
"You underestimate it. The Byakugan and Sharingan share the same ancestor—both come from the Sage's bloodline."
"Th—the Sage of Six Paths?!"
Both men jolted upright, breath catching.
Sogetsu did not answer, yet the silence itself was confirmation.
Their disbelief turned to shock.
Myth, it seemed, was reality.
Orochimaru trembled slightly—not in fear, but pure exhilaration.
"If the Sharingan can evolve into the Mangekyō… then a Byakugan…"
His breath quivered.
"Understood, my lord. I will conduct the research thoroughly."
Sakumo glanced sideways at Orochimaru's predatory excitement and privately pitied the Hyuga.
Sogetsu felt activity approaching his physical body.
"That's enough for now. Sakumo—I will send you the targets later."
The dream shattered into darkness.
AUTHOR'S NOTE — BONUS & EARLY ACCESS
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