Wen Lan was handling paperwork when there was a knock at the door.
"Enter," he said without looking up.
The door opened. It was Hiashi and Hizashi Hyūga.
"Advisor-sama?!" The two brothers looked surprised to see Wen Lan there.
Wen Lan lifted his head and smiled. "Oh? You're here. How did it go? Did the elders give you trouble?"
Hiashi shook his head, his expression still serious. "No."
Hizashi, on the other hand, smiled more casually. "At first those old men wanted to object. But the moment we said it was your order, they all shut up."
Wen Lan chuckled softly.
Hiashi took a scroll from his sleeve and placed it on the desk. "This is the Caged Bird Seal."
Wen Lan opened it and skimmed through. The seal was extraordinarily complex, involving layered neural suppression and chakra circulation restrictions. A single mistake during application could cause instant brain death.
"As expected of a sealing technique passed down by the Hyūga clan," Wen Lan clicked his tongue. "Even a sealing specialist would struggle to dismantle this."
He closed the scroll and looked at them. "In a couple of days, the Hokage will negotiate with the Mizukage of Kirigakure. Hizashi-senpai, you'll accompany him."
"Understood," Hizashi agreed immediately.
Hiashi, as head of the Main House, could not easily risk himself abroad. Hizashi, as branch head, could represent the clan.
After the brothers left, Wen Lan tapped his fingers lightly against the desk, thinking.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Enter."
An ANBU member walked in—alongside Orochimaru.
Wen Lan frowned slightly when he saw the two together.
Orochimaru licked his lips and rasped, "We just happened to meet at the entrance."
Wen Lan nodded and turned to the ANBU.
"Advisor-sama, Sunagakure has sent word. In five days, they will dispatch envoys to negotiate regarding Pakura."
"Heh—" Wen Lan leaned back in his chair and casually tossed the scroll onto the desk. "Good. Tell them clearly: I will never hand Pakura over. Let them come if they dare."
"Yes!" The ANBU vanished.
Wen Lan then looked at Orochimaru, waiting.
Orochimaru glanced around the room.
Understanding immediately, Wen Lan waved his hand. "All ANBU within fifty meters withdraw. Return in ten minutes."
The hidden presences disappeared at once.
Only then did Orochimaru speak.
"The experiment has made progress. However… we've used up your flesh."
Wen Lan asked calmly, "How far along?"
"We've achieved stable survival under sunlight. No abnormal mutations. But the instinct to consume human flesh remains problematic. It requires more time."
"Not bad," Wen Lan nodded. "Impressive as always."
He removed his upper garment without hesitation and sliced off one of his own arms, handing it over.
"If it's not enough, come back. All issues must be resolved within six months."
"Of course." Orochimaru accepted the arm, a fanatical gleam flashing in his eyes.
Wen Lan watched as his severed limb regenerated rapidly, the wound knitting together seamlessly.
Time passed.
The Caged Bird Seal was mastered by Minato's trusted ANBU and placed upon the Four Families' key members. They were reassigned to border garrisons near the Land of Fire.
"Frontline" in name only—mostly dull, resource-poor postings.
None dared complain.
The agony of the Caged Bird ensured obedience.
Minato departed for the Land of Water to oversee negotiations with Kirigakure. In his absence, Wen Lan and Shikaku handled Konoha's affairs.
Today—
Sunagakure's envoys arrived.
Morning wind brushed across Konoha's gates as five Suna representatives entered.
Leading them was Chiyo.
Her brown robe fluttered lightly. Her aged face carried deep fatigue.
She looked up at Konoha's towering walls and muttered hoarsely, "It has been many years…"
Her escort followed silently, eyes sharp as they scanned the hidden ANBU shadows.
There was no welcoming ceremony.
No official reception.
No courtesy.
As if they were unimportant.
Which, to Wen Lan—
They were.
After registering at the gate, they were escorted to the Hokage Tower conference room.
Wen Lan sat at the head of the table, fingers tapping lightly, gaze sharp as a blade.
Pakura stood behind him.
When she saw Chiyo, her body stiffened involuntarily. Hatred burned in her eyes.
Chiyo noticed—but said nothing.
She was not surprised to see Wen Lan presiding.
His position as Hokage's Advisor was no secret. Every village had spies.
At first, many had thought Minato foolish.
Yes, Wen Lan had achieved Kage-level strength at five years old.
But power did not equal wisdom.
Until—
His ruthless consolidation of power shocked the ninja world.
Shikaku stood and gestured politely. "Envoy Chiyo. Please, sit."
Chiyo nodded and sat.
"I have come regarding our village's missing-nin, Pakura," she said evenly. "I assume the Hokage's Advisor understands."
Wen Lan's tapping stopped.
His voice was calm, cold.
"You abandoned Pakura for Sunagakure's peace."
"Konoha gave her rebirth."
"Now that the war is over, you want back a Kage-level combat asset?"
"Has the desert wind scrambled your minds?"
Chiyo's expression did not change, though her lips twitched slightly.
"She is still our missing-nin. Capturing or executing her remains Sunagakure's duty."
"Pakura is now a shinobi of Konoha," Wen Lan replied lazily. "Protecting her is ours."
He leaned back slightly.
"She carried infamy for the sake of your so-called peace."
"And now you seek to 'settle accounts' with someone who sacrificed herself for you?"
"Where is your righteousness? Where is your humanity?"
His voice remained soft.
But every word cut like steel.
"If she were truly a traitor, you would not have discarded her."
"If she deserved death—"
"She would not be standing alive under Konoha's protection today."
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