Chapter 277: Isn't Hanabi a Konoha Ninja Too?
It really was Momoshiki?
While suppressing the chakra leaking from the Kāma, "Black Zetsu" confirmed Momoshiki's identity.
After all, her consciousness had only transferred over after Shiromo had dealt with Urashiki and Momoshiki. She knew nothing about what had happened before that.
Even if she had heard about it from others, there had been no way to verify its authenticity.
Now it was confirmed.
Since this truly was Momoshiki's Kāma, then the things Shiromo had said about the future carried considerable credibility.
The characteristic of a Kāma was to compress the information of an Ōtsutsuki into a kind of data package, seal it within a suitable vessel, and then decompress it. The vessel's body would gradually transform into that of an Ōtsutsuki. In the end, the vessel's consciousness would be erased, and the Ōtsutsuki would successfully resurrect.
As someone who also possessed a form of resurrection through cursed seals, Orochimaru looked down on the properties of the Kāma.
The only real function of a Kāma was preserving the strength of the bloodline.
But it came with a pile of side effects.
The most critical issue was the decompression speed. It was pitifully slow.
Boruto was already relatively close to the Ōtsutsuki bloodline, yet Momoshiki had been decompressing for so long and still had not resurrected.
Some might argue that "so long" was an exaggeration. Momoshiki had only stayed within Boruto for about a year before being forced to give up resurrection in order to save Boruto from dying.
But think about how long Orochimaru needed to decompress.
Once the Evil Sealing Method was released from Sasuke, Orochimaru crawled out on his own, without even needing to occupy another body.
As for taking over a White Zetsu body and reshaping it into himself, that only took a few breaths.
That said, slow decompression had its advantages.
For example, in situations like this, it could be easily suppressed during research.
As the Kāma decompressed, it would gradually convert the vessel's body into Ōtsutsuki lineage. This process could be accelerated, but it was irreversible and impossible to stop.
Because of this, Orochimaru had previously been able to extract Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki's cells from the partially converted cells of White Zetsu.
Combined with several preliminary genetic programming projects he and the Second Hokage had developed…
In the future, Orochimaru would be able to modify Mitsuki's genes, making him a naturally compatible and perfect Sage Mode vessel. That was research in this direction.
This time, Orochimaru planned to modify the extracted Ōtsutsuki genes slightly. He would only alter two aspects: the decompression rate and the decompression key.
Shiromo had told Orochimaru that there were two types of Kāma bestowed by the Ōtsutsuki.
The black one was a true vessel capable of carrying a soul.
There was also a white Kāma, which was purely power and incapable of bearing a soul.
When the decompression key of a cell was cracked, it could be converted into a white Kāma.
With sufficient prior preparation, it took only one afternoon for Orochimaru to complete the finished product.
A small gene container the size of a finger, inside of which was sealed a white rhombus-shaped object. This was a pure white Kāma.
It was currently inactive. Once activated, it would continuously release Ōtsutsuki chakra.
The first phase of the experiment was complete.
Everyone relaxed and sat down in the rest area.
Hanabi had already been notified to come over. Next, they would see whether she could enter Tenseigan Mode.
"The Tenseigan requires a Byakugan with high bloodline purity to awaken. If Hanabi can do it, would that mean Hiashi and Hinata could as well?"
"And Neji's bloodline and Byakugan were suppressed because of the Caged Bird Seal. If he didn't have the Caged Bird, with his talent and lineage, could he also succeed?"
While resting, Sarutobi Hiruzen voiced his speculation and questions to Orochimaru.
"You're not wrong, sensei. In theory, it's possible."
Orochimaru gave an affirmative answer.
"Then…"
Hiruzen grew somewhat excited.
If that were truly possible, wouldn't Konoha suddenly gain four world-destroying-level combatants?
At that point, the Hyuga clan would truly become what they always claimed to be, "the strongest clan in Konoha."
"But that is only in theory. Shiromo-kun and I will not casually hand this power over to them."
Orochimaru shattered Hiruzen's fantasy.
"Why? Isn't this a force that could help resist the Ōtsutsuki clan?"
Hiruzen's expression stiffened.
"We do not lack methods of obtaining power. What we lack are people who share our ideals."
"For such people, we will seek leaps in power for them."
"Sensei, do you believe Hyuga Hiashi and his daughter count as people who share our ideals?"
"If we grant them power, would they turn around and help others oppose us?"
"As for Hyuga Neji, the day his Caged Bird is removed by Shiromo is the day he qualifies to join. There's no need to overthink it."
Orochimaru's explanation was pragmatic.
If you are not an ally, why would we strengthen you?
"…Then what about Hanabi? Isn't she also part of the Hyuga clan?"
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment before asking.
In his view, Hyuga Hanabi was also a Konoha ninja and a member of the Hyuga clan.
She was not some stray Hyuga bloodline adopted by Shiromo.
As the second daughter of the Hyuga family, doted on since childhood, was Hanabi truly someone who shared their ideals?
"That's hard to say."
Orochimaru glanced at Shiromo, who was sitting across from him with Black Zetsu, and hesitated.
"Hard to say, or nothing to say?"
Hiruzen smiled faintly.
In his view, Orochimaru had run out of arguments. He had found a flaw.
"Forget it. Sensei, just take a look at this."
Orochimaru took out a recording device, inserted it into the player, and placed the display screen in front of Hiruzen.
"What's this?"
Hiruzen blinked.
"A little skit the children put together out of boredom, imitating scenes from the movie. They're planning to perform it for the New Year."
"Oh? Let me see."
Hearing that, Hiruzen smiled kindly at the screen, like an elder watching the younger generation.
However…
"What is this?!"
Hiruzen's eyes widened.
This was what they were planning to perform during the New Year?
Was this the simple and honest folk culture of a rogue ninja organization?
On the stage, Ringo Ameyuri was dressed as Shiromo.
She had not used a Transformation Jutsu, because without one, you could tell it was a performance.
Strangely, only Shiromo's character did not use a transformation. The others had not gone through such effort.
Perhaps it was to prevent genuine emotions from showing through?
On screen.
Hyuga Hanabi knelt on one knee, as if swearing allegiance.
She did not speak a single line, relying entirely on movements and expressions to convey meaning.
A mime (silent act). Quite artistic.
However…
The plot soon became somewhat familiar.
Led by the Hyuga clan, the traditionalists of Konoha opposed Shiromo's reforms of the ninja world.
With a sorrowful expression, Hanabi held up a sign bearing the crossed-out words "capacity," then activated her Byakugan and unleashed her modified Gentle Fist, beginning a clan extermination night.
In the end, she killed Hyuga Hiashi in front of Hinata.
At that moment, Hanabi wiped at her eyes, put on colored contact lenses, and suddenly spoke to Hinata: "My foolish sister, run away, flee, and live on in ugliness. Come find me when you have eyes like mine~"
(End of this chapter)