Chapter 88: Hyuga Hinata's Predicament
"Little Nine-Tails, you missed a sentence."
"Ah... oh! I did miss a sentence..." Little Nine-Tailsscratched its tail behind itself. "Tailed Beastmemories can become inaccurate as we get older, especially since I've been working hard these past few days to strip away the consciousness attached to the Tailed Beast yang-attribute chakra from the main body."
"It's a bit tiring... a bit tiring! You can't blame me for this!"
Watching Little Nine-Tails laughing it off in front of him, Naruto once again confirmed what he had been thinking: not only was Little Nine-Tails hiding something from him, but there was indeed a problem with his own body.
"I want to know, what is the key factor you mentioned for Awakening the Sage Body!"
"Er... this... that... I..."
Little Nine-Tails stammered. The key factor for Awakening the Sage Body was a secret buried for thousands of years, a secret that all Tailed Beast, including Little Nine-Tails, were guarding. Little Nine-Tails had no other choice but to be stubborn, prevaricate, and change the subject.
"Naruto, I think in six months at most, your Sage Body will complete its initial Awakening, and I will also be able to try and compete with the dominant consciousness!"
"Don't change the subject. I'm only asking what the key factor for the Sage Body Awakening is!"
"The key factor is you, inside your body!" Little Nine-Tails stiffened its neck. "That's all I can say. You'll have to find the rest yourself. Don't bother me with this question again; this is the limit of what I can tell you!"
Naruto was still far inferior compared to the Six Paths Sage. The former was just an interlude in its infinite life; although he left a deep impression on Little Nine-Tails, the latter was the one who gave it life and granted it freedom.
Between the two, Little Nine-Tails decisively chose the latter, and it had also done its best to loosen its tongue a little for Naruto.
"Old Man, I didn't spill the secret. If any accidents happen later, don't come looking for me!" Little Nine-Tails felt uneasy. Thinking back and forth and unable to know what would happen in the future, it simply acted like a turtle.
Little Nine-Tails made a hand seal with its paws. With a puff of smoke, Little Nine-Tails returned to Naruto's body, transforming into the shape of a ninja tool pouch.
"I need to hurry up and strip away the consciousness attached to the Tailed Beast Yang Release Chakra. Don't bother me unless it's something important!"
Little Nine-Tails' muffled voice came through, and Naruto could only shake his head helplessly.
Because he knew that if Little Nine-Tails didn't want to talk about something, even if Narutopressured it, it wouldn't let anything slip.
Like those who guard secrets, whether they want to talk, don't want to talk, or simply cannot talk—these three situations are quite easy to distinguish. Little Nine-Tails clearly belonged to the third category.
"It seems I have to find a way to solve this myself..."
Naruto didn't disturb Little Nine-Tails again. He sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and his consciousness gradually sank into his body, going to search for the hint Little Nine-Tails had revealed to him.
...
"Hinata, you seem very interested in medical Ninjutsu?!"
"You..."
Sound Village, Orochimaru's secret experimental base.
Hyuga Hinata took two fearful steps back. She couldn't understand at all how the bottles, jars, strange instruments, and the person tied to the experimental table in front of her could have anything to do with medical Ninjutsu.
" 'Tian' is a very important person to you, right?!"
"I don't know him!" Hyuga Hinata answered decisively, without the slightest hesitation. "And right now, I just want to go home!"
"It's impossible for you to go home." After a brief probe, Orochimaru smiled slightly. "It's such a pity for such a pure Byakugan to be branded with the Caged Bird Seal... Besides, I promised 'Tian' that I would take good care of you!"
"Is the care you're referring to letting me watch these bloody scenes?!"
Hyuga Hinata, of course, knew who the "Tian" Orochimaru was talking about. Ever since that day when her hair was gently stroked, and she smelled that special scent on him, Hyuga Hinata knew that Naruto had come to save her once again.
But being saved was one thing, and this current scene was quite another.
Hyuga Hinata hated the Orochimaru in front of her, and with her naturally gentle and kind nature, she simply couldn't tolerate everything Orochimaruwas doing now.
"This is just a little bit of fun while taking care of you." Orochimaru's personality remained quite wicked. "And I don't want to just take care of a vase. Useless people cannot survive here with me, and of course, you are no exception!"
Hyuga Hinata took a few more fearful steps back, and her hands had already assumed the stance of the Gentle Fist, looking determined to fight to the death if she couldn't run away.
"Don't be nervous; you'll get used to these things slowly. I'm not in a rush." Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth, revealing a terrifying smile. "Besides, I think 'Tian' wouldn't refuse a more useful you appearing by his side, right? After all, 'Tian's' strength is already sufficient, and all he lacks is just this."
"You..."
"Besides, bound by my promise to 'Tian', being unable to study such a high-purity Byakuganalways leaves one feeling unwilling. So, if I teach you, and then let you do the research yourself, that wouldn't be breaking the agreement, right?"
Orochimaru bluntly stated his intentions. "Let's assume you have no connection to 'Tian', but everyone wants to possess supreme power. This is not just for attacking, but even more so for protection!"
Orochimaru had an advantage in insight into human nature and manipulating hearts that was hard for ordinary people to reach; otherwise, his subordinates wouldn't have so many people willing to die for him.
Moreover, Hyuga Hinata was not very old now, and her thoughts were even harder to hide.
Although she vehemently denied her relationship with "Tian", Orochimaru had still guessed that there was definitely a story between Hyuga Hinataand "Tian".
And cultivating Hyuga Hinata wasn't just for studying the Byakugan; more importantly, Orochimaru wanted to take out an insurance policy for himself.
Even though Orochimaru seemed very elusive now, making him hard for Naruto to pin down, Orochimaru controlled the boundaries very well, so he naturally knew that he would definitely face a crisis in the future.
This wasn't a question of the unknown, but rather human nature at work. Even if there were many reasons for obstruction, it was something that would inevitably happen!
Anyone with a purpose and ambition would not allow uncontrollable factors to arise around them, and there were only two ways to eliminate such factors.
One is to subdue, the other is to eliminate!
But no matter which of these two situations occurred, it wasn't what Orochimaru wanted to see, so it was very necessary to prepare a way out for himself as early as possible.
"The Sharingan has higher levels of evolutionary paths, so I think the Byakugan, as an eye as famous as the Sharingan, shouldn't be too disappointing. I would very much like to see its higher-level form."
Orochimaru beckoned to Hyuga Hinata, signaling her to come closer. "Even if the higher level of the Byakugan cannot be seen, you learning these from me won't let your talents go to waste."
"Don't look at this life research that exceeds the scope of medical Ninjutsu as too bloody; behind it lies endless power. While it allows you to understand the essence of life, it will also allow you to step onto a higher level."
Orochimaru's words were extremely seductive. Hyuga Hinata didn't know if it was for Naruto's sake, but regardless, her attitude had already softened.
"I won't harm others' lives casually... nor will I do anything too bloody!"
"I know, I know." Orochimaru beamed with joy. "The person lying on the experimental table is voluntary. This isn't harm, but helping him gain power!"
"How can someone..."
"I am indeed voluntary!" The person lying on the experimental body suddenly spoke, and their face was full of fanaticism for Orochimaru. "Lord Orochimaru! Please begin; I can't wait any longer!"
Undoubtedly, Hyuga Hinata, staying in Orochimaru's secret experimental base, ushered in the second change in her life.
[If you like this novel, I hope you will share it on Facebook. The author is very grateful.]