Chapter 62


    Deep within Hidden Sword Vige, there was a white main branch entwined around a ck longsword.


    This white main branch appeared particrly fragile; without the support of the ck longsword, it couldn''t even stand upright. It seemed that a slightly stronger rain could push this branch into the mud.


    From the main branch, small,ntern-like white fruits extended to both sides, densely packed, like white umbres.


    When the wind blew, the skins of the fruits would open and close.


    Of course, upon closer inspection, one might realize these were notntern-like fruits but rather pale white eyeballs!


    They moved their gazes, curiously observing the surrounding world.


    The so-called skin closing was, in fact, these eyeballs instinctively closing against the wind carrying fine sand.


    This is the core of the Byakugan ntation technique.


    The Byakugan Divine Tree.Of course, the current Byakugan Divine Tree was still in its sapling stage, far from the time of harvest.


    Its only current use was to absorb and store Byakugan essence, transforming tiny amounts of essence into Byakugan Curse Marks.


    The so-called Hidden Sword Vige tests were conducted by the roots extending from this tree in the front yard, piercing the eyes of the testers.


    Therefore, the tests themselves were not the goal.


    Using the opportunity to imnt the Byakugan Curse Mark into the popce was the key.


    Like parasitesying eggs in their hosts, the people imnted with the Byakugan Curse Mark would "train" hard, rapidly growing the Byakugan essence in their eyes. Half of this essence would be absorbed by the Byakugan Divine Tree as nourishment, while the remaining half served as a "reward" for their efforts, to be harvested continuously in the future.


    This wouldn''t take long.


    As the Byakugan Divine Tree controlled more humans, its growth rate would naturally elerate. In the future, all the essence Neiki had painstakingly gathered from eliminating the Hyuga n over the years might not even match the monthly output of the Byakugan Divine Tree.


    Of course, even with that quantity, the mere 50,000 people in the Land of Waves would still be insufficient.


    Thus, nting the "Tree of Peace" worldwide wasn''t just a whimsical thought for Neiki; it was a genuine n.


    Though the Byakugan Divine Tree was still very weak, many great things start from humble beginnings.


    Given the eerie nature of the Byakugan Divine Tree''s true form, Neiki set up ayer of Genjutsu, <em>Illusionary Hell</em>, and numerous defense mechanisms around it to ensure its safe and undisturbed growth.


    From the mountain peak, Neiki observed the scenes within Hidden Sword Vige and smiled faintly.


    If Hanabi wanted to y, let her y. The Byakugan Curse Mark wouldn''t affect a true Byakugan.


    Of course, for the Byakugan Divine Tree, the Byakugan still held great allure. If ordinary people imnted with the Byakugan Curse Mark were like seeds, then Hyuga n ninjas like Hanabi, with their mature Byakugan, were fully ripened fruits.


    So the S-level rating wasn''t an evaluation of Hanabi''s ninja aptitude but rather of her Byakugan.


    Sensing something, Neiki tilted his head slightly.


    "You''re back…"


    He donned a wooden mask and, with a flicker, vanished from his spot.


    In a private room at a tavern on the docks of the Land of Waves.


    "How did it go?" Zabuza asked, dismissing the women around him as a figure entered.


    "It''s begun…" Haku ced down a bundle, ignoring the women''s envious nces, her voice carrying a suppressed emotion. "Iwagakure and Konohagakure officially went to war yesterday!!"


    The battlefield was in the Land of Rain in the western part of the Land of Fire, far from the Land of Waves. Thus, the news of the war only reached here today.


    Zabuza identally crushed his sake cup, his eyes wide with disbelief.


    That guy who imed to be Hashirama wasn''t spouting nonsense after all?


    The Fourth Great Ninja War was really about to break out?


    "Why?" Zabuza frowned deeply.


    Haku pulled out a bounty notice from her robe.


    "Remember this person?" Haku took a deep breath.


    "Neiki Hyuga…" Zabuza nced at the portrait and bounty amount on the notice.


    This was a bounty issued by Konohagakure, circting in the ck market for over half a month. It had be a hot topic, with countless rogue ninjas seeking information about this person daily.


    Though Konoha hadn''t specified Neiki''s crimes, two pieces of information alone were enough to drive many rogue ninjas crazy.


    Namely:


    Hyuga n.


    60 million ryo bounty.


    Due to the notorious Bird Cage Seal system, everyone assumed Neiki Hyuga was a member of the Hyuga main family, as only they could escape the seal''s control and dare to defect from Konoha.


    Naturally, only the Byakugan of the main family could be extracted and imnted into one''s face.


    No Kiri ninja didn''t covet the Byakugan.


    Even a wanderer like Zabuza was enticed upon seeing the bounty notice. The 60 million ryo bounty didn''t scare him; it only made him more eager.


    He didn''t know what Neiki had done to warrant such a price from Konoha, nor had he heard much about Neiki''s fame in Konoha.


    Zabuza was convinced Neiki was still an unknown kid. He believed in geniuses but believed in himself more.


    "Don''t let me catch you."


    He thought.


    At this moment, Zabuza didn''t understand why Haku had shown him Neiki''s bounty notice.


    He looked at Haku, who pointed at Neiki on the notice, pursing her lips:


    "In the future, if we encounter this person, let''s run far away…"


    She knew Zabuza''s desire for Neiki… but realistically, it wasn''t feasible.


    Zabuza was stunned.


    "What do you mean?"


    Haku exhaled, slowly exining:


    "This war between Iwagakure and Konohagakure is just the beginning."


    "Kumogakure is preparing for war, and they''ll soon join the siege against Konoha."


    "Sunagakure is Konoha''s ally. We can''t get intel on Kirigakure, but they probably won''t miss this golden opportunity."


    "The Fourth Great Ninja War is about to break out, Zabuza-sensei."


    "And it''s all because of… this man."


    Haku pointed at the smiling Neiki on the bounty notice.


    Then, Haku revealed the reason behind the war and Neiki''s deeds in Konoha:


    "Neiki Hyuga isn''t from the main family but the branch family. He defected because he exterminated the Hyuga n…"


    "The Hyuga n massacre and the Uchiha n rebellion happened on the same day. This wasn''t a coincidence, as the Uchiha rebellion was orchestrated by him…"


    "And the second Nine-Tails incident in Konoha wasn''t a rumor. It was confirmed by all nations."


    "But the news of the Hyuga n massacre hadn''t broken out, so they remained patient."


    "And Neiki, rumored to be wanted by Konoha for bombing the ninja hospital, was indeed a false rumor."


    "He didn''t just bomb the hospital; he bombed the entire Konoha…"