It was late at night when Uchiha Sogetsu returned to the hotel. Tsunade still hadn't come back, and it seemed she was preparing for a prolonged battle. He could only hope she wouldn't be in too much trouble.
Uchiha Sogetsu was staying at a hot spring hotel, and he wasn't about to miss out on the chance to relax, especially since it was all covered as a "business trip." As he soaked in the soothing hot water, he closed his eyes and let his mind wander.
"I hadn't planned on moving this quickly, but now it looks like I have no choice," he thought. The unexpected encounter with Jigen had changed his plans, and now he had to act. He left the hot spring, got dressed, and went back to his room.
Before doing anything else, he checked the room for any signs of tampering, then set up a few traps for good measure. He pulled out a brass candlestick from his scroll, infused it with spiritual energy, and lit it. A mysterious force swept him into a deep, dark dream.
He felt like he was being drawn into a vast black void, and his spirit drifted among the stars.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru was about to wrap up his latest experiment when he suddenly felt an overwhelming drowsiness. "Huh?" he said, a bit surprised. But he quickly realized he was being summoned.
He found a chair, sat down, and let himself relax, allowing the force to pull him in. His spiritual body descended through the endless black mist until it reached its deepest point.
At the heart of the boundless ocean of subconsciousness, in a dreamlike landscape, stood a grand church made of bones. It had an ancient, almost otherworldly feel, and two indistinct figures were seated at a long, weathered bronze table.
"Good evening, Mr. Adam," Orochimaru greeted, bowing deeply. "Thank you for your help last time."
"Mr. Adam," Hatake Sakumo said, his reaction more subdued.
"Please, take a seat," Uchiha Sogetsu said, his voice calm and inviting. His figure was cloaked in shadow, but his gesture was gentle.
The two guests sat down, and for a moment, the silence was heavy. Finally, Orochimaru spoke up, breaking the quiet: "Mr. Adam, why have you called us here tonight?"
"The ninja world has been at peace for far too long," Uchiha Sogetsu replied, his tone hinting at something ominous.
Uchiha Sogetsu tapped his fingers on the table, a faint smile playing on his lips, suggesting he knew something others didn't. "It seems some people are getting restless," he remarked.
Hatake Sakumo, who had been silent until now, visibly tensed. "Are you saying the Ninja World War is about to start again?!"
Orochimaru's mocking laugh broke the tension. "What's so surprising about that, White Fang? You still have such a naive view of the world," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"The resources of the major ninja villages are limited, but Konoha has occupied the most fertile lands. After the death of the First Hokage, the other villages were always ready to make their move.Two wars had already happened and the third one isn't surprising either."
"Though I'm quite intrigued by the upcoming war," he added, glancing away from the man seated in the high-backed chair. Orochimaru's eyes held a hint of fear. "From your tone, Mr. Adam, it seems this war won't be as straightforward as it seems, right?"
"There are always people who prefer to operate in the shadows, don't you think?" Uchiha Sogetsu stopped tapping his fingers and leaned back in his chair. "To be honest, I didn't plan on getting involved, but those people want to challenge the 'Lord's' will, and I can't let that happen."
"Oh. It just happens that my research has hit a dead end, so I might as well do something productive."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly as he licked his lips, a dangerous gleam in his gaze. "Going out for a stroll sounds like a good idea. Who knows, I might even find some new inspiration."
"It's not a good idea for you to get involved," Uchiha Sogetsu said calmly. "These people are cowards. If they see you, they'll just burrow deeper into hiding."
"I'll do it Mr. Adam," Hatake Sakumo spoke up. "Everyone thinks I'm dead. Dead people don't attract much attention."
"Very well, Sakumo, it's in your hands," Uchiha Sogetsu agreed. Then he turned to Orochimaru. "I have a different task for you, Orochimaru."
"Mr. Adam, tell me what you need," Orochimaru said, bowing his head in respect. His tone was serious; he knew this was a crucial moment. "Whatever it is, I'll do my best to accomplish it."
Just one black cell had given him a glimpse of the 'future.'
The vitality contained within was remarkable—akin to the Hashirama's cells, yet not entirely human. It was a pure concentration of Yin Release chakra. After delving into the study of Black Zetsu's cells, Orochimaru had a chilling realization.
He wasn't entirely sure about his theory, but it made him even more resolved to follow the Twilight Hermit Order.
"There's no need to be so serious. This is a relatively simple task for you."
Uchiha Sogetsu's voice was calm, but the instruction was clear: "Collect as many Byakugan as you can, without attracting attention."
"Byakugan?" Orochimaru seemed taken aback by the request. "With all due respect, Mr. Adam, even though it's considered one of Konoha's two major bloodline limits or Dojutsu, it's not quite as important as the Hashirama cells or Sharingan. In my opinion, the Byakugan doesn't compare to either of them in terms of value."
Hatake Sakumo, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. It was a common sentiment in Konoha. The Byakugan and the Sharingan might be equally famous, but those who truly understood their potential knew they weren't on the same level.
Sure, the Byakugan may have an edge before Three Tomoe Sharingan, but once the Sharingan awoke to Mangekyo, it was a different story entirely.
"You guys are underestimating the Byakugan," Uchiha Sogetsu said, a knowing smirk on his face. "Both the Byakugan and Sharingan are the Bloodline Limit of Sages."
"Sage?!" Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo were stunned by the revelation. "You mean, the Sage of Six Paths?"
Uchiha Sogetsu's smile deepened, but he said nothing, confirming their suspicions without a word. Both Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo gasped in unison.
"So the myth is actually true."
Orochimaru, more curious than shocked, leaned in. As a scientist, nothing was more captivating than uncovering secrets. He felt a shiver of excitement, not fear, but an eagerness to explore the unknown.
"If the Sharingan can evolve into the 'Mangekyo,' then the Byakugan... What could it become?" He licked his lips, already thinking of all the experiments he could conduct. "I understand, Mr. Adam. I will look into it."
Hatake Sakumo saw Orochimaru's eager expression and couldn't help but cringe. He could almost hear the Hyuga clan's cries in the distance. But then he shrugged. After all, as far as he was concerned, he was already a 'dead man.' Why should he care?
"Okay, that's enough for today," Uchiha Sogetsu cut in, sensing someone approaching. He glanced at Hatake Sakumo and added, "I'll give you more details about the person you're supposed to find later."
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