But the Child of Prophecy, the viewing of the Uchiha Stele, or the Three Holy Lands, were events that occurred recently!
Initially, Tobirama even thought Aomi wouldn't notice the Nine Tomoe Rinne Sharingan within his body, and at that time, he didn't dare to remind him, fearing it would bring too much pressure to Aomi.
Looking at it now, Aomi already knew!
"Aomi, you... when did you begin to..." Senju Tobirama was no longer composed; his speech was stumbling: "You knew all along?"
"Ah, I didn't tell you then because I was afraid of giving you too much pressure, Tobirama."
Aomi smiled, a smile carrying a weariness not fitting his age and handsomeness, along with a hint of teasing: "But now it seems, your ability to handle pressure is better than I thought..."
Senju Tobirama was suddenly amazed.
Indeed...
This was Aomi's own body, with such a terrifying Nine Tomoe Rinne Sharingan suddenly appearing, he should be the first to know!
Moreover, that Uchiha Stele was placed right within Nankai Shrine, there were times when Aomi had meetings with Hachida and a few clan members, that stone slab was directly opposite Aomi, unnoticed by all...
Aomi might have already read the contents on it during those times.
"Why didn't you tell me, Aomi!" Senju Tobirama spoke rather angrily: "You don't trust me!"
Aomi shook his head, saying no more.
Senju Tobirama continued to complain, but gradually fell silent.
Aomi's character was like this, always carrying everything alone...
——
Within the Mizukage Building.
"Hizashi, it's been hard for you lately..."
Aomi toyed with the azure blue kasa in his hand, praised: "The Hidden Mist is very well constructed, you've worked hard."
Hyuga Hizashi chuckled: "I was just following your instructions."
Aomi shook his head, gesturing for Hyuga Hizashi to come closer.
Hyuga Hizashi stepped forward, his expression becoming solemn: "Lord Aomi, is there anything you need?"
"Take off your forehead protector, let me see your Caged Bird Seal..."
Hyuga Hizashi's expression hardened, his hands trembling.
This is about to...
Lord Aomi is about to...
Hyuga Hizashi bit his lip, revealing his forehead, which he had always considered a mark of shame throughout his life.
At the center of his forehead was a dark green cross, flanked by wave-like stripes.
The famous Caged Bird Seal, the Hyuga Clan's Main and Branch Family identification.
Essentially, it's a type of curse seal, capable of sealing the Byakugan; if the subject of the technique dies or if the eyeball is removed from the brain, it enters a self-destruct sequence, and can also be actively triggered by the Main Family as a punitive measure.
Aomi scrutinized Hyuga Hizashi's forehead and smiled.
It's not particularly complicated jutsu, just connecting the Byakugan, the brain nerves, and the Caged Bird curse seal together...
Yet it's effective enough.
A chain is only sufficient if it binds the dog, isn't it?
The Hyuga Branch Family, from birth, undergoes brainwashing to protect the Main Family, learning the Gentle Fist from a young age; even a Jonin like Neji had almost never used Fuinjutsu, not to mention Five Elements Jutsu.
What's more, the Caged Bird Seal seems simple in Aomi's eyes...
The tomoe in Aomi's eyes spun, the mechanism of the Caged Bird flashing through his mind, followed by reversing the reasoning—
Pa!
Aomi slapped a palm on Hyuga Hizashi's forehead, producing a crisp sound.
And with this slap, the Caged Bird Seal on Hyuga Hizashi's forehead of nearly thirty years suddenly began to shrink, contracting from both sides towards the center of his brows, finally transforming into two glowing green dots.
"Fuinjutsu: Unbinding Cage Seal..."
Aomi delivered another slap to the head, embedding the jutsu that could liberate the Branch Family into Hyuga Hizashi's mind.
Hyuga Hizashi felt a lightness on his forehead never felt before, his eyes brimming with tears.
This feeling of freedom, once experienced, can never be abandoned.
It's said the Caged Bird Seal is able to protect the Branch Family, while objectively it serves certain functions.
Yet with the same purity of Byakugan, of the same family background, who would willingly serve as a beast of burden for others?
The Ninja World is inherently dangerous.
When you possess Secret Techniques, Kekkeigenkai, you naturally become a target for enemies and bounty hunters; this is the norm and not exclusive to the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan being unique...
Furthermore, does the Main Family have protection from the Caged Bird?
Ultimately, it's simply enslavement...
"The freedom I sought, that once-blocked view, finally obtained today!" Hyuga Hizashi suddenly kneeled, looking up at Aomi, his white hair shimmering like a descended Immortal under the sunlight.
The Immortal touches my crown, granting me freedom...
That's probably how Hyuga Hizashi feels now.
Hyuga Hizashi recalled meeting Aomi, from when Aomi at Root invited major Ninja Clans, the arrogant Hyuga clan elders unwilling to send anyone from the Main Family, so sent him from the Branch Family instead.
Yet Aomi didn't dislike him, but warmly accepted him, granting him status and respect.
And now, Hyuga Hizashi was still deliberating on how to approach Aomi to request the removal of the Caged Bird, considering he might need to risk half his life to drop hints.
But Aomi didn't, straightforwardly resolving it for him.
"From the Target Hyuga Hizashi: You have obtained Kekkeigenkai—Byakugan!"
"Hizashi, I'm very optimistic about you, optimistic about the Hyuga Branch Family."
Aomi patted Hyuga Hizashi's shoulder, signaling him not to continue kneeling: "Consider carefully how to use the Unbinding Cage Seal..."
Aomi rubbed his brow, looking somewhat weary.
Hyuga Hizashi was startled, quickly asking: "Lord Aomi, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, just go and do what you need to."
Aomi handed Hyuga Hizashi a scroll, softly saying: "Inside is a task I leave to you, review it only after the war ends..."
Hyuga Hizashi accepted it with both hands, holding it closely to his chest, solemnly promised: "Lord Aomi, I will complete the task!"
Aomi smiled, saying no more: "Go inform Kisame, Terumi Mei, Kaguya Kimijiro, Zabuza, to gather at the places sealing the Three-tails and Six-tails; I have arrangements to make."
Hyuga Hizashi received the order and swiftly ran off.
[Heart of Hidden Mist]: When you control the Hidden Mist Village, the abilities of the unit's affiliated ninjas will be reflected upon you, including but not limited to Bloodlines, Chakra, Ninja Arts, Physique.
The multiplier of the reflection is directly correlated with the loyalty of the Hidden Mist Ninjas to you.
This talent can open the ultimate confrontation, upon completion special rewards—Ocean Contract.
"Ocean Contract, loyalty, and strength..."
Aomi mused these keywords in his mind, he was indeed one of Konoha's best mentors...
Even the less than ten-year-old Nohara Rin, or the average-talented Asuma could learn Mystical Palm Jutsu and High-tier Fire Release similar to Uchiha Madara under Aomi's tutelage...
As for the problem of loyalty, it was easier handled.
Loyalty of the heart is loyalty, Genjutsu-enforced loyalty is also loyalty, the heart plus Genjutsu ensures iron-like loyalty!
After going through a battle with Aomi, even the weaker Hidden Mist Ninjas had undergone purification, only those with real combat abilities survived.
Plus, with the internal cleansing through the cooperation of figures like Kaguya Kimijiro, the Hidden Mist effectively had just over two thousand people left...
But they were all elite, worthy of being educated and indoctrinated.
Aomi toyed with the Mizukage Kasa in his hand, and stood up.
Meanwhile, Senju Tobirama watched this scene, feeling a sense of melancholy envelop his heart.
The ocean is Aomi's future grave, whereas the Hidden Mist Village and its ninjas are Aomi's chosen caretakers of his grave...
Senju Tobirama couldn't help but ponder once more...
Exactly when did Aomi realize that Nine Tomoe Rinne Sharingan?
And from when did he conceive of sealing himself and suppressing the death wish of the Six Paths Sage?
Senju Tobirama didn't know...
He only knew, if discussing the Will of Fire or love for the Ninja World.
Aomi was above all!