At the end of this episode, "Future Naruto" appeared once again in a corner of Konoha.
He had an anxious expression as he rushed quickly toward this direction.
"Nothing must happen—"
"Future Naruto's" lines were filled with urgency. After swiftly breaking through Konoha's barrier, he headed straight for the Ninja Academy.
"Is it really the Future Naruto?"
"Is he here to save the Old Thief? Does the Old Thief even need saving?"
"I don't think so. Masahiko doesn't look like he's in trouble; if anything, it feels like Hiruko is the one about to have a problem."
"Even if he can't win, the Old Thief can still run. He's a professional at escaping."
The appearance of "Future Naruto" didn't make everyone feel a sense of crisis; instead, they felt—
Even if Masahiko couldn't win, he would definitely be able to leave.
After all, in past scenes, his angles for attacking and retreating were always too tricky.
At the very least, with abilities like Shikotsumyaku, if he just pulled out a little bit of his power, it would be impossible for him to die at Hiruko's hands.
These people really believe in him too much.
But it didn't matter; his faked death was only to have time to come out and cultivate.
Whether they believed it or not wasn't important.
After leaving behind information, Konoha should be able to sense that something is wrong and would surely find information that he is still alive.
He focused his mind and sped up the progress.
Masahiko looked downward.
[Popularity Rating: S]
[Comprehensive Evaluation: —]
[Due to the large number of characters appearing in this episode, as a villain—]
[performance pay: Bloodline Development Card]
Another Bloodline Development Card?
Masahiko's eyes lit up. After thinking for a moment, he immediately took out the Byakugan and "equipped" it to prevent the Bloodline Development Card from being used on the Byakugan.
After that, he chose to use it.
A moment later—
Just like before, nothing happened.
Masahiko had already expected this.
In this situation, the fact that nothing happened might actually be a good thing.
He closed his eyes and began to mobilize the Chakra within his body, continuing to organize his Chakra pathways and opening his Tenketsu.
The ability of every Tenketsu in the Hyuga Clan to release Chakra is not innate; it is obtained through day after day of cultivation.
The same was true for Masahiko.
To better cultivate Senjutsu, he first had to open all of his own Tenketsu.
Konoha.
The Hyuga Clan.
"Have you still not found Neji?"
"My apologies, Clan Head-sama, we have not found him yet."
"Keep looking!"
Hiashi's face was gloomy.
Just as he was suspecting that Neji might have been kidnapped, Hyuga Himon arrived outside via Body Flicker.
"Clan Head-sama, he's been found!"
Hyuga Himon bowed and then looked up. "Neji is at the Chunin Exams venue, using his Byakugan to secretly watch the Chunin matches."
Hiashi's brow twitched upon hearing this, and a hint of anger appeared on his face.
"Where is he?"
"Our fellow clansmen from the Anbu have already brought him over."
Hyuga Himon replied.
Hiashi nodded and sat coldly in his chair, waiting for Neji to return.
After waiting for a moment, Hyuga Neji was brought into the courtyard.
Seeing Hiashi's expression, no matter how dissatisfied he was in his heart, he knew he should bow his head at this time.
However—
Neji thought for a moment, but instead of being overly polite, he coldly lowered his head: "Clan Head-sama."
"Neji, you are a genius in your class; I won't scold you for skipping school."
Hiashi's tone was cold. "Knowing that such a major event happened in Konoha, why didn't you report back immediately after being safe?"
"To answer the Clan Head, I was lying low near the venue, not daring to be discovered by the proctors. I wanted to wait for them to finish the exam before coming out."
Neji answered "truthfully," "Later on, I was attacked by a Ninja from Takigakure and then I lost consciousness."
"Takigakure?"
Hiashi frowned and looked at Hyuga Himon.
Hyuga Himon nodded slightly and said in a low voice: "A female Ninja from Takigakure has mysteriously disappeared. This afternoon, we found a faceless corpse."
Faceless—
The Vanishing Facial Copy Technique?
This was a high-level Ninjutsu; there was a high probability it was Orochimaru who had infiltrated.
He activated his Byakugan and carefully observed Neji's condition.
Afterward, Hiashi's eyes narrowed slightly.
On Neji's neck, there was a special mark.
He squinted and asked, "What is that on your neck?"
"My neck?"
Neji reached for his neck, followed by a sharp sting.
He activated his Byakugan and "saw" the special Chakra on his neck.
Neji acted very surprised: "What is this?"
Hiashi remained silent for a few seconds before saying, "Go back and rest first. I'm going to the Hokage Office."
"Yes!"
Neji left with a preoccupied look on his face.
Hiashi departed using Body Flicker.
A moment later, at the Hokage Office.
Even though it was late at night, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still working.
In the chaos following the incident, Konoha needed him to preside and coordinate even more.
Especially since—
Currently, Masahiko's life or death was unknown.
Upon hearing the news, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up abruptly and asked, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, the pattern is—"
Hiashi drew it on a piece of paper.
"This pattern is different from the one on Anko's body."
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned.
Afterward, he took a deep breath and said, "I understand. Seal it up for now and observe it later to see if there are any other consequences."
"Yes."
After receiving the answer, Hiashi turned and left.
A moment later, another person arrived.
It was an Anbu Ninja responsible for guarding Konoha Hospital and delivering messages at any time.
"Hokage-sama—"
"Give it to me!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately rushed over and took the report from his hand.
After glancing through it hastily, a look of shock appeared in his eyes.
"Is there no mistake in the investigation?"
"Yes. Although the body was almost completely destroyed, its vitality was too strong, and some cells still survived—"
The Anbu Ninja replied, "Advisor Utatane said she hopes to obtain the notes from that year, as well as Tenzō's cells, for further DNA comparison."
"Advisor Utatane is at Konoha Hospital?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the report; Koharu Utatane's name wasn't written on it.
"Yes."
The Anbu Ninja nodded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with a complex expression and said, "I understand. In that case... go to the Anbu to retrieve them; the Anbu has them on file."
"Yes!"
The other party turned and left.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the report in his hand and didn't speak for a long time.
This report was enough to prove—
Masahiko was not among the corpses!
Moreover.
He remembered some of the DNA data; this was indeed similar to the First Hokage and Tenzō.
It was a similar experimental product. If that was the case, how did the other party obtain it? Was it Orochimaru?
The mysteries were increasing.
Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples.
Suddenly, a figure flashed by outside.
After sensing it slightly, he immediately opened the window and jumped out. He soon saw a figure vanish in a flash, leaving only a scroll on the rooftop.
It was "Naruto"!
"Hokage-sama—"
"No need to chase. He has no ill intent. You all may withdraw."
"Yes!"
The Anbu Ninja left.
Hiruzen Sarutobi bent down to pick up the scroll and opened it to read carefully.
Could it be information related to Masahiko?
He was full of anticipation.
However.
On it, only one sentence was left—
"Everything is futile; nothing you do has any meaning."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked around and finally gave a heavy sigh.
"Naruto..."
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