In the middle of a forest clearing, a table and two rows of benches sat incongruously on the grass.
More than twenty elite ninjas were distributed around the perimeter. Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Fugaku Uchiha occupied one side of the table.
"They're approaching. The other party has... five people." A Byakugan ninja nearby hesitated slightly as he spoke.
He hadn't spotted the ninja killer—couldn't spot him—which made him uncertain.
Orochimaru and the others looked toward the tree line. Five figures emerged.
The aged Zenshu walked with steady steps. Flanking him were two boys of six or seven years. Behind them followed Tengen and Choso.
"Wh-what is that?" An astonished voice broke the silence.
The Hyuga ninjas all stared at the white-haired child in shock.
Short pale hair fluttered in the breeze. His blue-white eyes bore an uncanny resemblance to the Byakugan.
After all, the Six Eyes had been shaped using this world's Byakugan as foundation material. The resulting blue, crystal-like pupils appeared even more transparent and pale than the original.
"No, that's not a Byakugan... but how is this possible? What exactly is it?" The Hyuga Jonin's words tumbled over themselves.
At first glance, it evoked the Byakugan. But upon closer inspection, those crystal-clear blue-white pupils were clearly something else entirely.
Not a Byakugan—yet so similar.
Before Zenshu could even sit down, the agitated Hyuga Jonin rushed forward.
"Did you abduct Lord Hyuga Soka? What's the story behind this child's eyes?"
Minato frowned at the outburst but found intervention difficult.
"Hyuga Kazumasa. Watch your tone."
Only then did Kazumasa realize this meeting was being led by Orochimaru and the other senior figures.
Feeling the weight of their gazes, he could only grit his teeth and retreat.
Zenshu seated himself expressionlessly on the opposite side. Zenji and Gojo Satoru took positions on either side of him.
Tengen and Choso stood calmly behind the three.
Observing this arrangement, Orochimaru and the others instantly formed their assessments.
"Mr. Zenshu, my subordinate was presumptuous just now. However, we are genuinely curious about this young one." Minato's tone carried a hint of apology.
"Curious?" Gojo Satoru lounged lazily in his chair, chin tilted upward. An utterly indifferent smile traced his lips.
"Curious about what? Do you want to know my name? Or do you have designs on these eyes of mine?"
Silence fell. The atmosphere turned distinctly awkward.
No one had expected such directness from a child.
Zenji couldn't help but pat the boy's head, leaning back casually.
"Gojo Satoru, saying that basically puts both dojutsu clans on the spot."
Satoru's expression shifted to displeasure. "Hey! Zenji, they might not know, but you should!"
"These are my unparalleled Six Eyes. How could any other eyes possibly compare?"
The words landed like stones in still water. Expressions shifted across the table. Fugaku Uchiha and Hyuga Kazumasa's faces changed most dramatically.
Minato couldn't help but glance at Zenshu—who had produced a cup of hot tea from somewhere and was sipping it with apparent serenity.
His gaze remained fixed on the cup, as if contemplating the entire universe within its depths.
"Gojo Satoru, Clan Head of the Gojo lineage." Zenshu spoke only after feeling Minato's attention. "Zenji, my younger brother, the next Main Clan Head."
"I wonder what exactly these Six Eyes are?" Fugaku spoke up.
He had no choice. The chakra of multiple clansmen behind him was fluctuating. Their gazes had converged.
If he didn't seek clarification, they would never let this rest.
"If you want to know—why not try them yourself?" Gojo Satoru leaped up, hovering over the table.
Surging blue chakra bloomed around him, radiating unbridled will.
It formed a powerful aura that spread in all directions.
This alone was beyond what ordinary ninjas could achieve.
Orochimaru's narrow golden pupils contracted sharply. His snake-like vertical irises trembled slightly. The corners of his mouth curled into a cold, eager smile. His tongue flicked across his lips.
As the ninja world's resident eccentric—and something of a professional when it came to collecting talented children—the more gifted a child appeared, the more his interest was piqued.
Gojo Satoru shuddered slightly and followed that unsettling gaze.
Just as he opened his mouth to respond, an aged hand grabbed him and pulled him down.
"Stay quiet. If you want to fight someone, there will be plenty of opportunities later." Zenshu's voice was flat.
To expand the Book of Ages' story and scope, only Soul Books possessing pure self-will could become story branches—opening up the narratives of supporting characters.
Therefore, Zenji could control these people's lives and deaths, even manipulate their bodies to perform actions.
But he couldn't control their thoughts or change their hearts. And that was precisely the core of any story—the fundamental reason for creating story branches.
Gojo Satoru slumped back in his chair, clearly bored. He didn't spare the Hyuga or Uchiha ninjas even a glance.
Complete dismissal.
"Ahem." Minato cleared his throat, produced a scroll, and extended it across the table.
"Mr. Zenshu, this outlines the village's proposed arrangements. If anything is unsatisfactory, we can discuss further."
Zenshu accepted the scroll, unrolled it, scanned the contents, and placed it expressionlessly on the table.
One Jonin position. Two Special Jonin positions.
Honestly? Mediocre.
Even adding the Deputy Director position at the Forbidden Jutsu Research Institute was insufficient. What the other party truly wanted were the seven ninja swords.
Moreover, the Deputy Director role was clearly aimed at extracting the secret techniques he'd revealed.
"It seems Konoha's sincerity is rather underwhelming. Or perhaps you simply look down on these old bones." Zenshu's tone remained indifferent.
"Mr. Zenshu, these matters are negotiable." Minato breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Please state any requests you have."
The ability to communicate meant opportunity remained.
Though Zenshu wanted to join Konoha immediately—to collude with Danzo and Orochimaru for research materials—he couldn't appear overeager. That might arouse suspicion.
"Orochimaru, you wouldn't happen to be the Director of this Forbidden Jutsu Research Institute, would you?"
"Indeed." Orochimaru revealed his practiced smile. "That is my village position. However, for someone of your caliber, Senior, I would not interfere with your research. I'll help you apply for independent laboratories and projects."
His voice dropped to something almost intimate. "I only hope that when necessary, we might communicate together—reference different perspectives."
Having just received a grand gift, Orochimaru seemed quite agreeable.
With Orochimaru's attitude confirmed—which essentially confirmed Danzo Shimura's position as well—Zenshu's next words came far more directly.
"Three Jonin positions. The Deputy Director role. An independent laboratory and research projects. The first project application must be approved within three months. A plot of clan land near Konoha's center must be allocated..."
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