Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 317 Changes in the Wind

Ever since Orochimaru and Hyuga Neji returned from their meeting with Hyuga Kanan, the two of them have become like different people, focusing all their energy on training and frantically improving themselves as if they had gone mad.

As a genius of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Neji neglected even his beloved younger sister, Hyuga Hinata, devoting himself entirely to training. He knew that only with immense strength could he protect his family and prevent them from suffering. Now, having learned the truth behind the ninja world, he understood the weight of his responsibility. If he couldn't quickly improve his strength to prepare for potential future crises, his loved ones, like Hinata, might become enslaved. This was an unthinkable prospect for Hyuga Neji. Therefore, he had to give his all, relentlessly striving to become stronger to protect his family.

Orochimaru was filled with anger and resentment; he couldn't bear to see his world ruled and enslaved by others. As an extremely confident man, how could he tolerate such an ending? His pride wouldn't allow him to give up easily; even in the face of immense difficulties, he would fight on. At this moment, a glimmer of hope appeared before him, like a light in the darkness, showing him the possibility of a future. Orochimaru knew this might be his only chance; if he missed it, there would be no turning back. Therefore, he decided to seize this ray of hope at all costs. He had absolute confidence in his talent and abilities, firmly believing he could change his destiny. He knew that only through hard work could he achieve his goals. Thus, he resolved to forge ahead bravely, no matter the challenge, never retreating. He would use his wisdom and strength to break free of constraints and reclaim his own world.

Hyuga Kanan, on the other hand, chose to go into seclusion, not even leaving his meditation chamber and remaining out of the public eye for an extended period. He not only needed time to recover from the energy he had expended helping Orochimaru with his cultivation transition, but also wanted to use this opportunity to improve his own cultivation. He had a vague feeling that his time for cultivation was running out. The World Will might soon be unable to sustain itself. Judging from its unwavering acceptance of his entry into its Origin Realm when he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, it desperately wanted him to grow quickly and reach a level where he could provide assistance. The World Will had placed all its hopes on him, as it didn't have much time left to find other suitable assistants.

Hyuga Kanan was secretly on guard. He knew that the World Will was unfathomable and its actions often concealed deeper motives. Although the World Will seemed to be helping him, it might actually be plotting something far more complex.

Hyuga Kanan couldn't help but ponder: if he truly developed according to the world's will's expectations and became a powerful figure capable of rivaling the Sage of Six Paths, what would the future hold? Perhaps he would face a fate similar to the Sage of Six Paths, being seen as a threat by the world's will and having his power stripped away. This unsettled him, for he didn't want to become a pawn in someone else's game.

At the same time, Hyuga Kanan realized that he must remain vigilant and not be easily swayed by the world's will. He needed to delve into the world's intentions and find countermeasures. Only in this way could he protect himself from potential threats and remain invincible in this unpredictable world.

However, discerning the true intentions of the world's will is no easy task. Its power and wisdom far exceed ordinary people's imagination, and its actions are often covert and complex. Therefore, Hyuga Kanan understands that he needs to continuously improve his strength and insight in order to better cope with potential challenges.

In the days that followed, Hyuga Kanan resolved to redouble his training efforts, not only to improve his physical strength but also to hone his thinking and judgment. He knew that only by becoming powerful enough could he be qualified to contend with the world's will and protect his destiny from being manipulated by others. Moreover, to ensure absolute certainty, he needed hidden means to counter the world's will. Because no one could predict how things would ultimately unfold, but as long as he possessed overwhelming power as a foundation, he would have the ability to resist whatever happened. Only in this way could he truly control the situation and deal with all possible challenges and crises. This powerful strength could not only protect him but also play a crucial role in critical moments, stabilizing the overall situation.

In this mysterious training ground, a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere permeated every corner. However, since Hyuga Neji and Orochimaru appeared with their fanatical training methods, this land seemed to be infused with a powerful force, completely altering the original atmosphere. Their obsessive and fanatical training methods spread rapidly like a burning flame, igniting the fighting spirit in everyone's hearts. They may not know the truth, but as once incredibly perceptive ninjas, they naturally sensed a hint of unease.

The initially somewhat listless crowd was quickly infected by this enthusiasm, and one by one they threw themselves into their cultivation with eager anticipation. Some secluded themselves for intensive training, others exchanged techniques with others, and still others explored new cultivation methods. Everyone was constantly challenging themselves and pushing their limits in order to stand out in this fiercely competitive environment.

The entire training ground became bustling with activity, filled with busy figures. The previously tranquil atmosphere had vanished, replaced by a scene of fervent enthusiasm and boundless passion. Here, time seemed to lose its meaning; people focused solely on their immediate training tasks, immersing themselves completely in them.

Everyone is striving to improve their skills and reach higher levels. They encourage and support each other, fostering a healthy competitive environment. In this process, they not only learn more knowledge and skills but also gain deep friendships and develop strong team spirit.

As time went on, this change became increasingly apparent. The training ground gradually transformed into a vibrant and dynamic place, attracting more and more people to join in learning and growth. It was no longer just an ordinary training ground, but had become a sacred place full of hope and dreams.

However, despite the drastic changes to the training grounds, they had no impact on the ninja world, maintaining its original atmosphere. Konoha Village, in particular, as the nominally largest ninja village, has been completely transformed. Since Tsunade became Hokage, she has implemented numerous reforms, sweeping away the stagnant atmosphere of the Hiruzen Sarutobi era and revitalizing the entire village. Whether it was reuniting the ninja clans of Konoha or restoring fair and just training of commoner ninjas, these measures have helped stabilize the village's strength.

Furthermore, Konoha successfully re-allyed with Sunagakure, a move that forced other ninja villages that had previously coveted the Land of Fire to abandon their plans to attack Konoha. After all, Konoha's strength had been greatly enhanced, and with Sunagakure's support, other ninja villages dared not easily provoke war.

In this situation, the villagers of Konoha felt an unprecedented sense of security. They knew that as long as Tsunade led the village, Konoha would grow stronger and stronger, and their lives would improve. Meanwhile, the village's ninjas threw themselves into training and combat preparations to deal with any potential future crises.

Overall, although the situation in the ninja world remains tense, Konoha Village, under Tsunade's leadership, is gradually moving towards prosperity.

At this moment, Tsunade was sitting in the newly built Hokage office, listening to Nara Shikaku's report and explanation. Her brows were slightly furrowed, indicating that she was in a very bad mood. She had recently arranged for Nara Shikaku to contact several members of Konoha ninja clans who had left with the Hyuga clan, hoping to recall them to Konoha. Although she had spent a lot of effort restoring some stability to the village, the lost ninjas had not been replaced. Moreover, the loss of the Hyuga clan, Konoha's most important strategic clan, had significantly weakened the village's ability to exert influence. She hoped that by inheriting the Hokage position and giving the Hyuga clan fair treatment, those outside would be encouraged to return. However, it was clear from Nara Shikaku's report that the Hyuga clan had no intention of returning to Konoha, and their attitude towards the village was far from friendly.

After listening to Nara Shikaku's report, Tsunade couldn't help but sigh deeply. She now harbored immense resentment towards Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and other former leaders of Konoha; they had completely shattered the Hyuga clan's trust. The fact that the Hyuga clan didn't resent Konoha was already a sign of goodwill, considering Konoha had once intended to annihilate their clan. The fact that they weren't seeking revenge was already a testament to their goodwill.

Tsunade frowned, her face full of worry, and said, "Shikaku, is there no hope at all? The Hyuga clan must still be in great danger outside! After all, the Hyuga clan's Byakugan is coveted by the entire ninja world. They need some help and a stable living environment! The current Konoha Village should be very suitable for their clan!"

She knew perfectly well what it would mean if the Hyuga clan left Konoha. The Hyuga clan's Byakugan was a powerful and unique ability, making them a target for other ninja villages. If the Hyuga clan couldn't return to Konoha, their safety would be severely threatened.