Becomes a Rebel Ninja After Annihilating the Hyuga Clan

Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Rogue ninjas have their own channels for obtaining information, and there has been a lot of curiosity about Neiki, leading to countless rumors circulating in the rogue ninja community.

A Konoha ninja turning rogue wasn't unusual.

Every year, dozens, if not hundreds, defect from Konoha for various reasons. While most are eliminated shortly after defecting by Konoha's hunter-nin, some manage to escape due to their speed or strength. When Konoha cannot deal with these individuals on their own, they end up on the bounty list, which is known throughout the ninja world.

Neiki making it onto the bounty list was an acknowledgment of his strength. However, starting with a 60 million ryo bounty was considered excessive.

He was a relatively unknown ninja from Konoha, not someone legendary like Orochimaru, one of the Sannin. Orochimaru’s bounty wasn’t even as high. Veteran rogue ninjas who had been causing trouble for years couldn’t match Neiki’s initial bounty, leading to widespread disbelief.

The prevailing theory was not that Neiki had committed heinous acts, but that he possessed something precious to Konoha. Given his Hyuga Clan background, the implication was clear.

Many rogue ninjas, like sharks scenting blood, saw Neiki as a child walking through a bustling market with a treasure. He might have some skill, but they believed he couldn't stand up to a stronger adult. Otherwise, he would have already been famous in the ninja world.

However, when Zabuza heard Haku’s words, he was silent for a long time. His previous assumptions about Neiki were completely overturned.

The ninja world is a small circle. Some remain unknown because they live in peaceful times without many opportunities to shine.

Some remain unknown because, despite opportunities, they lack the ability to seize them.

Neiki’s obscurity was clearly due to his youth, his need to stay hidden while planning something big, and his strength yet lack of opportunity.

He created his own opportunity to make a name for himself:

• Destroying the Hyuga Clan.
• Instigating the Uchiha Clan rebellion.
• Orchestrating the second Nine-Tails incident.
• Bombing all of Konoha.

Any one of these events would be enough to make history.

But all four were attributed to one person…

Zabuza thought of his own 15 million ryo bounty, awarded by Kirigakure after his failed assassination attempt on the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.

He previously thought Neiki’s 60 million bounty was absurd—how could a kid be worth so much more?

But now, seeing the significance of Neiki’s actions, Zabuza realized that even four times his bounty seemed too low!

With the Fourth Great Ninja War erupting, many would seek to understand its origins.

Zabuza could already foresee it. Whether cursed, hated, or admired, the name Neiki Hyuga would be known not just in the ninja world but far beyond as the war's intensity grew.

Like a monumental event shaking the world, people would not forget the man who demolished the Konoha dam, causing the power imbalance among the five great villages and sparking the Fourth Great Ninja War.

Zabuza took a deep breath, coming out of his shock.

He pondered.

The Fourth Great Ninja War erupting meant Kirigakure wouldn’t miss out on the opportunity, but going to war would also change Kirigakure’s current isolationist policies.

Zabuza looked up and said:

“This could be an opportunity.”

An opportunity to once again attempt to assassinate Yagura and completely change Kirigakure's bloody policies.

“Should we cooperate with that Hashirama?” Haku asked.

After hearing the mysterious figure claiming to be “Hashirama” assert the inevitability of the Fourth Great Ninja War and share his vision of “correcting the entire ninja world” and “planting the Tree of Peace worldwide,” Zabuza and Haku decided to split up. Zabuza stayed in the Land of Waves to observe Hashirama for any ulterior motives, while Haku went to the Land of Fire to gather information on the upcoming war.

Now, with Iwagakure initiating the war, the Fourth Great Ninja War was inevitable.

Hashirama hadn't lied.

Reversing the logic, this Hashirama, being able to predict this early on, might not be the actual Shinobi God from decades ago but certainly had close ties to Konoha, understanding the disasters instigated by Neiki and covered up by Konoha, only now revealed by Iwagakure.

Zabuza didn’t answer directly but instead said, “Recently, a new ninja village called Hidden Sword Village was established in the Land of Waves by that Hashirama.”

“Hidden Sword Village?” Haku, who had just returned, was puzzled.

“Yes, a ninja village,” Zabuza replied with a strange expression. “He told the Land of Waves’ daimyo that he hoped everyone in the Land of Waves could control their own destiny… It seems he wants to train everyone on this island to become ninjas.”

“The Land of Waves’ daimyo can afford that?” Haku asked.

Ninja villages are financial black holes, consuming vast resources without producing much.

Take Konoha, for instance. The commissions it receives barely cover 30% of its annual expenses. The Fire Country daimyo has to subsidize the remaining 70%.

Sunagakure has it even worse. The Wind Country daimyo’s reluctance to fund them led to a continuous decline in the number of ninjas, forcing the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, to personally collect gold dust in the desert to support the village.

The Land of Waves is small and poor. Forget training everyone to be ninjas; they couldn't even establish a small village with just a few dozen ninjas!

“Hidden Sword Village is different from ordinary ninja villages. It doesn’t spend as much, and the Land of Waves’ daimyo doesn’t have to pay a penny,” Zabuza explained.

The fact that the Land of Waves could have a ninja village without spending money was why the daimyo agreed.

Of course, Zabuza believed that these noble families might soon regret it.

Haku was slightly stunned and then profoundly shocked.

“To correct Konoha, to correct the entire ninja world.”

“The Land of Waves is just the beginning.”

“To make everyone on this island a ninja.”

“To let everyone control their own destiny.”

“To plant the Tree of Peace worldwide.”

All these phrases, once spoken by Hashirama and now reiterated by Zabuza, made Haku feel as though a figure of immense power and determination was facing this flawed world, ready to change it no matter the cost.

“He is indeed a person of great resolve,” Haku remarked.

Zabuza knew then that Haku had fully acknowledged Hashirama.

That guy wasn’t just talking.

He was determined to bring about change and had already taken action.

“I think you were right before,” Zabuza said calmly, looking at Haku. “Since he wants to correct this world, if the first step is the Land of Waves, then the second step might as well be Kirigakure…”

Though the Fourth Great Ninja War might give Zabuza the chance to assassinate Yagura, even if he succeeded, it wouldn’t necessarily change Kirigakure’s “Bloody Mist” policies.

Kirigakure’s isolationist history was long-standing.

This issue wasn’t something that could be solved by simply killing someone; it required the courage and ability to overhaul the entire system.

Zabuza knew he lacked the talent for such a task.

But in Hashirama, after these days of observation, he saw the potential.

“I will follow all of Zabuza-sensei’s arrangements,” Haku said with a gentle smile, “but does he have any interest?”

“Of course, he does.”

A figure wearing a wooden mask gently pushed open the door.