Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 281 The Current Situation of Konoha

Although some time has passed, the streets of Konoha still bear the marks of battle. Buildings are destroyed, walls are cracked, and the roads are filled with smoke and debris. However, Konoha is actively engaged in reconstruction, with villagers busily working to repair damaged houses and clear the rubble from the streets. They are striving to restore the village's vitality with their own hands.

Jiraiya walked silently down the street, his heart heavy. His gaze swept over the surrounding scenery, a flicker of pain and self-reproach in his eyes. He couldn't ignore the destroyed buildings and injured people; all of this filled him with immense guilt. Because the culprit behind this battle was none other than his former best friend—Orochimaru.

Jiraiya knew all too well the immense pain and loss Orochimaru's betrayal had brought to Konoha. He recalled the time he had spent with Orochimaru, those laughs and friendships now distant memories. And now, he had to face reality and shoulder the responsibility of protecting the village.

He quickened his pace, crossing the street and avoiding the crowds. He didn't want the villagers to see the sadness and guilt on his face. He knew that only by making amends for past mistakes through action could he truly help Konoha Village out of its predicament.

Jiraiya was determined to find a solution, not only to stop Orochimaru from harming Konoha again, but also to ensure that similar tragedies would never happen again. He would do everything in his power to protect the place he once considered home.

Jiraiya's trip to the Hyuga clan's territory was not without purpose. Besides ascertaining Hyuga Kanan's true attitude towards Konoha, he had also received reports from many ninja: Kanan was the only one to enter the barrier to observe the battle, yet he showed no hostility towards Orochimaru. Even after Hiruzen Sarutobi was ultimately killed by Orochimaru, Kanan took no action to stop it. This made Jiraiya wonder: Did Kanan know Orochimaru's whereabouts? More importantly, he wanted to find out Orochimaru's true purpose in this operation. Therefore, Jiraiya decided to personally travel to the Hyuga clan's territory to speak with Kanan.

When Jiraiya arrived at the outskirts of the Hyuga clan's territory, he was somewhat surprised. What he saw was vastly different from what he had expected. In this massive attack, most of Konoha Village was engulfed in fierce fighting, and almost everywhere except the core area of ​​Konoha had suffered varying degrees of damage. However, surprisingly, the environment around the Hyuga clan was completely unscathed, as if it had never been attacked at all. This made Jiraiya suspicious. What puzzled him even more was that the Hyuga clan ninjas had not participated in the battle between Konoha ninjas and Sunagakure and Otogakure, but instead quietly guarded their clan's territory. This behavior aroused Jiraiya's vigilance, and he began to wonder if the Hyuga clan had other plans or intentions. These questions lingered in Jiraiya's mind, filling him with curiosity about the role the Hyuga clan played in Orochimaru's plan.

However, these weren't Jiraiya's primary concerns at the moment. He knew perfectly well that if Konoha wanted to survive, it needed both immense strength and a united spirit. And currently, the Hyuga clan's attitude was paramount. Were they willing to continue supporting Konoha? This was crucial. If the Hyuga clan decided to leave Konoha, it would be a tremendous loss for the village.

Furthermore, Jiraiya was also worried that Hyuga Kanan might have further plans or actions. He needed to understand the Hyuga clan's movements in order to formulate appropriate countermeasures. Although Konoha had just experienced a battle, the enemy could attack again at any time. Under these circumstances, Konoha needed to unite and resist the external enemy together.

At the same time, Jiraiya was well aware that Konoha's strength had been greatly weakened. If the Hyuga clan chose to leave at this time, even if Tsunade were recalled to inherit the Hokage position, Konoha would face immense pressure. Faced with external threats, Konoha needed a stronger force to maintain peace and tranquility. Therefore, Jiraiya resolved to do everything in his power to protect Konoha's future.

The Hyuga clan's surveillance personnel keenly observed their surroundings, and immediately detected Jiraiya's presence as he approached. However, instead of immediately allowing Jiraiya into the Hyuga clan's territory as usual, they chose to have him wait outside, a move that raised eyebrows.

In fact, the Hyuga clan now holds a rather unfriendly attitude towards Konoha ninjas, especially those associated with Hiruzen Sarutobi. For many years, the Konoha leadership, headed by Hiruzen Sarutobi, has exerted pressure and constraints on the Hyuga clan. Over the years, the oppression from the Konoha leadership has fueled resentment, and this resentment has gradually accumulated and affected the entire clan.

Despite this, Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga clan, had been striving to prevent his clan from clashing with Konoha. He understood that while the Hyuga clan possessed formidable strength, a direct confrontation with Konoha would have irreversible consequences. Therefore, he chose to exercise restraint and attempted to resolve the issue through diplomacy. However, the clan members' discontent remained high; they yearned to break free from the control of Konoha's leadership and seek freedom and equality.

Now, many clan members eagerly await their clan leader's guidance to leave Konoha and settle in Hyuga Kanan's sacred training ground. After all, those clan members remaining in Konoha maintain close ties with their kin at the training ground and have heard many wonderful tales about that place. It is said to possess not only breathtaking beauty and fertile land, but also extremely pleasant living conditions. Moreover, their affection for Konoha has been almost entirely eroded by years of suppression and discrimination from high-ranking officials like Hiruzen Sarutobi. Although a sliver of attachment remains, they no longer consider Konoha their only option for residence.

As a seasoned ninja, Jiraiya was naturally very perceptive of others' attitudes, and he observed the Hyuga clan's behavior closely, but he didn't pay it much attention. In fact, before coming here, he had already had extensive exchanges with other clans and gained a deep understanding of the current situation in Konoha. Those clans had told him without reservation about the events that Konoha had experienced in recent years.

Jiraiya had long heard of the pressure exerted on the Hyuga clan by the Konoha leadership. Nara Shikaku bluntly stated that the Konoha leadership treated the Hyuga clan worse than an enemy. They not only forcibly seized many rights that rightfully belonged to the Hyuga clan, but also confined them to their clan territory. Even Hyuga clan members who originally belonged to the Konoha ninja ranks were forced to leave the Konoha ninja system. This practice was almost identical to how they treated the Uchiha clan, only the situation was more severe now. After all, the Hyuga clan had a relatively mild temperament and had always chosen to tolerate and back down.

However, this doesn't mean the Hyuga clan is truly without temper. In fact, the Hyuga clan has found a way out through Hiashi Hyuga, so they feel there's no need for a direct conflict with Konoha. Moreover, the Hyuga clan's view of Konoha has changed; they are no longer as loyal to the village as before. Many are waiting to leave Konoha for their own paradise. This decision wasn't impulsive, but rather a well-considered one. The Hyuga clan knows that staying in Konoha might lead to more trouble and danger, while a new home would allow them to live a freer and more peaceful life.

Jiraiya felt a growing sense of dread, realizing the gravity of the situation. The Hyuga clan, one of Konoha's most important families, would be a tremendous loss if they were to leave the village. And the situation he now faced was precisely that possibility. The deep-seated alienation the Hyuga clan members felt towards him, a Konoha ninja, shocked and bewildered him. This indicated a shift in the relationship between the Hyuga clan and Konoha; they had completely lost their sense of belonging. This was undoubtedly a devastating blow to Jiraiya.

Although the hostility wasn't intense, even very faint, Jiraiya could still sense the coldness and alienation it contained. This attitude made him realize that the Hyuga clan might indeed have decided to leave the village, as rumored. This news worried and unsettled Jiraiya. He knew that the Hyuga clan was a powerful force in Konoha, and if they left, Konoha would lose a crucial supporter. Moreover, the Hyuga clan, led by Hyuga Kanan, was incredibly powerful; even if they left Konoha, other villages might not dare to easily attack them. Even more worrying was that the Hyuga clan not only possessed top-tier shinobi but had also cultivated the next generation of strong individuals, possessing the strength and foundation to carry on the family line. This meant that even after leaving Konoha, the Hyuga clan could still maintain its powerful position and continue to grow stronger.

For the first time, Jiraiya truly grasped the immense damage Sarutobi-sensei had inflicted on the village over the years. The annihilation of the Uchiha clan, and now the Hyuga clan, deeply divided and on the verge of leaving the village—these two powerful clans alone had already eroded Konoha's foundation by more than a quarter. Then there was Sakumo Hatake's suicide, Orochimaru's defection, and Tsunade's departure.

The village has not only lost its core clans and powerful ninja families, but also its top-tier combatants. It's fair to say that Konoha Village now might not even be able to maintain its status as one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, let alone be considered the strongest ninja village in the world.