Chapter 569: The Old One

The ANBU, after many setbacks, finally found the legendary "Earth‑Moon Spring" deep within a scarcely traveled canyon.

"This must be the spring Lord Lian Ye mentioned."

"Return and report!"

Soon, Lian Ye, who was sunbathing at home, received a message from Tuan Cang.

Without hesitation, he called Nara Motoya, the elder Hyuga clan leader, and his good brother Tuan Cang; the four rushed straight to the spring's location.

On the way, Nara Motoya and the elder Hyuga clan leader both wore expectant expressions.

After several years, they would finally see Hinata Yuki again, hoping his life on the moon was going well.

Because the ANBU relayed the news directly to Tuan Cang, who was resting at home, Yuanfei Rizhan, who was far away in the Hokage Office, had no idea that several people had set out.

After all, the Hokage had left the village and did not need to report to the acting Hokage.

At this moment, Yuanfei Rizhan, despite being faced with a mountain of documents, no longer wore the previous worry on his face.

Because he would soon be able to travel to the moon.

"Tsk tsk, just thinking about it makes me excited."

Yuanfei Rizhan dreamed of the moon's scenery, unaware that Lian Ye and his companions had already departed.

……

"This is it."

Lian Ye arrived at the ANBU's discovered spring site; the water was not crystal clear but a deep blue, speckled with glimmers of silver light.

The spring was silent, yet emitted faint spatial ripples that resonated mysteriously with the distant moon.

"This spring is the spatial conduit linking the Ninja World and the moon."

Lian Ye said so and leapt straight into the water; Zhi Cun Tuan Zang and the others did not hesitate and followed immediately.

Just as he said, beneath the spring lay the spatial conduit.

The descent was not swimming in water but a subtle sensation of weightlessness and falling.

Fortunately, the feeling did not last long; a silvery‑white point of light appeared below and expanded rapidly.

Buzz—

A faint hum sounded, and the four felt solid beneath their feet as the surrounding scene suddenly clarified.

They stood on a desolate land strewn with encircling hills and gray dust.

Above them was no longer blue sky and white clouds, but an endless black cosmic backdrop and a beautiful deep‑blue planet.

That was the Ninja World they had lived in since childhood!

"This is… the moon," Zhi Cun Tuan Zang looked around, shock evident in his eyes.

They hadn't expected that in the blink of an eye they had truly traversed from the Ninja World to the moon.

"Two forces are battling ahead!"

The elder Hyuga clan leader's voice snapped the others back to attention; he pointed toward a direction and said,

The Byakugan advantage of the Hyuga Clan was now on full display.

They had noticed nothing, yet the elder clan leader saw people fighting ahead.

"Elder, what's the situation over there?"

"The battle is fierce; one side is already at a disadvantage," the elder Hyuga clan leader frowned and said, "Let's go see quickly."

He was unsure whether the advantaged side belonged to the main family.

If not, the main family's members would be in danger!

He wasn't concerned about the main family's safety, only worried that Hinata Yuki might be in danger.

Hearing this, Lian Ye had no objection, and the group hurried toward the Otsutsuki battlefield.

A few dozen li away.

The Otsutsuki main family and the branch family engaged in a fierce battle.

"DaTongMuYuShu, how long will you remain stubborn?!" the branch family's Great Elder glared darkly at the severely wounded Hinata Yuki, "Look at yourself now! To protect a filthy Ninja World and let your clan bleed for nothing, is it worth it?"

The Great Elder had previously allied with other Elders to assault Hinata Yuki, and at the cost of two Elders' deaths, succeeded in gravely wounding him.

Honestly, he did not wish to see the current situation.

In the end, they were of the same clan, and the endless stalemate was unavoidable.

If they could persuade the branch family to abandon defending the Ninja World, they wouldn't have to fight to the death.

Then they could jointly destroy the Ninja World and establish a new order!

"Elder Longyi… the ones at fault are you!" Hinata Yuki, blood spilling from his mouth, clutched his chest, his face pale as he gasped, "Destroying the Ninja World was never the ancestors' will!"

Whether he grew up in the Ninja World or fulfilled his father's wish, he could never let the branch family destroy it.

He had promised Nara Motoya that once this matter was settled, he would return to see him!

Unfortunately, after all those years, the war between the main family and the branch family never ended.

Both sides' strengths were comparable; without decisive power, the war could not conclude.

"Clan leader, are you alright?"

At that moment, two members of the main family, seeing Hinata Yuki injured, immediately stepped in front of him with solemn expressions and said,

"We will cover your retreat!"

They would never allow anyone to harm the clan leader!

One must know that Hinata Yuki's power is the strongest within the main family; if the clan leader were to fall,

the main family would likely be unable to stop the branch family's scheme.

Therefore, regardless, they must ensure the clan leader's safe exit, and once healed, resume repelling the branch family's assault.

In this battle, the branch family lost several Elders, a loss equally great.

As long as Hinata Yuki can leave safely, I believe the Branch Family won't dare to send anyone to pursue.

"You also want to stop me?"

The Branch Family's Great Elder sneered at the two young brats from the Main Clan who suddenly appeared before him.

"Very well." He waved his hand, and the last two injured Branch Family Elders stepped forward behind him. "Since they are obstinate, let them be buried together with the Ninja World they fought to protect!"

At this moment Hinata Yuki is gravely wounded, and is by no means his opponent.

Although the two Branch Family Elders are injured, they still have more than enough strength to deal with the two young brats.

The other Main Clan members are being held back by the Branch Family, so they cannot come to aid in the short term.

It now seems that today is Hinata Yuki's day of death!

As long as the Clan Head falls in battle, the clan's morale will be crushed, and then the entire Main Clan can be eliminated in one stroke!

The two Elders, hearing this, said no more and launched an attack directly at the two.

"Clan Head, you leave quickly; we will cover you!"

The two Main Clan members, with a resolve to die, rushed toward the two Elders, and even knowing they were outmatched, they did not retreat a single step.

Hinata Yuki watched the two clan members throw themselves recklessly for him, and his eyes instantly reddened.

He did not hesitate to turn and flee; he cannot die here, otherwise the Main Clan would no longer be able to resist the Branch Family!

"You think you can run? Did I let you leave?"

The Branch Family's Great Elder snorted coldly and quickly blocked him.

"Normally I wouldn't be your match, but today you are facing five Elders at once; you have no chance of winning!"

As soon as the words fell, his body surged upward, and a palm, gathering all his strength, slammed straight into Yuki's chest.

Hinata Yuki saw his pupils contract sharply; under such a heavy blow, he could hardly evade.

At that moment, a Shuriken flew toward the Great Elder's palm, forcing him to abandon the attack.

"Swoosh!"

The Shuriken lodged obliquely in the ground a short distance from the two.

"That old thing hits hard, huh."