Konoha, October 13, Year 53
Upon returning to Konoha, Hyuga Gakuya immediately heard about the latest developments concerning the Hyuga clan. It had been the biggest headline in the village for days.
Under external pressure, the Hyuga clan had agreed to delay the application of the Caged Bird Seal on branch family members until the age of nine.
Hearing this, Gakuya's companions turned to look at him. As someone close to him, they could sense that the changes in the clan's policies bore his and the Hokage's influence.
A series of unfavorable incidents had been targeting the Hyuga clan, and there was no doubt that someone was orchestrating it all.
Gakuya smirked. "Why are you all looking at me? Let's go. We need to report our mission to the ANBU, and then we're having yakiniku. My treat."
Yamato threw an arm around his shoulder, laughing. "Haha! Alright, let's see if I can eat you into bankruptcy."
"With your appetite? Maybe in the next life."
After completing their mission report and submitting it to Captain, the team received a full week of leave. This was perfect timing for Gakuya, as it gave him enough time to prepare for the upcoming inspection and rotation of the sealed archives next month.
Being a trusted confidant of the Hokage came with perks—such sensitive assignments were naturally given to those within his circle, such as Kakashi's team.
Having accomplished another short-term goal, Gakuya felt relaxed. He and his friends spent the afternoon at the Akimichi family's barbecue restaurant, feasting and unwinding.
...
As evening approached, Gakuya staggered toward the Hyuga compound, only using chakra to sober himself up just before arriving.
Entering the compound, he was met with sharp glares from several clan members. The more outstanding he became, the more humiliating it was for the so-called pure-blooded Hyuga.
How could a half-blood be so highly valued by the Hokage and even rise to the ranks of the ANBU?
Gakuya scoffed internally. These people's troubles had only just begun. Once news of the Hyuga ANBU member's death reached them, the Hokage faction's suppression of the Hyuga clan would truly commence.
As he stepped through the main entrance, he saw his uncle, Hyuga Hizashi, training Neji in the Gentle Fist. Upon spotting him, Neji's eyes lit up with joy, ready to greet him, but he quickly hesitated, pretending not to notice and focusing on his training. However, his wandering gaze betrayed his true feelings.
Hizashi nodded at Gakuya. "Neji, keep practicing. I need to discuss something with Gakuya."
"Yes, Father."
Gakuya followed Hizashi into a private room, where they sat facing each other. Gakuya poured them both tea.
"This was your doing, wasn't it?" Hizashi asked, though he had already guessed the answer.
"It was."
"Thank you." Hizashi gave a slight bow.
Gakuya quickly bowed in return. "There's no need for that. Neji is my little brother, and before she passed, my aunt entrusted me to look after him. Of course, I'll do everything in my power."
"Even so, I am grateful. The sealing scroll is under your old bed, just as you requested. It has been aged to look authentic."
Gakuya stood up. "I'll go retrieve it now."
"Whatever you're planning, be careful."
"I understand."
Leaving the room, Gakuya found Neji waiting outside, eyes full of expectation. He crouched down and pulled out a small gift box.
"Here, Neji. For you."
Curious, Neji stepped forward and opened the box, revealing a pair of wrist guards inside.
Gakuya picked one up and helped Neji put it on. "These will protect your wrists while training."
"Thank you, Brother."
Gakuya stayed with Neji for a while, guiding him in his training before finally leaving late at night. With the forged sealing scroll in hand, he returned to his rented apartment—a location he had chosen specifically for the underground basement beneath it, perfect for his research.
As he left, a shadowy figure watched him from afar before swiftly vanishing into the night.
...
Deep in the Hyuga compound, a kneeling Hyuga clansman reported, "Elder, Hyuga Gakuya spoke with Hizashi, then gave Hizashi's son a pair of wrist guards before returning to his old room."
"That's all?" The aged Hyuga elder listened with a sideways glance.
"Yes, Elder."
"And how would you describe their relationship?"
"Very close. Hizashi's son seems particularly attached to Gakuya."
The elder chuckled ominously. "Hehehe… The Hokage may have forbidden me from using the Caged Bird Seal on that half-blood, but he doesn't know I have other methods."
...
Back in his apartment, Gakuya locked the door carefully and activated his Byakugan, scanning the surroundings for any signs of surveillance. Once he confirmed he was alone, he entered the basement. The seals on the door remained undisturbed.
The basement was fully equipped—Gakuya had spent most of his salary expanding it and acquiring research tools. From a sealing scroll, he extracted three corpses of Hyuga branch members. Carefully, he removed their destroyed Byakugan and preserved them in saline solution.
Two of the more damaged bodies were disposed of, while the most intact one was stored in a freezer for future study.
A subject this valuable couldn't be wasted so easily.
For the next seven days of his vacation, Gakuya dedicated himself to researching the Byakugan and the Hyuga bloodline, only taking occasional breaks to train with Neji.
Thanks to his past-life knowledge, he navigated genetic research with relative ease. He even took a blood sample from Neji to compare it against other Hyuga genetic markers.
His findings were astounding.
The Byakugan's genetic lineage traced back directly to the Otsutsuki clan, contained within a specific genetic chain. However, much of this chain was dormant—centuries of bloodline dilution had sealed away large portions of it.
The Hyuga's Byakugan was merely a fraction of this chain. The higher the genetic activity in this sequence, the purer the Byakugan.
Gakuya examined his own DNA and found something unusual—besides the section related to the Byakugan, another part of the Otsutsuki lineage was partially active.
"That must be the trait linked to the Sage Body. So I do have Senju blood, but its activation level is extremely low."
To awaken his full potential, he needed to use the Chimera Technique to absorb Byakugan chakra and bloodline traits, gradually evolving his eyes.
The Byakugan was far from inferior to the Sharingan. Kaguya Otsutsuki had demonstrated abilities like mental manipulation, mind reading, and spatial control. Even Momoshiki Otsutsuki had displayed its advanced capabilities.
And beyond that—there was the Tenseigan, an evolution of the Byakugan. Mastering it would give him power rivaling even endgame Naruto.
But first, he needed the Chimera Technique.
The forbidden jutsu was stored in Konoha's sealing vault, and next month's archive inspection was his chance to obtain it.
To prepare, he had even developed a new D-rank jutsu: Ninjutsu: Substitution Swap, which allowed him to replace a scroll's contents with an identical-sized object while concealing the exchange.
With this, his success rate in stealing the technique would increase dramatically.
If that failed… he would simply create another opportunity himself.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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