Bloodline Optimization

"Issui-kun, please wake up. We can train in Taijutsu together. Didn't you say you'd protect me like this for the rest of my life? But now you're like this. If you never wake up, I'll hate you for the rest of mine..." Hinata looked at Issui lying on the bed, her heart filled with sorrow. I really am the most useless one. Without Issui-kun to rely on, I don't even know what to do. I really haven't changed at all. I thought his encouragement would make me stronger, but I'm still so fragile. Will he sleep forever?

"What day is it now? When will he wake up?" Hiashi asked a member of the medical team outside the treatment room.

"It's already the seventh day. The energy in this child's body is almost exhausted. If he doesn't wake up today, he might... he might..." The medic trailed off. Clearly, the situation was already dire.

"He might what?" Hiashi asked with a frown.

"From what we've observed, ever since the child was brought in, we've done our best to meet his body's needs, and his vital signs have returned to normal. Yet he still hasn't woken up. So we believe he used a particularly serious forbidden technique, one that exhausted his spiritual energy. The reason he hasn't died yet is that he has a powerful conviction sustaining him. But the more time passes, the more that conviction will fade. So if he still hasn't woken up by tonight, you should give up..." the medic said.

"No... he won't. Issui-kun won't sleep forever. I've always believed in him. Please, I'm begging you, save him..." Hearing the medic's words, Hinata ran out and grabbed the medic's clothes, pleading.

"Alas, we've done everything we can. You..." the medic said helplessly. If Lady Tsunade were here, she'd surely have a way. Unfortunately, we don't know where she is now.

"Boo-hoo..." Hinata returned to Issui's bedside. Looking as though she had lost something she depended on, she threw herself across him and burst into tears.

"Alas..." Hiashi was helpless too. He hadn't expected the situation to be so dire. It was a pity about the talented boy. He had hoped to use Issui's ability to optimize the Main Family's bloodline to an even higher level. Although Issui's ability was his main value in Hiashi's eyes, the time they had spent together had not left Hiashi entirely without affection for him. What a pity...

That afternoon, Sasuke and Naruto came to visit Issui too.

"Hey, knockoff, why are you still sleeping? If you keep this up, you'd better watch out, or I'll surpass you. You bastard, you've made so many people sad. I really hate you, but how should I put this? You're always so full of yourself, acting like you know everything. Didn't you say once that we'd had the same fate? I survived, so don't you go sleeping forever. Don't you still have revenge to take? You'll never fulfill that wish like this, bastard!" Sasuke looked at Issui, who was still unconscious, a hint of sadness on his face. I never thought this would happen to him. Do people like us all have to go through awful things? Wake up already. I want to fight you. Even though I'm not as strong as you yet, I'll work hard to surpass you. Don't disappoint me.

"Yeah, that's right! I really hate people like you and that stinking Sasuke who think they're geniuses, but you were the first person to acknowledge me. I've already taken the first step, and next, I'll make even more people acknowledge my existence. I'm going to become the greatest Hokage in history. I'll show you that even if I, Naruto Uzumaki, am a dead last, I'll become Hokage through my own hard work. You bastard, wake up already! Don't make any more people worry about you. You're so lucky to have so many people who care about you: Hinata, Sasuke, Sakura, Grandpa Third... If you don't wake up, you'll disappoint too many people!!!" As Naruto spoke, he actually reached out and slapped Issui.

Sasuke and Hinata were both stunned. That bastard, is that any way to wake someone up? With such a rough method, he'll knock him out again before he even wakes up...

"Mm, mm..." Issui gradually opened his eyes...

As it turned out, Naruto's protagonist halo had worked again at a crucial moment. So many people had called out to Issui without getting a response, yet Naruto had actually woken him with a slap. It had to be called a miracle. (Readers, don't try this yourselves. Don't hit your unconscious friends or family hard. You don't have a protagonist halo.)

"What the... that bastard..." Sasuke gave Naruto a hard knock on the head. This idiot is a little too impulsive. But it seems to have worked. Issui actually woke up.

"Issui-kun..." Hinata happily threw herself onto Issui. Her eyes, red from crying, now shone with joy.

"Cough, cough. I heard everything you said, but I couldn't get out of the spiritual world. I couldn't find my way back. Thanks to Naruto's slap, I saw the light and finally woke up. Thanks, Naruto. No one but a bastard like you would do something like that. You really are Konoha's most unpredictable ninja. You really are an idiot, bastard. I was right..." Issui opened his eyes and spoke with difficulty, using all the strength he had.

"Hmph, haha, I really am the most useful one..." Naruto said with a laugh, rubbing his head. It's the first time anyone's called me useful. It really feels great, even if he insulted me twice at the end.

"And Sasuke, let me tell you, you... are... not... cute... at... all. How dare you call me a knockoff, and in front of my girlfriend, too? You really are annoying. And another thing: you're pretty lousy right now. You're way too weak. Of course, you're a tiny bit stronger than that good-for-nothing Naruto." Issui smiled at Sasuke.

"Bastard, I'm going to kill you..." Sasuke's temper flared. This knockoff isn't cute at all...

"What? I'm a good-for-nothing? A good-for-nothing? A good-for-nothing...?" Naruto was furious too. I just thought you were pretty decent, and now you're showing your true colors. What a bastard...

"Girl... girl... friend..." Hinata's face instantly turned red.

"Haha, young people really are full of energy. It makes me envious. I knew a little fellow like you would definitely wake up." Third walked in through the doorway. This guy was peeping again, wasn't he? Even if he's old and has a rare hobby, he ought to know when to stop.

"Hey, Grandpa Third, you're here too. Are you here to see this guy too?" Naruto greeted Third.

"Mm. I was very angry that you were attacked on your way back to the village, and I've already warned certain people. So, if there's anything you want, just say so. Though I'm old, I still have some ability. Consider it an expression of my apology," Third said in a kindly tone.

"Ah, it's nothing. I think you're already very busy every day, Grandpa Third, so a few mistakes are unavoidable. Besides, I didn't suffer any losses. I just used a little too much spiritual energy. If I do have a request, it's that my bloodline advanced again on this trip. That was thanks to the pressure from those attackers. How should I put it? Perhaps I should thank them. After all, it's hard to face a trial like that under normal circumstances. I imagine my strength has grown again now. After my bloodline advanced, my body gained the fire attribute, so I'd like to ask you for some Fire Release Ninjutsu scrolls, but I don't know if..."

"Is that so? No problem. I'll have someone deliver them to Hiashi later. You can look at them when you get back. But mastering a few techniques is better than knowing many. Every Ninjutsu has its uses, and it can be very useful if used well," Third said seriously before walking out of the room.

Just as I thought, he's gotten stronger again. Only by fighting more enemies can you become stronger. I can do it too. I have to work hard, Sasuke thought.

And so, a week after waking up, Issui was finally discharged. But he still couldn't train. According to the medical staff, he couldn't use any Taijutsu or Ninjutsu for six months.

By the time Issui was discharged, it was already January 5 of Konoha Year 57. He had been unconscious for so long that he had even missed New Year's. What a pity. But after Issui returned, he and Hinata celebrated New Year's again, celebrating his discharge and the fact that they had both grown a year older. They were nine this year, and there were three years left until Naruto and the others graduated. Issui needed to make preparations early, building up more strength for the future to confront those monstrous figures.

Six months later, Issui returned to his usual life, training and taking missions, slowly accumulating strength one step at a time.

January 1, Konoha Year 60. The Hyuga mansion.

Ever since recovering, Issui had trained extremely hard and completed missions with increasing speed and efficiency. In July of Konoha Year 58, he was officially promoted to Chunin, and in August of Year 59, he was promoted again to Special Jōnin. His name had long since become known in every household in Konoha, and he had even gained a little renown in the ninja world. The other major ninja villages also knew a little about the new genius Konoha had produced. But because Issui had never undertaken any particularly high-level ninja missions, he had yet to earn the recognition of powerful ninja. This was also Issui's strategy: he took only missions that weren't very difficult to conceal his talent and strength, then build up his power before unleashing it and surprising everyone.

Only Hinata, Hiashi, Third, Kakashi, Guy, and a few others who saw Issui regularly knew his true strength. After Issui was discharged, Sasuke and Naruto went mad for some reason and trained even harder. Sasuke was somewhat stronger than in the original story, but unfortunately, Naruto, that not-so-clever idiot, had only improved a little in Taijutsu. It really was only a tiny improvement, and the Three Basic Techniques still left him stumped. Better leave Kakashi to worry about that.

When Issui was promoted to Special Jōnin, Third had suggested he join the Anbu, but Issui said outright that he disliked the darkness and firmly refused. Issui truly hated that kind of sneaking-around lifestyle. His personal file from his promotion to Genin stated that he hated the darkness. He was someone who walked in the light, and darkness only made him feel sick. That was simply his nature; nothing could be done about it.

Now that Hinata was twelve, Issui decided to optimize her bloodline on this very day, January 1 of Konoha Year 60.

"Issui, everything is ready. We can begin, can't we?" Hiashi asked Issui, who was sitting at the tea table drinking tea.

"Yes. Have everyone who isn't needed leave. Are the other four Jonin all reliable, Father-in-law?" Issui asked. This secret technique required five Jonin to maintain a stable barrier continuously, and there could be no mistakes.

"No problem. They're all family elders; there are no outsiders. How far can you optimize it, Issui?" Hiashi asked excitedly.

"At the very least, I should be able to remove the restriction that prevents her from using advanced Ninjutsu. She'll be able to use it freely," Issui said calmly.

"Really? That's wonderful! The Hyuga Byakugan's only flaw is that its users can't use advanced Ninjutsu. If we overcome that, I imagine it will be incredibly powerful." Hiashi looked delighted.

"Let's go. I'll fetch Hinata. She should be ready," Issui said, then headed toward her room.