Ghost Blood Seizing Technique

January 13, Year 55 of Konoha

Hyuga Kei replaced Kakashi as Anbu Squad Leader. With the Anbu severely understaffed, he would temporarily carry out missions in a three-man squad.

February 16, Year 55 of Konoha

In the basement, a battered and mangled corpse of a Hyuga clansman lay before Hyuga Kei.

Hyuga Kei rapidly formed thirty-two hand seals—Rat, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, and more—guiding a massive amount of chakra. "Ghost Blood Seizing Technique."

Hyuga Kei slapped the ground, and an enormous runic formation instantly unfolded beneath his hand, encircling the Hyuga clansman's corpse at its center.

Then, a large amount of black flesh and blood rose from the corpse, wrapping around it before gradually shrinking away until it finally vanished into thin air.

As the secret technique was completed, Hyuga Kei felt a faint stir in his eyes. The Dojutsu Power of his Byakugan had clearly grown somewhat stronger.

"I succeeded!"

He activated his Byakugan and gently stroked his eye sockets as though caressing a priceless treasure.

"My approach is correct. Next, I only need to familiarize myself with and simplify the steps. The path forward is relatively straightforward."

Hyuga Kei once again placed the Branch House Byakugan he had collected on the ground and activated the Ghost Blood Seizing Technique, further enhancing the Byakugan's Dojutsu Power.

March 11, Year 55 of Konoha

The Third Division welcomed a new member: Uchiha Itachi.

It was still the traditional welcoming ceremony. Hyuga Kei and the other Anbu chatted and laughed at the training ground as they waited for the newcomer's arrival.

"I heard the new guy is only eleven. Should we give him the standard discouragement package too?"

"Have you forgotten the lesson Yazi taught us? Anyone who can join the Anbu at that age definitely has some real skill."

Hyuga Kei said mischievously, "Why wouldn't we? This is Team Three's tradition. We have to give the rookie a set."

"Hide yourselves properly later. Let's test this newcomer's mettle."

The Anbu exchanged glances and grinned wickedly.

Kakashi rubbed his forehead slightly and reminded them, "Just don't overdo it."

"We won't. We know our limits."

Hyuga Kei explained his plan. "Everyone, in a moment... do this, then that..."

The moment Uchiha Itachi stepped onto the training ground, he discovered that not a single person was present at the welcome party they had promised him.

Just as he was puzzled, several kunai and shuriken flew at him from every direction.

An enemy attack? No, this must be a test from the Anbu seniors.

Uchiha Itachi drew his sword and knocked away the hidden weapons flying at him from all sides.

The many Team Three members hidden in the shadows nodded to themselves and launched even more hidden weapons.

Yet each time, Uchiha Itachi easily knocked every one of them aside.

His seniors continuously increased both the number and speed of the hidden weapons, until Uchiha Itachi was beginning to struggle. Then he opened those blood-red Three Tomoe Sharingan.

Uchiha Itachi reached into his ninja tool pouch, took out eight kunai, and threw them simultaneously in every direction.

The eight kunai struck one another in midair, changing direction to knock down more incoming weapons, while the struck kunai flew onward to hit other shuriken.

All anyone heard was a rapid series of clatters as the eight kunai knocked every hidden weapon from the sky.

"Clap, clap, clap!" Applause rang out from all around as everyone stopped hiding and revealed themselves.

Uchiha Itachi thought, This welcoming ceremony is certainly unusual. But does this mean they accept me?

His Anbu seniors were all deeply shocked. They themselves would not have been injured by such an attack.

But not one person present could claim they could knock down a sky full of hidden weapons in a single strike like Uchiha Itachi had.

This was an effect only achievable by combining Uchiha throwing techniques with the Sharingan's dynamic vision.

Hyuga Kei was equally stunned. Seeing it in an anime was one thing, but witnessing it in reality was an entirely different feeling. The shock was beyond words.

Is this the power of the Sharingan? No wonder Orochimaru wanted it so badly after seeing it only once.

Uchiha Itachi had already joined the Anbu, which meant Shisui's death was not far off. Perhaps he could obtain a portion of pure Uchiha bloodline as well.

Everyone introduced their code names and abilities in turn. After all, teammates often had to cooperate to complete missions.

Hyuga Kei introduced himself as well. "Yazi. I specialize in taijutsu."

Once everyone had finished introducing themselves.

Uchiha Itachi bowed slightly. "Crow. I specialize in Fire Release and genjutsu."

"Since everyone has introduced themselves, I'm Kakashi. Umm... I don't have a code name. I'm the Team Three Captain. You'll be assigned to Yazi Squad from now on. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask him."

"Understood."

"I knew it. You're just too lazy to give the newcomer orientation training." Hyuga Kei rolled his eyes and took a jab at Kakashi.

Uchiha Itachi looked toward Hyuga Kei, and the two exchanged greetings. Hyuga Kei then brought Uchiha Itachi, Tenzo, and Ameyuri to a corner of the training ground and introduced them again.

Hyuga Kei asked many more questions, such as whether he knew ninjutsu like the Stealth Technique.

After hearing Uchiha Itachi's answers, Hyuga Kei felt slightly troubled.

"By the usual routine, I should teach you some essential Anbu skills, but you already know them all."

"I'll teach you something else, then. I'll teach you a bit of my Nintaijutsu. I've recently developed some Fire Ninja Body Technique."

Uchiha Itachi knew this was Hyuga Kei's famous signature technique and immediately bowed in thanks.

"It's nothing."

The Fire Ninja Body Technique combined the Leaf Hard Fist Captain Ushiro had given him with Fire Release chakra transformation. It did not involve much Hyuga acupoint knowledge, so ordinary ninja could learn it as well.

Hyuga Kei then taught Uchiha Itachi several solid Fire Ninja Body Techniques. For Uchiha Itachi, who had activated his Sharingan, learning them often required only watching once.

Tenzo, Ameyuri, and the others watching nearby widened their eyes. This talent was simply monstrous.

Hyuga Kei did not hide anything from the others while teaching. He explained the essentials of those Fire Ninja Body Techniques without reservation, but only Uchiha Itachi and Kakashi managed to learn them through the Sharingan's abilities.

Everyone could not help voicing their envy. This was far too overpowered. As long as they saw someone perform a ninjutsu once, they could easily copy it.

It truly made bloodline-less ninja like them furious, trembling, and cold.

What was even more infuriating was the talent of Hyuga Kei and Uchiha Itachi. They had already reached such heights while still in their teens.

After the lesson ended, Hyuga Kei, as squad leader, decided to treat his teammates to hot pot. One shameless Uchiha Kakashi also forced his way in.

He repeatedly declared his rights as a former teammate.

To thank Hyuga Kei for his instruction, Uchiha Itachi offered to pay, but Uchiha Kakashi, Senju Tenzo, and Ameyuri all spoke up to stop him.

Hyuga Kei, that miserly iron rooster, had finally begun shedding feathers. They had to take full advantage of it.

Hyuga Kei said they were still too young. Having successfully developed the Ghost Blood Seizing Technique, Hyuga Kei had become rich again.

He no longer cared about such a small amount of money.

There was a reason Hyuga Kei had suddenly become so generous. Building a good relationship with Uchiha Itachi would also allow him to investigate the movements of the Uchiha and Konoha. He was the ace double agent.

At present, Hyuga Kei only knew that Shisui had committed suicide at the Naka River. He had no idea exactly when it happened.

Even Hyuga Kei felt the chances were slim. After all, even Kabuto Yakushi, that master grave robber, had failed to find Shisui's body.