Nine-Tails' Rampage

Konoha Year 50

With Neji's birth, life became much easier for Hyuga Kei. Under the pretext of finding a study companion, Hizashi Hyuga kept Hyuga Kei at home.

But in truth, everyone knew this was to protect Hyuga Kei. If he kept getting beaten like this, something would happen sooner or later.

Hyuga Kei also learned that Hyuga Yun was his aunt, while Hizashi Hyuga was his uncle by marriage.

The newborn Neji was his younger cousin.

After that, Hyuga Kei's life improved greatly. He ate and lived with his uncle's family, and someone would occasionally teach him during training.

As for his little cousin Neji, he could not even walk yet, so there was even less for Hyuga Kei to worry about.

Then Hyuga Kei heard that the Kamui Battle had broken out, and the Memorial Stone had gained another name: Obito.

But Hyuga Kei knew that Madara had already taken Obito away. The Moon Eye Plan was about to begin.

Konoha Year 51

After a year of training, Hyuga Kei's strength had improved rapidly. Not only had he trained in the Hyuga Gentle Fist, but he had also learned several C-rank Nintaijutsu from his father, Tokuma.

During training, Hyuga Kei discovered that his talent was exceptionally high. He could often learn ordinary ninjutsu very quickly, and chakra refinement came extremely easily to him.

Compared to others his age, he already had two or three times as much chakra.

Hyuga Kei suspected that he also possessed some Senju Clan bloodline, though it was extremely thin. Still, it showed itself in him.

Perhaps his mother was a descendant of the Senju Clan.

The Senju Clan advocated intermarriage with commoners. By now, if many families traced their ancestry back far enough, they would find some Senju Bloodline.

Starting this year, Hyuga Kei kept hearing that the clan heads of the major ninja clans had children one after another. This also meant that the Nine-Tails' Rampage was drawing closer.

Hyuga Kei clearly remembered that the protagonist of this world, Uzumaki Naruto, was born on October 10. That was also the death anniversary of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

At that time, all young civilian genin and chunin would have to evacuate. Perhaps he could profit from the chaos then.

The restless thoughts that had just begun to stir in Hyuga Kei's heart were swiftly extinguished. With his strength, the first thing he needed to consider was how to survive.

Moreover, Neji's mother had never appeared in the original story. She had most likely died in an accident.

Many civilian ninja died during the Nine-Tails' Rampage. The destruction it inflicted on Konoha was second only to Pain's invasion. After all, both disasters were followed by periods of reconstruction.

It was also then that the Uchiha District was relocated to the edge of the village.

Thinking of this, Hyuga Kei shuddered. If a Tailed Beast Bomb came flying over, forget someone at his genin level—even a Kage-level ninja would have to run.

That evening, Hyuga Kei had been worried since morning. Even his usually smiling face was tightly furrowed.

Hyuga Yun asked worriedly, "Kei, are you all right? You are not sick, are you?"

"I'm fine, Auntie. I just feel uneasy. I feel like something bad is going to happen."

Suddenly, Hyuga Kei felt himself being pulled into a warm embrace.

"Do you feel better now? Your father always liked to comfort me this way too."

"Thank you. I feel much better." Hyuga Kei smiled.

"Auntie, let me take care of Neji tonight."

"Can you? He is very naughty. He often cries at night."

"It's fine. I can handle it."

"All right, then I'll trouble you, Kei."

Neji often made it impossible for people to sleep peacefully.

"It's all right."

Taking the one-year-old Neji Hyuga into his arms, Hyuga Kei found that little Neji had already learned to walk, but he still wanted to be carried.

Neji had grown up beside Hyuga Kei since he was little and was very close to him. He rubbed himself against Hyuga Kei's chest again and again.

"Big brother, smells nice! (^▽^)"

Tonight was the night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage. By keeping Neji with him, he could react quickly and take him somewhere safe.

That way, he could repay Hizashi and Yun for taking care of him.

At dusk, Hyuga Kei sat beside Neji's bed with his eyes closed, resting. The moment he heard an explosion, he would immediately grab Neji, wake his aunt, and rush to the Wartime Shelter.

Hizashi happened to be attending a clan meeting that night. In the story, Hizashi would not die at this time. Unless there was a butterfly effect, the Nine-Tails' Rampage would not kill Hizashi Hyuga. Besides, as a jonin, he would not die so easily.

Even if he had to join the rotating battle against the Nine-Tails before the Fourth Hokage arrived, it would not be the Branch House clan head's turn.

Just as Hyuga Kei repeatedly considered the fastest route to Konoha's Wartime Shelter, an earth-shaking boom rang out. The ground trembled violently.

Obito had summoned the Nine-Tails!

Hyuga Kei's eyes snapped open. He grabbed the sleeping Neji, tightly wrapped him in a bedsheet, and held him against his chest.

He slammed through the door, circulated his chakra, and rushed into Yun's room. His aunt had already been awakened by the noise and wore only a simple nightgown.

"Kei, was that an earthquake?"

"No! Hurry! There's a giant fox outside!"

He grabbed his aunt before she could react and ran toward the shelter.

"It's the Nine-Tails!" Hyuga Yun finally realized as he was dragged outside.

Just as the three of them stepped out of the courtyard, a Main Branch ninja approached them. It was Naoto Hyuga, the Second Elder's son.

"Hyuga Yun, go change into your ninja uniform. All adult Branch House ninja are required to fight."

"But I stopped being a ninja long ago." Yun had retired after becoming pregnant and stayed home as a full-time housewife. It was not that she feared danger; she simply wanted more than anything to protect Neji and Kei as they fled to safety.

"Retired? Have you even forgotten a ninja's methods? The Third Hokage has ordered the Hyuga to serve as the second wave of main attackers."

"You Branch House people refuse to go, and you expect us Main Branch members to do it instead?"

Hyuga Yun wanted to argue, but halfway through, pain interrupted her. "You... Aahhh...!"

That man had activated her Caged Bird Seal.

"This is only a lesson. If you dare talk back again... die!"

Hyuga Kei finally understood why Neji would become an orphan. This was the reason. Yet the weak him could do nothing.

As the pain in her head eased slightly, Hyuga Yun lowered her head and looked at Hyuga Kei's twisted expression. "Neji is in your hands!"

Hyuga Kei gritted his teeth. He knew he could not possibly be a match for Naoto Hyuga. "I will definitely take Neji somewhere safe."

To reassure his aunt, Hyuga Kei took Neji and ran toward the shelter without looking back.

Wind Style Ninjutsu: Gale Force...

A layer of wind wrapped around Hyuga Kei, constantly propelling him forward.

"Faster, even faster!"

The sounds of collapsing buildings kept coming from behind him. The Nine-Tails continued its destruction, while countless jonin and chunin desperately tried to halt its advance.

The genin nearby organized the civilians and led them toward shelter.

"Quick, this way." Hyuga Kei saw someone waving at him. The man wore a mask—it was the young Kakashi.

Hyuga Kei did not hesitate and headed over. Under Kakashi's protection, the two of them successfully entered the shelter.

Inside, Hyuga Kei saw many familiar faces. As Konoha's new generation, they too had come to take refuge alongside the civilians.

Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, Hagane Kotetsu, Anko Mitarashi, Kotetsu Hagane, and others.

Among them, Hyuga Kei also saw the filial son Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke.

Many of them were furious and wanted to go out and fight the Nine-Tails to the death, but an old chunin stopped them.

"What can you do if you go out now? You cannot even get close to the Nine-Tails."

"If we go out, we can still save some civilians. If we stay here, we can do nothing."

Seeing this, Hyuga Kei shook his head slightly. These people really were young and hot-blooded.

Going out now would only add to the casualties. Perhaps they could save some civilians, but sacrificing the life of a future outstanding ninja in return was truly not worth it.

"Brother Kei... Waaaah!" Neji woke up, frightened, and called out Hyuga Kei's name.

"Don't be afraid. It'll be over soon."

The fighting outside continued for half the night. Hyuga Kei worried about Yun's safety every moment. She was only a chunin; her ability to survive such a disaster was far too limited.

The disaster soon ended. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, sealed the Nine-Tails at the cost of his life, and the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was none other than the savior, Uzumaki Naruto.

The instant they were told they could leave, Hyuga Kei took Neji and sprinted out, wanting to find Uncle Hizashi and his aunt.

When they returned to the Hyuga compound, it had suffered devastating damage because of its location near the center.

Many people searched through the ruins, perhaps for family members, perhaps for valuables.

Hyuga Kei found Hizashi Hyuga, his face exhausted. When he saw that Yun was not beside him, his heart sank.

"Lord Hizashi, where is my aunt?" Within the clan, Hyuga Kei could not casually call him uncle.

After a long silence, Hizashi Hyuga forced out a sentence. "...She was killed."

Hyuga Kei felt as though he had been struck by lightning. He stood there blankly. His aunt, who had been comforting him just hours ago, had died just like that?

His aunt's words from earlier that day seemed to still echo in his ears.

"Do you feel better now? Your father always liked to comfort me this way too."

"Neji is in your hands!"

His body began to sway involuntarily. Hyuga Kei shook his head in disbelief, his heart filled with regret. His aunt should not have died. It was all Naoto Hyuga's fault. He had been just one step away from changing history.

At that thought, Hyuga Kei's eyes gradually filled with bloodshot veins. Then, with a bang, he felt the entire world instantly lose its color, turning black and white. His vision stretched outward, and he could see through walls, spotting countless things buried underground. The chakra pathways and chakra of those around him became clearly visible before his eyes.

Hizashi saw this and reacted quickly. He pulled Hyuga Kei into his arms and buried his head against his chest, preventing others from seeing Hyuga Kei's eyes.

But in truth, everyone was immersed in grief. No one noticed the two of them.

Hizashi gently patted Hyuga Kei's back and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Relax, relax... relax the chakra around your eyes."

Hyuga Kei came to his senses. If he wanted to avenge his aunt, he could not let anyone discover that he had awakened the Byakugan. Otherwise, he would be branded with the Caged Bird and become a lamb awaiting slaughter.

Following Hizashi's guidance, Hyuga Kei drew all the chakra from his eyes back into his dantian. His eyes successfully left the Byakugan state and returned to black.

PS:

In "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations," Hyuga Hiashi stated that the Hyuga clan's Byakugan was not something one was born with. It required a great deal of harsh training to awaken.

However, there were special cases influenced by bloodline. For example, Uzumaki Himawari could activate the Byakugan under mental stimulation. Himawari's method of awakening it resembled the Sharingan, and later she could control the Byakugan at will.