Chimera Technique

Konoha Year 53

April 7: Joined the team, trained to adapt to infiltration tactics.

Learned Anbu-required ninjutsu such as the Body Flicker Technique and Stealth Technique.

May 3: Monitored the Uchiha District.

In his spare time, studied Konoha Style Taijutsu with Ushijima.

June 13: Kidnapped the Daimyo's Assistant of the Land of Lightning.

In his spare time, learned Chakra Nature Transformation and the A-rank ninjutsu Chidori.

June 25: Assisted Might Guy's Squad in wiping out a Kumogakure ninja squad.

Combining what he had learned, he developed the A-rank Nintaijutsu: Sealing Lightning Palm. It drove lightning into the human body, robbing the enemy of their ability to resist with a single strike.

July 18: Monitored and protected the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Naruto.

He secretly continued practicing the Hyuga Gentle Fist and developed combined ninjutsu based on Nintaijutsu, such as Lightning Speed Rotation and Wind Pressure Empty Palm.

August 3: Duty at the Archives Room.

Hyuga Kei and his teammates entered the Archives Room. Kakashi took the Archives Room key from the previous duty squad.

"Good work." Hyuga Kei greeted an Anbu he knew well.

"It's nothing. Th-then I'm going to catch up on sleep." The Anbu walked over to Hyuga Kei and slung an arm around his shoulders.

He whispered, "This is a pretty good assignment. Not much danger. No enemy-country ninja would bother stealing this useless information. If you get bored, just read the files like they're novels."

"Alright." Hyuga Kei nodded without showing much emotion.

He stood watch with his teammates as usual, only casually flipping through the files around midnight.

He pretended to browse at random, reading whichever book he pulled out, until he drew a file on Konoha rogue ninja.

On the first page, Hyuga Kei saw a famous name: Madara Uchiha. He was both one of Konoha's founders and a Konoha ninja.

It recorded many of Madara Uchiha's abilities and his Mangekyō Sharingan. At the end was a note from Tobirama Senju.

Hyuga Kei heard his famous words echo in his mind. "You inherently evil Uchiha brat, I'm going to..."

He kept flipping through the pages. When he reached the records from recent years, Hyuga Kei finally found what he wanted.

Konoha A-rank rogue ninja Hiruko. In Konoha Year 50, he defected after conducting human experiments and researching the Chimera Technique. Discovered by the Third Hokage, he fled Konoha and his whereabouts were currently unknown.

Note 1: Chimera Technique—Sealing Room 3-9.

Hyuga Kei memorized the number 3-9.

"What are you reading so seriously?" A voice sounded behind him as Kakashi poked his head over Hyuga Kei's shoulder.

"Files on Konoha rogue ninja. I'm bored on duty, so I grabbed one to read."

"You don't have much experience with this kind of duty. Why not read this?" Kakashi handed him a book.

Hyuga Kei saw the words Make-Out Paradise on the cover, and his expression froze. So even at this age, Kakashi, with those thick brows and big eyes, was already reading this stuff.

"No, thanks. One of the Three Prohibitions for ninja. I'd rather read some secrets and broaden my horizons."

Hyuga Kei had no desire to become a fifty-fifty ninja like Kakashi.

"You don't know good stuff when you see it." Kakashi shook his head and left, deeply disappointed that he had failed to recruit a fellow reader.

Having found what he wanted, Hyuga Kei resumed casually browsing the books on the shelves.

September 1: Contacted a Kumogakure mole to exchange intelligence.

Trained his Byakugan Dojutsu Power and asked Uncle Hizashi for the secret medicine to intensify Byakugan.

September 10: Duty at the Sealing Room.

Unlike the relaxed atmosphere of the Archives Room, the Sealing Room required round-the-clock vigilance. Two shifts were on duty at the same time, keeping watch over one another.

After making a round and familiarizing himself with the place, he found the location marked 3-9.

After a while, Hyuga Kei pretended to have a stomachache and informed both squad leaders that he was taking an hour off. The relationships he had built in the Anbu now came into play.

No one made things difficult for Hyuga Kei. They merely told him to go quickly and return quickly.

He sent a Shadow Clone to the restroom while he secretly entered a room above the Sealing Room. Hyuga Kei swallowed the secret medicine that temporarily boosted his Byakugan Dojutsu Power.

Hyuga Kei's eyes abruptly changed color. Veins bulged around them as he activated his Byakugan and looked into the Sealing Room. The scroll recording the incomplete Chimera Technique lay inside one of the compartments.

The moment Hyuga Kei looked at the scroll, he encountered a Sensory Barrier. His vision was blocked, unable to probe any deeper.

Hyuga Kei sighed inwardly. As expected, it would not be that easy. He decisively activated his backup plan, taking out a sheet of paper and sketching the scroll's appearance and the shades of its colors.

After carefully hiding the drawing and retracting his Byakugan, Hyuga Kei returned to the Sealing Room, clutching his stomach as though diarrhea had left him completely drained.

Tenzo said with concern, "You've been taking Soldier Pills for too long. They're fine for emergencies, but when you're resting, you should still eat proper meals."

"Understood."

"It's a minor issue. Nine out of ten Anbu have had this problem. Just get some medicine." Another Anbu chimed in.

"Alright."

"By the way, Ming, how long have you been in the Anbu? When are you planning to retire?"

"Soon, soon. Once the war with Kumogakure is over, I'll retire and live out my old age."

Hyuga Kei chatted familiarly with everyone.

Once the mission ended, Hyuga Kei quickly returned to the Hyuga clan compound. Since joining the Anbu, he had rarely had the chance to come back.

"Lord Hizashi, could you do me a favor?"

"Go ahead... I'll do my best if it's within my power."

"Help me forge a scroll."

Hyuga Kei took out the rough sketch he had drawn.

Hizashi recognized the origin of the scroll in the drawing at a glance. "A Sealing Scroll from Konoha's Sealing Room? Why is there no color? Did you view it with your Byakugan?"

"Yes. I could only see this much, but it's very important to me." Hyuga Kei bowed deeply.

"Alright, I'll do my best. I saw several kinds of Konoha Sealing Scroll when I was younger, though their colors varied by year."

"If you know the year of the Sealing Scroll, I can find someone to forge a more convincing one."

Hyuga Kei's eyes gleamed. "It was three years ago, Konoha Year 50."

Hiruko had defected in Konoha Year 50. When he saw Kakashi, who had received a transplanted Sharingan, upon leaving, he became even more determined in his research direction and also planted a cursed seal on Kakashi.

"Alright. I'll give it to you in a month." Hyuga Kei nodded. "The Hyuga Main House is about to make a move against you. At the upcoming clan meeting, they plan to have you and Neji branded with the Caged Bird."

Hyuga Kei narrowed his eyes. His reputation and strength had grown greater and greater. Those people truly could no longer hold back, could they? "Understood. I'll handle it myself."

"Then I'll take my leave, Lord Hizashi."

"Mm."

As he stepped out of the room, Hyuga Kei saw Neji, who had been waiting outside for a long time.

Neji was already three years old and was about to be branded with the Caged Bird. Was there any way to delay it? Once he had the strength to reform or destroy the Hyuga clan, no one would be able to brand Neji with the Caged Bird again.

And Uncle Hizashi... In his memories, next year would be the Kumogakure peace negotiations. Hinata would be kidnapped, and his uncle would be pushed out as a scapegoat. How was he supposed to save Uncle Hizashi?

"Brother, you're back! How long will you stay this time? While you were gone, I trained hard and learned lots of moves. Do you want to see them?"

"Sorry, Neji. I still have things to do in the Anbu. I'll bring you a gift next time."

Hyuga Kei rubbed Neji's hair.

Under Neji's reluctant gaze, Hyuga Kei used the Body Flicker Technique and left.

Although Hyuga Kei had no way to directly use his Byakugan to spy on it again,

there would be the annual seal inspection at the end of the year. At that time, Sealing Force ninja would reseal and inspect every item in storage.

The Anbu would be responsible for security and assistance. By then, he could use the aged Sealing Scroll to pull off a switch.

With the plan in mind, Hyuga Kei first went to the Ninja Tool Shop and bought a large quantity of ninja tools along with a Sealing Scroll.

From then on, Hyuga Kei would no longer carry that straight blade. Instead, he would carry a Sealing Scroll filled with ninja tools. Since he did not know swordsmanship in the first place, choosing weapons that suited him was perfectly normal.

Once enough time passed, everyone would grow used to Hyuga Kei carrying a Sealing Scroll.

Then he could hide the Sealing Scroll inside the Sealing Scroll and smuggle it into the Sealing Room to complete his switch.