Early the next morning, Yuzuru Hyuga, who had slept soundly, stretched lazily. The first thing he did after getting up was habitually glance at his system.
By now, he could be said to have undergone a complete transformation, utterly different from who he had been a year ago.
In terms of strength alone, earning the rank of Jonin would be no problem at all!
What Kakashi? Chunin at six? Pathetically weak!
Rotation (A): MAX (Can Break Through)
Body Flicker Technique: Flash (A): Level 2 (321/3200)
Gentle Fist: Little Divine Air Strike (A): Level 2 (721/3200)
Rotation: Flash Chain (A): Level 2 (611/3200)
Substitution Technique: Shadow Fold (B): Level 5 (1210/3800)
Illusion Technique: Unaffected (B): Level 1 (422/800)
Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms (A): MAX (Can Break Through)
These were the tempting fruits Yuzuru Hyuga had accumulated through what could only be called a year of desperate effort.
Among them, his Gentle Fist had broken through in one stroke. Out of a certain mischievous impulse, he had added the four words "Little Divine Air Strike" after its name.
Substitution Technique: Shadow Fold was the ninjutsu Yuzuru Hyuga had gained after breaking through the most basic Substitution Technique. Its use was very simple: instead of using a basic wooden substitute, it used a clone similar to a Shadow Clone as the replacement. Not only could it evade fatal attacks, but it could also confuse enemies during an offense.
Rotation: Double Flash Barrage was not a ninjutsu he had broken through. Rather, it was an A-rank ninjutsu he had independently developed after his Body Flicker Technique breakthrough, inspired by a sudden burst of imagination. It replaced his original combo taijutsu.
The breakthrough direction of Body Flicker Technique was also quite simple: greatly increasing explosive speed over a short period, for closing in, pursuit, and evasion.
Illusion Technique: Unaffected had been developed from Illusion Technique: Release. It transformed the active removal of genjutsu effects into a passive technique. Once genjutsu was cast on him, Illusion Technique: Unaffected would automatically activate and dispel it.
These ninjutsu and improvements alone were enough to show just how hard Yuzuru Hyuga had worked over the past year.
Faced with an opponent far stronger than himself, he had fought every day until he was utterly exhausted, and more than once had been sent to Konoha Hospital by medical ninja. All that hardship had ultimately borne wonderful fruit.
Besides that, he had also maxed out many low-level ninjutsu, though he had no plans to break through them for the time being.
Kunai Throwing Technique (E): MAX (Can Break Through)
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (C): MAX (Can Break Through)
Illusion Technique: Binding Technique (D): MAX (Can Break Through)
He glanced again at his free experience points.
Current Free Experience Points: 67952.
"Phew... Once I gather two hundred thousand free experience points, I can give either Rotation or the Sixty-Four Palms a major breakthrough."
"At that point, should I go with Shinra Tensei first, or Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Divine Air Strikes?"
Yuzuru Hyuga's good mood did not last long.
He soon thought of the rather unpleasant reality.
The pleasant father-son time with his father was over.
Next, he would have to go to the Hyuga elders and pretend to be an 'ordinary genius.'
A genius was still a genius, but if the Main House discovered that the abilities he displayed had exceeded their expectations...
The best possible outcome would probably be being sealed away by the Hyuga Clan like a tailed beast, then thrown out whenever they needed him, right?
They would use the Caged Bird to control him and even his family completely, never giving him the slightest chance to turn things around or any space for freedom.
Tsk.
Fortunately, it would not be much longer.
Yuzuru Hyuga slowly tidied up his appearance, stretched, and headed outside.
At most, three years. His arrangements should be complete by then.
If he wanted to overthrow the Hyuga Clan's long-standing 'tradition,' Yuzuru Hyuga would have one and only one chance.
And the pressure he faced would not come solely from the Hyuga Clan.
Neither Third nor Danzo would sit back and watch the Hyuga Clan descend into turmoil. In particular, they would not want to see this perpetually infighting clan abolish the Caged Bird and become completely united from top to bottom.
Once the Main House system was abolished, even Branch House members of the Hyuga Clan would be able to learn the complete Hyuga-style taijutsu and even more knowledge. The number of Jonin in the Hyuga Clan doubling in the blink of an eye would be no joke.
After all, the Hyuga Clan was not full of lunatics, nor did it lack public goodwill. In Konoha, when people spoke of great clans, aside from the Uchiha Clan, the Hyuga Clan was the one that came to mind. Compared with the Uchiha Clan, people did not dislike the Hyuga Clan, especially with the Uchiha Clan there for comparison.
Some members of the Hyuga Clan might have been a little arrogant, but they were nowhere near as extreme as the Uchiha Clan. The Uchiha Clan seemed trapped in a strange cycle where not giving them the position of Hokage meant looking down on them. They wanted respect, status, and power, yet disdained using schemes. Many of them could not even be bothered to put on a show.
What made the Uchiha Clan even more frightening was that while it had those radical lunatics, it also had an extremely conservative faction. They were loyal to Konoha above even their clan, treated the so-called Will of Fire as faith, and would not hesitate to sacrifice themselves or their families for it. They worried about more things than the Hokage did.
That made the Uchiha Clan's image seem even more twisted to outsiders—were these people all born as polarized extremes?
This also meant that the villagers were destined not to reject the Hyuga Clan the way they rejected the Uchiha Clan. Even if the Uchiha Clan disappeared, that sentiment would be difficult to direct at the Hyuga Clan. After all, everything about the Hyuga Clan still seemed understandable and acceptable.
So for the sake of 'peace,' to avoid one clan becoming dominant, how could Third and Danzo possibly allow the Hyuga Clan to march toward a bright future?
If he moved too slowly, he might be branded as someone who 'brought chaos to Konoha,' 'slaughtered innocents,' and 'rebelled from below without justice or shame.'
Then Hyuga Hiashi could occupy the moral high ground and proactively ask the Hokage for aid. Third's side would then have a perfectly justified reason to intervene and suppress the 'internal unrest.'
In Yuzuru Hyuga's eyes, this was no unlikely scenario.
It was highly likely!
Once the Uchiha Clan was wiped out early enough, the chance of it happening would become one hundred percent.
So—
A precise plan.
Overwhelming strength.
Neither could be lacking.
Only then could he crush everything in his path, settle the matter before anyone had time to act, and completely resolve the Hyuga Clan's problems.
Moreover, Yuzuru Hyuga's ambitions were clearly greater than that. What he wanted was not to turn the Hyuga Clan into a river of blood, but to kill as few people and spill as little blood as possible while peacefully completing the transformation.
After all, every member of the Hyuga Clan might become part of his strength in the future. Other than the stubborn elements and those deeply guilty who needed to be swept into the trash heap, most members of the Main House were not beyond saving.
Even Hyuga Hiashi might not necessarily need to die. Leaving him alive could display the new Hyuga Clan head's depth and bearing, helping to calm people's hearts.
As long as Hiashi was willing... to be a dog, just as his father had once done and still did.
A good dog that would obediently behave even without the Caged Bird.
While considering what he needed to begin preparing, Yuzuru Hyuga followed a Branch House ninja toward the residence of the Hyuga Clan elders.
Soon, he stopped before an enormous building. More accurately, this was the Hyuga Clan's 'dojo.' The room was large enough for dozens of people to train in, yet it stood completely empty, save for its smooth, sturdy wooden floor. It was where the Hyuga Main House trained.
Compared to Yuzuru Hyuga, who could only practice Gentle Fist on a dirt field, the Main House's treatment was far better—of course, Yuzuru Hyuga could come here as a sparring partner, but... was he crazy?
A Hyuga elder and Hyuga Hiashi stood at the center of the hall.
"You're here, Yuzuru."
Hyuga Hiashi wore a gentle, benevolent smile as he waved at Yuzuru Hyuga.
Though he had only grown a year older, Yuzuru Hyuga's height had increased noticeably. He had successfully grown from thigh-high on Hyuga Hiashi to waist-high.
Yuzuru Hyuga looked up and smiled faintly. "Lord Hiashi, Elder, it has been a long time."
He politely bowed to Hiashi and the elder, looking every bit like a qualified Branch House member.
Even the stern elder wore a faint smile now, greeting Yuzuru Hyuga warmly. "Little Yuzuru, come here."
They simultaneously activated their Byakugan slightly and instinctively examined the chakra within Yuzuru Hyuga's body.
His abundant chakra made them nod in satisfaction, utterly unaware that such behavior was somewhat offensive.
Yuzuru Hyuga did not mind. Smiling, he said, "Father told me that the elder wished to see me..."
"That is right." The Hyuga elder glanced at Hiashi. Seeing him nod slightly, he understood that he should explain the matter himself.
He gestured for Yuzuru Hyuga to come closer, looked down at him, and said appreciatively, "Over the past year, Little Yuzuru, it seems you have grown stronger again?"
"My father never holds back when he beats me." Yuzuru Hyuga spoke humorously, then smiled. "And I must also thank Lord Hiashi for helping Father turn down quite a few assignments, allowing him the time to nurture me."
Hyuga Hiashi's smile became a little more sincere at those words.
In truth, he had always worried that as Yuzuru Hyuga grew older, he would increasingly harbor resentment because of the Caged Bird.
But now, it seemed Yuzuru Hyuga had been educated quite well by his father.
Looking at Yuzuru Hyuga's gentle, quiet smile and his lake-like tranquil eyes behind black-rimmed glasses, Hyuga Hiashi felt somewhat reassured.
"From now on, I will be responsible for teaching you. Whether it is ninjutsu or taijutsu, you will receive the same resources as the Main House."
The Hyuga elder's words were startling, but he soon revealed his true intention. Smiling, he bent down and gently patted Yuzuru Hyuga's head. "I will inform the Branch House ninja of this as well. So, you only need to work hard and grow stronger. You need not worry about anything else."
Was the purpose to sow division, or offer encouragement?
But it had to be said, it was a clever move. On one hand, it soothed the slightly restless hearts of the Branch House. On the other, it inexplicably placed Yuzuru Hyuga in a difficult position.
The Main House would not be pleased that he, a Branch House member, could receive instruction from an elder and even break the rules.
Meanwhile, the Branch House would gradually grow distant from him because of Yuzuru Hyuga's special treatment.
Further down the line, once Yuzuru Hyuga achieved something, people would no longer say he was a genius who had comprehended things on his own and broken beyond the Hyuga Clan's limits. They would say that the Hyuga Main House had recognized talent and cultivated him well.
"Thank you, Elder." Yuzuru Hyuga smiled and expressed his gratitude.
The principle was simple: if they dared to give it, he dared to take it.
The Hyuga elder looked at Yuzuru Hyuga's calm smile. He did not know whether the boy had guessed anything, but since he was not refusing now, the matter was settled.
Furthermore, though he did not know how much Yuzuru Hyuga had understood, out of habit, he still offered some reassurance and a trade of benefits. He said calmly, "The ANBU connections have already been arranged. Even your ANBU captain and teammates have been taken care of. You only need to study with peace of mind. After graduation, you can join ANBU without worrying about danger."
Those words were practically an open declaration: ANBU was there for him to build his credentials. All he had to do was obediently grow stronger and develop steadily.
Yuzuru Hyuga neither agreed nor disagreed. The person they had likely made a deal with was Minato Namikaze, but Minato Namikaze did not have much time left. Once Third returned to office, he would be far more difficult to deal with than Minato Namikaze. This was not something the Hyuga elder could decide.
"Thank you, Elder. Thank you, Lord Hiashi."
Still, he put on a grateful expression.
"Yuzuru, we are family. There is no need to be so polite." Hyuga Hiashi smiled and pointed toward the center of the hall. "More than that, I am looking forward to seeing your progress."
Yuzuru Hyuga was not surprised. Smiling, he tightened the black forehead wrap around his head, tied up his now shoulder-length hair into a small ponytail, and quietly walked to the center of the hall. Spreading his palms, he said, "Excuse me, Lord Hiashi. Please instruct me."
Hyuga Hiashi assumed a stance, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Make your move."
Yuzuru Hyuga raised his hands. A faint blue glow shimmered around both palms, and his expression looked exceptionally solemn—indeed, he was truly focusing with all his might.
Knowing how to show weakness was a technical skill too.
Before you continue