Tenseigan Awakening

Under the watchful eyes of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Uchiha Shinji, Yuzuru calmly raised his hand. A surging repulsive force immediately spread from his palm, brutally peeling away a layer of the ground ahead and leaving behind fresh earth tangled with grass and tree roots...

"...Even if you hadn't shown up, Lord Hokage, Senior Shinji still wouldn't have been able to hurt me."

Yuzuru used his actions to prove that the "sparring match" he had mentioned was not a lie. He truly possessed the strength to spar with a Jonin.

After witnessing that scene, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Uchiha Shinji's pupils shrank to pinpoints in shock. Neither spoke for a long while, because they simply could not believe that six-year-old Yuzuru could unleash such a terrifying ability. The power of that single move alone was comparable to a C-rank ninjutsu. More importantly, that kind of ninjutsu required no hand seals at all!

"Is this your Tenseigan ability?"

Uchiha Shinji looked at Yuzuru's sapphire-blue eyes. Though he phrased it as a question, his expression was completely certain. Beside him, Hiruzen Sarutobi also gave Yuzuru's eyes, so different from the Byakugan, a grave look.

"Yes."

Yuzuru nodded. His goal had already been partially achieved, so there was naturally no need to hide the basic information about the Tenseigan.

"...I never expected the 'sparring match' between Senior Shinji and me to draw your attention, Lord Hokage. I'm deeply sorry."

Yuzuru then spoke to Hiruzen Sarutobi again, and the implication behind his words was obvious.

"...Sorry for the trouble, Lord Hokage!"

Seeing Yuzuru put it that way, Uchiha Shinji would have been an idiot not to understand. He immediately apologized to Hiruzen Sarutobi, as if what had just happened truly had been nothing more than a sparring match with Yuzuru.

"..."

Hiruzen was instantly rendered speechless. Originally, he should have punished Uchiha Shinji severely, used the opportunity to properly straighten out the Uchiha Clan's conduct, and perhaps even earn the goodwill of Hyuga Yuzuru and the Hyuga Clan behind him.

But now, the situation seemed completely different from what he had anticipated!

What exactly was that Hyuga brat named Yuzuru thinking?

Was he trying to ease the standoff between the Hyuga and Uchiha Clans?

Or was there some other reason?

For the moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not understand Yuzuru's actions. The latter's bearing and behavior made it impossible to treat him as an ordinary six-year-old first-year Academy student!

"Even if it was just a 'sparring match,' Shinji's strength far surpasses that of a Chunin. Though you may be talented, you are only an Academy student who has just enrolled. You are no match for Shinji. If anything had gone wrong during the 'sparring match,' that would have been a grave loss for the village!"

Hiruzen put on a stern expression and began reprimanding Yuzuru.

Yuzuru said nothing. His sapphire-blue eyes continued to shine with a deep light, like the stars hanging in the sky above. They gave off an unsettling sense of unfamiliarity and distance.

"And you. As an elite ninja of the village, how could you so casually use a powerful ninjutsu in a 'sparring match'? If Yuzuru had been unable to take it, how would I explain that to the Hyuga Clan?"

Hiruzen then turned and sternly rebuked Shinji. The latter silently lowered his head. Faced with the Third Hokage's fully unleashed presence and pressure, even Shinji, an Uchiha Jonin, found it difficult to withstand.

"...All right. Now that everything has been made clear, the two of you should return to your respective clans."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Shinji immediately nodded. At that moment, he had no desire whatsoever to remain under the Third Hokage's oppressive pressure.

With that, under Hiruzen's gaze, he quickly used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished into the Death Forest.

After Shinji left, Hiruzen looked at Yuzuru again, signaling for him to return as well.

Yuzuru nodded, but instead of making any move to leave, he formed a hand seal. After softly saying, "Release," his body turned into a puff of smoke and disappeared.

"This was Yuzuru's Shadow Clone!"

Seeing this, Hiruzen was shocked once again. If Yuzuru had merely used the ability of those "Tenseigan" eyes, he could still accept it. But the Shadow Clone Technique was B-rank ninjutsu, difficult enough that even some ordinary Chunin might fail to master it. Yet the sight of Yuzuru releasing his Shadow Clone was still vivid in his mind, forcing Hiruzen to accept the fact that Yuzuru had mastered the Shadow Clone Technique.

"An evolved form of the Byakugan..."

"Unparalleled talent for ninjutsu..."

"Such an outstanding seedling must be properly nurtured. In the future, Yuzuru will definitely be no weaker than the First Hokage!"

Hiruzen branded Yuzuru with that assessment in his heart.

"Retrieve all of Yuzuru's records and bring them to my office."

Having made up his mind, Hiruzen spoke directly into the silent night. Two Anbu immediately appeared behind him. After respectfully answering, "Yes," they vanished again, clearly heading off to retrieve Hyuga Yuzuru's personal records.

"The Hyuga Clan has Yuzuru for its future, and the Uchiha Clan has Akeshi. Who does my Sarutobi Clan have for its future to shoulder such a burden?"

Hiruzen let out a heavy sigh, then immediately headed for the Hokage's office. Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night. He had to learn more about Hyuga Yuzuru and make him inherit the Will of Fire. Such a promising "sapling" had to turn toward the great "tree" that was Konoha. Otherwise, it could only be destroyed in advance...

Hyuga Clan main family compound.

"What? Lord Yuzuru never left the house at all?"

Hyuga Gishi and Hyuga Mato both stared at the maid before them in shock. She was Yuzuru's personal attendant, responsible for his daily needs. According to her, Yuzuru had gone to bed early and had never gone out.

"Then the one we were protecting before was..."

The more Mato thought about it, the more terrified he became. He swallowed before asking his companion.

"Idiot, it must have been Lord Yuzuru's Shadow Clone!"

Gishi cursed Mato in exasperation before explaining it to him.

"I heard that Lord Yuzuru's talent for ninjutsu is exceptionally high. Not only did he successfully master the Shadow Clone Technique, but I never expected that the Shadow Clone he created would be so convincing that even our Byakugan couldn't see through it..."

"Yeah. Lord Yuzuru only turned six today!"

The two Hyuga Chunin, Gishi and Mato, exchanged glances. The shock in the depths of their eyes refused to fade for a long time.

Uchiha Clan compound.

"Did you give that Hyuga brat a good 'lesson'?"

After settling Akeshi in, Eiichi saw Shinji return and asked with a smile.

To Eiichi, with Shinji's Jonin-level strength, teaching a Hyuga brat a "lesson" should have been effortless. Yet judging from the grave expression on Shinji's face, had something unexpected happened?

"I'll explain later. I have something extremely important to report to the clan head right now!"

Shinji had no desire to say more to Eiichi. After merely telling him to take good care of Akeshi, he immediately headed for the clan's main residence. Even though it was already late in the night, he had to inform the clan head that Yuzuru had awakened the Tenseigan!