Konoha Hospital.
"This child's constitution is very unusual. Part of the nerves around his eyes are missing from birth. Even an eye transplant would be impossible."
After his examination, Toneri sat on the operating table while the doctor spoke with Shin nearby.
Shin nodded thoughtfully. "I see."
Although Toneri had no eyes, it did not affect his daily life. He possessed an ability similar to perception, as though he had a mind's eye that allowed him to see all things.
"Prince Shin." Toneri, seated there, spoke up.
"I'm fine."
His young face carried a maturity that did not match his age.
Shin merely reached out and stroked his soft hair, smiling. "Come on. I'll introduce you to some friends."
When they returned to the Hokage residence,
everyone at home was astonished that Shin had brought back a child.
Ayari asked suspiciously, "Who is this child?"
"His name is Toneri, Toneri Hyuga," Shin said.
"Hyuga..." Ayari and Ayano exchanged glances. There had been some newborns in the clan over the past two years, but they had never heard of this child.
Toneri, under everyone's scrutiny, showed no unusual expression. He simply stood quietly at Shin's side.
"Bring Neji and the others out," Shin said again.
Neji was called out from his room. The moment he saw his father, he happily ran over in little steps.
"Dad!"
Neji was already three years old, about the same age as Toneri.
Shin introduced the two children to each other, then had Neji take Toneri out to play.
Only after the two children had left did Ayari speak. "That child's eyes..."
Shin said, "Toneri was born without eyes. He was not originally a member of our Hyuga Clan, but he shares the same ancestry as us, and his bloodline is purer than ours."
Shin only