Mangekyo

First point.

Neji's fate was indeed tragic, and second, the Flower Tree World Descent was also quite tempting.

Besides, the mission was to help Neji find a way to undo the Caged Bird Seal, and he felt there would likely be follow-up tasks later.

"First, to undo the Caged Bird Seal, Neji, you must focus more on training your Byakugan in your daily practice."

Uchiha Siming thought for a moment, then continued, "Second, improving your strength is also indispensable."

"So, Neji, what do you want to learn?"

Hyuga Neji's breathing grew rapid. As a member of the Branch Family, learning any taijutsu was a luxury for him. When had anyone ever asked him, "What do you want to learn?"

"I, I want to learn the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, and... the Eight Trigrams Palm Revolving Heaven!"

His voice carried hope and longing.

It was like a traveler who had finally spotted a lifeline.

But suddenly, he realized his teacher wasn't a member of the Hyuga Clan. How could he possibly know the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques?

"Of course you can."

Uchiha Siming suddenly spoke, leaving Hyuga Neji stunned and somewhat incredulous: "But teacher, you're not from the Hyuga Clan. How could you know the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques?"

Had someone leaked the secrets, or did his teacher have some special method?

Neji's thoughts were muddled for a moment, unable to figure it out.

"Don't worry about that. It's already late today."

Siming said with a smile, "Go back for now. Just come back on time tomorrow at the Si Hour."

Hyuga Neji suppressed his doubts, nodded obediently, and left.

The gloom he'd felt on the way here had vanished. The moon, which had seemed dark and oppressive before, now hung like a bright mirror, clear and cold, carrying sharp, silvery hope.

"Hiss."

Uchiha Siming rubbed his chin: "Where the hell am I supposed to learn the Eight Trigrams Palm and Revolving Heaven?"

Whether it was the Eight Trigrams Palm or Revolving Heaven, both were secret techniques of the Hyuga Main Family. The Branch Family could only learn the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms upon reaching adulthood, and Revolving Heaven was a Nintaijutsu exclusive to the Main Family.

For a millennium-old clan like the Hyuga, These were absolutely forbidden techniques to be passed outside.

Otherwise, the Hyuga Clan wouldn't have established the Main Family and Branch Family system. It showed just how "conservative," "strict," and "rigid" the Hyuga Clan was.

[Ding! Congratulations, Lord Hashirama has completed one year of guarding the Senju Clan. Rewards are being drawn based on Lord Hashirama's own abilities!]

A massive roulette wheel appeared before Uchiha Siming, spinning rapidly.

On it were the Sage Body, Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique, Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, and... a Two-Tomoe Sharingan?

"Eh?"

Uchiha Siming was curious: "Is this drawing the power most suited to me based on my own abilities?"

[Ding! Detected that Lord Hashirama possesses a Two-Tomoe Sharingan. Enhancing... Congratulations, Lord Hashirama, for obtaining the Mangekyo Sharingan! Huh? How does Lord Hashirama have an Uchiha Sharingan? This must be Lord Tobirama's doing! Lord Tobirama truly is Lord Hashirama's most reliable little brother!]

Siming: "..."

System, you sure can fill in the blanks.

He said dryly, "So, is there any chance that I'm actually not Hashirama Senju, but from the Uchiha Clan?"

[Absolutely impossible! Please don't joke like that, Lord Hashirama. System detection confirms you are Lord Hashirama!]

Fine.

The System glitching wasn't anything new.

Uchiha Siming waved his hand dismissively: "Bring it on, my mighty Mangekyo Sharingan!"

It felt like some membrane had been broken. A powerful Dojutsu Power surged from deep within his brain, flooding into both eyes like a river in an instant.

In that moment, his eyes manifested the Two-Tomoe Sharingan, spinning rapidly, gradually connecting, and finally transforming into the Mangekyo Sharingan shaped like a three-pronged shuriken. It was very similar to Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyo, except the lower arc of his shuriken was an extremely sharp curve.

The upper arc hooked inward at the halfway point.

It looked fierce and grim, his black pupils growing even deeper and more profound!

"Oh? As expected of my Mangekyo Sharingan. Even its abilities are so unique."

Uchiha Siming's lips curled upward.

Not bad.

The abilities he'd obtained were decent: [Time House] and [Fated Shadow]. These were the powers of his left and right eyes. By activating the power of both Mangekyo Sharingan simultaneously, he could use the Uchiha Clan's ultimate power.

--[Susanoo]!

Using the two abilities wasn't complicated either.

"[Time House]'s ability is to freeze my own state for five minutes. During those five minutes, all damage I take is nullified. It can be used again every ten minutes, but the cost is that the damage taken can be designated by me to erupt at any moment within three days."

This ability was pretty good.

Uchiha Siming nodded in satisfaction. "Though the damage must be endured, with my Sage Body's recovery, after multiple transfers and splits, even a fatal wound can be reduced to a severe injury."

"Or even a light one!"

"[Fated Shadow]'s ability works in tandem with the [Time House]—when attacking an enemy, I can transfer the location of the damage I receive!"

His eyes flickered as he found this skill a bit sinister.

For example, if an enemy was wounded on the arm, not fatally, but then struck a second time.

He could shift the location of the first injury.

That is, transfer the arm wound to any part of the enemy's body. A ten-centimeter gash on the arm wasn't lethal, but what if those ten centimeters landed on the heart?

Ssssh—!

Even Uchiha Siming couldn't help but suck in a cold breath. "Damn, a righteous guy like me actually has such a shady Dojutsu—it's terrifying!"

With this ability.

He could proudly claim that unless someone was a cheater, no one could withstand two of his strikes!

Two Dojutsu.

One absolute defense, one absolute offense, complementing each other.

"Not bad, not bad, but the current issue is still teaching Neji ninjutsu."

Uchiha Siming's gaze turned toward the Hyuga Clan's direction, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth. His body vanished like a black shadow, swiftly disappearing from the Senju Clan.

He didn't know the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques.

But someone else did.

Hyuga Clan.

Hyuga Hiashi calmly sipped his tea, his expression unruffled. With Neji's talent, it wasn't impossible to teach him the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

But there was no need.

He didn't need a Branch Family member who outshone his own daughter.

Just then, a hurried figure appeared in an instant, speaking respectfully: "Clan Head, Hyuga Neji wandered aimlessly out of the clan grounds and encountered Uchiha Siming in the Senju Clan. Moreover... Uchiha Siming seems to intend to teach Neji."

"Oh?"

Hyuga Hiashi's hand holding the teacup paused, his gaze growing much deeper. "Since when does the Hyuga Clan's affairs fall under the Uchiha Clan's jurisdiction?"

"But the Uchiha Clan has no strong Taijutsu. Uchiha Siming is merely a Jonin, and he doesn't even have a Byakugan. What could he possibly use to teach Neji?"

"Pay him no mind. Just an Uchiha who hasn't opened his eyes."

A hint of disdain flickered in his eyes.

The best Nintaijutsu to match the Byakugan was none other than the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques!