Mangekyo

First of all.

Neji's fate had indeed been tragic. Secondly, the Descent of the Flower Tree World was also quite appealing.

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

"First, if you want to undo the Caged Bird Seal, Neji, you must pay more attention to training your Byakugan."

Uchiha Akira thought for a moment before continuing, "Second, improving your strength is equally indispensable."

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

Hyuga Neji's breathing became rapid. As a member of the Branch Family, learning any taijutsu was a luxury. When had anyone ever asked him what he wanted to learn?

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

His voice was full of anticipation and hope.

Like a traveler who had seized his last lifeline.

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

"Of course you can."

Uchiha Akira's sudden reply left Hyuga Neji stunned and incredulous. "But Teacher, you're not from the Hyuga Clan. How could you know the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques?"

Had someone leaked the secret techniques, or did his teacher possess some special method?

For a moment, Neji's thoughts were a mess, and he could not figure out the reason.

"You don't need to worry about that. It's already late today."

Akira said with a smile, "Go back first. Just come here on time at nine tomorrow morning."

Hyuga Neji suppressed the doubts in his heart, nodded obediently, and left.

The gloom in his heart when he had arrived vanished completely. The moon, which had seemed bleak and dim before, now felt like a bright mirror hanging high above—cold and clear, carrying fierce yet radiant hope.

"Hiss."

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

Both Eight Trigrams Palm and Revolving Heaven were secret techniques of the Hyuga Main Family. The Branch Family seemed to be permitted to learn Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms only after reaching adulthood, while Revolving Heaven was a Nintaijutsu only the Main Family could learn.

For an ancient great clan like the Hyuga Clan—

These were secret techniques that absolutely could not be passed on to outsiders.

Otherwise, the Hyuga Clan would never have established the Branch Family and Main Family system. That showed just how "conservative," "strict," and "rigid" the Hyuga Clan was.

[ Ding! Congratulations, Lord Hashirama has guarded the Senju Clan for a full year. Rewards are being drawn based on Lord Hashirama's own abilities! ]

A massive roulette wheel appeared before Uchiha Akira's eyes, spinning rapidly.

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

"Huh?"

Uchiha Akira asked curiously, "Is this drawing the power most suitable for me based on my own abilities?"

[ Ding! Detected that Lord Hashirama possesses the Two-Tomoe Sharingan. Enhancement in progress. Congratulations, Lord Hashirama, you have obtained the Mangekyō Sharingan! Huh? How does Lord Hashirama have the Uchiha Sharingan? This must be Lord Tobirama's doing. Lord Tobirama truly is Lord Hashirama's most dependable little brother! ]

Akira: "..."

System, you sure know how to make things up.

He said gloomily, "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I'm not Hashirama Senju at all, but a member of the Uchiha Clan?"

[ Absolutely impossible! Please do not make such jokes, Lord Hashirama. According to the System's assessment, you are Lord Hashirama! ]

Fine.

It was not as if the System had only been acting crazy for a day or two.

Uchiha Akira waved dismissively. "Come on, my powerful Mangekyō Sharingan!"

It was as though some membrane had shattered. Powerful Dojutsu Power erupted from the depths of his brain and, in an instant, poured into his eyes like a rushing river.

In an instant, the Two-Tomoe Sharingan emerged in his eyes and spun rapidly. The tomoe gradually connected, eventually transforming into a triangular shuriken-shaped Mangekyō Sharingan. It was extremely similar to Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyō, except the lower curve of its shuriken was an exceptionally sharp arc.

The upper curve hooked inward again halfway through.

It looked sharp and chilling, while his black eyes became even deeper and more profound!

"Oh? As expected of my Mangekyō Sharingan. Even its abilities are this unique."

Uchiha Akira's lips curled upward.

Not bad.

The abilities he had obtained were fairly decent: [Time House] and [Fated Shadow]. Those were the abilities granted to his left and right eyes respectively. When the powers of both Mangekyō Sharingan were activated at once, he could use the Uchiha Clan's ultimate power.

—[Susanoo]!

The two abilities were not particularly complicated to use either.

"The ability of [Time House] is that it can freeze my own state for five minutes. During those five minutes, all damage I receive will be nullified. It can be used again every ten minutes, but the price is that I can designate any moment within three days for the damage I receive to erupt."

This ability was quite good.

Uchiha Akira nodded in satisfaction. "Although the damage must still be endured, with my Sage Body's recovery, after dispersing and shifting it multiple times, even fatal damage can be split into severe injuries."

"Or even minor injuries!"

"The ability of [Fated Shadow] complements [Time House]. When attacking an enemy, it can transfer the location where damage is received!"

His eyes flickered as he felt this skill was rather underhanded.

For example, if an enemy was injured in the arm, it would not be fatal. But when they were struck a second time—

He could transfer the location of the damage from the first attack.

In other words, he could transfer the arm injury to any part of the enemy's body. A ten-centimeter injury on an arm was not fatal, but what if those ten centimeters were transferred to the heart?

Hiss—!

Even Uchiha Akira could not help drawing a sharp breath. "Damn it, a righteous man like me actually has such a sinister Dojutsu. That's terrifying!"

With this ability—

He could proudly declare that as long as they were not some cheat-equipped freak, no one could withstand two instances of damage from him!

Two Dojutsu.

One was absolute defense, and the other was absolute offense. They complemented each other perfectly.

"Not bad, not bad. But the problem now is still teaching Neji ninjutsu."

Uchiha Akira looked toward the Hyuga Clan, a faint smile on his lips. His body vanished from the Senju Clan like a black shadow.

He might not know the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques.

But someone did.

Hyuga Clan.

Hiashi drank tea calmly, his expression unruffled. Given Neji's talent, it was not impossible to grant him Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

But there was no need.

He did not need a Branch Family member who shone brighter than his own daughter.

At that moment, a hurried figure appeared in an instant and said respectfully, "Clan Head, after Hyuga Neji left the clan grounds without any destination, he encountered Uchiha Akira at the Senju Clan, and... Uchiha Akira seems to intend to teach Neji."

"Hm?"

Hiashi's hand holding the teacup paused, and his gaze immediately darkened. "Since when did the Hyuga Clan's affairs require the Uchiha Clan to meddle in them?"

"But the Uchiha Clan does not possess powerful taijutsu. Uchiha Akira is merely a Jonin, and he does not even have the Byakugan. What could he possibly use to teach Neji?"

"Leave him alone. He is merely an Uchiha who has not awakened his eyes."

A trace of disdain appeared in his eyes.

The best Nintaijutsu suited to the Byakugan could only be the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques!