Hinata Hyuga's Third Birthday

Splash.

The temperature in the shower room gradually rose. Fine droplets of steam clung to the tiles, becoming round and full. By the time Hyuga Yunchuan stepped out of the shower room, his figure had become hazy in the mist.

"..."

He stopped at the washroom and stared at his face in the mirror.

Clearly defined features, a broad forehead, a straight nose, and gentle brows—he looked like a good kid.

He had looked this way in both his past and present lives. Even if his photo were pasted onto a wanted poster, anyone seeing it for the first time would think it belonged on some model student certificate.

Except now, that familiar face had gained something extra.

Hyuga Yunchuan swept his wet black hair back, exposing his forehead. His calm gaze passed over the ugly, glaring manji-shaped Curse Mark.

Caged Bird, Caged Bird...

Hyuga Yunchuan closed his eyes and focused. A moment later, his eyelids trembled and slowly opened.

The person in the mirror had become someone else. His harmless, gentle aura had faded away, and one side of his face was concealed in the shadows cast by the light, forming a deep silhouette.

The white in his once-pure eyes melted away like first snow beneath the sun. Within those pale blue pupils, tranquil as a still lake, flecks of starlight flowed. They possessed both a breathtaking beauty and an unfathomable majesty.

No one would mistake him for that "good-for-nothing" now. No one would even want to meet his gaze, because that spear-like pressure silently spread outward. Looking into his eyes felt like having a needle suspended before one's own.

The Caged Bird Cursed Seal on his forehead also seemed to have faded considerably.

"Is this the power of the Tenseigan?"

Sensing the undeveloped power deep within his eyes, Hyuga Yunchuan raised a hand and touched them. What is this supposed to be, some transitional form from the Byakugan to the Tenseigan?

Otsutsuki Toneri's Byakugan had undergone several "Fetal Movements" before transforming into the Tenseigan...

According to memories from his past life, the Tenseigan was a supreme power comparable to the Rinnegan.

And there seemed to be only two ways to obtain the Tenseigan.

The first was to combine Otsutsuki Toneri's Chakra with the Hyuga Clan's pure Byakugan.

The second was to fuse a large number of Otsutsuki Clan Byakugan and evolve them into the Tenseigan.

As for the former, what he possessed was a pure bloodline comparable to Otsutsuki Toneri's, not the "Chakra" Otsutsuki Toneri had mentioned. Hyuga Yunchuan was not sure whether the two were the same thing.

In the original work, only Ōtsutsuki Hamura and Otsutsuki Toneri had ever possessed the Tenseigan. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and the other Otsutsuki Clan members had never displayed it. Even Hamura had never truly demonstrated the Tenseigan's abilities.

Otsutsuki Toneri, the legitimate descendant of Ōtsutsuki Hamura, had also apparently undergone an unknown number of "Fetal Movements," and it was unknown whether those "Fetal Movements" carried any danger.

If the Rinnegan was the orthodox ability the Otsutsuki Clan gained after Devouring the God Tree Fruit, then the Tenseigan seemed to be a power born from a Byakugan mutation, trading the Rinnegan's versatile functions for overwhelming strength...

"Yunchuan! Are you done washing up?"

The voice from outside the shower room interrupted Hyuga Yunchuan's thoughts. He brushed his hair aside, then slowly and forcefully worked his facial muscles. A harmless, gentle smile returned to his face.

"Coming, coming."

Hyuga Yunchuan answered as he changed into white clothes and tied Konoha's Forehead Protector around his brow.

Although the original owner of this body had been called a good-for-nothing by the Hyuga Clan, that was only because he was already over thirteen and had still never awakened the Byakugan.

Of course, it was also because of the original owner's timid and battle-shy nature. He had burst into tears on the spot when he first saw a battlefield, which the other clansmen considered a disgrace to the family.

Even so, he was still stronger than most ninja born as civilians, graduating as a Genin alongside the "dead last," Might Guy.

However, Might Guy was now already a Chunin, while he remained a Genin.

When he pushed open the door, Might Guy came into view, hanging from a horizontal bar. This guy really could not stay idle for even a moment.

Boom!

Seeing Hyuga Yunchuan emerge fully dressed, Might Guy stretched his muscles and dropped down, unfastening the weights on his legs with a loud crash.

"Oh! Is this the soul of Konoha, where youth blossoms?!" He looked over Hyuga Yunchuan's body, his eyes blazing with fervent fighting spirit. "I never expected that while I was out of the village on missions, in just a few months, you would have set your hot blood burning to such heights!"

Those heavy weights were already comparable to the total weight he usually wore over his entire body during training.

"You flatter me, Senior. I should thank you for being willing to teach me the Eight Gates Released Formation."

Faced with praise from this crazed rare beast, Hyuga Yunchuan merely smiled and replied politely.

The Eight Gates Released Formation was indeed powerful, but it enhanced the user based on the strength of their own body. For instance, Kakashi could also open the first gate of the Eight Gates Released Formation, but he still could not match Might Guy in his normal state without the Eight Gates Released Formation.

Might Guy had tempered his body under his father's guidance since childhood. That amount of weight was merely part of his daily training.

"I never expected a member of the Hyuga Clan like you to come to me to learn the Eight Gates Released Formation and Strong Fist. Such determination to break convention, such courage to challenge your limits!" Might Guy suddenly raised two thumbs, tears welling in his eyes.

His emotions came quickly and faded just as fast. He turned to look toward the depths of the clan grounds, where the normally solemn Hyuga compound could vaguely be seen still bearing traces of bright colors.

"What is all this?" Might Guy asked curiously.

"Main Family Young Lady Hinata Hyuga's third birthday is coming up," Hyuga Yunchuan said with a smile.

"Huh?" Might Guy froze for a moment. "Do they make such a big fuss every time she has a birthday?"

"Of course not." Hyuga Yunchuan shook his head, a hint of meaning in his eyes. "A third birthday holds a different meaning for children of the Main Branch."

Whenever a Main Branch child's third birthday arrived, a group of Branch Family children would be branded with the [Caged Bird] Curse Mark.

And among those Branch Family children, the most outstanding few would have a chance to become the Main Branch child's personal guards.

As the eldest daughter of the Main Branch clan head's line, Hinata Hyuga was the only candidate to succeed as clan head in the future. Naturally, the Hyuga Clan attached great importance to her third birthday.

The other ninja clans of Konoha, as well as some Nobles from the Land of Fire, would all come to the Hyuga Clan to offer their congratulations.

Unfortunately, this also means this period is destined not to be peaceful.

Since Hinata Hyuga was already three years old, Kumogakure would soon come to Konoha to sign a ceasefire agreement—and at the same time, plot to abduct Hinata Hyuga.

This period would also be an excellent opportunity for Hyuga Yunchuan to make his plans.

As they spoke and laughed, the two walked side by side out of the residence, the atmosphere remaining pleasant all the way.

Until they approached the gates of the Hyuga Clan grounds...

"Stop."

A cold voice came from the side, making them both halt instinctively.

Hyuga Yunchuan narrowed his eyes and turned toward the voice, where he saw a face full of disgust.

"Hyuga Yunchuan."

The Hyuga clansman on gate duty stood beside the entrance and questioned him coldly, "Today is Lady Aoi's extra training day. As her attendant, why are you not at her side serving her? Where do you think you are going?"