At the end of July, the weather grew hotter and hotter, but in the Hyuga clan compound, Hideichi Hyuga felt a surge of sorrow.
"You're amazing, Hideichi! As expected of a secret technique. The clan head and Lord Hokage have both been praising your performance lately."
"I want to be as outstanding as Hideichi too!"
"You'll have a chance to learn the Eight Trigrams Palms as well. Keep it up, Hideichi."
"Hideichi, you're our pride..."
Within the branch family, everyone who encountered Hideichi Hyuga praised him loudly. When they mentioned the secret technique bestowed by the main family, they proudly puffed out their chests.
Hideichi Hyuga wore a humble smile on the surface, but once he left the others' sight, he unconsciously clenched his fists. The surging emotions nearly activated his Byakugan outright.
"Hideichi, don't let the others see you like this."
Hizashi Hyuga, who had opened the door, reminded him. Only after taking a deep breath did Hideichi Hyuga step into the room. After sitting down, neither of them spoke.
Even if they possessed outstanding talent, members of the branch family could not learn the Hyuga clan's secret techniques.
Most branch family members had no objections to this, but a small number felt humiliated. They shared the same bloodline and the same eyes, yet they were treated as inferior.
"What did you think of this mission?"
Hizashi Hyuga looked at the boy before him, who had his head lowered. The latter slowly raised his head and spoke with envy in his voice.
"Whether it's Shu or Kakashi, their talent is exceptional."
"They can freely learn anything, while I can only submit to this rotten clan system. This 'gift' from the main family feels more like charity."
Being given a useful "tool" to show the village their stance—that was how Hideichi Hyuga felt about learning Rotation.
Hizashi Hyuga did not comment immediately. Instead, he continued asking calmly.
"Has Shu Furukawa shown any interest in the Hyuga clan?"
"I can't determine his attitude. Shu gives me an indescribable feeling. His talent may far exceed the village's imagination."
Hideichi Hyuga replied quietly. Recalling their time together, he could not help remembering those words: "Live on."
"Sure enough, I shouldn't have placed my hopes on the next Hokage."
"Perhaps this is the branch family's fate. Hideichi, don't show your emotions in front of the main family."
"That's just how this world is. Some things can never be changed. Live on with hope."
Hizashi Hyuga encouraged him quietly. He did not want to make empty promises. As a member of the branch family, there was nothing he could change.
As though he had expected this outcome long ago, Hideichi Hyuga nodded slightly. Thinking of the role ordinary shinobi played in war, he mocked himself under his breath.
"Thank you, Lord Hizashi. At least I'm still a valuable tool."
As night fell, the commercial street was especially lively beneath its colorful lights. The village had recently opened several new izakayas.
"Ha..."
Tsunade let out a low cry after draining her cup, then immediately slammed it onto the table. The full, pale curves beneath her sleeveless inner shirt bounced a few times as well.
"Bring me a few more! This hot weather calls for cold beer!"
Shizune was somewhat worried when she saw her teacher looking dazed, but Shu Furukawa was already used to it. With Tsunade's chakra control, getting drunk was very easy to avoid if she did not want to.
Pouring Tsunade another cup, Shu Furukawa clinked his oolong tea against hers and asked with a smile.
"Teacher, aside from the Hyuga clan, how can ordinary shinobi release chakra from the acupoints throughout their bodies?"
Under normal circumstances, Tsunade would never answer. She would only flick his forehead and tell him to focus on the basics. But after getting tipsy, things were entirely different. Squinting, she answered.
"More of these profound questions!"
"Control the acupoints throughout your body to release chakra? Aside from the Hyuga clan, no one can do that."
"You saw Rotation? Even with that secret technique, its effects differ from person to person."
"Even within the Hyuga clan, very few people can steadily and rapidly extract chakra from their chakra pathways and release it through their acupoints."
"Unlike Iwagakure's Kekkei Genkai of elemental techniques, the Hyuga clan's Kekkei Genkai wasn't developed. It's an innate talent."
"..."
Shu Furukawa nodded thoughtfully, then smiled again. As he continued pouring drinks, he called out to Shizune.
"The fried food at this place is pretty good!"
Seeing that Tsunade was indeed still sober, Shizune relaxed. The girl took a bite of the freshly served tempura and quickly praised it happily.
"Shu, it's really delicious!"
"But I still prefer your cooking. Lady Tsunade has complained about it a few times lately too..."
"Pour the drinks!"
Tsunade cut off the girl's chatter. Having lived such a comfortable life for too long, she had indeed developed a bit of dependence on it. But as a teacher, she could not show that side of herself.
Shu Furukawa smiled and refilled Tsunade's cup, then called for the owner to bring another round of side dishes. Jiraiya had ultimately raised this mission to S-rank, so they had made a small profit.
No longer asking about ninjutsu, Shu Furukawa simply shared some amusing incidents from the mission. Shizune soon broke into a smile, and even Tsunade joined in with complaints and teasing.
They drank until late into the night. With a flush on her cheeks, Tsunade left contentedly under the owner's warm sendoff. At the entrance, she narrowed her eyes and asked.
"Shu, does that short sword feel comfortable to use?"
"Its conduction and storage effects are excellent. Thanks to Teacher Tsunade's gift, I was able to return safely."
Shu Furukawa respectfully offered up some flattery. Tsunade did not ask any more about the mission. She leaned over, flicked his forehead, and warned him quietly.
"I don't want to see your name on the Memorial Stone in a few years. Don't ever let your guard down. Complete the Strength of a Hundred Seal as soon as possible."
"Teacher, hasn't the follow-up portion of that technique still not been developed?"
"You little brat really aren't cute at all..."
At the beginning of August, with vacation arriving, Shu Furukawa continued steadily condensing Senjutsu Chakra at home. The increased quantity of "essence" secret medicine sped up his progress once again.
Katsuyu on his shoulder remained motionless. Only after Shu Furukawa, seated cross-legged, completed all his extraction did she praise him in a cheerful tone.
"Lord Shu, the Strength of a Hundred Seal has progressed again!"
"Once you complete this technique, I can help Lord Shu enter Sage Mode. Extracting Senjutsu Chakra afterward will become much easier."
Shu Furukawa merely nodded, then asked quietly.
"Katsuyu, you mentioned before that Hagoromo Otsutsuki and Hamura Otsutsuki inherited different powers. Did the original chakra have a greater influence on the Sage of Six Paths?"
"Yes! The Sage of Six Paths' power has been passed down to this day, and the influence of his chakra appears every few years."
Katsuyu wriggled her antennae and crawled onto his knee. After thinking for a moment, Shu Furukawa suddenly asked again.
"Can you sense the chakra passed down by Indra and Ashura?"
"I can, Lord Shu, but the other party needs to awaken that power."
Shu Furukawa did not know what those two types of chakra were truly like, but he knew they definitely existed within the Uchiha "Dance King."
The Byakugan might not be obtainable through [Collection]. Shu Furukawa did not want to get too close to the Hyuga clan, but he was determined to obtain those two types of chakra.
"I may have to trouble you in the future, Katsuyu!"
"No problem, Lord Shu. I greatly look forward to your path of evolution."
"..."