Bewitching Hearts

The next moment.

Keigo Uchiha threw the Thunderbolt of his Storm Release without a moment's hesitation!

The Storm Release transformed into a cage of lightning, trapping Hyuga Ruri tightly in the center; she had no room to resist, her chakra reserves not yet fully recovered.

"What... is this? It's neither Lightning Release nor Water Release, yet it crackles with thunder and possesses the fluid texture of... flowing water?"

Kurama Shimotsuki's brows furrowed, a jolt of shock running through her heart.

Just how strong had this guy become?

Fire Release, Sharingan, formidable taijutsu, precise insight, and now this terrifying jutsu.

Is this really the strength a seven-year-old boy should possess!?

"Such terrifying power. Even from this distance, I can feel its destructive force. This isn't Lightning Release, nor is it Water Release!"

The crowd stared in horror!

This was beyond the level they could comprehend.

"How is this possible?"

Kamimura Ino's eyes widened in shock, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he forced a trembling laugh: "The Storm Release of Kumogakure... actually mastered by a seven-year-old boy from the Uchiha Clan!"

"This is an incredibly powerful Kekkei Genkai! Even in Kumogakure, it is rarely seen in decades."

"Sharingan, Storm Release—Keigo Uchiha has mastered two Kekkei Genkai. Is this really the strength a mere boy should have!?"

He couldn't help but gasp.

A chill ran down his spine!

The lightning of that Storm Release gave him a sense of mortal threat!

If he were to face that lightning... he might actually die!

As a teacher at the Ninja Academy with the strength of an elite Chunin, he was certain he was no match for this seven-year-old boy!

"Storm Release!? A Kekkei Genkai? I don't know what that is, but it looks amazing!"

Akimichi Lie was stunned.

Beside him, Nara Kano shook his head helplessly, "It's a Kekkei Genkai, a jutsu formed by the fusion of two elemental releases, usually inherited through the bloodline of specific clans."

His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief, "But for Keigo Uchiha to master the Kekkei Genkai of another clan... this is simply... inconceivable!"

"I have never heard of anyone mastering dual Kekkei Genkai!"

Having read extensively about the ninja world since childhood, Nara Kano was the most astonished of them all.

"How is it possible? Dual Kekkei Genkai—you are of the Uchiha Clan, yet you have mastered Storm Release!"

Hyuga Ruri's beautiful eyes were wide with shock, unable to believe it.

Storm Release.

It was a Kekkei Genkai no weaker than the Byakugan!

With the terrifying power of thunder combined with the control of flowing water, its destructive potential was immense and its methods incredibly versatile!

"I lost."

She lowered her head in defeat, but quickly looked up, her voice sharp: "But I won't lose to you forever. One day, I will defeat you! I'll remember you, Keigo Uchiha!"

As the granddaughter of Hyuga Tenjin.

She would never allow herself to lose so miserably!

She would definitely win it back!

"I'll be waiting."

Keigo Uchiha chuckled, waving his hand dismissively as the lightning cage transformed into a stream of electrified water, surging toward the distance.

In an instant!

Half of the wall collapsed with a thunderous crash!

The crowd couldn't help but gulp.

Hyuga Ruri: "..."

Are you sure you aren't just putting on a show for me?

That was clearly a mockery, wasn't it!

She gritted her teeth, "I'll remember you, Keigo Uchiha, you hateful guy."

With that, she turned to head back to the classroom.

But the next moment, hearing Keigo Uchiha's voice, she paused and looked back.

"At this rate, you will never be able to catch up to me."

Keigo Uchiha chuckled softly.

Those scarlet Sharingan eyes stared leisurely at Hyuga Ruri, as if looking at an interesting toy.

As the granddaughter of Hyuga Tenjin, the talent she currently displays is undoubtedly superior to that of Hyuga Hinata or Hyuga Hanabi.

Furthermore, she possesses the bloodline of the Senju Clan.

An exceptionally pure Byakugan, combined with the constitution of the Senju Clan.

Does that mean... she might have the potential to approach those blue eyes?

The Tenseigan!

The awakening conditions for the Tenseigan require the eyes of the Hyuga Main House, combined with the constitution and chakra of the Otsutsuki Hagoromo branch family on the moon; the fusion of the two awakens the Tenseigan.

But is that truly the only way to awaken it?

I am afraid not.

Hyuga Tenjin may have already touched upon this level; otherwise, how else could one explain why he would rather forfeit the succession of the clan head than fail to have his son marry a woman from the Senju Clan?

The eyes of the Hyuga Clan, paired with the Yang Release constitution of the Senju Clan—that is, the Half-Sage Body—might truly be capable of awakening those eyes!

"What did you say!"

Hyuga Ruri's pretty face flushed with anger as she snapped, "Don't think that just because you defeated me once, you can order me around. If that is your attitude, then you are truly pathetic!"

Looking at Keigo Uchiha's handsome, composed face and his light smile.

The more she looked, the angrier she became.

This guy... how can he remain so calm even after being insulted?

"What I mean is, your Hyuga Clan has taken the wrong path. Although the Hyuga Clan possesses the Byakugan, you treat it merely as an auxiliary tool. Have you ever thought about... delving deeper into the Byakugan?"

Keigo Uchiha remained indifferent, as if he were speaking of something extremely simple. "This is the true path for your Hyuga Clan to become stronger."

"Just like the ordinary Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan... evolving into the Three-Tomoe Sharingan."

The corners of his mouth curled upward.

Mentioning the Mangekyou Sharingan would be too shocking.

Using the Three-Tomoe Sharingan as an analogy would suffice.

"What?"

Hyuga Ruri was stunned. Her instinct was to refute him, but for some reason, her body trembled. A vague premonition washed over her, making her feel that Keigo was right!

"Delving into the Byakugan, evolving it, making it stronger—is that really possible?"

For a moment.

Her beautiful eyes could not help but cloud with confusion.

"Before this, the entire Hyuga Clan focused on training in taijutsu and the Gentle Fist. Once the Byakugan was awakened, that was it... is it really possible? Can it really become stronger?"

The people of the Hyuga Clan had indeed formed a habit.

Once they awakened the Byakugan, they basically only utilized its existing abilities, rarely attempting to research its evolution.

For one, predecessors had studied it and concluded it was basically unfeasible.

Secondly, the right to research the ocular power of the Byakugan was reserved only for the Main House. As for the branch family, once the Caged Bird seal was branded, the potential of the Byakugan was already compromised, let alone taking it a step further.

And in the Hyuga Clan, only the lineage of the clan head constituted the Main House.

Ruri was a special case; because the lingering influence of Hyuga Tenjin remained, she had not been relegated to the branch family or branded with the Caged Bird seal.

Hyuga Ruri was lost.

It was as if she were standing at a crossroads, not knowing which way to turn.

The onlookers were completely dumbfounded!

Kamimura Ino swallowed hard, nearly shouting out in awe!

That was the granddaughter of Hyuga Tenjin, the future head of the Hyuga Clan.

And yet, she was being led around by the nose by Keigo Uchiha!

Of course... he had no idea what Keigo Uchiha was actually talking about.

He only knew one thing: this boy... was truly damn impressive!

"Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara never asked if building a village was the right thing to do, but as powerhouses, they felt it was correct, so they did it."

Keigo Uchiha's voice was melodic, carrying a power that could bewitch the heart.

"That is why... we have the Konoha of today."

"The strong do not question the outcome; only the weak hesitate."

He chuckled softly.

His Sharingan flickered with an eerie, bewitching light.