Visitors

In February of the Year 50 of Konoha, the chill of early spring had not yet completely faded, but the soil in the Taiichi's Training Ground had already been repeatedly trampled down until it was firm and moist.

Sweat had already soaked through Taiichi's thin training clothes, clinging to his bulging muscles and outlining his lean and sleek lines.

Each punch and kick produced a dull whistling sound as the air was stirred up, creating tiny vortexes.

He was completely immersed in honing his "Advanced Taijutsu," every movement as precise as a machine honed through countless trials, extracting the deepest potential from his body.

Pop!

A crisp cracking sound, which only he could perceive, suddenly rang out in the deepest part of his consciousness, as if an invisible, resilient barrier had been pierced in an instant!

In an instant, an indescribable warm current, originating from the very source of life, burst forth from the very core of my body, like molten lava that had been suppressed for millennia finding an outlet!

This force is invisible and intangible, yet it is overwhelming and unstoppable, instantly sweeping through every part of the body!

"Well!"

Taiichi muffled groan, his body trembling violently uncontrollably, as if every muscle and every bone was undergoing a radical reorganization and rebirth.

It wasn't pain, but an extreme, deep-seated tingling and exhilaration, as if a long-blocked river channel had been completely dredged, and a torrent of vitality was rushing and roaring, washing over every corner.

This transformation came quickly, and it ended just as quickly.

A few breaths later, the volcanic energy fluctuations deep within the body gradually subsided, replaced by an indescribable solidity and lightness, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, or as if a brand new, surging source of vitality had been injected into the body.

However, a strong, sour, pungent stench of sweat also filled the air, more than ten times stronger and more irritating than the sweat smell after training, almost nauseating.

"As expected—" Taiichi frowned slightly, but he had anticipated this. He quickly stopped what he was doing and, without the slightest hesitation, strode towards the bathroom that had been prepared in advance.

Boiling hot water was poured into a large wooden tub, causing wisps of white steam to rise.

Taiichi submerged his entire body in the water, the scorching heat enveloping him and instantly dispelling the last trace of fatigue.

He leaned against the barrel, letting out a long, satisfied sigh, his tense nerves completely relaxing.

In this Matsushita, he managed to spare a sliver of his attention to delve into the depths of his consciousness and examine the panel notification indicating his previous advancement.

[Your Taijutsu training has improved your understanding of related techniques!]

[Your Advanced Taijutsu skills have been upgraded, experience points +1]

[Congratulations, your Advanced Taijutsu have been upgraded to Lv9 (1/10000)]

[Congratulations, your Constitution +1, Strength +1, Agility +1]

As his gaze swept over the last line, Taiichi couldn't help but smile. Constitution 35, Strength 34, Agility 34! This was a genuine improvement, another leap forward in his life level!

"Lv9----" he murmured softly, feeling the immense life force within him, like a lurking beast, and a great sense of satisfaction welled up within him.

Advanced Taijutsu, the foundation and crucible of the body, have finally entered a completely new realm!

Complementing the recently achieved Advanced Meditation Lv9, it's like two engines simultaneously completing a crucial upgrade.

He quickly washed off the filth from his body, changed into clean clothes, and returned to the Training Ground.

This time, he will personally measure the boundaries of this newly acquired power.

Without using any Chakra, relying purely on physical strength, he took a deep breath, lowered his stance, and unleashed his right fist like a cannonball!

"Boom--!"

The air was compressed instantly, producing a muffled explosion! The air in front of the fist distorted, and a visible white shockwave exploded forward in a fan shape!

A few meters away, a straw training target shattered instantly!

This punch already possessed some of the power of the Sixth Gate: Morning Peacock, but it was merely a straight punch delivered by Taiichi in his normal state.

He tried to exert force in place again, his figure blurring instantly, moving like a ghost between several fixed markers at the edge of the Training Ground.

The wind whistled in my ears, and the scenery blurred into afterimages. Each push off the ground was incredibly light and swift, as if I had broken free from the constraints of gravity.

"34 points in Agility—that's roughly the level of Minato's speed."

Taiichi stopped and, sensing the feedback from his body, made a clear judgment.

Jiraiya's power, it seems now, is only roughly equivalent to his own 34 points of power.

With a physical constitution of 35 and a mental constitution of 36, this should already be beyond the realm of ordinary Kage Level understanding, and has touched the threshold of the legendary "Super Kage"!

Life is a journey of continuous exercise!

These eight words, like a burning brand, were once again deeply engraved in his heart.

The road ahead is still long, and formidable enemies are all around, but every visible and tangible breakthrough is accumulating enough power to cleave through the waves and brave the storms to come!

Just as Taiichi was overwhelmed with excitement about his transformation, an unusually heavy atmosphere enveloped the Main Family of the Hyuga Clan.

The air inside the reception room was filled with the sweet scent of sandalwood.

In the main seat, clan leader Hyuga Hiashi upright, his expression calm and serene.

Seated on either side were four elders of high rank and authority in the clan: the Great Elder, with white hair and beard and an ancient face, and a fiery temper...

The Second Elder was suppressing his anger; the Third Elder had sharp eyes and a shrewd look; and the Fourth Elder had a gentle demeanor and was taciturn.

Their gazes were all fixed on the uninvited guest in the guest seat.

The newcomer wore a strange, moon-white robe, made of neither silk nor linen, which shimmered with a soft, subtle light and was spotless.

What's most striking about him are his eyes—pure, deep, and pure white without a trace of impurity!

That is the Byakugan, the Kekkei Genkai that the Hyuga Clan is so proud of!

Moreover, his Byakugan were pure and flawless, with a restrained yet powerful fluctuation of pupil power flowing between them, making him appear even more ancient and mysterious.

He sat there casually, chin slightly raised, his gaze calmly sweeping over every member Hyuga the Hyuga leadership present, a scrutinizing look deep within his eyes.

He calls himself Yuto Otsutsuki, and claims to come from the moon.

"Gentlemen," Yuto's clear voice broke the silence in the room, "Our clan are descendants of Hamura Otsutsuki, who has lived in the Moon Heart Palace for generations, following the dying wish of our ancestors to oversee the Ninja World, protect the seal, and guard against enemies from beyond the heavens."

He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his tone calm yet arrogance evident, "We share the same bloodline, all branches of the bloodline of the Sage of Sage of Six Paths' younger brother. Our arrival is both a warning and a plea for help."

He mentioned the fierce war that broke out on the moon to defend against "extraterrestrial enemies," omitting the fact of the civil war and only emphasizing the enormous sacrifices made to protect the mission. Now, the race is dwindling and urgently needs the support and cooperation of its surface-dwelling people, especially in terms of population.

"Population?" Second Elder Hyuga Kenta could no longer contain himself. His thick eyebrows shot up, and his voice boomed like thunder. "Hmph! That sounds so high and mighty! I think you're just after the daughters of my Hyuga Clan, aren't you? You've run out of men on the moon, so you want to come to Earth and steal them?"

"Kenta!" Great Elder Hyuga Zongyan voice, an invisible pressure spreading out, forcing the Second Elder to swallow back the words he was about to say, though his face remained flushed as he glared at Yuto.

Faced with this almost insulting question, Yuto showed no sign of anger. Instead, a faint yet smug smile curved his lips, as if he were watching a child making a fuss.

He slowly and deliberately straightened his perfectly smooth cuffs before speaking leisurely, "The continuation of bloodlines is related to the inheritance of the ancestral mission, and to the foundation of the Ninja World's safety. This is a matter of righteousness. Moreover—"

His pure white eyes swept over the Second Elder, carrying a hint of barely perceptible contempt. "Our clan's understanding and application of the Byakugan far surpasses the accumulation of your surface branches over thousands of years. Cooperation is mutually beneficial. What you provide is merely the most basic vessel," while what our clan offers will be the key to greater strength. The elders should know which is more important."

His condescending remarks, which belittled the Hyuga Clan as a "surface Branch Family" that merely provides reproductive tools, thoroughly enraged everyone present. Even the usually composed Hyuga Hiashi frowned deeply.

"Alright, Yuto, that concludes our conversation. You should go and rest. Things have been too sudden, and we need to discuss them further." Hyuga Hiashi finally spoke, bringing the conversation to a close.

The initial contact ended hastily in an extremely oppressive and distrustful atmosphere. Yuto was led by a waiter to a carefully prepared guest room to rest. As soon as the door to the private room closed, his suppressed anger and suspicions erupted.

"You bastard!" Second Elder Taiichi on the solid mahogany tea table, leaving a clear handprint.

"What kind of bullshit are you calling family! Your nostrils are practically pointing to the sky! What do you Hyuga for? Your livestock?"

"A surface branch? Bah! Great Elder, this kind of person doesn't even deserve to talk about cooperation! I think we should just take him down and interrogate him to find out the secret of the Pure Byakugan!"

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

"Kenta, calm down." The Third Elder and He Jie calmly analyzed, "Although this person is arrogant and rude, the purity of his pupil power is genuine. The lunar branch might indeed exist. His talk of a great enemy and sacrifice may be exaggerated, but there's no smoke without fire. We need to be cautious."

The Fourth Elder Hyuga Huiye, spoke softly, his voice like a gentle glide across ice. "The timing—the point in time he mentioned is too coincidental. The dramatic changes in the village during that period, the Fourth Hokage's swift ascension to power, and the flurry of reform measures—it all seems to have happened around that time."

He didn't say anything more, but the meaning was clear: the village probably knew about this through some means.

Clan Hyuga Hiashi surveyed the crowd, finally fixing his gaze on Great Elder Muneyoshi, who had been resting with his eyes closed. "Great Elder, what is your opinion?"

Zong Yan slowly opened his eyes, his aged gaze revealing the wisdom of years and a hint of decisiveness. "Cooperation is negotiable."

Upon hearing this, the Second Elder was about to retort, but Zong Yan stopped him by raising his hand.

"However, sincerity is required!" The Great Elder's voice was resolute. "First, he must produce conclusive evidence to prove that what he says is true, whether it is about the existence of the lunar branch or the threat of 'an extraterrestrial enemy.' Empty words are not credible."

Secondly, since he claims that our clan is a branch and that our Byakugan application is far inferior to his, then let him demonstrate! Whether it's a more profound Gentle Fist technique, the mysteries of Dōjutsu, or a unique understanding and application of Chakra, let us see the "key" in action, not just empty talk!

Thirdly, regarding the matter of population, we must not rush into it! Since he can come to the earth, we can also go up there; seeing is believing, that is the right thing to do.

The Great Elder's proposal was well-reasoned, leaving no room for complete rejection of cooperation while firmly upholding the Hyuga Clan's bottom line and dignity, demanding that the other party offer concrete and substantial terms.

After a moment's thought, the elders nodded in agreement. Even the most radical Second Elder temporarily suppressed his anger, believing that this was the safest solution at present.

"In that case, we shall do as the Great Elder says." Hyuga Hiashi finally made the decision, but the worry between his brows did not disappear. "However, this person is arrogant, has high demands, and the situation of the clan behind him is unclear—we must be very careful when making contact."

Deep within the Hyuga Main Family compound, in a guest room with elegant furnishings that exude an antique charm.

Yuto Otsutsuki stood by the window, his hands behind his back. His pure white eyes peered indifferently through the exquisite wooden lattice window, surveying the lanterns bearing the Hyuga Clan crest and the scattered Branch Family servants in the courtyard.

The Gekko shone on his pale white robe, adding to his air of aloofness and detachment.

"A bunch of frogs in a well, bound by outdated customs and pathetic Curse Mark— " he muttered to himself, his voice filled with undisguised contempt, "Shortsighted, only knowing how to haggle over immediate gains. If my clan hadn't suffered such a great calamity, its bloodline dwindling to this point, why would we need to feign friendship with such a branch of 'descendants'!"

Thinking of the angry or wary faces of the elders in the secret room, especially the rude Second Elder, a hint of disgust flashed in Yuto's eyes.

"Caged Bird— " His pure white pupils shifted slightly, piercing through the walls and sweeping across the entire Hyuga Clan, seeing the blue Curse Mark on the foreheads of the Branch Family members, and the numbness and resentment hidden deep in their eyes.

A thought crept into my mind like a venomous snake, cold yet alluring.

"The Main Family is corrupt and stubborn, difficult to communicate with. Perhaps—those Branch Family bound by Curse Mark and harboring resentment are a better breakthrough point?" Yuto's lips curled into a cold, calculating smile. "They are at the bottom, suffering oppression, and their desire for power and freedom must be even stronger."

At the same moment, far away, Taiichi, who was consolidating his new realm in his own quiet room, slowly opened his eyes.

His powerful senses had just allowed him to clearly perceive a gaze sweeping over him.

Brief yet memorable, similar to how Pain felt when he first saw him—high above, like Deity.

Looking in the direction the gaze swept, there was a gaze that seemed to penetrate everything.

Taiichi frowned slightly. "The Hyuga Clan? How can there be such an inconsiderate clansman? He's using his Byakugan to wander around the village; that's unacceptable!"

However, the gaze was fleeting and did not persist, nor did it pose any real threat. Taiichi pondered for a moment but took no action.

As a powerful clan in Konoha Hyuga, the Hyuga have their own foundation and way of doing things. It would be unwise to interfere rashly.

Yuto Otsutsuki was unaware that his unbridled observation of the Hyuga Clan Byakugan had already attracted the attention of others.

Having been high and mighty for so long, he had completely forgotten that it was these very "earthlings" he had looked down upon who had killed that "Celestial Being."

At the same time, Hyuga Hiashi wasn't the Taiichi startled by this gaze. As the clan leader, Yuto Otsutsuki had also used his Byakugan, though his technique was slightly lacking; his eye power was far superior to that of Yuto Otsutsuki.

Hiashi looked in the direction of Yuto Otsutsuki's residence, his brows furrowed.

This customer seems quite dishonest!