Max-Level Observation Haki

Just as Shimura Danzō and the others were bickering in the Hokage Office, Kawaki Aoba, who had already been escorted home by Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai, made a momentous decision.

He would abandon the Byakugan that had brought him so much trouble and see if he could trade it for a trump card that would help him survive his current predicament.

To understand this, it was necessary to explain the foundation of Kawaki Aoba's existence in this world.

The Sacrificial Altar was a mysterious altar that had existed in Kawaki Aoba's mindscape ever since he had crossed over. By sacrificing certain things, he could receive items from other worlds in return.

The Kido and Bakudo he had used before, as well as the red and blue potions, had all come from the Sacrificial Altar.

Unfortunately, the altar seemed to follow a principle of equivalent exchange. The trades weren't perfectly equal, but the difference was extremely limited, which meant Kawaki Aoba couldn't trade some ordinary item for an absurdly powerful weapon.

He had never once gotten something incredible in exchange for something trivial, which was a shame. Still, he was quite satisfied with being able to obtain items from other worlds—at least, before this whole Byakugan fiasco.

He took off his goggles and reached out to touch his eyes. When Kawaki Aoba opened them again, his pure-white irises held a look of resolve.

He took a Military Ration Pill from his ninja pouch and placed it on the altar in his mindscape.

Sacrifice, Kawaki Aoba silently commanded.

Everyone knew that when you were about to gamble, you tested your luck first. Kawaki Aoba was no exception.

A faint glow rose from the altar. The inferior Military Ration Pill disappeared, replaced by a thick blue potion.

Kawaki Aoba knew exactly what it was: a blue potion for restoring magic, and a medium-sized one at that.

Military Ration Pills had the highest odds of producing health or mana potions. Getting one was a perfectly ordinary result, but a medium-sized potion was quite rare.

Looks like my luck's pretty good today.

Kawaki Aoba smiled, but his eyes couldn't hide his disappointment. He gazed at the simple furnishings in his room, his eyes lingering on them.

From this moment on, he would likely be without sight for a long time.

He focused his consciousness on the altar. Once Kawaki Aoba had made up his mind, the Byakugan in his eye sockets abruptly vanished and appeared on the altar.

Sacrifice. Light flared, and the altar activated once more. With his sight completely gone, Kawaki Aoba could only hope this sacrifice wouldn't disappoint him.

After all, he was paying a steep price this time.

As the light of the sacrifice gradually faded, a sphere radiating silver-white light appeared within Kawaki Aoba's perception.

He wasn't unfamiliar with it. Like Way of Destruction No. 4: White Lightning, it was a skill from another world. But compared to the skills he'd received before, this orb was several times larger.

Feeling its size, Kawaki Aoba couldn't help but smile. With a thought, the Skill Orb shot out of his mindscape and merged into his body.

At that moment, Kawaki Aoba felt his consciousness grow clearer than ever. He could feel it becoming more refined, more resilient, and more powerful.

Then, with a soft pop, his perception seemed to break through a boundary, as if it had escaped from a cage.

The light he'd lost seemed to return as well.

Kawaki Aoba could "see" the world again: the simple furnishings in the room; Yuhi Kurenai, looking worried, and Sarutobi Asuma, restless, in the courtyard outside; two squads of masked shinobi hidden nearby; and... all of Konoha.

At that moment, Kawaki Aoba's "vision" encompassed all of Konoha. Except for places sealed off by barriers, not a single corner escaped his "sight."

His vision could only form black-and-white images in his mind, without the vibrant colors he'd once seen, but that was more than enough for him.

No, there was much more to it than that.

Kawaki Aoba focused on the two young friends in the courtyard. He could clearly sense their anxiety, worry, and agitation.

What's more, he had "seen" Sarutobi Asuma's movements before Asuma made them. A moment later, he confirmed that his prediction had been correct.

Kawaki Aoba smiled. He now understood what ability he'd acquired.

The Pirate King's max-level Observation Haki came with far more than the basic range of twenty li. It also granted Future Sight, which allowed him to anticipate and avoid danger; the ability to sense the emotions and changes in the auras of nearby living beings; and the power to discern their feelings and thoughts. This version of Observation Haki, with all its many abilities, was far superior to a mere Byakugan.

The value of a newly awakened Byakugan and max-level Observation Haki was clearly not equal. And this Observation Haki came with so many special abilities—didn't it encompass just about every form of Observation Haki in One Piece?

Perhaps it was related to the Byakugan's great potential. After all, it was an eye that could evolve into the Tenseigan.

Of course, that was only Kawaki Aoba's guess. Whether he was right or not no longer mattered. He didn't have the Byakugan anymore, after all.

"Whew." Kawaki Aoba let out a long breath and plopped down on the edge of the bed.

Now that he'd won this gamble, he had to think about how to deal with the trouble ahead.

First, there was the Hyuga Clan. Kawaki Aoba wasn't naive enough to think they'd leave him alone just because he'd given up the Byakugan. Given those stubborn people's obsession with the Byakugan bloodline, they wouldn't be satisfied until they found a way to kill him.

For that reason alone, Kawaki Aoba had to prepare for the worst.

Should he defect from the village and become a wandering shinobi?

Luckily, his current blindness ought to fool quite a few people and make them let down their guard.

Then there was the Konoha High Command. The two squads of shinobi lurking outside made him uneasy.

One squad was probably the village's Anbu, likely there to protect Sarutobi Asuma. As for the other squad...

It was hard not to think of a certain man wrapped in bandages. And the faint malice coming from those shinobi seemed to be directed at him.

Could it be? Had that old geezer really set his sights on him?

Wait. What were they talking about?