Genye tentatively gave it a pull.
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You have obtained "High-level Insight"!] [Combining with your existing insight. Automatically upgrading to...!]
"Upgrading to...?" Genye felt a little excited.
But the system interface suddenly froze. After a string of garbled text, a new dialogue box popped up.
[...Sorry, a system error occurred. After combining with your existing insight, it is still "High-level Insight".] [Your insight is now comparable to Hyuga Neji's!]
"Tch, insight? What good is that?" Genye curled his lip disdainfully.
So what if his insight was comparable to Hyuga Neji's? No matter how powerful your insight was, it was useless against someone with a cheat.
"From now on, you don't have to show the process, system. Just tell me what I get."
That'll save me some embarrassment (and save me from padding the word count).
"System, again..."
Just as Genye was about to continue, Mei said shyly,
"Big Brother Genye, it's a little cold outside. Why don't we go inside and talk?"
"No need, no need." Genye waved his hand. "Mei, just stand right there. I'll be done in a moment."
"Oh." Mei blinked her big eyes and nodded, unsure what was going on.
"System, one more... No, three more times!"
The reason Genye was drawing repeatedly wasn't that he was addicted to it. With war drawing near, he desperately needed to power up and overcome the challenges ahead.
Mm-hmm, exactly.
[Ding! Replication complete. Host has obtained a new skill: "Gentle Fist: Triple"!]
"Holy crap, Triple?" Genye's eyelid twitched.
The doubled explosive power was already hard enough to handle. Every time he used Gentle Fist: Double, his arm would ache and swell like crazy. Triple... Wasn't his arm going to blow apart?
The replication continued.
[Ding! Replication complete. Host's Kekkei Genkai has been upgraded to "Pure Byakugan"!] [Ding! Replication complete. Host's physique +1!]
A warm current welled up from the depths of Genye's soul, like a basin of pleasantly warm water pouring over his head and flowing down through his body.
Comfortable. That was the only word that came to Genye's mind.
The warm current coursed through his body, continuously transforming every part of him and strengthening his muscles, bones, meridians, and cells...
Soon, the system displayed a new notification.
[Your bloodline is now comparable to that of the purest Hyuga Main Family member!] [Your current physique is 7, approximately equivalent to that of an ordinary elite jonin!]
Once the transformation was complete, Genye felt power surging through his whole body. And somehow, the shackle that had bound him seemed weaker!
No, his bird had gotten stronger!
The Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird Seal was like a wooden cage: it could confine an ordinary bird, but not a nimble eagle.
And now, he was that eagle. All he had to do was spread his wings and leap, and he could easily break through the cage that had imprisoned him for years!
The Caged Bird Seal was now so fragile to him that it might as well not exist!
"Thank you, Mei!" Genye took two steps forward and gave Mei a big hug.
Every time he replicated Mei, he got something good. That meant he must be very important to her.
"So, thank you."
Mei froze for a moment, then patted Genye with her little hand. A faint smile appeared on her delicate face.
"I don't know why you're thanking me, Big Brother Genye, but... you're welcome."
The next morning, at the Hyuga Main Family estate.
All the Branch Family members knelt in neat rows in the courtyard, listening to the lofty New Year's greetings from the Main Family.
After a series of well-wishes that sounded more like orders, the "whole-clan celebration" moved on to the next activity: sparring.
The Branch Family members took turns getting to their feet and sparring cordially with the clan leader, Hyuga Yuansheng, to demonstrate the results of their training over the past year and ask the clan leader to critique and correct them.
"What's the point of this event, anyway?" Genye yawned among the crowd, thinking with utter boredom.
The Branch Family members held back as they fought. Before they could even put on much of a show, Hyuga Yuansheng would call a halt, then make a few insincere, offhand remarks.
"This is a complete waste of everyone's time. Whoever came up with this event must have been a complete idiot." Genye looked on with disdain.
But Hyuga Yuansheng, the one who had come up with the event, didn't see it that way.
In his eyes, it could strengthen the Hyuga Clan's unity and encourage the Branch Family to serve the Main Family better.
Just imagine: the usually untouchable clan leader personally guiding every clan member's training. What an immense honor and favor!
The Branch Family must be so moved they were weeping with gratitude in secret!
"Hyuga Yuansheng really is an idiot." Genye kept grumbling.
Wasn't this way of bestowing a favor a little condescending?
Hyuga Yuansheng didn't care.
With the Caged Bird Seal in place, what could the Branch Family possibly do?
"Next, Hyuga Genye!"
Ugh.
Hearing his name, Genye sighed, stood up, and walked listlessly over to Hyuga Yuansheng.
"Clan leader, please instruct me." Genye assumed a stance, planning to throw a couple of lazy punches and get this pointless farce over with.
He'd been so excited last night that he hadn't slept a wink, and then they'd dragged him over here first thing in the morning. He was sleepy now, and thoroughly fed up.
"Come on, young man. Don't hold back." Hyuga Yuansheng took a starting stance as well and beckoned to Genye.
"Don't hold back? What if I hurt you?" Genye asked, still half-asleep.
As soon as he said it, the whole place fell silent. Even Hyuga Yuansheng froze on the spot.
"Arrogant!"
In the crowd, Hyuga Takashi was the first to react. He stood up and scolded Genye, pointing at him. "Hyuga Genye, how can you speak to the clan leader like that?"
"Exactly! The clan leader is exceptionally powerful, a match for ten thousand men. How could you possibly hurt him?!" someone chimed in.
"Uh..." Genye looked a little embarrassed.
He'd been so sleepy that he'd accidentally said what he was thinking. What was he supposed to do now?
"Oh no, Big Brother Genye's gotten himself into trouble again." Mei covered her face with her little hands in distress.
"You're Hyuga Genye, right?" Hyuga Yuansheng said coldly. "Don't hold back. Attack me with all your might."
Oh no, the old geezer's obviously angry! He's already so old, why's he so petty?
Mei looked at Genye and thought to herself, Big Brother Genye, hurry and apologize to that old... clan leader. There's still a chance to fix this!
A strange glint flashed in Genye's eyes. "Are you sure you want me to use all my strength, clan leader?"
He still remembered how Hyuga Yuansheng had tormented him last time. He hadn't forgotten that grudge.
"A clan leader's word is his bond. Hurry up. I still have to instruct the others!" Hyuga Yuansheng urged impatiently.
A mere Branch Family Genin thought he could hurt him?
Ridiculous!
Back then, he'd led a hundred clan members in a surprise attack on Sunagakure and fought his way through the Sand forces seven times in and out without a scratch!
This brat had dared to insult him in front of everyone. He'd have to teach him a proper lesson!
"Hyuga Genye's in for it!"
"Yeah, he actually dared to challenge the authority of the Main Family..."
Many Branch Family members in the crowd sighed.
Even the clan members capable of injuring Hyuga Yuansheng were playing along obediently, weren't they?
You're just a lowly Genin... Sigh, you really don't know your place.
"Clan leader, I really can use all my strength?" Genye rolled his shoulders, eager to get started.
"Use all your strength! Stop wasting time and hurry—"
"Okay!"
Genye took a step forward and charged at Hyuga Yuansheng. He twisted his waist, drove his elbow forward, and launched his fist like a cannonball.
Gentle Fist: Triple!!!
Before you continue