The moment Genye reacted, Hizashi Hyuga knew his guess had been right.
At the New Year clan meeting, while the Main Branch seethed with anger, all the Branch Family members lowered their heads in fear. Only he had dared to watch the whole thing unfold.
Of course, the Main Branch had been watching too.
But only those who had personally experienced the Caged Bird Seal could understand how agonizing it was to suffer under it. The Main Branch could never understand.
Hizashi had noticed that something was different about Genye.
And though Genye was clearly constrained by the Caged Bird Seal, he could still unleash talent beyond those limits.
Putting all this together, Hizashi had formed a vague suspicion.
Could the boy have somehow, by sheer chance, escaped the restrictions of the Caged Bird Seal?
This time, Hizashi had volunteered to become Team 8's jōnin instructor for Genye's sake. He wanted to ask him one question.
"What does freedom really feel like?" Hizashi gave a bitter smile.
"What?" Genye stared at him.
"I want to ask you." Tears welled in Hizashi's eyes. He practically roared under his breath, "What does it feel like to escape the Caged Bird Seal, to never be bound by anything again?"
His fate was like that of a "caged bird," imprisoned within the decaying system of the Hyuga Clan. No matter how desperately he tried to break free, he was destined to go his entire life without ever seeing the sky beyond the cage.
"Freedom..."
Looking at Hizashi, who was nearly out of control, Genye's throat bobbed. After a moment's thought, he answered.
"Freedom is hard to put into words. And only those of us who have lost it can truly understand how precious it is."
"If I had to describe it, perhaps it's the joy of a caged bird soaring into the heavens, or a fish trapped in a net suddenly swimming free in the open sea."
"I can hardly imagine what that feels like." A yearning look came over Hizashi's face. He murmured, "But that's wonderful. Truly wonderful..."
Although Hizashi had repeatedly promised to keep Genye's secret, you could know a person's face without knowing their heart. Genye remained wary, always on guard in case Hizashi sold him out to the Main Branch.
In any case, Genye now had enough power to protect himself, at least to some extent.
If the Main Branch really tried to come after him, he would leave Konoha, slash his Forehead Protector, and become a rogue ninja.
For months, the Main Branch made no move.
Hizashi continued to treat Genye very well, like his own nephew.
Still, Genye did not let his guard down completely.
Early in Year 45 of Konoha.
Genye gained five more chances to copy skills. He snuck over to the Main Branch compound, planning to copy one of Hizashi's skills.
Kindness could be faked, but affinity couldn't.
After circling the Main Branch compound's walls several times, Hizashi's icon finally lit up on the system interface.
Genye immediately thought, System, make a copy for me!
[ Ding! Congratulations, host! You copied the skill "Gentle Fist"! Because... ]
"Wait, wait!" Genye cut the system off and asked irritably,
"Why is it that whenever I copy from Mei or Hizashi, you always give me Gentle Fist? Are you obsessed with Gentle Fist or something?"
System: (;¬_¬) Host, does your Hyuga Clan know any other skills?
Genye: (°ー°〃) Well, um...
After shutting Genye up, the system continued its work.
[ Ding! Copy complete. Host has obtained the new skill "Gentle Fist: Collapse"! ]
Genye opened the skill description.
As expected, like "Gentle Fist: Triple" before it, this new skill had completely broken away from the bounds of Gentle Fist.
The original Gentle Fist required you to target an enemy's acupuncture points and find a way to send chakra into their chakra network to deal damage.
But Gentle Fist: Collapse was on another level.
All you had to do was hit someone. Muscles, bones, chakra network—it didn't matter. One punch would smash it all to pieces.
"Getting a proper skill out of this means Uncle Hizashi probably doesn't want to hurt me," Genye mused.
System: [You were calling him by his first name just a moment ago. Now that you've gotten something out of him, he's Uncle Hizashi?]
Genye: "...Shut up. Now copy two more times!"
The system interface began rolling again.
[ Ding! Copy complete. The host's Kekkei Genkai has evolved into "Transformed Byakugan"! ] [ The host's current Kekkei Genkai has reached its limit and entered a transformation period. Once the transformation is complete, it will advance to Kekkei Tōta! ] [ After the transformation is complete, the host will awaken a new "dōjutsu"! ]
Kekkei Tōta!
A dōjutsu!
Genye's breathing quickened. Those were both incredible rewards.
Kekkei Tōta was a power that surpassed Kekkei Genkai. In the entire Shinobi World, only a handful of people possessed it!
And there was no need to explain how valuable a dōjutsu was.
Without a signature dōjutsu, you could hardly call yourself a member of the Village Hidden in the Contact Lens!
"I'm not asking for dual Kamui. Just give me any space-time dōjutsu!"
Genye had already started making wishes.
A warm current welled up from his soul. A small portion spread throughout his body, but most of it flowed into his eyes.
Genye could vaguely feel an unusual power taking shape within them.
"I can't wait." Genye licked his lips.
But he knew that the two chances he had left wouldn't be enough to get him through the transformation period.
After a moment's thought, Genye made up his mind.
"I'd better go copy from Guy. I need to improve my physique as soon as possible, or I won't dare use this new skill..."
"Genye, what brings you here?"
Guy opened the door, scratched his head in confusion, then broke into a delighted smile.
"I came to bring you New Year's greetings. What, am I not welcome?"
Genye held up the fruit basket in his hand and grinned.
"No, no, that's not what I meant." Guy waved his arms, clumsily trying to explain.
Just then, a green-clad man with even sharper features than Guy emerged from the house, walking on his hands.
Without a doubt, this was Guy's father—Might Duy.
The moment he saw Genye, Might Duy sprang upright, dashed over, and excitedly flailed his arms.
"Y-you, you're Guy's friend?"
Genye glanced at Duy's excited face, then at Guy's hopeful expression, and nodded.
"Yes, Uncle. Guy and I became good friends after a fight."
"This is youth!"
Might Duy was so overcome that he burst into tears, then turned and hugged his son.
"Guy!"
"Father!"
The two of them hugged and wailed in front of Genye.
Genye: ∑(￣□￣;)
"I'm sorry. Guy isn't very good at making friends, and this is the first time one of them has ever come to visit. We're just so excited."
Might Duy explained through his tears.
Ah, that makes sense. Kakashi is still going through his rebellious phase, so Guy really doesn't have many friends right now.
Genye nodded, understanding.
"I'm terribly sorry. Please, come in. The house is a little shabby, so I hope you won't mind."
Might Duy quickly composed himself and invited Genye inside.
As a perennial genin of Konoha, Might Duy earned very little. The Might Household really was run-down and shabby—worse than Genye's little shack.
He showed his son and his friend to the sofa, then busied himself boiling water and washing fruit.
"Uncle Duy, you don't have to go to all this trouble," Genye said helplessly.
"It's no trouble, no trouble at all."
Might Duy set the washed fruit on the table, then bowed deeply to Genye.
"Guy can be a little slow on the uptake and sometimes does things that are out of line. Please look after him from now on. I'm counting on you."
Genye was slightly moved. He answered solemnly, "I will, Uncle Duy."
Only then did Duy beam and head into the kitchen to prepare dinner. He insisted Genye stay and eat.
"Phew..."
Genye let out a long breath. The way Duy had acted just now had reminded him of his own father.
He shook his head and opened the system interface.
"System, copy once!"
[ Ding! Congratulations, host! You copied the skill "Eight Inner Gates: Gate of Opening"! ]
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