The Truth Finally Revealed

The pressure the Byakugan could create might not hinge on the output of Mental Energy.

That was what Ryosuke suddenly realized after experiencing that godlike power.

All along, he had only known the result: that the Byakugan could, like the Rinnegan, release tangible pressure into its surroundings. But he had never known how Kaguya Otsutsuki achieved it.

So throughout this line of thought, he had often boldly experimented with all kinds of methods instead of limiting himself to a single path.

Using Mental Energy, with the Byakugan as a medium, to exert pressure on the surrounding area required an enormous reserve of energy to accomplish.

Kaguya Otsutsuki might have had that ability, but Ryosuke currently did not. In other words, if he wanted to use this ability, his Byakugan needed to amplify that Mental Energy.

But that was another problem altogether.

One problem led to another, and after countless attempts, Ryosuke had remained stuck on this issue for a long time.

But now, he had found a new direction: ...momentum!

It was an elusive, intangible theory, yet one that had been recorded countless times in both his past and present lives.

The term momentum was very abstract.

A more scientific explanation was that momentum was roughly equivalent to the magnetic field generated by a person.

And because everyone experienced different things, the magnetic fields around them were likewise different.

Those who had experienced more, held higher status, or possessed great ability had magnetic fields and momentum that, after long periods of cultivation, acquired an immensely powerful influence.

Simply standing there could unconsciously draw others' eyes.

As for those who had always been ordinary and gone with the flow, their magnetic fields blended in with the masses. The result was momentum that seemed barely there, giving them no sense of presence at all.

Ideas like momentum and magnetic fields had actually been verified by related experiments in Ryosuke's past life. But since he was not a professional in that field, he did not know much about them.

However, through this opportunity, he had truly experienced firsthand what those theories meant.

Had his Chakra reserves, Pupil Power, or physical strength increased at the time?

No.

Ryosuke was certain that in that state, none of the powers he knew of had improved.

If nothing had improved, why had he felt as though he had become stronger?

Was it a misconception born from emotions like confidence, arrogance, and conceit?

No, that was not it.

Ryosuke knew clearly that it had been a tangible kind of strength. Though none of his attributes had improved, he had changed on another level, and it had affected those around him, making Hinata afraid.

It was an invisible, elusive change, just like... momentum.

It would not be easy to return himself to that state. Without the memories, Ryosuke did not know exactly what had happened to him then or what he had seen.

He could only remember the feeling from that time.

Thinking of this, Ryosuke, who had been lying flat on his bed and gazing at the vast starry sky through the skylight, looked slightly different.

All kinds of emotions slowly vanished from his eyes, and slowly faded from his body as well. He was trying to enter that state from before, to feel this so-called momentum and learn how to use it.

Then he would incorporate that ability into the Byakugan, turning it into so-called imposing momentum, into tangible power.

But this... would not be easy.

"So... I'm a monster."

One morning, Ryosuke's five senses, sharper than those of ordinary people, allowed him to clearly hear Naruto's nearly soundless murmur beside him.

Had Hiruzen Sarutobi finally explained the matter of the Nine-Tails to him?

He quickly judged what had happened from Naruto's muttering.

It had now been over a month since school started.

The entrance tests had ended, and the classes had been assigned.

Just as Ryosuke had expected, there had been almost no changes among the students in this class.

Other than a few children from ordinary ninja families at the bottom being overtaken by top students from other classes and leaving this class, almost nothing had changed. All the clan children were still here.

As for Naruto beside him, ever since that day when he had pestered Ryosuke about Chakra control and been guided toward Hiruzen Sarutobi instead, he had persisted with the matter day and night.

At first, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally had not told Naruto the truth. He had not told him that his Chakra was difficult to control because another force and consciousness within his body were interfering with it.

Relying on his title as the Sage of Ninjutsu, he had lectured Naruto on all sorts of theoretical knowledge and thoroughly confused him.

But the current Naruto was different from the mischievous, study-hating boy from the Original Timeline.

He did not pull pranks, nor did he casually challenge others.

And because of his identity, no one came to challenge him either.

Thus, isolated and rejected by most people, Naruto could only devote a great deal of time to studying. His theoretical knowledge was therefore solid, and he even ranked third in the class, second only to Hinata and Sakura Haruno.

So it was not so easy for Hiruzen Sarutobi to fool Naruto regarding Chakra control.

In just over a week, Ryosuke had seen Hiruzen Sarutobi give up.

But even after hearing Naruto's murmur, Ryosuke did not take the initiative to speak to him.

Almost every time, he waited for Naruto to speak to him first.

He believed that Naruto would be the same this time and would take the initiative to ask him about being a monster.

The midday break was peaceful. After eating lunch with Hinata and resting for a while, the afternoon lessons began.

More than half the day passed, and Naruto remained seated in his spot without moving.

But in the end, just as Ryosuke had expected, he spoke.

"Ryosuke..."

There was still some time before school ended, and Iruka was still at the front of the classroom explaining the theoretical knowledge of how to make poison.

Taking advantage of the moment, Naruto spoke softly. His voice reached Ryosuke's ears as he listened attentively to the lesson.

"What is it?"

Ryosuke turned his head in confusion.

"You tell me, if... forget it. I think I know exactly why the people in the village hate me."

Naruto had originally intended to ask in a more tactful, probing way, but when he met Ryosuke's gentle gaze, he suddenly abandoned that thought and gathered the courage to state his question directly.

Hearing such a straightforward question, Ryosuke smiled and asked casually, "Then... what is it?"

Naruto opened his mouth, but the words reached his lips before he swallowed them again.

He did not know how to describe it. Flustered and at a loss, he grew a little anxious.

But soon, he seemed to think of how to put it. Pointing at his abdomen, he spoke to Ryosuke with utmost seriousness. "There's... a Great Fox living inside my body!"

"A huge fox that feels very evil!"