The Present and the Future

The Byakugan and the Gentle Fist had been Hiashi's lifelong field of study. In these two areas, no one in the entire shinobi world could surpass him. Ning Qi had indeed gained a great deal from hearing the insights and realizations of Hiashi's life.

Making use of the Byakugan's advantage of seeing through all things, he had proposed two principles:

Summarize the present.

Describe the future.

This was the result of a millennium-old Lineage continuously refining and innovating its inherited teachings. Although no specific techniques or methods of application had yet been created, it had already pointed the way for the Hyuga clan's future evolution. In another two or three generations, Hyuga clansmen might stand upon their ancestors' shoulders and use this as an opportunity to develop new Gentle Fist techniques—or even entirely different methods of combat—for the Hyuga Family.

Take Hiashi right now. With his chakra points sealed, he should have been completely unable to release chakra. Yet, through the gaps left behind after his broken hands caused his chakra points to shift, he had released a few strands of chakra.

That tiny amount of chakra could not help him sever the shackles on his body, but it could precisely and swiftly remove Hinata's eyes and his own. Was this not a new way of using the Gentle Fist, created after accurately summarizing the "present" state of his own condition?

Though it was not particularly useful.

Ning Qi stroked his chin, feeling that these two principles strangely suited the abilities he had unlocked after his Byakugan advanced.

To a certain extent, [Insight], [Analysis], and even [Replication] could all be considered ways of "summarizing the present." Could he possibly use these abilities to derive a future?

[Insight] and [Analysis] were easier to explain. The former could help Ning Qi deduce the course of battle and find the weakest point in his opponent's movements, then strike and break through it. The latter could help Ning Qi master and develop different ninjutsu, barely qualifying as something connected to the principle of "describing the future."

But what about [Replication]?

Creating something from nothing and drawing inferences from one example sounded impressive, but the amount of chakra it required was simply too outrageous. Besides, Ning Qi truly did not believe that chakra alone could replicate every kind of material.

Perhaps he had obtained [Replication] too early and had not researched or developed it deeply enough. At least for now, this ability had only a "present," without a "future."

"Actually, Hanabi isn't dead. I broke my word and didn't kill her." Since this would be their last meeting before the clan assembly began, and since Hiashi had so generously taught him the Hyuga clan's core inheritance, Ning Qi told him.

Hiashi froze, then slowly nodded.

"Thank you."

Ning Qi picked up Hinata, who had fainted from the intense pain, and was about to leave when Hiashi's voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Hanabi is very talented. At one point, I even intended to abandon Hinata and raise Hanabi as the future clan head. If you truly accomplish it in a few days and kill everyone in the Hyuga clan... take her with you as well. She'll become a capable assistant under you."

Ning Qi turned around, surprise written across his face. "Do you know how precarious the life of a rogue ninja is?"

And you still dared to let your daughter come with me?

"I understand another truth even better: eggs should not be placed in one basket," Hiashi said calmly.

"Do you know why I insist on wiping out the Hyuga clan?" Ning Qi shook his head. This old man had clearly lost his mind. "Aren't you afraid I'll dig out her eyes?"

"I believe the benefits she can bring you will far exceed the value of a pair of Byakugan," Hiashi replied.

That reason was extremely forced.

Ning Qi gradually began to understand. After thinking for a moment, he asked:

"Who in Konoha are you wary of?"

"Danzo? The Uchiha?"

"Surely not the Third Hokage?"

"You would rather trust me, a murderer, than trust your fellow colleagues in Konoha?"

Hiashi fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"The death of your father, Hizashi, was actually..."

"Konoha was simply giving your Hyuga clan a warning while they were at it. I know." Ning Qi waved his hand, not allowing him to continue discussing that old matter.

Hiashi pursed his lips and did not correct Ning Qi's mistaken wording—it should have been "our Hyuga clan." He forcefully shook his head, driving away the insects crawling into his empty eye sockets, then continued.

"...You are very clever, so you should also understand the position from which I am asking you to do this final thing."

"If my Hyuga clan could still retain half of its strength, I could trust my colleagues in Konoha and let Hanabi remain in the village."

"But after the clan assembly ends, the possibility of the Hyuga clan retaining any strength at all will be extremely slim. Among the Hyuga clan survivors you have planned for, there are probably only positions for two juniors."

"One of them is your younger brother. But he has the protection of the Caged Bird, so in the eyes of my colleagues watching from all sides, the only target truly worth attacking is Hinata... Only one is good. Most people probably agree that no one should be exterminated completely. Having one more Hanabi would instead make things worse."

Ning Qi nodded slightly. He had not expected that merely mentioning Hanabi's survival would make this old clan head immediately formulate arrangements, while also listing so many seemingly reasonable justifications.

"Besides, in my view, the chance of those two juniors surviving is lower than the chance of the Hyuga Family continuing through you. That is the most important reason I hope you can take Hanabi away," Hiashi continued.

Handing his daughter to a murderer and making her his accomplice was absolutely not a decision a father could make. Yet it was the optimal solution reached by the Hyuga clan head, based on harsh reality, to give the Lineage the greatest possible chance of survival.

In nature, it was no different from teaching Ning Qi the Lineage's core inheritance.

Teaching Ning Qi the Hyuga inheritance was passing on the teachings. Asking Ning Qi to take Hanabi away was passing on a successor.

"We'll see." Ning Qi gave no commitment as he carried Hinata out of the room.

When he arrived at the entrance to the study where Hiashi had said the hidden compartment was located, a figure approached from nearby.

"Hikari accidentally spilled paint on the floor. I'm cleaning it up." Natsu Hyuga kept her head lowered as she stiffly cleaned the floor.

"Bandage her eyes." Ning Qi handed the unconscious Hinata to Natsu Hyuga, then entered the study alone.

The left wall... the secret room that required summoning.

After finding a patch of pitch-black wall on the left that clearly radiated an arcane aura, Ning Qi bit his finger. Following the sequence of hand seals Hiashi had told him, he was about to summon the secret room when he suddenly seemed to realize something and lowered his hands.

Ning Qi stared uncertainly at the black wall before him. After thinking for a moment, he used the Clone Technique and had the clone stand before the wall while he himself retreated all the way outside the study.

Though Hiashi appeared to be speaking kindly in the face of death, giving Ning Qi all kinds of instructions and requests, no one knew whether it was merely his final performance to set a trap for Ning Qi. After all, Ning Qi was about to wipe out the Hyuga clan!

As long as Ning Qi was killed, every crisis facing the Hyuga Family would be resolved. If Hiashi, as clan head, did not believe his side had little chance of victory, why would he repeatedly compromise with Ning Qi, this traitor, for the continuation of his Lineage?

After using the clone to confirm that the runes on the wall were indeed merely an ordinary summoning formula, Ning Qi nodded slightly. The clone then took the blood from Ning Qi's finger and followed the previous steps, forming the seals and summoning!

Boom!

With a tremendous crash, the black wall began to rotate, and a narrow secret room slowly appeared before the clone.

When the clone emerged carrying twelve pairs of Byakugan, Ning Qi's breathing nearly stopped.

He glanced at the small words on his retina:

[Essence collected: 7.1%]

Then he impatiently grasped those Byakugan in his hands.

After a long while, Ning Qi opened his eyes.

The Byakugan in his hands had all turned to dust!

[Essence collected: 59.6%]