System Rewards

The smell of disinfectant filled his nostrils.

When Hyuga Xiao opened his eyes, he saw the stark white ceiling of a Konoha Hospital ward. Sunlight slanted in through the window, cutting a sharp boundary of light and shadow across the wall. He tried moving his fingers. A faint soreness came from his joints, but the agonizing pain of his chest being pierced when he had nearly died was gone.

"Awake?"

The medical ninja in a white coat was a middle-aged woman. She wrote something on a clipboard without looking up. "You were lucky. Your heart was half an inch off-center, and the chakra surgery went very well. Rest for another two days and you can be discharged."

Xiao said nothing, merely quietly sensing the changes in his body.

A tingling numbness from the chakra stitches remained around his wound, but something deeper and more fundamental was awakening within him. His vision was clearer than ever before—not in distance, but in layers. He could see the slowly spinning paths of dust motes drifting through the light. He could see the faint blue glow of chakra flowing through the medical ninja's meridians, though it was still blurry, as if viewed through frosted glass.

[Ding!]

[A Fate Node, "Hinata's Kidnapping," has been successfully intercepted.]

[Reward settlement: Byakugan purity +5% (current total purity: 6%).]

[Caged Bird Seal removal progress: 0.1%.]

[Destiny Points obtained: 100.]

[Detected that the host has completed a major fate interception for the first time. Additional reward: Byakugan basic abilities enhanced—dynamic vision increased by 30%, X-ray vision distance increased by 50 meters.]

Xiao's breathing paused imperceptibly for a moment.

He slowly raised his right hand and spread his five fingers before his eyes. Through his skin, he could see the outline of his bones. Deeper still, he could see the minute tremors of blood flowing through his vessels. This was not the perspective of an ordinary Byakugan, which could only see chakra meridians. This was true X-ray vision—though it was currently limited to surface tissue, and required concentration to maintain.

But this was a qualitative leap.

The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could only be considered an excellent sensory Kekkei Genkai before it was awakened. Its true power would only reveal itself when its purity reached a certain threshold: the terrifying ability to see through matter and perceive the essence of chakra flow.

And now, at only 6% purity, he had already touched that threshold.

"System," Xiao silently called out in his heart. "What are the specific effects of increasing purity?"

[Byakugan purity represents the degree of closeness between the host's bloodline and the Ōtsutsuki Source.]

[For every 1% increase, basic abilities—field of vision, X-ray depth, and chakra perception accuracy—will increase by 5%.]

[Upon reaching 10% purity, unlock "Byakugan: Pressure"—able to mentally suppress Hyuga Clan members with lower purity than the host.]

[Upon reaching 30% purity, the Byakugan will evolve into the "Jōgan," gaining preliminary abilities to see through spacetime rifts and perceive the essence of souls.]

[At 50% purity or above, the Tenseigan evolution path can be activated.]

Xiao closed his eyes and processed the information.

A 0.1% Caged Bird Seal removal progress sounded insignificant, but it was a breakthrough from zero to one. It proved that the system's power could indeed shake the curse carved into the depths of his soul. And those 100 Destiny Points...

"What are Destiny Points used for?"

[Destiny Points can be used for: 1. Exchanging temporary ability trial cards, such as the previously obtained Tenseigan Chakra Mode; 2. Exchanging special items in the system store; 3. Accelerating bloodline purity improvement—100 points can be exchanged for 0.5% purity.]

[Warning: Excessive reliance on Destiny Points to accelerate improvement will increase the speed of "Divine Erosion."]

A faint curve touched Xiao's lips.

The law of cost. As expected, there was no free lunch in the world. But this was exactly what he wanted—where there were clear rules, there was room to exploit loopholes. Divine Erosion? Then he would counter it with enough Humanity Anchors.

"Xiao?"

The ward door was gently pushed open, and Hinata leaned half her body inside. She had changed into a clean, light-colored kimono. Her eyes were still somewhat red and swollen, but they were no longer as hollow as before. When she saw Xiao awake, her eyes brightened for a moment. Then she lowered her head again, twisting the corner of her clothes between her fingers. "Um... how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." Xiao's voice was a little hoarse. "Is the young lady all right?"

"I'm fine." Hinata walked in with a food box in her hands. "Father said... you saved me. Thank you."

Her voice was soft when she said it, but Xiao could see the rhythm of chakra flowing within her—steady, yet carrying a trace of disorder. It was the outward sign of emotional turbulence.

"It is the Branch House's duty to protect the Main House," Xiao replied in the most standard, gentle tone of a Branch House member.

Hinata bit her lip and placed the food box on the bedside table. "I had the kitchen prepare some porridge. You... you lost a lot of blood. You need to replenish yourself."

"Thank you, young lady."

A brief silence fell between them. Hinata stood beside the bed, seeming to want to say something but unsure how to begin. Xiao did not urge her. He merely watched her quietly—with those eyes that were silently evolving.

Beneath the smooth skin of Hinata's forehead, he could see the pure Byakugan bloodline belonging to the Main House flowing slowly. It was a blue radiance brighter and denser than that of ordinary Hyuga Clan members. At her heart was a warm golden light, the system's marked "high-luck core."

[Current target: Hinata Hyuga]

[Trust: 68%]

[Bond status: Obsession (preliminary)]

[Remaining interceptable Fate Nodes: 3 (Chunin Exams Event, Pain Invasion Event, Fourth War Confession Event).]

"Xiao." Hinata suddenly spoke, keeping her voice low. "That night... you said Father used me as bait. Was that true?"

Xiao raised his eyes and met hers.

There was fear in Hinata's gaze, and confusion, but beneath it all was a flicker of determination to find the truth. This young lady, who had always been protected inside a greenhouse, had finally begun to doubt the world beyond the flowerpot.

"What does the young lady think?" Xiao did not answer directly, instead asking, "If the Main House truly wanted to protect you, why hide you alone in the most remote room of the estate? Why leave only two Chunin guards behind despite knowing Hidden Cloud spies had infiltrated? Why did Lord Hiashi take someone disguised as you to the Hokage Tower instead of staying by your side?"

Every question was like a small hammer striking the glass in Hinata's heart called "trust."

Her face gradually turned pale.

"But... Father said it was to draw out the spies and protect the village..."

"There are many ways to protect the village." Xiao's voice remained as calm as if he were stating facts. "But choosing to use one's biological daughter as bait, while deliberately sending Branch House guards to die, is the cheapest one. Young lady, do you know what would have happened that night if Senior Tokuma and I had not acted in secret?"

Hinata shook her head.

"You would have been abducted by Hidden Cloud. Lord Hiashi would have arrived 'just in time' with someone disguised as you, driven off the enemy, and rescued his 'daughter.' Then he would sorrowfully announce that, in order to protect you, three Branch House guards had all died in battle—when in truth, those three guards never knew your actual location. All they had protected was an empty room."

Xiao paused, allowing his words to ferment in Hinata's mind.

"That way, Lord Hiashi could demonstrate the Hyuga Clan's resolve against foreign enemies to the Hokage, clear out several 'disobedient' Branch House members, and use the opportunity to pressure Hidden Cloud for political bargaining chips. And you, young lady, would become the most insignificant number in this transaction—if you were lucky, Hidden Cloud would trade you for certain benefits; if you were unlucky, you would die during the exchange and become a 'Hyuga Main House daughter who sacrificed herself heroically,' adding another stroke of glory to the clan."

"Stop..." Hinata's voice trembled.

"I'm not saying this to make you hate your father." Xiao's tone softened. "I only want you to understand that in this clan, in this village of Leaf Village, some things are more important than family affection and promises. Interests. Power. The need to maintain the existing order."

He reached out and gently placed his hand over the back of Hinata's.

The girl's hand was icy cold and trembling slightly.

"But you are different, young lady." Xiao looked into her eyes, his own face reflected in those pure Byakugan eyes. "There is still a soft place in your heart. That is enough. If you are willing, I can teach you how to protect that softness within your heart in this man-eating world."

Hinata's tears finally fell.

She did not pull her hand back. She merely nodded hard, like a child who had finally found a direction.

[Ding!]

[Hinata Hyuga's trust has increased to 72%.]

[Bond status deepened: Obsession → Dependence.]

[Destiny Points obtained: 20.]

Just then, the ward door was shoved open roughly.

Hyuga Hiashi stood in the doorway, dressed in dark blue clan leader robes, his face completely expressionless. His gaze fell first upon Hinata. When he saw the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Then he turned toward Xiao on the hospital bed.

"Hinata, leave first."

"Father..."

"Leave."

Hinata glanced at Xiao, bit her lip, lowered her head, and hurried out of the ward. The door shut, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Hiashi walked to the bedside and looked down at Xiao. His Byakugan activated in an instant, veins bulging around his eyes as his gaze swept over Xiao's body like a scalpel—examining his wounds, as well as his chakra condition.

Xiao let him look.

In Hiashi's Byakugan vision, this Branch House youth's chakra was very steady, and his injuries had recovered well. His Byakugan purity... seemed slightly more refined than that of an ordinary Branch House member, but it remained within normal limits. He could not see the 5% increase in purity, much less the X-ray vision that was awakening.

Because the system's power surpassed this world's methods of detection.

"You saved Hinata." Hiashi spoke without any discernible emotion in his voice. "The Main House will remember this merit. Your share of next month's clan resource allocation will increase by thirty percent."

"Thank you, Clan Head." Xiao lowered his head in a respectful posture.

"However." Hiashi's tone shifted. "A Branch House member touching the Main House is a grave taboo. This situation was exceptional, so I will not pursue the matter. But there will not be a next time—Hinata is the Main House's young lady and the future heir to the clan leadership. You should understand your status."

Xiao's fingers curled slightly beneath the blanket.

Understand? Of course he understood. The Branch House were the Main House's dogs, tools, and expendable goods. If a dog saved its master, the master could reward it with a bone. But if the dog dared wag its tail too eagerly before its master, that was overstepping. That was a sin deserving death.

"I understand." Xiao's voice remained steady. "I will remember my place."

Hiashi stared at him for several seconds, seemingly trying to find some flaw in that gentle, obedient face. But he found nothing—Xiao's expression was controlled too well, as flawless as a carefully painted mask of human skin.

"Recover well."

Hiashi turned to leave. When he reached the door, he stopped again and said without looking back at Xiao, "I have already given Tokuma the reward he deserves. The two of you did well this time, but remember—the glory of the Hyuga Clan is built upon rules. Once the rules are broken, so is the glory."

The door closed.

Footsteps faded down the hallway.

Xiao slowly raised his head. For the first time, a cold, nearly inhuman gleam flashed through his pale eyes.

He threw off the blanket and stepped barefoot onto the floor. Coldness rose from the soles of his feet, stimulating his nerves. He walked to the window and looked outside—several patients strolled through the Konoha Hospital garden, while farther away stood Hokage Rock, the Third Hokage's stone visage silently overlooking the village beneath the sunlight.

He concentrated.

His vision began to change.

The texture of the wall faded before his eyes. He could see a ninja with a broken bone receiving treatment in the next ward. Farther away was the medical ninja duty room, where two Chunin were chatting. Farther still, at the hospital entrance, Hiashi was taking Hinata into a carriage bound for the Hyuga Estate.

The carriage's wooden frame became translucent in his vision. He could see Hinata sitting in the cabin with her head lowered, her fingers tightly clutching her clothes. Hiashi sat opposite her with his eyes closed, resting. The chakra within him was as calm and still as a deep pool.

This was the power of X-ray vision.

Though he could currently only see through two walls, though his eyes would ache if he maintained it for more than ten seconds, this was only the beginning.

Xiao withdrew his gaze, and his eyes returned to normal. He raised his hand and looked at the clear lines on his palm before slowly clenching it into a fist.

The 0.1% Caged Bird Seal removal progress was like a seed buried in frozen earth. It was still weak now, but one day, it would push aside the boulder pressing over its head and break through the soil.

And what he had to do was water that seed with enough blood and conspiracy.

"System," he silently called. "Exchange for accelerated bloodline purity."

[100 Destiny Points consumed. Exchanging for 0.5% Byakugan purity.]

[Current purity: 6.5%.]

A warm current surged from his heart and flowed through his meridians toward his eyes. Xiao felt his eye sockets grow faintly hot, and his vision became clearer once more. He looked at his arm. This time, he could see the network of blood vessels beneath his skin more clearly, and could even vaguely catch the tiny points of light produced as chakra flowed through his meridians.

Still not enough.

Far from enough.

But at least the path had been trodden.

Xiao returned to the hospital bed and lay down, closing his eyes. His mind began reviewing the entire incident: the Hidden Cloud spies, Hiashi's scheme, Tokuma's involvement, Hinata's increased trust... every link had developed according to the direction he had planned.

Except for the spy leader who had taken poison and killed himself.

That man had died too decisively—so decisively that it was abnormal. A Hidden Cloud spy committing suicide after mission failure? Such suicide operatives might exist, but Xiao could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. Especially considering the system's earlier notice that Root forces had intervened.

Danzo.

That old bastard hiding in Leaf Village's shadows had definitely meddled in this matter. What was his goal? Testing the Hyuga Clan? Creating conflict? Or... using Hidden Cloud's hands to weaken the Hyuga Clan?

A cold smile curved Xiao's lips.

It did not matter. Scheme all you wanted. Set all the traps you wanted. Once his Byakugan purity broke through 10%, once he could use "Pressure" to directly intimidate ordinary clan members, once the Caged Bird Seal removal progress reached 1%, 5%, 10%...

I'll show you what a true player looks like.

Outside the window, the sun began to set, staining Leaf Village blood-red.

In the ward, the youth lay quietly. His pale eyes slowly moved beneath his eyelids, as though he were having a long, lucid dream.

There was no Caged Bird Seal in that dream.

There was only a pair of azure eyes like stars, powerful enough to split the moon.