Second Interception Opportunity

Late at night, Hyuga Xiao sat cross-legged on the tatami in the Branch House dormitory.

Moonlight streamed through the paper window onto his face, reflecting those pure white pupils that had quietly changed. Ever since his Byakugan purity had risen to 6%, the world in his eyes had become increasingly clear—the textures of the walls, the ants crawling through the courtyard, even the faint sound of Branch House ninja turning over in their sleep next door—all of it fell within his perception.

But at this moment, his attention was completely focused on the system interface emerging in his mind.

[Destiny Points: 150]

[Current Interception Progress: Hinata Hyuga (Trust: 65%, Obsession State)]

[Bloodline Purity: Hyuga Byakugan 6%]

[Caged Bird Seal Removal Progress: 0.1%]

"Still too slow," Xiao muttered soundlessly.

A removal rate of 0.1% meant that the Caged Bird Seal was still like a sword hanging over his head. The Main House needed only a single thought to make him brain-dead. The fear of having his life and death controlled by others gnawed at his nerves day and night like a venomous snake.

Just then—

[Ding!]

[New destiny node detected.]

The cold mechanical voice exploded in his mind, and Xiao's breathing instantly stopped.

[Target: Kurenai Yuhi (8 years old)]

[Destiny Node: Three days later, during the Ninja Academy graduation examination, she will be ridiculed by her classmates after making an error while performing genjutsu, leaving severe psychological trauma that causes her genjutsu training to stagnate for the next three years.]

[Interception Opportunity: Before or during the examination, change this destiny.]

[Basic Reward: Genjutsu Talent Fragment ×1 (Collect three to synthesize the "Genjutsu Mastery" talent.)]

[Additional Reward: Depending on the degree of change, gain 50–300 Destiny Points.]

Xiao's pupils contracted slightly.

Kurenai Yuhi.

Of course he remembered that name—the elite Leaf Village jonin and genjutsu master from the original story, Asuma's future wife. A woman who lost her father in the Third Shinobi World War, who was strong-willed yet ultimately could not escape a tragic fate.

But according to the system prompt, she was only eight years old this year.

"So that's how it is..." The corners of Xiao's lips curved faintly. "The system's so-called 'women of great fortune' are not limited to the Hyuga Clan, nor are they restricted by age."

What did that mean?

It meant that his path of growth had suddenly expanded from the narrow internal struggle of the Hyuga Clan to the entirety of Leaf Village—to the entire shinobi world!

Those female ninja who had played important roles in the original story yet suffered difficult fates—Tsunade, Mei Terumi, Konan, Samui... even Kaguya Otsutsuki—could theoretically become targets for his interception!

Every interception meant greater bloodline purity, further removal of the Caged Bird Seal, and progress toward the Tenseigan and powers beyond it!

"This is the system's true value." A burning light flashed in Xiao's eyes.

But his excitement lasted only a few seconds before cold reality doused it.

He was currently a member of the Hyuga Branch House, a "caged bird" who theoretically even needed to report before leaving Leaf Village. How could he approach Kurenai Yuhi, who was only eight and still attended the Ninja Academy?

More importantly, the graduation examination was three days away.

He needed a reasonable identity—one that would allow him to appear at the Ninja Academy openly and even intervene in the examination process.

Xiao's gaze returned to the system interface.

[Shop (Temporarily Open)]

With a thought, the shop list unfolded in his mind. Most items were grayed out with "Insufficient Permissions," but several options at the top were lit up:

[Temporary Ninja Academy Assistant Qualification (One Day)]: 100 Destiny Points

[Leaf Village Genin Standard Equipment Set]: 30 Destiny Points

[Basic Ninjutsu Scroll (Detailed Explanation of the Three Body Technique)]: 50 Destiny Points

[Chakra Refinement Efficiency Potion (Beginner)]: 200 Destiny Points

...

"Assistant qualification." Xiao stared at that option.

One hundred Destiny Points was nearly two-thirds of his current savings. But this was currently the only chance for him to approach Kurenai Yuhi reasonably.

"Exchange it."

[Ding! Consumed 100 Destiny Points. Exchanged for "Temporary Ninja Academy Assistant Qualification (One Day)." The item has been issued to the system space. Upon use, a temporary record will be generated in Leaf Village's archives. Valid for 24 hours.]

[Remaining Destiny Points: 50]

Xiao did not hesitate and chose to use it immediately.

The next moment, he felt a faint stream of information pour into his mind—it was a fabricated memory implant stating that "Hyuga Xiao had been temporarily assigned to the Ninja Academy to assist in maintaining order during the graduation examination." This implant was superficial and would not alter others' deep cognition, but it was enough to handle routine checks.

"Next, I need to understand Kurenai Yuhi's current situation."

Xiao stood and walked to the bookshelf in the corner of the room. It was piled with old ninja tools and scrolls, and beneath them on the lowest shelf lay a copy of the <Leaf Ninja Academy Yearbook (Leaf Village Year 47 Edition)>.

He had dug it out of a pile of junk in the Branch House warehouse. He had only kept it casually at the time, never expecting it to become useful now.

Opening the yellowed yearbook, Xiao's finger stopped on the page for the "Genjutsu Specialty Class."

[Kurenai Yuhi, female, 8 years old]

[Father: Shinku Yuhi (Jonin, killed in the Third Shinobi World War in Leaf Village Year 46)]

[Genjutsu Talent Rating: A (Theory), B- (Practice)]

[Notes: Due to her father's death in battle, she is introverted and poor at interacting with others. Her genjutsu theory is solid, but in actual combat, nervousness easily causes mistakes in chakra control.]

Xiao's gaze lingered for a moment on the words "father killed in battle."

A war orphan.

There were far too many children like that in Leaf Village. Without the protection of their parents, they either stood out amid brutal competition or became mediocre genin, eventually turning into cannon fodder on the battlefield.

Kurenai Yuhi belonged to the former—in the original story, she became an elite jonin. But the system's mention of "psychological trauma causing three years of stagnation" showed that her growth had not been smooth sailing.

"Genjutsu error... ridicule..."

Xiao closed the yearbook, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He knew that feeling all too well—in the Hyuga Branch House, children with mediocre talent were regarded as "scraps" by the Main House, ostracized by their peers, and ignored by instructors. Those ever-present contemptuous stares were enough to destroy a person's confidence.

The difference was that he had the system, memories of a second chance, and the ambition to break fate.

And eight-year-old Kurenai Yuhi had nothing.

"So, what should I do?"

Xiao sat back down on the tatami and began to consider his options.

Approach Kurenai directly and tell her, "You'll make a mistake during the examination"?

No. Setting aside whether an eight-year-old would believe him, explaining the source of his information would be a huge problem. More likely, such a prophecy would only worsen her psychological burden and cause the mistake to happen sooner.

Secretly interfere with the examination and make her genjutsu "accidentally" succeed?

The risk was too high. Jonin would be proctoring the Ninja Academy examination, and no chakra fluctuation would escape their senses. If he were discovered, the consequences of a Branch House member interfering with the Main House's educational system would be unimaginable.

That left only one path—

Before the examination began, improve Kurenai Yuhi's control over genjutsu and let her pass through her own ability.

"But there are only three days." Xiao frowned.

For an eight-year-old child, breaking through a bottleneck in three days was nearly impossible. Unless...

His gaze fell upon the remaining 50 Destiny Points in the system shop.

[Basic Genjutsu Insights (One-Time Infusion)]: 45 Destiny Points

[Chakra Stabilization Potion (Beginner)]: 40 Destiny Points

Two options.

The former could directly improve Kurenai's understanding of genjutsu, but forcefully infusing knowledge into an eight-year-old would place a heavy burden on her mind and might backfire.

The latter could stabilize her chakra control. It treated the symptoms rather than the root cause, but at least it would ensure she did not lose control due to nervousness during the examination.

"Exchange for the Chakra Stabilization Potion."

[Ding! Consumed 40 Destiny Points. Exchanged for "Chakra Stabilization Potion (Beginner)." The item has been issued to the system space.]

[Remaining Destiny Points: 10]

A thumb-sized glass vial appeared in the system space, filled with a pale blue transparent liquid.

Next came the question of how to get the potion into Kurenai's hands and make her drink it.

Xiao looked out the window.

The night was deep, and there were still three hours until dawn.

Enough time.

At four in the morning, in the family housing area behind the Leaf Village Ninja Academy.

Xiao's figure moved like a ghost across the rooftops. His 6% purity Byakugan glimmered faintly in the darkness, and the chakra flows within his field of vision were crystal clear—the patrolling ANBU, the breathing rhythms of sleeping residents, even the trails of rats crawling through underground passages. Nothing could hide from him.

This was the initial manifestation of x-ray vision.

He was still far from seeing through the human chakra network or discerning changes in chakra nature, but it was already more than enough for a nighttime infiltration.

Kurenai Yuhi's home was easy to find—a detached little house with a "Yuhi" plaque at the entrance and several red maples in the yard that had already begun to wither.

There were no barriers and no traps.

The orphaned child of a fallen jonin could receive no more protection than the village's general security patrols. As for whether someone was secretly coveting her talent, whether someone wanted to control her before she could grow up...

A trace of chill flashed through Xiao's eyes.

He knew the ways of Leaf Village's upper ranks far too well. Danzo's Root loved recruiting war orphans with no one to rely on, brainwashing them with slogans like "for Leaf Village," and cultivating them into tools that obeyed only him.

The fact that Kurenai Yuhi would become a regular jonin rather than a member of Root was probably already fortunate.

Landing silently beneath a maple tree in the yard, Xiao took out the pale blue potion from his robe, along with a note he had prepared long ago.

There was only one sentence on the note:

"Drink this before the examination. It will stabilize your chakra. Do not ask where it came from, and do not tell anyone. —Someone who doesn't want to see you mocked."

There was no signature, and the handwriting was crooked, written with his left hand.

Wrapping the potion and note in oil paper, Xiao turned his gaze toward the second-floor window.

His Byakugan vision passed through the wall, revealing the sleeping little girl inside—her dark red hair spread across the pillow, her brows faintly furrowed even in sleep, an old rabbit doll clutched in her arms.

A photo frame sat on the bedside table. Inside was a photograph of Shinku Yuhi holding a young Kurenai. The man in the photo smiled gently, while the girl's eyes sparkled brightly.

Xiao fell silent for a moment.

For an instant, he seemed to see himself from another world—the "original owner," who had struggled beneath the ostracism of the Hyuga Branch House and ultimately died an unremarkable death during some mission.

But in the next second, that weak sympathy was crushed.

"Pity cannot change anything," Xiao muttered soundlessly. "Only strength can."

He gently pushed open the window—it was unlocked, and this child's awareness of danger was indeed weak—and placed the oil-paper package on the desk by the window, beneath a copy of Basic Genjutsu Analysis.

After finishing everything, Xiao did not linger and flipped out through the window.

But before leaving, he glanced back at that room.

In his Byakugan vision, the little girl's chakra flow was somewhat unstable, sometimes rapid and sometimes sluggish. This was a typical sign of long-term emotional suppression and being overly eager to succeed in training.

"See you in three days, Kurenai Yuhi."

Xiao's figure vanished into the morning mist.

By the time he returned to the Branch House dormitory, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

Xiao had just changed out of his night clothes when someone knocked on his door.

"Xiao, are you awake?" It was Tokuma Hyuga's voice.

Xiao opened the door, his face already wearing that gentle and obedient expression. "Tokuma-senpai, is something wrong so early?"

Tokuma stood outside, looking at him with a complicated expression. "An order came from the Main House. Starting today, you won't need to participate in regular training for the time being."

Xiao's heart stirred, but he displayed just the right amount of confusion. "Why? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, it's a good thing." Tokuma sighed. "Lord Hiashi personally approved it. In light of your performance during the mission to rescue the young lady, you are specially permitted to serve as a temporary assistant at the Ninja Academy for one day. Consider it... a reward, as well as training."

As expected.

The system's "Temporary Ninja Academy Assistant Qualification" had taken effect, and it had been issued in Hiashi's name. This meant the Main House had already noticed his "value" and was beginning to use such minor favors to win him over—or rather, control him.

"I understand." Xiao lowered his head, his voice trembling with "overwhelmed gratitude." "Thank you to the Main House for its cultivation."

Tokuma patted his shoulder and lowered his voice. "Xiao, I know you saved the young lady, but... don't stand out too much. The Main House's 'favor' can sometimes be more dangerous than hostility."

His words were subtle, but Xiao understood.

Tokuma Hyuga, this veteran Branch House chunin, was warning him not to become a pawn the Main House used to balance the other Branch House members, not to be pushed into the spotlight.

"Thank you for the reminder, senpai," Xiao said sincerely. "I'll be careful."

Tokuma nodded and turned to leave.

After closing the door, the humility on Xiao's face instantly faded, replaced by cold calculation.

"A temporary assistant... perfect."

During the graduation examination three days later, he would appear on-site in an official capacity.

If Kurenai Yuhi passed the examination successfully, he could approach her openly and begin building a connection under the pretext of "appreciating your genjutsu talent."

If she still made a mistake...

A cold light flashed through Xiao's eyes.

Then he would use a more direct method—appearing when she was at her most desperate and becoming her only "salvation."

No matter the outcome, he would not miss this interception opportunity.

"System," he silently called in his mind. "Check Kurenai Yuhi's current destiny node status."

[Target: Kurenai Yuhi (8 years old)]

[Destiny Node Countdown: 2 days, 23 hours, 47 minutes]

[Current Intervention Progress: Potion delivered, awaiting target's consumption]

[Estimated Probability of Destiny Change: 42%]

Not enough.

Xiao walked to the window and looked at the gradually brightening sky.

He still needed to add more fuel.

For example, before the examination began, making some child who loved mocking others "accidentally" unable to attend.

For example, having the proctoring jonin "just happen" to relax the examination standards for the genjutsu class.

For example...

A cold curve formed at the corner of Xiao's lips.

"If I'm going to intercept it, I'll intercept it thoroughly."

He changed into a clean Branch House training uniform, pushed open the door, and walked toward the courtyard shrouded in morning mist.

A new day had begun.

And there were less than three days until his second interception.