Genetic Mutation

"D-Dual Bloodline?"

Fujino Daikichi stood there with his mouth agape. In over twenty years of teaching, he had only heard of Dual Bloodline, never seen it.

With even one Bloodline Limit, a person could stand above the masses. Possessing two at once was simply terrifying!

But the moment the kunai's trajectory changed before it struck Hyuga Satoru had been crystal clear. If so, there was only one possibility.

"Magnet Release..."

As a member of the Hyuga clan, he already possessed the Byakugan Bloodline Limit. Awakening Magnet Release as well undoubtedly made him a Dual Bloodline user.

Fujino Daikichi's eyes flickered. "Dual Bloodline is a matter of great importance. This must be reported to the Hokage immediately..."

The crowd continued to stir.

"My God, what's Dual Bloodline?"

"It probably means possessing two Bloodline Limits. I never thought a ninja like that could actually exist."

Even Kakashi, who was usually calm, had a trace of shock in his eyes upon hearing the term. He stared straight at Hyuga Satoru in the training ground. Having been taught by White Fang, he understood better than most what Dual Bloodline meant.

Iroha, who had been injured by Hyuga Satoru earlier, clutched his chest and stared at the figure standing before Uchiha Rin, his shock beyond compare.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"In the Hyuga clan's nearly thousand-year history, there has never been a Dual Bloodline ninja. The Byakugan is already one of the strongest ocular techniques. How could anyone awaken another Bloodline Limit?"

He suddenly recalled the palm strike Hyuga Satoru had used to defeat him earlier. Could that technique have been developed through Magnet Release as well?

But he had never heard of Magnet Release having such an ability.

"Satoru... is that amazing?"

Anko glanced around at the shocked expressions on everyone's faces and could not help feeling curious.

Hokage's Office.

A pile of documents lay scattered across the desk. Sarutobi Hiruzen held a pipe between his lips, his expression grave as he bent over the paperwork.

Suddenly, a figure appeared out of thin air beside the Hokage's desk. His face was covered by an animal mask, and his body was wrapped in black.

"Speak."

Without looking up, Sarutobi Hiruzen uttered a single word.

"Lord Hokage." The ANBU bowed slightly. "Fujino Daikichi, the instructor of Class A at the Ninja Academy, has reported that one of his Hyuga branch family students awakened Magnet Release and possesses Dual Bloodline."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand abruptly froze. Surprise appeared in his eyes as he looked up at the ANBU.

"Is the information accurate?"

"It is."

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent.

He knew Fujino Daikichi. The man had taught at the Ninja Academy for nearly twenty years and was among the most senior instructors. With his judgment, he should not have made a mistake in intelligence like this.

Then there was only one possibility.

Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes slightly. That Hyuga student had truly awakened Dual Bloodline, but...

He frowned. That did not seem quite possible either.

Although ninja possessing Dual Bloodline were exceedingly rare in the shinobi world, they did exist. Kirigakure had also produced Dual Bloodline ninja in its history. But this was the first time he had heard of a Hyuga with Dual Bloodline!

The Hyuga clan's Byakugan was already an exceptional Bloodline Limit. Throughout history, no clansman seemed to have awakened another bloodline ability.

Magnet Release... wasn't that a Bloodline Limit from Sunagakure?

Could it be that the child's parents...

"Cough, cough..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen knew he had lost his composure. The Hyuga clan never married outsiders, so there was only one possible explanation.

Genetic mutation?

"Bring me all information on that Hyuga student. Also, notify the Hyuga clan head. Since he is a member of their clan, they should naturally investigate him themselves."

"Yes!" The figure beside the Hokage's desk vanished.

Exhaling a long stream of white smoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned back in his chair with the pipe clenched between his teeth, a hint of weariness on his face.

"Dual Bloodline... barring any accidents, his future achievements will be limitless. What a pity he is from the branch family..."

Hyuga Clan Grounds.

As soon as today's assessment ended, Hyuga Satoru returned home. A branch family guard immediately came to find him and told him to report to the Lineage's main hall.

Hyuga Satoru remained calm.

They came quickly indeed.

Having revealed part of his abilities, he was bound to undergo the Lineage's scrutiny.

There was no way he could avoid using electromagnetic force. Once he used it in the future, explaining it would become extremely troublesome. It was better to use this assessment to give his electromagnetic abilities a reasonable explanation.

As for the consequences, Hyuga Satoru had already considered them. Since he belonged to the branch family, Sarutobi Hiruzen would likely find it difficult to interfere and could only leave the main family to deal with it. As for Danzo...

Why would that rotten old man want a branch family member when he had nothing better to do?

The Caged Bird took priority over the Tongue-Curse Eradication Seal. Wouldn't that be the same as running naked before the main family?

So the familiar exchange of "Sarutobi, you will regret this!" and "Danzo, I am the Hokage!" would probably not happen this time.

Following the branch family guard, Hyuga Satoru arrived at the main family shrine. This was where the Hyuga clan held its meetings, and only members of the main family and high-ranking branch family ninja were permitted to enter.

After transmigrating for so long, this was Hyuga Satoru's first time coming here. He could not help looking around curiously.

Compared to the rest of the Hyuga grounds, the decorations here were more solemn and imposing. Several cushions were placed below the shrine, where a few middle-aged men sat cross-legged. A young man stood beside them.

The branch family guard stepped forward and knelt, respectfully addressing the man in the middle. "Clan Head, he has arrived."

Clan Head?

Hyuga Satoru curiously studied the man. He wore a white robe, and though gray had appeared at his temples, his Byakugan remained sharp and vigorous as it fixed on him.

This person should be the current head of the Hyuga clan. He had heard that his name was Suigetsu Hyuga. The young man standing beside him should be Hiashi Hyuga, though he had not yet become clan head in the current timeline.

Hyuga Satoru silently analyzed the situation.

Seeing that Hyuga Satoru showed no fear upon meeting him and instead looked him up and down, Suigetsu Hyuga frowned and spoke first.

"Your name is Hyuga Satoru, correct? I heard that you awakened a second Bloodline Limit?"

"Yes."

Hyuga Satoru nodded.

"Magnet Release?"

"Yes."

The main hall fell into brief silence.

After a moment of silence, Suigetsu Hyuga asked in a deep voice, "In our clan's nearly thousand-year history, there has never been a Dual Bloodline ninja. How did you awaken it?"

The others also turned their eyes toward Hyuga Satoru, awaiting his answer.

Hyuga Satoru shook his head. "I don't know either."

"When did you awaken it?"

Suigetsu Hyuga continued to press him.

"When news came that my father had died. At the time, I felt as if the sky were falling. It was like something in my head was about to explode. I lay in bed for several days, and when I woke up, I found that I seemed somewhat different."

"At the time, I did not know I had awakened Magnet Release. Only later did I gradually discover that I had gained some other abilities."

Hyuga Satoru spoke steadily. Suigetsu Hyuga and the others exchanged glances, their expressions constantly shifting.

Long before Hyuga Satoru arrived, all information regarding him had been placed before them. They naturally knew about his family circumstances. His mother had died in childbirth, while his father, a branch family guard, had died while carrying out a mission. The records did seem to mention that Hyuga Satoru had fallen ill after his father's death, though they had not gone into such detail.

So he had awakened it after his emotions underwent intense turmoil from the loss of both parents?

Why had only he awakened it? Genetic mutation???

Hyuga Satoru's expression remained unchanged, but he sneered inwardly. He had inherited the original owner's memories and naturally knew that he had been ill after his father's death. It was perfect as an excuse.

The Hyuga did not marry outsiders, so there could be no doubt about his identity or bloodline. His parents had long since died, leaving no witnesses. No matter how they looked at it, genetic mutation was the only explanation.

On top of that, the Caged Bird on his forehead meant he could never pose a threat to the main family. The outcome of this matter had already been decided.

Sure enough, after remaining silent for a long time, Suigetsu Hyuga nodded, clearly accepting Hyuga Satoru's explanation.

Just as Hyuga Satoru breathed a sigh of relief, Suigetsu Hyuga suddenly raised his head and stared directly at him.

"Since you awakened a new Bloodline Limit so long ago, why have you never trained at the clan training grounds or informed the Lineage?"