Genetic Mutation

"A... a dual bloodline?"

Fujino Daikichi gaped in shock. In over twenty years of teaching, he had only ever heard of dual bloodlines; he had never actually seen one.

Having even a single Kekkei Genkai was enough to make someone stand out above the masses. To possess two at the same time was simply terrifying!

Yet the moment before the kunai struck Hyuga Satoru, the way its trajectory shifted had been far too clear. Put that way, there was only one possible explanation.

"Magnet Release..."

As a member of the Hyuga Clan who already possessed the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai, to awaken Magnet Release on top of that-without a doubt, this was a dual bloodline.

Fujino Daikichi's eyes flickered. "A dual bloodline is a matter of utmost importance. I have to report this to Lord Hokage immediately..."

A constant commotion rippled through the crowd.

"Good grief, what is a dual bloodline?"

"It probably means having two Kekkei Genkai. I never imagined a ninja like that could even exist."

Even Kakashi, usually so composed, had a hint of shock in his eyes upon hearing the term. He stared straight at Hyuga Satoru standing in the middle of the training ground. Having been trained by the White Fang, he understood what a dual bloodline meant far better than an ordinary person.

Iroha, who had previously been injured by Hyuga Satoru, clutched his chest as he gazed at the figure standing before Uchiha Rin. The shock in his eyes was beyond comparison.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"In the Hyuga Clan's history of nearly a thousand years, there has never been a ninja with a dual bloodline. The Byakugan is already one of the strongest dojutsu; how could anyone awaken yet another bloodline?"

He suddenly thought of the palm strike Hyuga Satoru had used to defeat him earlier. Could that too have been a technique developed using Magnet Release?

Yet he had never heard of Magnet Release possessing that kind of ability!

"Satoru... is that powerful?"

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

The Hokage's Office.

A pile of documents lay in disarray across the desk. Sarutobi Hiruzen smoked his pipe with a stern expression, burying himself in paperwork.

Suddenly, a figure materialized out of thin air beside the Hokage's desk, wearing an animal mask and shrouded in black robes.

"Speak."

Without looking up, Sarutobi Hiruzen spat out a single word.

"Lord Hokage." The ANBU bowed slightly. "Fujino Daikichi, the head instructor for Ninja Academy Class A, reports that a Hyuga Branch House student under his tutelage has awakened Magnet Release and possesses a dual bloodline."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand suddenly froze. A hint of astonishment entered his eyes as he looked up at the ANBU operative.

"Is the information verified?"

"Verified."

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent.

He knew Fujino Daikichi well. Having taught at the Ninja Academy for nearly twenty years, he was one of the most veteran instructors. With his experience, he shouldn't make mistakes regarding this kind of intelligence.

That left only one possibility.

Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes slightly. That Hyuga student really had awakened a dual bloodline, except...

He frowned. This still seemed somewhat unlikely.

While ninjas with dual bloodlines were quite rare in the Shinobi World, they did exist. Kirigakure had even produced dual bloodline ninjas in its history. However, this was the first time he had ever heard of a dual bloodline in the Hyuga Clan!

The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan was already an extraordinary Kekkei Genkai; history suggested no clansman had ever awakened another bloodline ability.

Magnet Release... wasn't that a bloodline from Sunagakure?

Could it be that child's parents...

"Cough, cough..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen knew he had lost his composure. The Hyuga Clan never intermarried with outsiders. Viewed that way, there was only one possibility left.

A genetic mutation?

"Get me all the intelligence on that Hyuga student, and notify the Hyuga Clan Head. Since they are members of the Hyuga clan, the investigation should naturally be left to them."

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

Exhaling a long plume of white smoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen bit down on his pipe and leaned back in his chair, a trace of exhaustion showing on his face.

"A dual bloodline-barring any accidents, his future achievements will be boundless. What a pity that he's from the Branch House..."

The Hyuga Clan Compound.

Just as today's assessments ended, Hyuga Satoru returned home, and a Branch House guard immediately tracked him down, telling him to report to the clan's ancestral hall.

Hyuga Satoru's expression remained unchanged.

They sure came fast.

Having exposed a portion of his abilities, he was bound to face an investigation by the clan.

It was impossible to avoid using electromagnetic force, and once he used it in the future, explaining it would become terribly troublesome. It was better to use this assessment to legitimize his electromagnetic abilities.

As for the consequences, Hyuga Satoru had already considered them. Because he belonged to the Branch House, Sarutobi Hiruzen would probably find it difficult to interfere and would have to let the Main House handle it themselves. As for Danzo...

Why would that old geezer have any business wanting a Branch House member for no reason?

The Caged Bird had a higher priority than the Tongue-Curse Eradication Seal; wouldn't that be the equivalent of running around naked in front of the Main House?

So that delightful scenario of "Sarutobi, you will regret this!" and "Danzo, I am the Hokage!" probably wouldn't happen this time.

Following the Branch House guard, Hyuga Satoru arrived at the Main House ancestral hall. This was where the Hyuga Clan held its meetings; the only people permitted entry were the Main House and high-ranking ninjas from the Branch House.

Having transmigrated for so long, this was Hyuga Satoru's first time here, and he could not help looking around with curiosity.

Compared to other parts of the Hyuga estate, the decorations here were much more austere, exuding an air of solemn dignity. Several straw cushions were laid out on the floor at the lower end of the hall, where a few middle-aged men sat cross-legged, with a young man standing beside them.

The Branch House guard stepped forward, knelt, and spoke respectfully to the man in the center. "Clan Head, he has arrived."

The Clan Head?

Hyuga Satoru curiously appraised the man. He wore a white robe, and though his temples were already tinged with gray, his Byakugan eyes were spirited and sharp as they locked onto him.

This person should be the current head of the Hyuga Clan. I heard he's called Suigetsu Hyuga. The young man standing next to him should be Hyuga Hiashi, though in the current timeline, he hasn't taken over as Clan Head yet.

Hyuga Satoru analyzed the situation inwardly.

Seeing that Hyuga Satoru showed not a shred of fear upon meeting him, and instead looked him up and down, Suigetsu Hyuga frowned and spoke first.

"Your name is Hyuga Satoru, is it not? I hear you've awakened a second Kekkei Genkai."

"Yes."

Hyuga Satoru nodded.

"Magnet Release?"

"Yes."

A brief silence fell over the ancestral hall.

After a moment of quiet, Suigetsu Hyuga asked in a deep voice, "In our clan's history of nearly a thousand years, there has never been a ninja with a dual bloodline. How did you awaken it?"

The others also cast their gazes toward Hyuga Satoru, awaiting his answer.

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

"When did you awaken it?"

Suigetsu Hyuga continued pressing.

"When the news of my father's death reached me, it felt like the sky was falling in. It felt like something was about to burst inside my head. I lay in bed for a few days, and when I woke up, I found that I seemed a little different."

"At the time, I didn't know I had awakened Magnet Release. It was only later that I gradually discovered I had gained some extra abilities."

Hyuga Satoru recounted smoothly. Suigetsu Hyuga and the others exchanged glances, their expressions shifting constantly.

Long before Hyuga Satoru's arrival, all intelligence concerning him had already been placed before them. Naturally, they knew his family background: his mother had died in childbirth, and his father, a Branch House guard, had died on a mission. The records did seem to mention that Hyuga Satoru had fallen ill after his father's death, though not in great detail.

Could it be that under the blow of losing his parents, a violent emotional upheaval had triggered the awakening?

Why was it only him who awakened it? A genetic mutation???

Hyuga Satoru's expression remained calm, but he sneered inwardly. Having inherited the predecessor's memories, he naturally knew about falling ill after his father's death, which made for a convenient ready-made excuse.

The Hyuga do not intermarry with outsiders; his identity and lineage were beyond doubt, and his parents were long dead-there was no one left to verify the facts. No matter what, there was only one explanation: a genetic mutation.

Coupled with the Caged Bird seal on his forehead, there was simply no way he could ever pose a threat to the Main House, so the outcome of this matter was already sealed.

Sure enough, after a long silence, Suigetsu Hyuga nodded, evidently accepting Hyuga Satoru's explanation.

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

"Since you awakened a new bloodline long ago, why did you never go to the clan's training grounds to practice, and why did you never notify the clan?"