Side Effects

The atmosphere in the hospital room was somewhat oppressive.

Hyuga Satoru leaned against the white pillow, his brow tightly furrowed as he contemplated the shocking news Orochimaru had brought him.

He had discovered long ago that every upgrade of Electromagnetic Force tempered his body. Only now did he learn that this tempering would cause Ancestral Bloodline Regression.

But on second thought, the purity of his Byakugan had indeed improved considerably. It seemed Orochimaru had not been lying.

He had no expectations for this process.

The Hyuga Clan possessed only a tiny fraction of Otsutsuki blood. Whether continuous regression would eventually turn him into an Otsutsuki was still impossible to predict.

Besides, there were far too many uncontrollable factors in this process.

After thinking for a while, Hyuga Satoru suddenly realized a crucial point, and his tightly furrowed brow immediately relaxed.

I nearly forgot. Once Electromagnetic Force evolves to a certain level, I can control atomic arrangements on a microscopic level. By then, I can make it as big as I want, as thick as I want.

An Otsutsuki is merely one stage in my body's evolution. What is there to worry about?

Thinking of that, Hyuga Satoru let out a breath, and his mood gradually eased.

"It seems Wu has already processed this information."

Noticing the change in Hyuga Satoru's expression, Orochimaru suddenly chuckled and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Even if my bloodline is regressing, any noticeable changes will only come much later. What matters is focusing on the present, isn't it?" Hyuga Satoru calmly looked at him.

"As expected of Wu."

Orochimaru was momentarily at a loss for words and could only sigh in admiration.

"How is Anko?"

"She is doing very well. That child is a rare genius, exceptionally compatible with my abilities. When you see her again, perhaps she may even give you a surprise."

"That's good."

Hyuga Satoru relaxed slightly. Anko had been Orochimaru's disciple in the original story, after all, so presumably Orochimaru would not harm her.

"Then I will not disturb you any longer, Wu. I hope you recover soon."

Orochimaru chuckled, then silently left the hospital room.

Hyuga Satoru sighed and resumed training Cell Activation. His physical condition steadily improved.

After recuperating for several days, Hyuga Satoru clenched his fist. The abundant power coursing through him gave rise to an involuntary thrill of delight. His Life Magnetic Field had also become much more vigorous, like a roaring blaze.

Compared to before he was injured, training Cell Activation had instead increased his strength considerably, and his chakra reserves had risen by quite a bit as well.

His Electromagnetic Force experience had also increased slightly because he had used Tyrant Mode before, forcibly wielding a great deal of Electromagnetic Force beyond what someone at his level should have been capable of using.

Furthermore, whenever he had downtime after returning from a mission, he would exploit a loophole once with the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

It was like training while idle. Although it left him exhausted afterward, it provided anywhere from 1,000 experience points each time.

[Electromagnetic Force Level LV3]

[Experience until next upgrade: 8945/20000]

With just over ten thousand experience points left, he would reach LV4.

Electromagnetic manipulation at LV1, Life Magnetic Field at LV2, Electromagnetic Furnace at LV3...

What new ability would appear at LV4?

Having experienced the exhilarating surge in Electromagnetic Authority from Tyrant Mode, Hyuga Satoru was already impatiently yearning for higher-level Electromagnetic Force abilities.

That afternoon, with Aburame Shibi's help, Hyuga Satoru completed his discharge procedures.

The moment he stepped out of Konoha Hospital, the glaring sunlight shone down on him, and he instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes.

"Wu, after resting for so long, it seems you are no longer accustomed to such strong sunlight."

Seeing this, Aburame Shibi could not help feeling a faint pang of sorrow.

"Teacher Shibi, don't say that. Rest is for the sake of better progress. I can't wait to start completing missions again."

"Lord Hokage is still waiting for us. We should head over quickly."

"Mm."

Aburame Shibi nodded.

Hokage's Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Hyuga Satoru, who had just left the hospital, his face full of appreciation as he nodded and praised him.

"Excellent! You look very spirited!"

Starting with a comment about how spirited I look. What an old cadre.

Hyuga Satoru could not help grumbling inwardly.

Naturally, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no idea what Hyuga Satoru was thinking. His eyes remained filled with admiration.

"Wu, Shibi should have told you already. With your abilities, you are no longer suited to being a Genin, so I have specially promoted you to Chunin."

"From now on, you may independently accept A-rank missions and missions below A-rank. If you have any requests, you may also bring them to me."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe and spoke leisurely.

In fact, he had originally planned to have Hyuga Satoru join the ANBU. After all, his archery ninjutsu and unique Magnet Release were especially suited for ANBU missions.

However, considering his status as a member of the Hyuga Branch Family, Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated for a long time before ultimately abandoning the idea.

Promoting Hyuga Satoru to Chunin and granting him privileges ordinary Chunin did not possess would not only maximize his rapid growth, but also keep him from attracting too much attention.

After all, the Shinobi World was far from peaceful right now!

Suddenly, as though he had remembered something, he revealed a hint of concern and cautiously asked Hyuga Satoru.

"Wu, I heard that you used a forbidden technique with a tremendous cost. Has your body been affected in any way?"

A forbidden technique with a tremendous cost? Is he referring to Tyrant Mode?

Hyuga Satoru considered it for a moment before saying, "I developed that forbidden technique by accident. It can greatly enhance my strength for a short time. It was only thanks to that technique that I survived after encountering those two Kirigakure shinobi."

"As for the cost..."

"Because this technique overdraws life potential in the short term and squeezes out the body's power, it damages the foundation of my cells and shortens my lifespan to a certain extent."

He raised his head and calmly met Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze without so much as blinking.

"Is that so... Then that is rather troublesome."

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a slight headache coming on. Shortening one's lifespan—the cost of this forbidden technique was simply too great.

He did not doubt it either. The report from Konoha Hospital had indeed mentioned damage to Hyuga Satoru's cells, and something like a shortened lifespan was difficult to detect with the naked eye anyway.

Hyuga Satoru's expression did not change, as though the nonsense he had just spouted were entirely true.

Damage my lifespan?

It really did damage my lifespan. I could only maintain Tyrant Mode for a full three minutes!

Three minutes of lifespan is still lifespan, isn't it?

And afterward, my body hurt so badly I could barely function. I couldn't earn money for days. Doesn't that count as indirectly shortening my lifespan too?

The information Anko had provided only said that he had survived the attacks of those two Jonin.

Hyuga Satoru did not know whether the Hokage had sent ANBU to investigate the site of his battle, nor did he know whether Sarutobi Hiruzen understood Tyrant Mode's true power. In any case, it could not hurt to exaggerate the side effects.

Meanwhile, Aburame Shibi, standing beside them, felt even deeper self-reproach because of Hyuga Satoru's nonsense.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and looked at Hyuga Satoru with a complicated expression. "Wu, you are a true inheritor of the Will of Fire. How about this? The reward for the missions you accept this time will be doubled as compensation."

Hyuga Satoru's eyes lit up. From the mission book the Hokage subsequently brought out, he selected three missions in a row with the highest rewards.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face immediately turned green, but the words had already left his mouth, so he could not take them back.