Uchiha's Shikotsumyaku, Hyuga Tennin Steps In

Uchiha's Shikotsumyaku, Hyuga Tennin Steps In

"Is that so? They've already started fighting, and he lost the first exchange to Gentle Fist. It seems the Uchiha Clan will never shake its arrogance."

"But that's a minor matter. As long as we confirm Uchiha Jobu truly has Shikotsumyaku, we'll know the Uchiha Clan has found a way to seize other ninja families' Kekkei Genkai."

"I hope Uchiha Jobu doesn't disappoint me—or the Hyuga Clan."

Hyuga Tennin had learned that the fight had begun and that his younger sister, Hyuga Tensei, had sent Uchiha Jobu flying with the Gentle Fist Method in the very first exchange. He felt little surprise. Jobu had simply underestimated her.

But that was the Uchiha for you.

Everyone in the Warring States Ninja World knew the Uchiha Clan had plenty of bad habits. Arrogance was the most obvious: they looked down on every ninja clan but their own.

Even so, no one could deny their strength. Only a handful of clans in the Ninja World could rival the Uchiha, and many of those had long since fallen and vanished into the history of the Warring States Ninja World.

Tennin waved the messenger away, rose, and headed for the Branch Family's training ground.

The sounds of blows and clashing bodies rang out across the training ground. Many Branch Family ninja wondered who was qualified to spar with their head, Hyuga Tensei.

The Hyuga Clan's strict hierarchy meant ordinary clan members had no such privilege.

Then they saw it was someone from the Uchiha Clan.

The giveaway was impossible to miss.

The Uchiha Clan crest was emblazoned on Uchiha Jobu's clothes.

"So fast!"

"Our head can dodge and weave while striking back with Gentle Fist. Her strength is incredible."

"That's the strength a Branch Family head ought to have! Did you think bloodline alone was enough? Lady Tensei is the most gifted person the Branch Family has ever produced!"

"That Uchiha kid isn't weak either. He hasn't used the Fire Release or genjutsu his clan excels at, yet he can trade blows with Lady Tensei using only taijutsu. What I don't understand is why an Uchiha has the Kaguya Clan's Shikotsumyaku."

"You're not alone. I can't figure it out either. But an Uchiha with Shikotsumyaku is far stronger than the Kaguya Clan."

Several Hyuga still remembered their mission to aid the Kaguya Clan. The strength the Kaguya had shown then fell short of what this Uchiha was displaying against their head now.

Hyuga Tennin arrived at the training ground to find a fierce battle underway. The two figures darted past each other, turning and shifting, each exchange fought at full strength.

Their power collided with a boom as loud as an Explosive Tag going off.

The alliance with the Uchiha Clan should have been formed years ago. It had waited until now because Tennin needed time to become the Hyuga Clan's true head.

Bloodline mattered in the Ninja World, but strength and talent also determined one's standing.

Through ruthless methods and his own formidable strength, Tennin had secured his position as head of the Hyuga Main Family. From the elders who leaned on their seniority to every member of the Branch Family, all had submitted to him.

An elite Hyuga ninja with the strength of a Jonin asked, "My lord, did the Uchiha Clan intermarry with the Kaguya Clan?"

He could think of no other explanation.

The Shikotsumyaku Jobu displayed was in no way inferior to the Kaguya Clan's. Paired with the Uchiha Clan's almost artistic taijutsu, it made close combat look like an exquisite dance.

Tennin said, "Do you think those fools in the Kaguya Clan would ally with the Uchiha? And do you think the proud Uchiha would allow their bloodline to mix with another ninja family's?"

The ninja's expression tightened as realization struck. He lowered his voice. "My lord, are you saying the Uchiha Clan has found a way to steal other ninja's Kekkei Genkai?"

"Yes. But keep that to yourself. If word gets out, the Uchiha might be fine."

"The Hyuga Clan, however, cannot afford to make the Uchiha its enemy. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord."

The Hyuga and Uchiha had clashed many times before, but always over interests, never hatred. To the Hyuga Clan, survival came first.

The Uchiha Clan was different. For a grudge, they would drop everything, draw their blades, and charge straight at the Senju Clan, consequences be damned.

The battle grew fiercer, its terrifying force sweeping across the field. A heavy, powerful straight punch struck Tensei in the waist and blasted her more than ten meters away.

"Good. That's enough."

Tennin cut the fight short and signaled to his sister with a look not to continue.

Jobu studied the newcomer. From his clothes, he could tell this was the Hyuga Clan's current leader.

Tennin said, "Hello. I'm Hyuga Tennin, head of the Hyuga Main Family. I'll spar with you next, if that's all right?"

Jobu loosened his joints and let out a long breath. His crimson Sharingan fixed on Tennin. "You won't let me rest first?"

Tennin smiled. "You're joking. You've barely used any stamina. Don't forget, I'm the head of the Hyuga Clan. These eyes see clearly. You've spent some chakra, but you still have at least seventy or eighty percent of your strength."

Since crossing into Naruto's Warring States Era, Jobu had known how brutal this world was. Afraid he might die on a battlefield, he had trained obsessively since childhood. Before he even knew he had a special ability, his training was every bit as intense as Might Guy's.

So.

Jobu could say with confidence that among the Uchiha Clan's younger generation, no one surpassed him in taijutsu—apart from Uchiha Madara, the Six Paths Family's second son.

Even among the older Uchiha powerhouses, many specialized only in ninjutsu and genjutsu, or in swordsmanship or throwing weapons. Few seriously trained their bodies.

He hadn't expected Tennin to see through him.

Tensei unclenched her fists, disbelief flashing through her eyes. After such an intense fight, Jobu still had at least seventy or eighty percent of his stamina left. He had at least three times as much as she did.

She had only managed that complete sequence of Gentle Fist strikes because he underestimated her at the start. In a real fight, she was no match for him.

Once she understood the gap between them, calm returned to her eyes and face.

Tennin watched his sister step aside, then took his place before Jobu and raised his hands into a fighting stance. "Hyuga Clan. Hyuga Tennin."

Jobu drew a deep breath and clenched his fists, his expression turning grave. "This assignment really is a pain. I shouldn't have accepted it."

Tennin laughed. "That's why I raised the fee to ten million."

"Good thing it's only for two days. If you want a third, you'll have to pay more."

As he spoke, Jobu raised one hand and aimed all five fingers at Tennin. "Shikotsumyaku! Five-Finger Drilling Bullets!"

"Eight Trigrams Palm! Empty Palm!"

"I know that move well. It won't work on me."

Eight Trigrams Palm was an attack within the Gentle Fist Method. It sent chakra out as a shock wave to strike enemies at medium or long range.

Tennin's mastery of the Gentle Fist Method far exceeded his sister's. Otherwise, he would never have become the Hyuga Clan's new head.

In the Warring States Era, strength was what counted.

Jobu charged into the oncoming palm-force shock wave instead of retreating. He drove out a fist, and the stark white bone jutting from it sliced down like a steel blade, easily shattering the attack.

"If ranged attacks are useless, then I'll dance! Shikotsumyaku! Tessenka Flower Dance!"

He drew out his spine like a sword and slashed at the figure ahead.

The whistle through the air was almost pleasing to the ear. Even before the strike landed, he could picture Tennin being hurled more than ten meters away.

"Gentle Fist Method! Eight Trigrams! Mountain-Breaking Strike!"

This palm strike was stronger than Empty Palm, with force comparable to a B-rank ninjutsu.

Tennin was confident it would drive Jobu back. It might even shatter the spine Jobu held in his hand.

"Shikotsumyaku! Dance of the Larch!"

Jobu forced bones out across his body, covering himself in armor of white bone. His defenses rose, allowing him to meet the incoming strike without fear.

Boom!

But the instant they collided, overwhelming force erupted. Even the thick armor of bone could not fully stop the blow.

The other Hyuga ninja were stunned. They had never imagined Gentle Fist could be so powerful. The Branch Family ninja in particular looked on with envy—and even more with dejection.

The Caged Bird mark on their foreheads had taken their freedom and cut off any hope of advancing further. The Main Family would never teach the Branch Family the Gentle Fist's true core techniques.

The Main Family did this partly to preserve its status and partly out of fear that the Branch Family might rebel.

So it restricted the Branch Family's access to the true Gentle Fist Method. Its core moves would never be taught to them.

Moves such as the Gentle Fist's absolute defense, Rotation.

Or the Eight Trigrams Palm techniques that could strike an enemy from a distance.

After taking the blow, Jobu felt every bone in his body creak. His organs had suffered some damage too, and blood rose in his throat.

Jobu got up and watched Tennin slowly lower his hands. The fighting spirit in his eyes burned brighter. As expected, fighting a true powerhouse was what helped him grow stronger.

Training alone was far too slow a way to improve.

Yet he could only use Shikotsumyaku; he could not draw out its full potential.

After all, the Uchiha Clan's true strengths lay in genjutsu and ninjutsu.

Taijutsu and swordsmanship were merely ordinary tools to an Uchiha. Once their Sharingan grew stronger, they could copy an enemy's ninjutsu or end a fight easily with genjutsu.