Astonishing

He could feel that this evolutionary power was closely tied to his two red talents, [Sage eye] and [Prince of the Byakugan]. Like two keys, they were opening a door to a higher level of power.

"More astonishing than Itachi awakening the Mangekyō at eleven?" A confident smile curved Toru Kujyo's lips. "Then let me see just how far these eyes of mine can go!"

He took a deep breath, settled the turmoil in his heart, and continued toward the Ninja Academy.

Inside a classroom at the Ninja Academy.

The examinees wore a range of expressions. Some were nervous, some excited, and others solemn. Iruka stood at the front of the classroom, announcing the examination rules.

"First, the Clone Technique!"

The examinees stepped forward one by one.

"Next, Sasuke Uchiha!"

Sasuke stepped out with a cold expression, formed hand seals, and gave a low shout. "Clone!" Pop! Pop! Pop! Three clones identical to him appeared, their expressions and movements matching the original.

"Pass!" Iruka nodded in satisfaction.

Of the next few students, some barely passed, while others failed outright.

"Next, Naruto Uzumaki!"

Naruto took a deep breath and forcefully formed hand seals. "Clone Technique!" Pop! A listless, seemingly malnourished clone collapsed on the floor, twitched twice, and dissolved into white smoke.

"Fail!" Iruka sighed helplessly.

"Damn it!" Naruto clawed at his hair in frustration.

A wave of stifled laughter rippled through the classroom.

"Quiet!" Iruka tapped the desk. "Next, Toru Kujyo!"

Toru Kujyo stepped forward at an unhurried pace, his expression calm. He looked at Iruka, then swept his gaze over the curious and faintly jealous looks around him, utterly unperturbed.

He did not even form hand seals.

With a thought, he set the vast chakra within him flowing ever so slightly.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! ...

A string of soft pops rang out, and the classroom instantly filled with figures of Toru Kujyo-over a hundred of them. Every one was lifelike, with a steady presence, and they even made different little movements. Some scratched their heads, some folded their arms, and others pulled faces at the examinees beside them.

The entire classroom fell silent.

Iruka's jaw dropped, and the pen in his hand clattered to the floor.

Sasuke snapped his head up, instantly activating his Sharingan. He stared fixedly at the hundred-odd Toru Kujyos, trying to find a flaw, only to discover that every one looked utterly real.

"Th-this is..." Iruka stammered, unable to produce a complete sentence for a long while. In all his years of teaching, he had never seen such an outrageous Clone Technique! This isn't an ordinary Clone Technique at all. These are... shadow clones! Over a hundred shadow clones! A student about to graduate can create over a hundred shadow clones this easily? You've got to be kidding!

"Iruka-sensei, does this count as a pass?" one of the Toru Kujyos asked lazily, even letting out a yawn.

"P-pass! A perfect pass!" Iruka shouted instinctively. Then he came to his senses, cold sweat beading on his forehead. A trace of awe had entered his gaze as he looked at Toru Kujyo. This child is an absolute monster!

Toru Kujyo smiled faintly, and all the shadow clones instantly vanished in puffs of white smoke. He returned to his seat as though he had done something utterly trivial.

He could feel that the stirring in his eyes had grown a little more active, seemingly spurred by his use of chakra just now.

He knew perfectly well that after his [kekkei genkai · Byakugan] had merged with Hinata's [Prince of the Byakugan] talent and absorbed the vast amount of yin release chakra originally meant to awaken the Sharingan, it had long since ceased to be an ordinary Byakugan. These golden Byakugan eyes held potential far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

The "sage eye" gave him the aptitude to learn and see through all ninjutsu, while the "Prince of the Byakugan" pushed the Byakugan's own potential to its limits. With the two combined and "six paths aptitude" acting as a catalyst, just what kind of ocular technique would emerge?

Toru Kujyo was full of anticipation. He glanced at Sasuke, who was still stunned beside him, and thought, The Sharingan, huh? Perhaps my eyes will give you an even bigger surprise.

The graduation examination continued, but for Toru Kujyo, its outcome was already certain.

At the end of March in Konoha Year 60, the first rays of morning sunlight passed through the window lattice and fell gently across Toru Kujyo's face. He rolled over out of habit, only to catch a familiar scent mingling miso and grilled fish. Together with a gentle shaking, it woke him from his deep sleep.

"Big Brother Toru, it's time to get up... Today's the graduation examination." A girl's clear voice reached his ears, tinged with shyness.

Toru Kujyo slowly opened his eyes to find Hinata Hyuga's face before him, its childishness fading as her features grew ever more refined. Her dark-blue hair now reached her waist, cascading down like a waterfall, and her fair skin was almost translucent in the morning light. Her pure Byakugan eyes held a faint lavender tint as she gazed gently at him.

A lavish breakfast steamed on the dining table, with two neatly made lunch boxes set beside it.

Toru Kujyo's lips curved with a hint of mischief. "Well, well, our Hinata's all grown up now. You're so gentle even when waking me that I almost thought I was still dreaming." He sat up, his gaze falling on the lunch boxes. "Didn't I say you didn't need to pack me lunch anymore?"

Hinata's cheeks instantly flushed. She waved her hands in a fluster, though a hint of amusement hid in her eyes, and explained softly, "N-no, it wasn't me... It was Hanabi. She got up early too and made this especially for you." She picked up the slightly smaller lunch box and opened it. Inside were several carefully made seaweed rice balls, the seaweed meticulously cut into the shape of scrolls as a wish for success in the examination. A few little octopus-shaped sausages sat beside them.

"Hanabi made it?" Toru Kujyo raised an eyebrow in surprise, then chuckled. That little girl was only six, yet she was already worrying about his examination.

Hinata smiled with her lips pressed together. "She said you taught her how to throw shuriken last time, so this is her way of thanking you and wishing you luck."

Over the past six years, Hinata and Hanabi had long since come to treat Toru Kujyo's place as their second home, and both had their own keys. The sisters often took it upon themselves to buy groceries and clean. At first, Toru Kujyo would make a few polite protests, but over time, all three grew used to it, as though this was simply how things ought to be.

Entering the bathroom, Toru Kujyo stood before the mirror and studied his reflection. Six years had passed in a flash, and the frail child he had once been had now left his childish appearance behind completely. His hair was ink-black, his blue eyes deep, and his well-defined features were handsome in just the right measure. He had shot up to 163 centimeters, putting him somewhat above average among his peers.

He tried activating his Byakugan, and his pupils instantly took on a pale lavender sheen similar to Hinata's. What pleased him most was that the veins at his temples no longer bulged when he used it. This change had begun to appear at the start of the year and was now nearly perfected, signifying that his control over the Byakugan had reached an entirely new level.