On the battlefield.
Zou Hyuga looked somewhat battered as he raised his head toward Toneri, who was flying low overhead.
Through his Byakugan, he could see Toneri bathed in Tenseigan chakra. Although Toneri did not yet possess those eyes, the destruction he wrought with every movement rivaled that of a tailed beast.
Even the energy blasts he casually fired destroyed vast stretches of forest.
Under Toneri's assault, even Zou Hyuga had to keep out of his way. Challenging the Tenseigan head-on with a mortal body was undoubtedly foolish.
But in both mobility and perception, he fell short of Toneri in his current state.
He could only endure the relentless bombardment from above. His Byakugan also seemed to be suppressed, losing much of its usual perceptive power.
Watching the battle between the two people of pure blood, the old man with the Byakugan grew increasingly grave.
His clouded Byakugan constantly swept the battlefield, observing Toneri's condition and Zou Hyuga's ceaseless evasions.
On the surface, Toneri seemed to have the advantage, but his young body clearly could not withstand Tenseigan chakra for long.
For their clan, Tenseigan chakra was not merely a sweet elixir that enhanced their strength. It was also poison.
Perhaps Toneri alone could withstand Tenseigan chakra completely, but that would be Toneri as an adult, not as he was now.
By this point in the battle, the old man had begun to consider retreating.
But he had already made an enemy of Zou Hyuga. Any sign of weakness would only invite a counterattack. He also feared losing their precious treasure, even if the possibility was slight.
Now, his only option was to use the Tenseigan's abilities to defeat their opponent utterly.
Rumble...
After enduring another round of bombardment, the black markings on Zou Hyuga's skin shone a little brighter.