The Byakugan Hero

Uchiha Yuan pinched his chin and frowned in thought for a long while, as though teaching Uchiha Izumi shuriken techniques was an extremely difficult decision.

In truth, if Uchiha Izumi wanted to learn, he was naturally willing to teach her.

At only six years old, not even enrolled in the Ninja Academy yet, could Uchiha Izumi, who had already awakened the Sharingan, have the potential to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?

Yuan believed the answer was yes.

After all, the prerequisites for awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan were a Tomoe Sharingan and even more extreme emotional stimulation.

Though given Yuan's calm and steady nature, genjutsu and extreme external circumstances had very little stimulating effect on him.

But Uchiha Izumi was different. At her young age, she possessed tremendous malleability.

Moreover, Izumi and Itachi might be able to form a competitive relationship and improve together.

"Yuan-nii? Is it not okay because your left hand hasn't healed yet?"

Young Izumi's thoughts were simple. She had not even considered the possibility that Uchiha Yuan might refuse.

"Ah... that's not it. Izumi, could you turn around first and let me get dressed? It's really strange talking to you like this."

Finally realizing something was wrong, Izumi turned and ran out.

Then, in the blink of an eye, she turned back and closed the door behind her.

Uchiha Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

The simpler and purer one's personality was, the more uniquely advantageous it was in the field of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.

For now, Izumi's aptitude appeared quite good.

Of course, Yuan was also curious about the relevant data concerning the type and content of training required when a Tomoe Sharingan evolved.

He could gather it while teaching Izumi.

After breakfast, Yuan handed Uchiha Izumi the scrolls he had previously used to practice Shuriken techniques and the Great Fireball Technique.

"At your age, it's still too early to join formal training. Try to master these basics first, then move on to the relevant techniques."

Mastering the fundamentals, using the perception granted by a one-tomoe Sharingan, and then improving through imitation training—

That was one of the more cautious approaches in Uchiha Yuan's planned exploration.

After arranging things for Izumi, Uchiha Yuan went to Fugaku's residence.

After confirming the Hyuga Clan's past through Mikoto Aunt, he left the clan grounds.

Hyuga Ryo had most likely noticed the abnormality in his body last night, and Uchiha Yuan felt he could not afford to be careless.

Within the Hyuga Clan Grounds, there was a residence only slightly less imposing than clan head Hyuga Hiashi's estate. It was Hyuga Ryo's home.

Yet only three people lived in the spacious residence.

Ryo, her mother, and a maid only the clan head's family could afford to hire.

"I didn't expect Yuan-kun to pay a visit. Have you eaten breakfast?"

Hyuga Ryo was serving breakfast to an elderly woman who bore a seventy-percent resemblance to her.

The woman's lustrous, gentle silver hair was coiled atop her head. Her eyes were tightly shut, and the blue Caged Bird Curse Mark on her pale forehead looked exceptionally savage.

Hyuga Ryo carefully fed the old woman white porridge and introduced Uchiha Yuan.

Upon hearing that this man from outside the clan was her daughter's friend, the old woman made no response.

Having lost both arms on the battlefield, even the slightest unnecessary movement was exceedingly difficult for her.

"Sorry, Yuan-kun. My mother is like this. Could you please wait patiently for a moment?"

Soon, after finishing breakfast, the old woman was assisted by the maid into the courtyard to bask in the sun.

Hyuga Ryo hurriedly finished her meal, then came over and led Uchiha Yuan to the study.

The setting there was quiet and secluded, suitable for conversation.

"Yuan-kun, did you come to explain what happened last night?"

"Let me make this clear beforehand, it had nothing to do with me."

Hyuga Ryo gave Yuan a thoughtful look.

Yuan then recounted the important parts of what had happened the night before.

When he mentioned that even he had been affected by the genjutsu bloodline awakened by the substitute teacher—

Hyuga Ryo's gaze turned teasing.

Yuan sighed inwardly at the sight.

"Ryo, can you tell me what exactly was wrong with my body at the time?"

"Who knows?"

Hyuga Ryo's thoughts became animated.

The Byakugan could easily see through the human body and observe its meridians and acupoints.

Clearly, Yuan-kun had been conscious at the time.

His body had been normal, his Chakra exceptionally active, yet he had been unable to move.

Leaving aside the matter of being alone in a laboratory with the substitute teacher late at night, wasn't that itself an abnormality?

Coupled with his eager attitude...

Hyuga Ryo quickly realized that Yuan-kun also seemed to be doing his best to conceal secrets of his own.

The sense of superiority from discovering a companion's secret made the corners of her lips curve into a serene smile.

As expected of someone from Orochimaru Squad. He knew himself quite well too, so he was indeed difficult to deal with.

Yuan pondered.

"Ryo, how about we discuss the gift Orochimaru-sensei gave us?"

"The lump of flesh he left me was the cells of Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi. According to the information, Hashirama Cells possess extremely vigorous vitality. In theory, they can create, or even graft, limbs compatible with shinobi."

"These cells are enormously significant to Hidden Leaf Village's current scientific research. After all, they are sensei's life's work."

"If Hashirama Cells can be developed to the point where they are compatible with ordinary shinobi, Hidden Leaf Village's overall combat strength could rise by an entire level."

"Even shinobi who have suffered devastating injuries might not be without..."

Seeing Hyuga Ryo drawn in by his argument, Uchiha Yuan abruptly changed the subject.

"So, Ryo. What about your gift?"

"'A Preliminary Study of the Caged Bird Curse Mark.' You want to escape the fate of being a Hyuga branch family shinobi?"

Hyuga Ryo's expression became unusually solemn.

Normally, she rarely showed this side of herself.

"Even if I do, so what? Don't you have secrets too, Yuan-kun?"

"Besides, do you think you understand the Hyuga Clan so well just because you say that?"

Watching Hyuga Ryo feign indifference, Uchiha Yuan snapped his fingers.

"No, I merely happen to know about your father and mother's past, Ryo."

Hyuga Hiashi would not have sent Ryo to serve as a political investment in Orochimaru for no reason.

Though she was also a branch family shinobi, Hyuga Ryo's status within the clan was noticeably higher.

Yuan had learned that Ryo's father and mother were known within the Hyuga Clan as the "Byakugan Heroes."

During the Third Shinobi World War, on Hidden Leaf Village's battlefield against Hidden Mist Village, Ryo's parents paid the price of one death and one crippling injury to bring a main family Byakugan back to Hidden Leaf Village.

The Caged Bird Curse Mark, inscribed upon the foreheads of branch family shinobi and originally intended to protect the Byakugan, allowed a very small number of Hyuga main family shinobi to easily determine the life and death of countless branch family shinobi.

It was both a deterrent and a form of enslavement, yet branch family members had no choice but to turn around and protect main family shinobi.

During that turbulent period, as Hyuga branch family shinobi continuously died on the battlefield, many accumulated resentment toward main family shinobi.

In peacetime, the concept of unequal relations within the same clan could have been completely erased through enlightenment and education for branch family shinobi.

But during wartime, the trauma brought by death utterly shattered the branch family shinobi's established beliefs.

And Ryo's parents had been the branch family shinobi "examples" forcibly chosen during that special period.

Watching Ryo's expression gradually grow solemn, Uchiha Yuan spoke unhurriedly.

"In truth, Ryo's parents did not protect a main family shinobi."

"So, Ryo. That is why you need a way to remove the Caged Bird Curse Mark. Right?"