Hiashi Hyuga stepped forward a few paces and carefully examined the little boy before him.
His subordinates would never lie, so the boy in front of him must possess some kind of special ability.
Yet although the boy had delicate features and appeared far calmer than children his age, there was nothing else particularly unusual about him.
Finding nothing of use from observation alone, Hiashi asked directly, "What is your name?"
The boy lowered his eyelids and replied indifferently, "Ranmaru."
Hiashi continued, "Ranmaru, what ability do you have?"
This time, Ranmaru remained silent.
Seeing this, Hiashi's voice turned cold. "If you want to live, answer my questions honestly."
"This town has already been occupied by us. You wouldn't want everyone here to be slaughtered because you chose to hide information, would you?"
At Hiashi's threat, the emptiness in Ranmaru's eyes flickered with struggle.
After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly. "I'm an orphan. My parents died when I was very young."
"I survived on the charity of the villagers, eating whatever they could spare."
"I awakened a Kekkei Genkai called the Red Eyes."
"Red Eyes?" Hiashi frowned.
It was the first time he had ever heard of such a bloodline.
Judging by the name, it seemed to share some connection with the Byakugan…
Before Hiashi could ask further, Ranmaru continued, "I don't know the origin of the Red Eyes. I only know that it allows me to see through objects, sense power, detect danger, and create illusions through chakra."
"If I wish, I can block the Byakugan's perception."
After hearing Ranmaru's explanation, Hiashi's brows furrowed even deeper.
The Hyuga clan had always regarded the Byakugan as their noble symbol. All of their power stemmed from it.
The Byakugan could observe chakra pathways, see through objects, and conduct long-distance surveillance…
Though it lacked the eerie, overwhelming power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, throughout history it had never disappointed them.
And yet now, a mere child was claiming he could block the Byakugan's perception?
What a joke!
As if aware of Hiashi's disbelief, Ranmaru said plainly, "If you don't believe me, you can activate your Byakugan and see for yourself."
At those words, Hiashi and Hizashi activated their Byakugan simultaneously.
In the next instant, both men were stunned to discover that Ranmaru had "disappeared" from their field of vision.
"Hiss! Such a strange power truly exists."
The two exchanged glances, a trace of panic flashing through their hearts.
If many people possessed this kind of Kekkei Genkai, wouldn't the Hyuga clan's Byakugan lose its purpose?
In that instant, a terrifying killing intent erupted from both of them.
It was only natural. Any clan built upon a Kekkei Genkai would feel the urge to eliminate someone whose innate ability countered the very power they relied on for survival.
But moments later, they quickly calmed down as Yuzuru's figure surfaced in their minds.
It was well known that Yuzuru showed keen interest in all kinds of Kekkei Genkai. He treated clans with bloodline abilities with great leniency and often encouraged the Uchiha to intermarry with other shinobi who possessed Kekkei Genkai.
If they killed Ranmaru outright, Yuzuru might very well blame them.
After weighing their options, Hiashi decided to personally escort Ranmaru back.
Though the Red Eyes seemed to naturally counter the Byakugan, they could not afford to offend Yuzuru.
As for what would happen next, they could only leave it to fate.
————
"Oh? Red Eyes?"
After hearing Hiashi's report, Yuzuru cast a curious glance at Ranmaru.
Memories from his previous life surfaced in his mind, and a faint smile curved his lips.
Though it had little screen time in the original story, the Red Eyes was still quite a remarkable ability.
Now that he had the chance to obtain it, Yuzuru naturally would not let it slip by.
He looked at Ranmaru and said, "Your Kekkei Genkai is excellent. It shouldn't simply vanish from the shinobi world. Come back to Konoha with me and live there from now on."
Looking at the elegant, warm-smiling man before him, Ranmaru couldn't help but ask, "Can you tell me why you started this war?"
"So that the people of the shinobi world can live prosperous lives."
Yuzuru answered smoothly, "Once you see life in Konoha, you'll understand that the people here are living in a human hell."
With that, Yuzuru used genjutsu to show Ranmaru the daily life of Konoha's villagers.
After a long while, Ranmaru bowed deeply. "I pay my respects to Lord Yuzuru!"
Seeing the quiet, inarticulate boy before him, Yuzuru waved his hand. "If there's anything else, say it now."
Ranmaru hesitated slightly before asking, "Lord Yuzuru… may I bring someone with me?"
Yuzuru smiled. "Of course. Who would you like to bring?"
————
"Granny Sanshō!"
Standing in front of a small eatery with a sign reading "Life Curry Shop," Ranmaru called out.
Soon, footsteps sounded from inside.
"Ranmaru, you're back?"
An elderly woman wearing an earth-yellow hat stepped out of the house. Her face brightened visibly when she saw him.
"Ranmaru, how did you manage to come back this time?"
Ranmaru replied slowly, "The Kurosuki clan has been wiped out. The Land of Rivers is now under Konoha's control."
Granny Sanshō froze at his words.
She was old and rarely went out, and the place she lived was remote. She knew nothing of the recent upheavals in the Land of Rivers.
Suddenly thinking of something, her lips trembled as she asked, "Ranmaru… Rokusuke, he…?"
"He's dead," Ranmaru said softly, lowering his head.
"When he heard that Konoha was attacking, he tried to run. The Kurosuki clan caught him and killed him."
Upon hearing of her son's death, Granny Sanshō's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.
Ranmaru hurried forward, guilt in his voice. "Granny Sanshō, I failed to take care of Brother Rokusuke."
She waved her hand weakly. After a long while, she sighed. "It's not your fault. That unfilial son chose to aid the Kurosuki clan."
"For him to end up like this… it was only a matter of time."
Ranmaru grasped her hand and said firmly, "Granny Sanshō, from now on, I'll take care of you."
"This is Lord Yuzuru. He's willing to take us to Konoha to live."
Granny Sanshō looked at Yuzuru in surprise.
She had heard the name Konoha ever since she was very young. It was said to be the most prosperous village in the shinobi world.
Back then, everyone's wish was to visit Konoha at least once and see what it was truly like.
But who would have thought that now she would actually have the chance to settle there?
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