"I'll take my leave first."
Kiyoshi bid farewell to Shizune and stepped out of Tsunade's home. There was no downside to getting closer to the Hyuga clan.
Hinayuki Hyuga was the mother of Hinata and Hanabi in the original story, both of whom possessed exceptionally pure Byakugan. It stood to reason that Hinayuki's own ocular purity would be high; interacting with her might yield some valuable traits.
The streetlights flickered on one by one, and the signs of various shops began to glow with neon hues. Kiyoshi walked down the street, noting how quickly technology was advancing. In the few years since he had arrived in Hidden Leaf, the village had taken on a much more modernized feel.
'In the future, I can plan to acquire the Chakra Armor and the Gelel Stones,'
Kiyoshi thought.
Knowing the plots of various movies, he could easily combine treasures from different stories for better effects. The Chakra Armor was a unique technology from the Land of Snow that could greatly enhance the chakra of genin, chunin, and jonin, even allowing the wearer to use A-rank jutsu multiple times.
Of course, it had its limits—Naruto's "Rainbow Rasengan" had defeated the best version of it. To improve it, he could look into the Gelel Stones. The location of the Gelel ore vein was revealed in the movies to be near the coastlines of the Land of Wind, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Fire.
The stones contained massive amounts of chakra, which ancient civilizations had used to build super-civilizations; they would serve as an excellent power source for the armor.
'But that will have to wait until the war is over,' Kiyoshi mused, temporarily setting the matter aside. Beyond the movies, there were many artifacts in the main series as well, such as the "Spear of Heaven" from the Power Arc.
Its pillars of light could stimulate a creature's potential, making them stronger. Its users were even said to have researched the [Reanimation Jutsu] alongside Orochimaru.
The night breeze was cool. Kiyoshi moved through the bustling crowds and finally arrived at the Hyuga clan compound. Like the Uchiha, it was a designated area specifically for the Hyuga. Before he could even knock, a member of the Branch House opened the gate. They had clearly been expecting him.
The one leading the way was Tokuma Hyuga, whom Kiyoshi had met a few times. Before long, Kiyoshi arrived at a gathering place filled with Hyuga members—both Main House and Branch House. Some stern-faced, white-haired elders leaned on canes.
"Lord Hiashi," Kiyoshi said, scanning the area before addressing the dignified man in front of him.
"Tsunade should have told you everything," Hiashi said. Despite his authority, his complexion was somewhat pale, and his tone was slightly odd, possessing a faint, high-pitched quality.
"She has," Kiyoshi nodded. Looking at the scale of the reception, he sensed this was about more than just a simple medical consultation.
"Haha, a junior of the Uchiha. Please, come inside," a Main House elder invited Kiyoshi into the inner chamber.
Kiyoshi followed him in. A group of influential Main House and Branch House members followed, while the rest remained outside, gathered out of curiosity. At the back of the crowd, Hoheto Hyuga struck up a conversation with another ninja.
"What do the big shots of the Main House want with Kiyoshi Uchiha?" he wondered aloud. The relationship between the Hyuga and Uchiha was average at best. Why were so many people turning out for one Uchiha?
"Who knows? I just heard he's here to treat Lady Hinayuki," the other replied.
"What about Nobuhiko? His eyes..." Hoheto looked toward a man wearing white bandages over his eyes, followed by a woman with a worried expression.
"Hey, best not to bring that up," his companion said darkly. Losing a Byakugan was a major taboo; the Hyuga had lost reputation entirely. Who knew how many ninjas were secretly waiting to emulate Ao of the Hidden Mist? Currently, Ao was on Leaf's S-rank bingo book with a massive bounty on his head.
"True. Let's go," Hoheto shook his head and walked away. He hadn't seen Tetsu Hyuga all day and planned to find him to buy some daily necessities.
***
"Nobuhiko, don't mind what they say," Ginka Hyuga said. She was pushing a wheelchair carrying Nobuhiko Hyuga. Having suddenly lost his eyes, Nobuhiko needed time to adjust to a life in darkness.
"It can't be helped," Nobuhiko said despondently. If he had seen another clansman lose their eyes, wouldn't he have felt the same way?
Hearing his words, Ginka gripped the handles of the wheelchair tighter.
'Can't they at least transplant ordinary eyes for him first?' She looked at Kiyoshi, who was being escorted inside, wondering if he had any connections at the Hospital.
***
Inside the inner room.
The Main House elders began by praising Kiyoshi's brilliant achievements at such a young age. They spoke of the chaotic war and the uncertainty of the future, suggesting the two clans should cooperate and grow closer.
"That depends on the wishes of our Head, Fugaku. I am just an ordinary Uchiha."
"Kiyoshi-kun is too modest," the elder smiled. To master S-rank jutsu at such an age—his future was limitless. Recently, the Uchiha's reputation had been improving, and they hadn't pursued the matter of the stolen eye aggressively. This suggested a deal had been struck between the Uchiha and the Leaf higher-ups.
As the war neared its end, Hiruzen Sarutobi would soon reach retirement age, and the selection for the Fourth Hokage would begin. The Uchiha... might actually have a chance.
While Kiyoshi spoke with the elders, Hinayuki Hyuga studied him. Black hair, black eyes, a robust build, and a handsome face. Outwardly, he was exceptional.
But could someone so young truly be as skilled as Tsunade claimed? If she didn't conceive within three years, the result would be... Hinayuki felt a chill. In the Main House, women were expected to obey the rules and focus on raising children.
To put it bluntly, how was that different from being a breeding tool? Was Hiashi's dissatisfaction for the sake of his own dignity, or because he loved her? She no longer knew. The only certainty was that Hiashi had not refused the elders' plan.
Time passed as Hinayuki remained lost in her uneasy thoughts. When she looked up, Kiyoshi and the elders seemed to be finishing a pleasant conversation. Even Hiashi managed a rare, tight smile.
"This must be Lady Hinayuki. Please arrange a room for me; I will begin the treatment for Lord Hiashi and the Lady," Kiyoshi proposed.
The request was reasonable. The elders called over several Branch House members to lead the three to a suitable room. Once Kiyoshi left, the elders' smiles vanished as they huddled together.
"For now, we can only try to win over the Uchiha to find a way out for the Hyuga."
"You're worried the Leaf might lose?"
"One must be prepared. Years ago, these clans gathered for stability. If the Leaf is destroyed, it will just be another migration."
Hiashi shook his head. The Hyuga had migrated here long ago. Aside from the Senju, Uchiha, Uzumaki, and the now-extinct Hagoromo clan, most clans had come from afar, choosing to believe in Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju to form the collective known as the Leaf.
"The storm is coming," one elder sighed. The Uchiha continued to produce talent, while the Hyuga seemed to be in a drought. They didn't have a genius like Kiyoshi, nor even second-tier talents. To ensure the continuation of the Byakugan, they had to make every possible preparation.
***
Inside the quiet room.
"Lord Hiashi, I hope this room meets Kiyoshi-kun's requirements," Natsu Hyuga said. She was one of the guides.
"Yes, it will do." Hiashi scanned the spacious room. It had several beds, making it perfect for treatment. "Kiyoshi-kun, I see you brought nothing..."
Medical ninjas usually relied on various instruments. Kiyoshi had come empty-handed.
"I have everything in a sealing scroll." With a puff of smoke, Kiyoshi summoned a black medical case. *Click.* He opened it, revealing stethoscopes, scalpels, tweezers, and other basic tools. "I require a quiet space."
"Natsu, take the others and leave," Hiashi ordered. The Branch House members obeyed, exiting and closing the door behind them.
"Then let us begin. I have lit some soothing incense; it's a personal little trick of mine," Kiyoshi smiled, lighting incense in the four corners of the room. "Lord Hiashi, please sit on the bed on the left. Lady Hinayuki, the one on the right."
Once they were seated, a pale green light appeared in Kiyoshi's hands.
"Lord Hiashi first." He gestured for Hiashi to lie down and placed a hand on his abdomen. Chakra surged into Hiashi's body, probing his condition.
"Lord Hiashi, please clear your mind and do not resist my chakra. Just take a nap."
"...Fine." Given the security of the Hyuga compound and his desperation to regain his dignity, Hiashi nodded solemnly. He began to relax his mind, allowing Kiyoshi's chakra to permeate his body. Slowly, his eyelids grew heavy.
Just as he was drifting off, he thought he saw a flash of crimson light in Kiyoshi's eyes.
'Red light?'
Having dropped his guard completely, the defenseless Hiashi was hit by a surge of ocular power. The power pushed him instantly into a deep, heavy sleep.
"You...!" Hinayuki gasped, veins bulging at her temples. With her Byakugan active, she could clearly see black chakra swirling around Hiashi's meridian system and cranial nerves.
"Anesthetics can cause uncontrollable side effects," Kiyoshi said calmly. "I had to use my Sharingan to put Lord Hiashi to sleep first. I need to perform surgery to confirm the internal situation, and it will be extremely painful."
***