It wasn't merely the foundational abilities of the Rinnegan.
There seemed to be something more—something deeper and indescribable.
Neji
His transformation was even more dramatic—one could call it rebirth.
The instant that cool beam of light entered his forehead, Neji's entire body convulsed violently, as though his soul had been thrown into a crucible of intertwining ice and fire.
A suppressed cry escaped him as dazzling, radiant azure light completely enveloped his body.
Within that brilliance, even the outline of his form became indistinct.
His neatly tied black hair lifted upward without wind, the tips gradually tinted with a faint blue glow.
The traditional white robes of the Hyūga Clan seemed altered by the surging power, their texture subtly shifting as a sheen of light flowed across the fabric.
The most violent change occurred in his eyes.
The azure cocoon surrounding his head burned brightest at that spot.
Gone were the bulging veins and pale pupils of the activated Byakugan.
Instead, it was as though two miniature blue stars were being born—expanding, igniting.
Radiant.
Utterly radiant.
Colder than moonlight, brighter than the stars.
The light persisted for dozens of seconds before gradually converging and drawing inward.
When it fully dissipated and Neji's figure reappeared, Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply.
Even through his newly awakened six-tomoe Rinnegan, he felt a faint chill in his heart.
Neji stood there silently.
His temperament had changed completely.
The reserved restraint typical of a Hyūga shinobi had faded, replaced by an indescribable nobility—and a detached indifference that seemed innate.
His hair still floated slightly, bathed in a pale blue aura.
Then he slowly opened his eyes.
They were no longer the Byakugan.
The pupils were gone—or rather, the entire eyeball had transformed into a smooth sphere like the purest polished sapphire, reflecting the dim cave light while emitting a deep, icy blue radiance.
No intricate patterns.
No differentiation of iris and pupil.
Only a pure, boundless azure—as though capable of absorbing all light and energy.
This was the Tenseigan.
"How does it feel?" Sasuke asked in a low voice, suppressing his shock.
He needed to confirm Neji's condition—and evaluate this new power.
Neji seemed still immersed in the impact of the infusion and the flood of unfamiliar perception.
He lowered his head to look at his hands, then slowly raised one as if to touch his transformed eyes.
His body trembled—not from weakness, but from the terrifying power within him, like an inverted galaxy poised to pour forth and annihilate everything.
Alongside exhilaration, there was also the faintest trace of fear.
"So strong…" Neji's voice carried an odd resonance, as if vibrating directly through the air rather than emerging from his throat. "I feel like… I could… destroy the world."
Sasuke's mouth twitched involuntarily.
That line sounded absurdly dramatic.
"Calm down, Neji." His voice regained its usual cool sharpness, pulling his companion back from the dizziness of sudden power. "That's the illusion that comes when your mind hasn't fully synchronized with your new strength. You need to adapt. To control it—not be controlled by it."
The azure glow in Neji's eyes flickered, clarity returning.
He inhaled deeply, attempting to suppress the invisible pressure radiating from his body. The oppressive heaviness in the air eased slightly.
Yet he still murmured, almost innocently uncertain,
"Is that so? But… I really do feel like I can destroy the world."
Outside the Heavenly Veil
The entire shinobi world fell into stunned silence—then exploded like a volcanic eruption.
"A Rinnegan with tomoe?! Sasuke awakened the six-tomoe Rinnegan!"
"Neji… that's the Tenseigan?! It's… it's overwhelming! Those eyes don't even look human!"
"Destroy the world? He said he could destroy the world?! Is the Tenseigan really that terrifying?!"
"Sasuke's right—that's just an illusion! But… what if it isn't?"
"Two gods! No—three! Naruto counts too!"
"There's hope now! Rinnegan Sasuke plus Tenseigan Neji—two against one! They can defeat Rinnegan Naruto, right?"
"Not necessarily! Don't forget Naruto still has those 'divine techniques'! And Neji doesn't seem fully in control yet…"
Konoha — Hyūga Clan Compound
After the initial frenzy of joy, excitement gradually cooled—replaced by subtle disappointment and restlessness.
"The Sage of Six Paths… just left?" a young clan member said in frustration. "He gave Neji power, but didn't explain a single word about how to awaken the Tenseigan ourselves!"
"Exactly! He only said his brother's power would 'assist the awakening.' How? Under what conditions? Bloodline purity? A ritual?" Another clenched his fist. "Are we Hyūga supposed to rely only on some vague 'divine intervention'?"
"Perhaps… this method cannot be spoken of?" an elder murmured thoughtfully.
"Then does that mean we'll never have a chance?" someone said bitterly. "Unless the Sage appears again—or we somehow find remnants of his brother's power?"
Within the Heavenly Veil
Time passed quietly amid preparation and training.
After awakening the six-tomoe Rinnegan and the Tenseigan, Sasuke and Neji did not recklessly charge toward Naruto.
They knew that wielding such immense new power without mastery would be no different from suicide.
After brief discussion, they decided to have Shikamaru coordinate the remaining forces of the Allied Shinobi Forces—gathering what strength remained to contain the White Zetsu army and gather intelligence on Naruto's movements.
As for themselves, they devoted every ounce of focus to adapting to and mastering their new abilities.
Several days later, at dusk, the valley was stained crimson by the setting sun.
Neji finished another session refining his control over gravitational forces and exhaled slowly, the blue glow in his eyes dimming slightly.
"Sasuke," he said quietly in the stillness, a trace of uncertainty in his voice. "Do you think… we can win?"
Sasuke slowly opened his eyes. The six-tomoe Rinnegan shimmered faintly purple in the fading light.
After a moment of silence, he shook his head.
"I don't know."
His gaze drifted toward the distant mountains, as though he could see a blond figure beyond them.
"But no matter what, we can't let Naruto continue like this. If he has hatred in his heart, he can seek revenge—but what do the rest of the shinobi world have to do with it?"
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 + chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789