Ever since his spar with Homon Hyuga, Ren had been able to feel it.
Both his Transformation Technique and his Substitution Jutsu had been lingering right at the edge of a breakthrough, as if only the slightest push was needed before they crossed into a new stage.
So after leaving Konoha Hospital and arriving at the training ground, Ren didn't waste any time.
He sat down in a quiet patch of shade, steadied his breathing, and focused on the familiar system interface in his mind.
Then, he began to practice.
The process was smooth—far smoother than before.
Perhaps it was the accumulated insight from recent battles, or perhaps it was the effect of continuous training finally reaching a threshold, but the progress came quickly this time. The last few points rose one after another until both techniques finally broke through together.
A faint hum seemed to echo in his mind.
Then the notifications appeared.
[Transformation Technique Favorability +4]
[Current Favorability: 75/100 (Attachment)]
[Stage Reward Obtained: Physique +1]
[Trait Unlocked: Perfect Form]
[Your Transformation Technique forms are flawless and richly detailed. You can alter your own body from minor to significant degrees. It is nearly impossible for anyone below Jonin-level sensory ability to see through it.]
A second notification followed almost immediately.
[Substitution Jutsu Favorability +4]
[Current Favorability: 52/100 (Friendly)]
[Stage Reward Obtained: Physique +1]
[Trait Unlocked: Seal-less Instant Release]
[Your Substitution Jutsu no longer requires special setup. Within a range of 15 meters, you can complete a substitution with a medium in approximately 0.2 seconds through thought alone.]
Ren slowly opened his eyes.
His fingers curled slightly as he examined the subtle but undeniable changes in his body.
Up to now, his total Physique gain had already reached seven points.
That alone was enough to make a clear difference in speed, endurance, and explosive movement. But more important than the physical strengthening were the trait upgrades tied to his techniques.
Those were what truly changed the nature of combat.
Ren focused first on the Transformation Technique.
The wording of its new trait was interesting.
Perfect Form.
At this stage, it no longer seemed limited to simple disguise. From the description, it had already moved into a far more advanced direction—something closer to true bodily transformation than mere illusion. If it kept evolving like this, then eventually it might resemble the legendary shape-shifting abilities from myths and stories.
Ren's thoughts immediately drifted.
If he used the Transformation Technique to turn himself into a bird, would he gain the ability to fly?
If he transformed into a fish, would he be able to breathe underwater?
In theory, if the transformation truly altered his body on a functional level, then growing wings or gills shouldn't just be decorative. They should work.
That possibility alone made the technique terrifying.
It was no longer just a disguise tool.
It was beginning to become… versatility itself.
Then Ren turned his attention to the Substitution Jutsu.
This one was much simpler.
And much more immediately practical.
The range had expanded from 5 meters to 15 meters.
That might not sound like much to an ordinary person, but on a battlefield, it made all the difference.
A five-meter substitution was almost laughably restrictive in real combat. Against large-scale ninjutsu, area attacks, traps, or enemies with decent reaction speed, five meters often meant the difference between escaping danger and merely moving into a different part of the same danger.
But fifteen meters—
That was enough to genuinely throw people off.
Enough to break rhythm.
Enough to create real openings.
Enough to turn a near-certain hit into a counterattack opportunity.
Ren exhaled slowly.
"Alright," he murmured to himself. "That's about enough for today."
He rose to his feet, dusted off his clothes, and stretched his shoulders.
Now that his techniques had improved, there was something else he wanted to do.
He had originally planned to go find Might Duy.
Even if the man was a joke in the eyes of most of the village, Ren knew better. Anyone who could pass on something as terrifying as the Eight Gates was not someone to be underestimated. If there was a chance to get even a little guidance from him in taijutsu or physical conditioning, it would be worth the trip.
But before Ren could leave the training ground, he heard it—
A series of faint, hurried footsteps from off to the side.
His expression sharpened immediately.
Ren stopped mid-step and turned.
At the edge of the training ground stood a young man wearing a Konoha forehead protector.
He had arrived without fanfare, arms folded across his chest, his expression calm and indifferent. The most striking thing about him was his eyes—or rather, the familiar facial structure and bearing that made Ren recognize him after just a second look.
The face seemed vaguely familiar.
Not because Ren had met him before.
But because he had seen someone very much like him.
"…?"
Ren glanced around once to confirm the man was here for him.
The training ground was otherwise empty.
So he straightened and asked directly, "Who are you?"
The young man gave a slight nod, as though approving of Ren's awareness.
"Your senses are quite sharp."
Then he answered in an even tone.
"Are you Ren?"
Ren didn't relax.
"What if I am?"
The young man uncrossed his arms.
"My name is Hizashi Hyuga," he said. "I'm Homon's cousin."
So that was it.
Ren raised an eyebrow faintly.
No wonder he had looked familiar.
Neji's father.
Just much younger.
At this point in time, the normal timeline suggested Neji wouldn't even be born for another four or five years—about a year before Naruto. Which meant Hizashi was still just a teenager now, probably sixteen or seventeen. Young, unmarried, and far from the tragic figure he would one day become.
Still…
Why was he here?
Hizashi continued speaking.
"I heard from Homon that he fought a civilian genius at the Ninja Academy. Someone who defeated him using only the coordination of the Three Basic Jutsu, despite his Byakugan."
His pale eyes remained fixed on Ren.
"I was curious, so I came to see for myself."
Ren inhaled slowly.
His hands shifted slightly closer together, enough that he could form hand seals at any moment if needed.
"So you're a senior from the Hyuga clan."
His voice remained steady, but there was a hint of challenge beneath it.
"You've seen me now. I'm the one who beat Homon. So what next?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Are you here to avenge your cousin?"
This kind of thing wasn't exactly rare.
Konoha had no shortage of people who loved the pattern of lose to the junior, bring in the senior.
Kushina had once beaten up a classmate at the academy and ended up being blocked after school by that kid's Genin brother—only to beat him too.
Naruto and Hinata's experiences weren't exactly free from similar social ugliness either.
In the matter of petty bullying, Konoha had always been fair.
Commoners, clan kids, promising students—it didn't matter. Someone was always willing to play that game.
But the Hyuga clan?
Ren had expected better.
Hizashi shook his head.
"That's not it."
"Students fight. They win, they lose. That's normal."
"If someone can't accept that, then they have no business calling themselves a ninja."
His tone was flat, without offense.
Then he added, "But I also heard that your Three Basic Jutsu could deceive the Byakugan."
A brief pause.
"If possible, I'd like to see that myself."
Ren stared at him for a moment.
Then asked, "Can I refuse?"
"Of course," Hizashi replied at once. "That's your freedom."
Then, after a beat, he added, "But if you agree, I can offer you some advice in taijutsu."
He tilted his head slightly.
"I'm a Chunin of the Hyuga clan. While our clan specializes in the Gentle Fist, the fundamentals of hand-to-hand combat are still universal. I should be able to give you something useful."
Ren didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he weighed the situation in silence.
Truthfully, his impression of Hizashi wasn't bad.
In the original story, Hizashi had always come across as a decent man—honest, restrained, and kind in a way that made his fate hit harder. And even now, there was no obvious malice in his tone.
Could this still be a trap?
Sure.
Anyone could hide behind politeness.
But even if Hizashi did have some hidden intention, the worst likely outcome was getting beaten up a bit. It wasn't as though he could openly make a major issue over a school spar with Homon.
And besides—
Ren's newly upgraded Substitution Jutsu was itching for a field test.
He clicked his tongue lightly.
"Fine," he said.
Then a spark entered his eyes.
"I just upgraded my Substitution Jutsu. Why should I put up with this?"
Hizashi stepped forward into the center of the training ground.
He set his feet and raised his hands into the opening stance of the Gentle Fist.
His posture changed at once.
The relaxed young man vanished.
In his place stood a real Hyuga fighter.
"Come," he said simply. "Attack me."
Ren drew in a breath.
Then his right hand dipped to his ninja pouch and flicked out a kunai.
He spun it once in his grip, then hurled it forward in a clean, sharp arc.
At the same moment, he pushed off the ground and charged after it.
Across the field, the veins around Hizashi's eyes bulged.
Byakugan.
Activated instantly.
With half a step forward, Hizashi lifted one arm and brushed the incoming kunai aside with a smooth motion like a willow bending in the wind.
Then his pale gaze locked onto Ren, ready to intercept him with Gentle Fist—
Poof.
A soft burst of smoke.
The charging Ren vanished.
In his place, a falling kunai appeared in midair.
Hizashi's eyes widened.
Behind him, danger flared.
Through the all-seeing field of the Byakugan, he caught the movement of a gray-clad figure appearing in his blind side, already stepping in with a fierce side kick.
For a split second, pure shock broke through his composure.
What—?
That isn't a normal substitution.
The thought hit him hard.
It was too fast.
Too clean.
Too close to teleportation.
For one absurd instant, the image that flashed through his mind was not of the academy's Three Basic Jutsu at all—
But of Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God.
Of course it wasn't actually that technique.
But the feeling it gave off was disturbingly similar.
What kind of Substitution Jutsu is this?
Hizashi's body reacted before the thought could fully settle.
He twisted his torso sharply, turning into the attack while bringing his right arm up diagonally behind him to block.
Bang!
Ren's kick crashed into Hizashi's forearm.
The impact was solid.
Not enough to break the guard, but enough to make Hizashi's sleeve snap in the air and force his feet half a step sideways.
Ren landed lightly and didn't press in recklessly.
Instead, he immediately shifted his weight backward, ready to substitute again if needed.
Hizashi lowered his arm slowly.
This time, he looked at Ren with genuine surprise.
"That was…"
He paused.
Then said more seriously, "Again."
Ren didn't bother arguing.
He moved.
This time he formed a hand seal only halfway before breaking rhythm and changing pace. He rushed left, dipped low, then abruptly leaped over a patch of worn ground where several stones lay scattered from previous training.
Hizashi tracked him easily with the Byakugan.
At least, that was what should have happened.
But Ren's chakra shifted the instant he crossed the scattered stones.
His body blurred.
The image that Hizashi followed turned false.
For just a fraction of a second, the flow of movement became disconnected.
And that fraction was enough.
Ren reappeared three body-lengths to the side, having substituted with one of the stones at an angle that should not have been possible under ordinary academy-level technique use.
He came in low this time, kunai in hand.
Hizashi deflected the strike with two fingers and pivoted to counter.
His palm shot toward Ren's shoulder—
But Ren was already gone again.
Another substitution.
Another impossible-feeling reposition.
By the third exchange, even Hizashi had stopped treating this like a casual look at a talented academy student.
His expression sharpened fully.
His Byakugan remained active, tracing chakra flow, movement paths, and nearby objects all at once.
Now he understood why Homon had been shaken.
This wasn't just "good use of the Three Basic Jutsu."
It was something stranger.
Something that took familiar foundations and pushed them into a direction most people never imagined.
At the edge of the field, leaves trembled in the afternoon wind.
In the center, Ren and Hizashi crossed again.
A strike.
A feint.
A substitution.
A near-counter.
Hizashi's sleeve was brushed.
Ren's shoulder was clipped.
Neither side gained full advantage.
Then, at last, Hizashi stepped back and raised one hand.
"Enough."
Ren halted immediately, breathing only slightly harder than before.
The two of them stood facing each other across the marked-up ground.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Hizashi let his Byakugan fade.
The veins around his temples receded.
"What you're doing…" he said at last, "is dangerous."
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
Dangerous?
Was that praise, criticism, or warning?
Hizashi continued before Ren could answer.
"Not because it's wrong," he said. "But because it's unconventional."
He looked down briefly at one of the stones Ren had used as a medium.
"You're forcing academy techniques into combat applications far beyond what most people expect. Against opponents who underestimate you, that will work brilliantly."
Then his gaze lifted again.
"But once someone recognizes the pattern, you'll need more than surprise."
Ren listened quietly.
This part, at least, sounded sincere.
Hizashi stepped closer, no longer in a battle stance now.
"Your timing is excellent," he said. "Your instincts are sharp. But your body still isn't strong enough to fully support the kind of exchanges you want to force."
A pause.
"You rely on cleverness because you have to."
That wasn't an insult.
It was simply true.
Ren didn't deny it.
Hizashi studied him for another moment, then nodded once.
"I wasn't wrong to come."
He turned slightly, as though preparing to leave.
Then he added, "If you want, I can show you some basic footwork drills another day. Not Hyuga clan techniques. Just fundamentals."
Ren blinked.
That offer was more generous than he'd expected.
He had been ready for hostility.
Instead, he'd gotten evaluation.
And possibly a teacher.
"…I'll think about it," Ren said.
Hizashi almost smiled.
"Fair enough."
Then, after one last glance at the training ground and the strange little battlefield Ren's substitutions had carved across it, he walked away.
Ren watched him go in silence.
Only after Hizashi disappeared beyond the trees did Ren finally let out the breath he'd been holding.
The corners of his mouth lifted.
The new Substitution Jutsu…
Really was good.
Very good.
And now, for the first time, someone strong enough to matter had seen it and been forced to take it seriously.
That mattered too.
Ren looked down at his hands, then toward the village beyond the trees.
The war clouds gathering on the horizon had not yet broken.
But little by little—
He was building something that could survive them.
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