Ōtsutsuki Toneri was naturally capable of flight—something Hinata simply could not compensate for. However, the fact that she had single-handedly managed to force him into retreat earlier was proof enough of her immense potential. She was no longer the timid girl of the original timeline. She was on the path to becoming a truly formidable kunoichi.
Holding the unconscious Toneri in her hands, Hinata examined his injuries. His body was covered in severe burns—most likely caused by the missiles fired by Six Paths Nagato. His condition was critical, but if treated in time, he could still be saved.
Hinata swung Toneri's body in front of Ōtsutsuki Hamura. "Keeping him alive is a risk. I won't allow him to endanger me or my family, so I'll be taking him with me."
Hamura remained silent for a moment before finally raising a hand and gesturing towards Kakuzu.
"You and the girl beside you, come here."
"Otō-san…" Hinata hesitated, glancing uncertainly at Kakuzu.
"Let's go," Kakuzu reassured her with a calm smile. "I'm here. There's nothing to worry about."
With that, he stepped forward, approaching Hamura. The ancient Ōtsutsuki extended a hand and pressed it against Kakuzu's forehead. Instantly, a pure and serene chakra began to flow into him.
"You're transferring chakra into my body?" Kakuzu asked, frowning slightly.
"Yes. Do not resist, young one. The future of this world may hold dangers beyond your imagination. This ninja world, in its endless cycle of time, will need protectors like you. My mother once told me that the power of this world is boundless, waiting to be discovered and harnessed. The true end of the Byakugan is the Tenseigan. You should already be aware of this. I am now giving you the opportunity to unlock this path—so do not refuse my chakra."
Hearing this, Kakuzu turned his gaze to the barely conscious Toneri he still held in his grasp.
"I've beaten your direct descendant to the brink of death, yet you don't resent me. Instead, you're willingly granting me your chakra. Why does that sound so ridiculous?"
"Haha… You and I are alike," Hamura chuckled. "You will live through long, endless years. And in time, you'll begin to feel something different from the emotions of ordinary mortals."
"Oh? Is that so?" Kakuzu mused. After a brief moment of contemplation, he began to grasp Hamura's perspective. At their level, they were no longer bound by the trivial conflicts of ordinary people. Their focus needed to be on the greater threats that lay ahead.
Eventually, Kakuzu accepted the chakra bestowed upon him. As the transfer concluded, Hamura's form grew increasingly ethereal, his presence flickering like a fading mirage.
"I currently possess the Thousand-Eyed Byakugan, an evolution beyond the standard Byakugan. How much longer until I reach the true Tenseigan?" Kakuzu asked.
"I do not know. That is something you must discover on your own."
Kakuzu recalled what he had seen in the original timeline—Toneri had awakened his Tenseigan by transplanting pure Byakugan. Did he, too, need a perfectly matched pair of eyes to achieve the same? It seemed eerily similar to the process of unlocking the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
But after some thought, Kakuzu dismissed the idea. He had plenty of time. Perhaps understanding how the Sage of Six Paths had achieved his own enlightenment would be a better approach.
Hamura's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"I don't have much time left. The young girl—come here."
Hinata stepped forward with newfound confidence.
"You, too, possess the purest Byakugan," Hamura said. "I will grant you the chance to awaken the Tenseigan as well. The rest is up to you."
After bestowing his power upon both Kakuzu and Hinata, Hamura's form gradually dissipated into nothingness.
...
The mountain forest returned to its natural stillness. Kakuzu stretched his neck before turning to Hinata.
"Let's head back to the village."
Over the next year, Hinata turned twelve and successfully graduated from the ninja academy. However, the shinobi world was beginning to descend into chaos.
"Kakuzu-sama, my old man is being a real pain. He keeps writing me letters, demanding that I return to the village. Says the Four-Tails Jinchūriki has been captured, and the Five-Tails is missing. Apparently, the village needs me. But honestly? Even if you kill me, I won't go back. That stubborn old man doesn't appreciate my art."
The one complaining was none other than the renowned artist of the shinobi world—Deidara. He had joined the Akatsuki because Iwagakure's restrictions stifled his artistic freedom. Ohnoki had even threatened to break his legs if he dared to use his explosions within the village again. Rather than endure such suffocating rules, Deidara had chosen to leave.
Kakuzu smirked. "Deidara, sometimes you need to think long-term. Your old man won't live forever. Eventually, he'll have to pass down the title of Tsuchikage. When that happens, you'll be the one in control. Just imagine it—when you're Tsuchikage, you can turn the entire village into your personal playground. I'll fully support you in riding your clay birds above the village and dropping explosions everywhere. The whole place will be your grand masterpiece."
"Really?!" Deidara's eyes sparkled with excitement. Art was his everything, and he wasn't about to pass up such an opportunity.
Kakuzu nodded knowingly. "For now, set aside your responsibilities with the organization. Take the forehead protector I gave you and return to the village. Let's see how your old man reacts."
"Hehehe… Kakuzu-sama, you're right! If I go back wearing the forehead protector of a missing-nin, I bet the old man's expression will be priceless! Oh, right, before I go, let me fill you in on some intel about the village."
Deidara's information wasn't particularly groundbreaking, but it did shed some light on the current situation. The Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Rōshi, and the Five-Tails Jinchūriki, Han, had both gone missing. While neither of them had suffered the same tragic childhood as Naruto, their lives as Jinchūriki had still left them isolated. Despite being respected weapons of the village, they were never truly accepted. This loneliness had pushed them toward a desire for escape, much like the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata of Kirigakure.
As a result, in the original timeline, these Jinchūriki often roamed alone, making them easy targets for Akatsuki's hunts.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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