Splish, splash.
The temperature in the shower room gradually rose. Fine droplets of steam clung to the tiles, becoming round and full. When Hyuga Kumo walked out of the shower, his figure was hazy in the mist.
"..."
He walked to the washroom and stopped, gazing at his face in the mirror.
Clearly defined facial contours, a broad forehead, a straight nose bridge, and gentle features—he looked like a good kid.
He had this face in both his past life and this one. Even if his photo were on a wanted poster, anyone who saw it would first assume it was for some model student certificate.
Except, on this familiar face, there was something extra.
Hyuga Kumo swept his drenched black hair back to reveal his forehead, his calm gaze sweeping over the ugly and glaring swastika-shaped curse mark.
The Caged Bird, the Caged Bird...
Hyuga Kumo closed his eyes and focused his mind. A moment later, his eyelids trembled and slowly opened.
The person in the mirror was someone else entirely. The harmless, gentle temperament was gone. The side of his face was hidden in the shadow of the light, blurring into a deep contour.
The white in his once-pure eyes melted away like the first snow under the sun. His pale blue pupils, like a calm lake, flowed with starlike points of light, giving off a stunning beauty and a profound sense of power.
No one would mistake him for that "failure" now. No one would even be willing to meet his gaze, because that spear-like majesty was silently radiating outwards. To meet his eyes was like having a needle suspended right in front of your own.
And the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead seemed to have faded significantly.
"Is this the power of the Tenseigan?"
Sensing the undeveloped power deep within his eyes, Hyuga Kumo raised a hand to touch them, pondering, "What is this? A transitional state from the Byakugan to the Tenseigan?"
When Toneri Ōtsutsuki evolved the Byakugan into the Tenseigan, it seemed to have undergone several "fetal movements"...
According to his memories from his past life, the Tenseigan was a top-tier power comparable to the Rinnegan.
And it seemed there were only two ways to obtain it.
First, combine the chakra of Toneri Ōtsutsuki with a pure Byakugan from the Hyuga Clan.
Second, fuse a large number of Byakugan from the Ōtsutsuki Clan, evolving them into a Tenseigan.
As for the former, what he possessed was a pure bloodline comparable to Toneri Ōtsutsuki's, not the "chakra" Toneri spoke of. Hyuga Kumo wasn't sure if the two were the same thing.
In the original story, only Hamura Ōtsutsuki and Toneri Ōtsutsuki had ever possessed the Tenseigan. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and the other Ōtsutsuki clan members never displayed it. Even Hamura never truly demonstrated the Tenseigan's abilities.
Toneri Ōtsutsuki, the direct descendant of Hamura Ōtsutsuki, had gone through an unknown number of "fetal movements," and it was unknown if these "movements" carried any risks.
If the "Rinnegan" was the orthodox ability the Ōtsutsuki Clan gained after eating the fruit of the God Tree, then the "Tenseigan" seemed to be a mutation of the Byakugan, trading the Rinnegan's diverse functionality for immense power...
"Kumo! Are you done showering?"
A voice from outside the shower room interrupted Hyuga Kumo's thoughts. He tousled his hair and then slowly and deliberately worked his facial muscles. The harmless, gentle smile returned to his face.
"Coming, coming."
Hyuga Kumo called back as he changed into a white shirt and tied his Konoha forehead protector around his forehead.
Although in the mouths of the Hyuga clansmen, the original owner of this body was a failure, that was only because he had passed the age of thirteen and still couldn't awaken the Byakugan.
Of course, it was also due to the original owner's cowardly and battle-shy personality. The first time he saw a battlefield, he burst into tears on the spot, which in the eyes of the other clan members, brought shame upon the family.
Even so, he was still stronger than most ninja from civilian backgrounds and had graduated to become a Genin alongside Might Guy, that other "failure."
However, Might Guy was now a Chunin, while he was still a Genin.
He pushed the door open, and Might Guy, hanging from the pull-up bar, came into view. This guy really couldn't stay idle for a second.
Thump!
Seeing Hyuga Kumo walk out, dressed, Might Guy flexed his muscles and dropped down, the weights on his legs making a loud thud as he undid them.
"Oh! Is this the soul of Konoha's blossoming youth!" He sized up Hyuga Kumo's body, his eyes burning with a fiery fighting spirit. "I can't believe I was gone from the village on a mission for just a few months, and you've already burned your passion to this degree!"
This level of weight was already comparable to the total weight he used in his own daily training.
"You praise me too much, Senpai. I should be thanking you for being willing to teach me the Eight Gates."
Faced with the praise from this frenzied beast, Hyuga Kumo just smiled politely.
The Eight Gates was indeed strong, but its enhancement was based on the user's own physical strength. For example, Kakashi could also open the first of the Eight Gates, but he still couldn't compare to a base-form Might Guy who hadn't opened any gates.
Might Guy had been tempering his body with his father since he was a child. That amount of weight was just part of his daily routine.
"I also never expected that you, a member of the Hyuga Clan, would come to me to learn the Eight Gates and Strong Fist. That resolve to break convention, that courage to challenge your limits!" Might Guy suddenly gave two thumbs up, his eyes welling with hot tears.
His emotions came and went quickly. He turned his head to look deep into the clan compound, where he could vaguely see the usually solemn Hyuga grounds still decorated with vibrant colors.
"What are they up to?" Might Guy asked with some curiosity.
"Lady Hyuga Hinata's third birthday is coming up," Hyuga Kumo said with a smile.
"Huh?" Might Guy was taken aback. "Does she always celebrate her birthday with so much fanfare?"
"Of course not," Hyuga Kumo shook his head, a hint of deep meaning in his eyes. "The third birthday has a different significance for a child of the Main Family."
With every third birthday of a Main Family child, a batch of Branch Family children would be branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
And the most outstanding few among this batch of Branch Family children would have the chance to become the personal attendants of the Main Family child.
As the eldest daughter of the Main Family's head, Hyuga Hinata was the sole candidate to become the future clan leader, so her third birthday was naturally taken very seriously by the Hyuga Clan.
Other ninja clans from Konoha, and some nobles from the Land of Fire, would all come to the Hyuga Clan to offer their congratulations.
Unfortunately, this also means that the coming days are destined to be unstable, Hyuga Kumo sneered inwardly.
Since Hinata was already three, it meant that Kumogakure would soon come to Konoha to sign a peace treaty, and simultaneously plan to kidnap her.
And this period would also be a good opportunity for Hyuga Kumo to carry out his plans.
As he pondered, the two walked out of the house, chatting and laughing shoulder to shoulder, the atmosphere pleasant the whole time.
Until they approached the gate of the Hyuga compound...
"Stop."
A cold voice came from the side, making both of them subconsciously halt their steps.
Hyuga Kumo narrowed his eyes and turned his head toward the voice, seeing a face filled with disgust.
"Hyuga Kumo."
The Hyuga clansman on duty stood by the gate, questioning in a cold voice, "Today is Lady Aoi's extra training day. As her attendant, you are not by her side to serve. Where do you think you're going?"