Through the sensing of 'Jikibi' and personal observation, Shinji had already pieced together most of 'H's condition.
This was why he had instructed Neji and Kimimaro to merge.
Only in their merged state could the chakra of the three be fully shared, elevating both the quantity and quality of their chakra. This allowed 'H' to begin its initial awakening and interact with the outside world without harming Neji or Kimimaro.
As 'H' awakened, everything became clear.
At present, 'H' had met the conditions to attempt awakening the Tenseigan. The only reason it hadn't yet acted was its concern for Neji and Kimimaro's safety.
Understanding the situation, Neji and Kimimaro both turned to Shinji.
Neji couldn't help but ask directly, "Leader, what should we do now?"
Shinji replied calmly, "You've come this far, and you still lack that resolve?"
Neji was momentarily stunned.
The sudden news of 'H's awakening had caught him off guard, but Shinji's words made him reconsider. If 'H' successfully awakened the Tenseigan, he might have a chance to join the battle to stop the Ōtsutsuki branch family on the moon from destroying the world.
Without the Tenseigan, his current strength likely wouldn't even qualify him to participate.
"Indeed, what's there to hesitate about?"
He sighed inwardly.
Every time he thought of his ancestor Hamura Ōtsutsuki's entrusted mission, he felt ashamed. Now, with the possibility of gaining the power to stop the Ōtsutsuki branch family, even risking his life was worth the gamble.
Resolved, Neji looked at Kimimaro. "And you?"
Kimimaro's expression remained indifferent. "If not for the organization, I'd likely have died from my Bloodline Limit disease by now. My personal wishes don't matter. I'll follow Leader's arrangements."
Neji, now free of doubts, said to Shinji, "Leader, we'll follow your orders."
Shinji commanded, "Begin!"
Neji quickly said to 'H', "'H', don't worry about us. Start now!"
'H' responded, "If that's the case, I'll give it my all! But you both know what the Tenseigan signifies. That kind of power isn't something mortals can easily wield, so prepare yourselves for the possibility of death!"
Neji replied, "Understood!"
Kimimaro simply nodded silently.
Shinji stepped back, forming hand signs. "Shinobi Art, Chakra Barrier!"
Anticipating the massive chakra fluctuations that might arise when 'H' attempted to awaken the Tenseigan, Shinji activated a barrier to envelop them.
This 'Chakra Barrier' was a technique Shinji had learned from the Hidden Leaf Village's archives after his authority was elevated.
As the name suggested, its function was simple yet practical: isolating an area's chakra to prevent detection from the outside.
With everything prepared, 'H' officially began its attempt to awaken the Tenseigan.
In an instant, 'H' utilized its ability to share Neji and Kimimaro's chakra, concentrating all three of their chakra into itself.
Immediately, expressions of pain appeared on Neji and Kimimaro's faces.
Chakra, a blend of mental and physical energy, when drained in large amounts instantly, undeniably caused harm to shinobi.
Not far away, Shinji maintained the 'Chakra Barrier' while quietly observing the trio.
"Such powerful chakra!"
As he had predicted, the moment 'H' began its attempt to awaken the Tenseigan, its chakra fluctuations reached an extreme peak.
Had he not used the 'Chakra Barrier' to isolate it, the Hidden Leaf Village's sensory team would likely have detected the anomaly in the Death Forest, and it might even have alerted the Ōtsutsuki branch family on the moon!
At the same time, Shinji quietly compared his own chakra to 'H's. Even with his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and transplanted First Hokage cells, he found that his peak chakra intensity was inferior to 'H's.
Surprised, this realization gave him more confidence in 'H's attempt to awaken the Tenseigan.
On the field, Neji was the first to falter, dropping to one knee. Due to their merged state, his collapse pulled Kimimaro down as well.
"Huff… huff…"
Propping himself up with his hands, Neji panted heavily.
He looked utterly exhausted, drenched in sweat, his face pale, and his eyes sunken.
Kimimaro wasn't faring much better, though his indifferent expression made him appear slightly more composed compared to Neji's exhaustion.
'H' spoke, "Hold on just a bit longer, we're almost there!"
Neji struggled to say, "Don't… worry about us!"
Shinji hesitated, wondering if he should use 'Wazunagi' to transfer chakra to Neji and Kimimaro. But he quickly reconsidered. Awakening the Tenseigan required Hamura Ōtsutsuki's lineage chakra. 'H' was already merging the trio's chakra, which was complex enough. If he recklessly transferred his own chakra at this critical moment, it could backfire.
So, he suppressed the urge to transfer chakra and continued observing.
Soon, as the chakra fusion deepened, bone spears, characteristic of the Shikotsumyaku, extended from Neji's hands. Meanwhile, the pale green pupils in Kimimaro's eye sockets had somehow turned as white as the Byakugan.
"This!?"
Shinji was quietly shocked.
Even he hadn't anticipated that their merged state could fuse Neji and Kimimaro's chakra to such an extent—it was almost unthinkable.
As the Byakugan chakra and Shikotsumyaku chakra fused more deeply, 'H's physical condition gradually improved, faintly approaching that of their ancestor, Hamura Ōtsutsuki.
At this moment, the pair of enhanced pure Byakugan implanted in 'H' began to move across their merged body.
In their merged state, the three had become one, with no barriers between them. As the two enhanced pure Byakugan moved, they eventually separated—one settling at Neji's forehead and the other at Kimimaro's.
Seeing this, Shinji's face showed a hint of curiosity.
In the shinobi world, only a few, like Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and, in the original timeline, Madara Uchiha after seizing the Ten-Tails, had opened an eye on their forehead.
But before Shinji could ponder further, the two Byakugan at Neji and Kimimaro's foreheads simultaneously closed.
Thump, thump.
Shinji seemed to hear the sound of a heartbeat.
Then, the eyes at Neji and Kimimaro's foreheads opened again. But this time, they were no longer Byakugan—they were the radiant, star-like Tenseigan!