Toneri slowly opened his eyes. The world around him was blurred, and for a moment, he couldn't tell how much time had passed.
"Ah… my head." He groaned softly, pressing his palm against his temple. His vision swam for a moment before he blinked several times and focused. "Why does it feel like I've lost a few hours? Did you… give me general anesthesia?"
Kabuto, standing nearby while adjusting a set of instruments, smiled gently. "Yes, Toneri. You were under for a while. Don't move yet—the anesthetic is still wearing off."
Naruto walked up enthusiastically, holding a glass of water. "Come on, Toneri, drink this."
Toneri accepted the cup and nodded politely. "Thank you." He sipped, feeling the cool water soothe his dry throat.
As his senses cleared, he instinctively reached up and touched the bandages over his eyes. A faint smile crossed his face. "Ah… this feeling… the chakra flow… it's perfect."
He could sense it now—the new Byakugan eyes were beginning to respond, slowly syncing with his own nervous system. The delicate chakra pathways of the eyes were intertwining with his own, forming seamless connections.
Unlike the Uchiha clan's Sharingan, which could be transplanted with immediate activation, the Byakugan required gradual neural adaptation to reach full synchronization.
Naruto smiled, leaning against a nearby counter. "So, Toneri… satisfied with your new Byakugan?"
Toneri nodded. "They're excellent. The chakra inside them is pure—clean and untainted. A perfect pair of Byakugan. I'm grateful, Naruto."
Naruto chuckled. "As long as you're happy. You already know why I went through all that trouble to help you regain your dōjutsu. You saw it yourself when we were on the moon, right? Through your Tenseigan vision—you saw the truth. There are forces beyond even us still watching from the void. That's why you regaining your power is crucial. Not just for yourself, but for the safety of the Earth… and for fulfilling Hamura's mission."
Toneri's expression softened. "You're right. I understand."
Naruto let out a long sigh, stretching his arms. "Alright then. Your transplant is done. You should stay here in the lab for a while. It'll take some time for the Byakugan to fully integrate with your chakra network. If you need anything, you can call me—or ask Uncle Snake or Kabuto. They'll help you."
Toneri tilted his head. "And where are you going?"
Naruto grinned. "I'm heading out for a bit. I've been stuck in this lab too long. I need some air."
Toneri hesitated, then said softly, "Then take me with you. I want to feel Konoha for myself."
Naruto blinked, surprised. "Your Byakugan hasn't finished fusing yet. What's the point of sightseeing if you can't even see properly?"
Toneri remained calm. "I don't need my eyes to feel the world's flow of chakra. I just… want to breathe the air."
Naruto scratched his head, sighing. "Alright, alright. You win. Come on."
He helped Toneri stand and guided him outside. Orochimaru's lab was located on the far edge of the Hidden Leaf Village—secluded, hidden beneath dense vegetation and hills. It was perfect for someone like Orochimaru to work without being disturbed.
The two walked slowly along a narrow path surrounded by wild grass and shrubs. The scent of wet soil and blooming flowers filled the air.
"Ahh… the air outside is still the best," Naruto said, taking a deep breath.
For a few moments, there was silence—just the rustle of leaves in the wind. Then Toneri's voice broke it. "Naruto… when I was unconscious, did your two friends… draw my blood?"
Naruto froze mid-step. "Uh…"
The question hit directly. He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. "Ah, yeah, about that…"
He laughed awkwardly. "They didn't mean any harm, I swear! You know Uncle Snake and Kabuto—they're obsessed with studying the truth behind chakra and bloodlines. They just wanted to understand more about your physiology."
Toneri's expression was unreadable.
Naruto continued quickly, "They've studied the Uchiha and Senju clans for years. Both bloodlines originated from the Sage of Six Paths' sons—Indra and Asura. There was once a man named Uchiha Madara, who, under the manipulation of a certain… dark influence, fought a final battle against Hashirama Senju. During that battle, Madara bit off a piece of Hashirama's flesh and transplanted it into his own body. That's how he awakened the Rinnegan."
Toneri's eyes widened slightly. "So it's true… The Rinnegan really requires a fusion of Uchiha and Senju blood."
Naruto blinked, surprised. "You already knew that?"
Toneri shook his head. "Not exactly. But my ancestors' records mention similar accounts. In the Ōtsutsuki archives on the moon, there are scrolls describing the requirements for higher dōjutsu. That's part of the reason I once sought to marry Hinata Hyūga. As the Princess of the Byakugan, her bloodline contains the purest chakra of Hamura's lineage. With her power, I thought I could perfect the Tenseigan."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Heh, I didn't expect that your family kept those kinds of scrolls lying around in your moon mansion."
Toneri turned toward him. "So, the blood they drew from me—it was to test the connection between my Ōtsutsuki lineage and the bloodlines of Earth's clans, wasn't it?"
Naruto nodded honestly. "That's right. Orochimaru and Kabuto wanted to analyze the relationship between your bloodline and that of the Uchiha and Senju. They think there's a direct ancestral link."
Toneri's tone turned cold. "Is it really that simple?"
Naruto spread his hands. "Yeah, it's that simple. I wouldn't lie to you about that."
Toneri exhaled deeply, then nodded. "Fine. I'll let it go. But understand this, Naruto—if it weren't for you, I would've killed them for touching my blood without consent."
Naruto laughed nervously, scratching his head. "Easy there, don't blow up the lab over a couple of test tubes. Think of it as… sacrificing yourself for science."
Toneri didn't answer. He simply frowned slightly and touched the bandages over his eyes again.
Naruto noticed and asked, "Are your eyes reacting again?"
Toneri nodded. "Yes. The chakra is stabilizing. I believe full fusion will be complete by tomorrow. These Byakugan are of exceptionally high purity—they resonate perfectly with my chakra."
Naruto smiled. "That's great. Once they're fully integrated, you should stay here in Konoha for a while. See the Earth for yourself. It's different from the moon."
Toneri hesitated, thoughtful. "Aren't you worried about external threats? If I remain here, who will monitor from the moon? Shouldn't I be there to watch the skies with the Tenseigan—to ensure early warning if invaders approach?"
Naruto looked up at the blue sky, hands tucked behind his head. "It's fine for now. According to the flow of time and space, we've still got a while before anything happens. They won't reach Earth that soon. After all…" He smiled faintly. "My son and daughter haven't even been born yet."
Toneri noticed the warmth in Naruto's voice and couldn't help but smile. "So… you're going to marry Hinata?"
Naruto's grin widened. "Yeah! That's right. And hey, don't get any ideas about my wife, okay? Focus on awakening your own Pure Eye instead."
Toneri chuckled softly. "Don't worry. I'm not that kind of man. But… may I attend your wedding?"
Naruto looked surprised for a second before smiling warmly. "Of course you can. Stay on Earth until then. The wedding's not far off anyway."
Toneri nodded, the faintest smile touching his lips. "I see. I'd be honored."
Naruto's expression shifted slightly, his tone turning serious. "Hey, Toneri… there's something I've always wanted to ask. I never had the chance before, but it's been on my mind."
Toneri tilted his head. "What is it?"
Naruto scratched his chin thoughtfully. "If someone from my Uzumaki clan were to have a child with Hinata from the Hyūga clan… do you think that child could inherit the Pure Eye?"
Toneri blinked, momentarily puzzled. "Why ask that now?"
Naruto shrugged. "Just curious. Humor me."
Toneri fell silent for a long moment, recalling the ancient scrolls from Hamura's temple. Finally, he said calmly, "It's possible… but the chance is extremely low. The combination of Uzumaki and Hyūga chakra might create something unique—but not necessarily the Tenseigan. Unless…"
Naruto leaned in. "Unless what?"
Toneri met his gaze. "…Unless I intervene. With my chakra as a guide, the probability would increase. But it would still depend on the child's inherent potential."
Naruto smiled softly. "Heh. Guess we'll find out one day."
Toneri nodded, resting his hands on the bandages covering his eyes. "Maybe that day isn't so far away."
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