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Buzz!
Hyuga Kumo reached out his palm, about to grasp the black orb.
But the next moment, his movements suddenly halted, and the corner of his eye twitched as he looked in another direction.
He fled.
Yes, that guy Hiruko actually fled without any hesitation, escaping using Swift Release.
If he wanted to pursue, he really wouldn't be able to catch up.
Hyuga Kumo had never encountered such a shameless opponent before. As a proper senior, after exchanging a few harsh words, to be punched once and then retreating with his bloodline limit in shame was something even Orochimaru wouldn't do.
This guy really is a cunning rat; he just catches a whiff of danger and runs for it.
"What a pity."
Hyuga Kumo sighed, rubbing his aching eyes, thinking, "I wanted to test out the new power I just obtained, or at least hope Hiruko gives a greeting to dear Lord Orochimaru."
As he pondered this, he raised his gaze toward the panel before him.
[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (6.8% → 9.8%)]
[Kekkei Genkai: Tenseigan - Stage Two (22.3% → 30.2%) [Abilities: Mind Wheel Binding Seal, Spirit Devouring Explosion, Chakra Beads]]
Seeing the Ōtsutsuki bloodline had reached 9.8%, Hyuga Kumo's eyes flickered slightly as he thought, "No wonder Ōtsutsuki Toneri was able to awaken the Tenseigan in such a short time after transplanting pure Byakugan."
It's worth noting that Uchiha Madara took the Hashirama cells and struggled his whole life, only awakening the Rinnegan just before he died. Although Ōtsutsuki Toneri's bloodline was powerful, it was unlikely he could awaken the Tenseigan in just a few days.
Now it seemed that this was likely due to the Giant Tenseigan; it was a convergence of all the clan members' pupil power.
Even though the connection to that Giant Tenseigan on the moon had been severed, its pupil power still greatly accelerated his progress toward awakening the Tenseigan. It was likely Ōtsutsuki Toneri also awakened his power through that Giant Tenseigan.
"However, Hiruko has reminded me," Hyuga Kumo thought of the Kekkei Genkai Absorption Technique and pondered, "logically speaking, since I possess Ōtsutsuki blood, I should also be able to awaken other bloodline limits."
For instance, Shikotsumyaku.
Or maybe even Wood Release.
So, what am I lacking now?
"I just need a key." Hyuga Kumo smiled slightly, "The chakra and cells of Kekkei Genkai users."
As long as he activated the latent gene fragments within his body, with the bloodline purity of his current form, he should also be able to awaken other bloodline limits.
Moreover, this might even complete his Ōtsutsuki bloodline; Ōtsutsuki Toneri is ultimately not the end of the Ōtsutsuki bloodline.
"Hyuga Kumo!"
A serious voice from a nearby Anbu reached his ears, as they seemed to have detected Kumo falling behind and were coming to find him.
Hyuga Kumo snapped back to reality, following the voice in pursuit.
If the ninja world continues to uphold such fragile and false peace, he wouldn't have the opportunity to leave the village to set up his plans nor could he plunder bloodline users from other villages.
So, war.
War! War is a necessary precondition!
Meanwhile, as Hyuga Kumo rejoined the group, explaining that he was observing the aftermath of the battle from a distance with his Byakugan.
At the border of the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain, a woman was unfolding a summoning scroll in a cave.
Boom!
As a cloud of smoke exploded into view, Hiruko, looking disheveled, appeared.
"Lord Hiruko! What happened to you…"
Seeing this, the woman's expression suddenly changed, and she hurried to support him, only to be brushed off by Hiruko's raised hand.
"Damn it! Damn it! That brat from the Hyuga clan…" Hiruko cursed angrily.
While he was frustrated at his current condition, a mocking voice suddenly came from the depths of the cave.
"Hehe." The laughter was genderless and mixed, "Our Lord Hiruko certainly looks disheveled."
Hiruko quickly raised his head to look into the depths of the cave, spotting a shadow slithering forward, its distinctive and pungent scent making him reveal a look of undeniable disgust on his face.
As someone who often experimented on rats and snakes, he was well aware of what that scent meant.
The estrus female snake releases a thick brown secretion through its cloaca to attract male snakes.
This was indeed the smell of that brown, viscous secretion.
"Orochimaru," Hiruko said coldly. "If you're in heat, get the hell out and do it elsewhere; don't gross me out in front of me!"
"Ehhe." Orochimaru's tone was indifferent. "Your soul is no different; it's as ugly and disgusting as mine."
It was 10 AM, nearing noon. In the Hokage's office,
thin sunlight streamed in through a half-open window onto the redwood desk, but it was blocked by a mountain of stacked documents.
Rustle.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in a chair, flipping through the papers on his desk with one hand, while the other instinctively held a pipe.
"Ha!"
Sarutobi placed the pipe to his mouth; the tobacco leaves within flared into light, and wisps of white smoke rose, drifting out the window with the wind.
"Cough! Cough!"
A deep inhale had startled him; he frowned and coughed hoarsely.
Despite the itch in his throat, he continued to draw on the pipe.
"Cough! Hiruzen, you've been smoking too much lately, haven't you?"
Koharu Utatane, sitting in a chair against the wall, far from the window pouring out smoke, reminded him, "I know you're under a lot of pressure right now, but you should take care of your health."
"Hm…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't respond, silently scanning the letters returned the previous day. He had already gone through these letters over a hundred times, but he still felt unsettled.
It had been three days since the escort team carrying Hyuga Hiashi's corpse left the Leaf Village. Under normal circumstances, it would take only two days to reach the border, and a day ago, Akimichi Daido's report through a messenger beast had confirmed it.
In the first letter, Daido mentioned that the escort team was nearing its destination, but in the second letter, he noted having encountered a group of rogue ninjas from Iwagakure along the way.
Not only did he confirm the team's safety without any losses in the letters, but he also praised Hyuga Kumo's ability and temperament.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was glad to see Hyuga Kumo proving himself capable of handling responsibilities but felt uneasy about the unexpected appearance of the Iwagakure rogues. Now, it had been an entire day since the last letter was received.
This shouldn't take so long.
Could it be that Iwagakure intends to intervene?
Contemplating this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened as he took a long drag from his pipe.
Bang! Bang bang!
Just as Koharu was about to remind him to smoke less, hurried and chaotic footsteps suddenly sounded outside the Hokage's office door.
Hiruzen's heart sank, and he looked up, seeing an Anbu ninja enter the office, a mask covering his face.
"Third Hokage! The escort team has returned, but…"
The Anbu ninja clutched a blood-stained scroll tightly in his hand; before he could finish his sentence, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already vanished and reappeared in front of him, seizing the scroll.
He quickly unfolded the scroll, scanning it with his gaze. Sarutobi Hiruzen's pupils contracted, his aged face slightly paling as fear and anger flickered across it.
"What happened?"
Seeing Hiruzen's hand tremble tightly around the scroll, Koharu stood up, feeling a bad omen. "Hiruzen! What's happening?! Speak!"
"War, war! How could this be…"
Hiruzen's face alternated between pale and flushed, even raising his hand to clutch his chest in pain, his voice hoarse as he uttered, "The Fourth Shinobi World War is approaching!"
"What?" Koharu's expression changed in an instant.
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