Hyūga Kumokawa felt that this body of his could fully master those shinobi clans' secret techniques.
However, he didn't rush to attempt them. After pausing for only a few minutes, he returned the scrolls of those secret techniques and began looking at others.
He carefully memorized the positions of the scrolls that interested him. But in the eyes of outsiders, it looked like a blind bear stumbling through a cornfield—grabbing one ear of corn only to drop another as he went along.
Until finally, Hyūga Kumokawa walked to the highest shelf in the deepest part of the library, where he took down two scrolls—one the newest, the other the most ancient.
When he opened them and glanced over, his eyes instinctively narrowed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen really had left behind some treasures.
"Raikiri?"
"Yin Seal?"
A natural expression of delight surfaced on his face. Sitting cross-legged, he laid the scrolls out in front of him and began studying them.
This sight made Sarutobi Hiruzen, sitting in the Hokage's office and watching through his crystal ball, furrow his brows.
"As I thought, still too young… too impatient." he muttered softly.
The truly powerful techniques were all kept within the Scroll of Seals.
Not only S-rank forbidden jutsu, secret arts, and sealing techniques, but also A-rank ninjutsu like the Multi Shadow Clone Technique.
Naturally, Hiruzen could never leave the Scroll of Seals here.
But in his eyes, even a B-rank jutsu was already precious enough for Hyūga Kumokawa.
If any mid-tier or small faction outside obtained a B-rank jutsu, it could invite calamity—perhaps even draw in bandits from Kumogakure.
If not for seeing Kumokawa's talent in ninjutsu, coupled with his recent brilliant performance, Hiruzen never would have granted him access to the Forbidden Jutsu Library.
As for placing Raikiri and the Yin Seal here—that was partly a faint trace of hope and expectation in Hiruzen's heart, but mostly a test of Hyūga Kumokawa's temperament.
If Kumokawa chose to earnestly train in B-rank Wind Style ninjutsu or taijutsu, Hiruzen would give him the highest evaluation.
If he chose sealing techniques or other elemental jutsu, that would earn a slightly above-average evaluation.
Even if he picked only the Yin Seal, Hiruzen would still give him a slightly below-average mark—since while he thought Kumokawa could never master it in a short time, at least it would allow the boy to fully exercise his excellent chakra control.
But if he chose both Raikiri and the Yin Seal at the same time…
"Lowest grade." Hiruzen sighed in disappointment.
"He doesn't even understand the principle of 'biting off more than you can chew.' This boy is far too muddle-headed and greedy."
Hiruzen's true intention was that before leaving the village, the boy should select techniques suited to himself, raising his current power as much as possible—since once on the battlefield, blades and spears had no eyes.
If he could distinguish himself in battle, he would then earn the chance to study new techniques again.
At that time, it wouldn't just be ordinary B-rank ninjutsu, but perhaps jutsu like Kato Dan's Spirit Transformation Technique.
"A shame… in the end, this boy is still not mature enough."
The decision to let Hyūga Kumokawa into the library at all was itself a product of Hiruzen's recent emotional agitation and restlessness.
Thinking this, Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped watching, ended the Telescope Technique, and lowered his head to continue reviewing the stacks of paperwork on his desk.
At present, Konoha's vanguard forces had already been assembled, and there were still many matters requiring his attention.
Meanwhile, inside the Forbidden Jutsu Library—
Once the sensation of being watched disappeared, Hyūga Kumokawa finally revealed a smile.
He stood up, gathered the shinobi clans' secret techniques as well, and spread them out before him.
Now… it was time to see how many of these he could master in the time he had.
Ōtsutsuki bloodline—let me see your limits!
---
"Phew…"
No one knew how much time had passed when Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a long breath, putting down the last document. Almost unconsciously, he turned to look out the window.
Winter nights fell especially early. The sky was already dark, the white streetlamps outside lit one by one, casting his shadow long upon the wall behind him.
His gaze lifted toward the horizon, where the snow stretched endlessly, blotting out the view.
The playful laughter of children drifted from outside—like bubbles rising one after another, bursting at the water's surface before the sound reached the air.
"Already six o'clock?"
Glancing at the time, Hiruzen's stomach grumbled in protest, reminding him that he had skipped lunch.
But before going home to eat, there was still one thing he needed to do.
Thinking this, Hiruzen left his office and walked unhurriedly toward the underground level of the building.
"If my guess is right, that fool Hyūga Kumokawa must already be regretting his choice." he thought. "If it really comes to it, I'll just give him a stern reminder, and perhaps lend him the Yin Seal scroll temporarily. After all, that technique does indeed suit him."
Arriving at the tightly shut door, Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his hand, performed a sealing sign to release the barrier and locks, then gently pushed the door open.
Bzzt—!
A cacophony of harsh, buzzing sound rushed into his ears, making him instinctively freeze in place. When he looked up, his pupils shrank sharply.
There—Hyūga Kumokawa sat cross-legged in a corner away from the shelves.
Sweat soaked through his white high-collared shirt, clinging to his back and chest, outlining the slender yet powerful frame of a youth.
Inside his body, violent, chaotic chakra surged toward his right hand, transforming into countless slender arcs of lightning that crawled outward, leaving behind short, dazzling trails of blue light in the air.
The joints of his fingers were bone-white, veins bulged across the back of his hand, his skin scorched to an abnormal charred brown.
Tiny cracks leaked thin trickles of blood, but they were instantly seared dry by the scorching lightning.
"So that's how it is…"
Hyūga Kumokawa, his Byakugan trained on his arm, seemed to understand something and muttered unconsciously. Hearing the sound of the door opening, he raised his head.
His gaze met Sarutobi Hiruzen's—and those eyes, at this moment, shone with a brilliance beyond belief.
The next instant, Hyūga Kumokawa clenched his hand.
The scattered arcs of lightning—once bursting apart like wild, unkempt hair—suddenly contracted inward!
Chirp—! Chirp—!
The shrill cry fell silent for a heartbeat, then erupted again with sharper pitch, denser concentration, and terrifying penetration—like the cries of a thousand birds shrieking at once, seizing the soul.
The piercing sound made Sarutobi Hiruzen's ears ring painfully, almost deafening him.
"Lord Third!"
Hyūga Kumokawa leapt to his feet, excitement lighting his face. Looking at the dumbstruck Sarutobi Hiruzen, he declared:
"I've mastered it!"
The violent Lightning Release chakra was now confined within the narrow space of his palm—no longer a scatter of sparks, but pushing toward materialization itself.
A weapon wholly formed of concentrated, tangible lightning.
Countless slender, deadly arcs writhed like serpents across its surface. Even the air around seemed warped and blurred under the crushing density of the electricity.
That pure blue radiance completely lit up Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, drowning out the dim candlelight.
"You…"
Looking at the young man before him, Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his mouth—but suddenly, his throat was parched, his tongue dry.