"Brand with the Lotus Seal?"
Genya whispered softly, then turned his gaze toward Hinata. His expression was gentle, carrying both concern and inquiry.
"Hinata, this is something you have to decide for yourself. I can't make this choice for you."
Though his words sought her answer, his mind was already made up. Even if Hinata chose not to bear the Lotus Seal, he would protect her with all his strength.
No matter what decision she made, he would support her without reservation.
Hinata had been quietly listening all along. Her normally clear Byakugan eyes now shimmered with a faint blue light that grew brighter, like the most brilliant star in the night sky.
As each second passed, her gaze toward Genya became increasingly resolute, reflecting a firm determination.
Finally, she bit her lower lip slightly. Though her voice still held a trace of her usual timid tone, it rang clear and unwavering. "I agree to brand the Lotus Seal!"
At that moment, her previously youthful face shone with unprecedented firmness.
In these past days, Hinata had witnessed Genya's immense strength with her own eyes. Her heart was filled with admiration and longing.
Though she was still the heiress of the Hyuga clan in name, her own strength paled in comparison to Genya's, like the difference between clouds and mud.
She yearned desperately to keep pace with him. Even if she could not walk beside him, merely following closely from afar would be enough.
"Are you sure, Hinata? Even if you don't bear the Lotus Seal, I will still protect you," Genya said, gazing at her serious, almost stubborn expression. His heart was filled with concern, and he could not help but ask again.
"Yes, yes! The Lotus Seal will make me stronger. I truly want to be branded with the curse mark!" Hinata nodded firmly, her eyes shining with determination.
This was almost the first time in her life she had decisively made such an important choice on her own, and deep down, she was confident she would never regret it.
"Ahem… don't make this sound like a life-or-death farewell. It's actually quite safe!" At that moment, Toshi, standing nearby, could not help but interrupt as he watched Genya's solemn expression.
From his perspective, Genya's overly protective demeanor made himself look utterly unreliable.
"Toshi-san, I'm just worried that Hinata might make the wrong decision!" Genya chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head, then continued, "Alright, you prepare for a few days, and I'll take Hinata back to the village first."
For some reason, Genya felt uneasy seeing the way Toshi looked at Hinata. There was a strange intensity in his eyes, a mix of passion and something else that made Genya's heart tighten.
Since when did Toshi become so unstable!
"No need to rest. I can help Hinata brand the curse mark right now!" Toshi waved his hand decisively, his expression serious.
"Besides, although the energy in Hinata's eyes is relatively stable for now, no one knows when it might suddenly erupt. If it does, at best the energy will dissipate; at worst, her Byakugan could be completely ruined!"
With that, Toshi took a swift step forward and grabbed Genya, fearing he would really take Hinata away.
In Toshi's mind, Hinata could very well become his most proud and perfect creation. How could he possibly let Genya take her away and miss such an opportunity?
"…," Genya was speechless, silently thinking that perhaps Hinata hadn't fully thought things through.
Maybe in some time, she would change her mind. After all, in the Hyuga clan, having a curse mark on the forehead is hardly something honorable.
If he just took Hinata back like this, he wouldn't even know how to explain it to Hiashi Hyuga.
"Genya… let me brand the Lotus Seal!" Hinata gently tugged at his sleeve, her eyes full of sincerity and pleading.
She looked so pitiful, as if silently praying for Genya to agree to her request.
Genya finally sighed helplessly, his eyes soft and indulgent. "Alright, everything's up to you."
Since Hinata had made up her mind, he couldn't find any reason to stop her.
Finally, he turned his gaze to Toshi, a subtle warning flickering in his expression. "Toshi-san, if anything happens to Hinata, you'll see!"
"Don't worry. From now on, Hinata will be my most treasured disciple. To me, her importance is equal to Hikari's!" Toshi's face beamed with excitement as he eagerly led Hinata inside, searching for a quiet place to perform the curse mark sealing.
This time, only Genya and Hyuga Neji followed them inside. Everyone else had to wait anxiously outside.
"Do you need me to help stabilize Hinata's soul this time?" Genya asked Toshi again, his expression filled with concern.
"No need!" Toshi shook his head without hesitation, his face full of confidence and seriousness. "Just watch me. I will create a perfect-level Lotus Curse Seal for Hinata!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Toshi placed his palm steadily on Hinata's forehead.
At the same time, mysterious green patterns spread from his palm, gradually forming the shape of a lotus pedestal. A pink flower bud appeared on top.
The soft pink petals began to bloom slowly, one by one, like flowers in spring. The whole process unfolded like a delicate painting coming to life, filled with a mysterious and enchanting aura.
This time, Toshi worked incredibly fast, as if afraid that Genya might suddenly snatch Hinata away.
One petal, two petals, three petals… The lotus petals opened in order under everyone's watchful eyes.
With each petal that unfolded, the surrounding space trembled slightly, like a calm lake disturbed by a small stone, sending out gentle ripples.
Neji and the others could only faintly sense the subtle shifts in space.
But for Genya, who was skilled in space-time ninjutsu, this was no ordinary spatial tremor.
He keenly noticed that this was a powerful dōjutsu interfering with space, and the disturbance was extremely strong.
It was highly likely that this was a special ability Hinata was showing during her evolution.
Imagining Hinata's dōjutsu fully transformed, Genya couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. The strength she would gain then… would be unimaginable.
The lotus petals continued to unfold, becoming thicker and heavier. The previously clear lotus patterns grew delicate like cicada wings, as if a gentle breeze could blow them away.
Gradually, the patterns transformed into shadowy illusions, appearing and disappearing, filled with a mysterious aura.
108 petals… The lotus petals, even after reaching 108, still showed no sign of stopping, and the speed at which they unfolded was growing faster and faster, so fast that everyone's eyes could no longer follow.
In the end, the lotus petals became streaks of afterimages, overlapping with the petals that had already unfolded, creating a dazzling, almost overwhelming sight.
At this moment, Hyuga Hinata appeared even more mystical and noble. She stood there quietly, as if radiating a mysterious, ethereal light.
Under the tense and expectant gazes of those watching, the lotus petals continued to spread endlessly. But now, Neji and the others had already lost count.
Finally, Genya, using his expanded Dual Pupil vision, carefully counted and discovered that this lotus curse seal contained a total of 3,600 petals.
3,600 petals.
****
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