According to the ancient scroll, Hinata's Byakugan was likely undergoing its first steps toward evolution. The exposure to natural energy had stirred something dormant within her bloodline.
Hiashi's voice held barely contained excitement. "Hinata, your Byakugan may be advancing toward the Tenseigan."
"Me…?" Hinata blinked, touching her own eyes in disbelief.
"Yes. Your bloodline is exceptionally pure, and with Sage training allowing you to absorb natural energy, you may have unintentionally awakened the path toward Hamura Otsutsuki's legendary Tenseigan." Hiashi nodded firmly.
"So that means my eyes aren't damaged at all, but actually evolving?" Hinata exhaled in relief, pressing a hand to her chest.
"This is unprecedented in the entire history of the Hyuga clan. It may never happen again. What you have done will be recorded as a major event in our family's lineage." Hiashi's tone grew solemn as he saw the confusion on her face.
Hinata nodded lightly. "I understand, Father. Since everything is clear now, I should go tell Naruto before he worries himself sick."
Hiashi froze on the spot.
"Wait, Hinata… did you not hear what I just said? You will be recorded as part of Hyuga history!"
"Yes, yes, I heard you. Thank you, Father. I'm going to find Naruto now!" Hinata was already stepping out of the chamber.
Watching her walk away, Hiashi stood like a stone statue. A breeze slipped through the sealed room, and in his imagination he cracked apart like shattered rock.
Just like his heart.
His precious daughter no longer belonged to him.
Damn that blond kid.
He wanted to drag Hinata back, but realistically, could he beat Naruto? Probably not.
That brat was too young to be this terrifyingly strong.
In the end, it was all that blond kid's fault.
Hinata repeated everything she had read from the scroll to Naruto.
"The Tenseigan awakened by Hamura Otsutsuki?" Naruto tilted his head, scratching it. "So… what kind of clan is the Otsutsuki anyway?"
Hinata shook her head. "The scroll didn't explain. It only said the Hyuga originated from Hamura."
"Then the Tenseigan must be amazing. It was awakened by your clan's ancestor after all." Naruto's smile softened as he reached out and patted her head.
"I didn't expect my Hinata to be so incredible. Looks like I'll need you to protect me someday."
Hinata's cheeks flushed bright pink. She lowered her gaze, poking her fingertips together. "That's not true. You've always been the one protecting me."
"Hey now, don't underestimate yourself. Uncle Hiashi said this has never happened in your clan's history. You're the first ever. You'll definitely surpass Hamura someday!" Naruto encouraged her with a grin.
Hinata only blushed harder.
Seeing her still-round, soft cheeks, Naruto couldn't resist gently squeezing them.
"All right. I think I understand the situation now."
"Normal chakra isn't enough to evolve the Byakugan. Awakening the Tenseigan probably requires an enormous amount of natural energy."
"That means you should train Sage Mode more often, just like I do. If you can stay in Sage Mode consistently, your eyes should have more than enough energy to evolve." Naruto concluded.
Hinata nodded obediently. "Okay."
As long as she could stay with Naruto, she was happy. Her biggest fear had been that something was wrong with her eyes and she would no longer be able to walk beside him.
Being recorded in history didn't matter to her at all.
In the Third Hokage's Home
A porcelain teapot sat quietly on the low wooden table. Naruto lifted a clay kettle, pouring steaming water into the pot. The rush of boiling water unfurled the curled tea leaves within, spreading a gentle aroma across the room.
Opposite him sat the Third Hokage.
"Grandpa, Danzo and every last member of Root is dead," Naruto said as he poured the Third Hokage a cup of tea.
"I understand." Hiruzen nodded, a dim sadness in his eyes. "Don't worry, Naruto. I'm fine."
"But Danzo wasn't killed by me or Sasuke."
Hiruzen paused, startled.
If not by them, then how?
"He died from the backlash of the First Hokage's cells." Naruto's expression was calm.
He had injected Wood Release chakra into Danzo only to accelerate the inevitable. Technically, Danzo's death wasn't directly his doing.
"What? Hashirama's cells?" Hiruzen nearly choked on his breath.
He had known Danzo for decades. Yet Danzo had hidden all of this from him?
Naruto continued, "He didn't just take Shisui's eye. His entire right arm was embedded with ten Sharingan. His greed wasn't limited to one eye. He wanted the entire Uchiha clan's power."
Hiruzen fell silent.
He lifted the teacup and drank it all in one gulp, trying to steady the turmoil inside him.
All these years, he had assumed Danzo wrapped himself in bandages because of injuries. He had never imagined it was all to hide something like this.
He thought he understood Danzo. They had grown up together. Fought together. Sacrificed together.
Yet now Danzo felt completely foreign.
Hashirama's cells.
Uchiha Sharingan.
Monstrous greed.
Danzo… when had he become someone willing to sacrifice everything for power?
The man Hiruzen once knew had faded into something unrecognizable.
Hiruzen let out a long, weary sigh. "He brought this upon himself. No one else is to blame."
"Maybe when he was younger, Danzo really did love the Leaf the same way you did," Naruto replied softly. "But now he's become a slave to power."
"To the Leaf, he was nothing but a parasite. A poison draining it from the inside. His death is a blessing."
Hiruzen poured himself more tea. "I once thought I could give all my old comrades a dignified retirement, so I dissolved the position of Hokage's advisor."
"I hoped they would let go quietly, just like I intended to."
"But they refused to release their grip on power." Hiruzen shook his head sadly.
Naruto leaned back slightly, gaze steady. "Power may corrupt, but in the end, Grandpa, you were simply too lenient with them."