Hyūga Kumokawa felt his body was fully capable of mastering those clans' secret techniques.
However, he wasn't in a hurry to try. He merely paused for a few minutes before returning those scrolls and turning his attention elsewhere.
He mentally noted the positions of all the scrolls that interested him, but to an outside observer, he probably looked like a bear haphazardly grabbing corn ears, picking them up and dropping them as he went.
Finally, Kumokawa walked to the highest shelf of the innermost bookcase and took down the two scrolls that appeared both newest and most ancient.
Unrolling both scrolls and skimming their contents, he instinctively narrowed his eyes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen... he really did leave some good things behind.
"Chidori?"
"Strength of a Hundred Seal?"
A look of pleasant surprise naturally surfaced on his face. He sat cross-legged, placing the scrolls before him and beginning to read.
This reaction naturally made Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was currently observing him through his crystal ball in the Hokage's office, frown slightly.
"As expected, still too young, a bit flighty," he murmured to himself.
The truly powerful techniques were in the Scroll of Seals—not just S-rank Forbidden, Secret, and Sealing Jutsu, but also A-rank techniques like the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique. Hiruzen naturally couldn't leave the Scroll of Seals there.
But in his view, some B-rank techniques were already quite valuable for Hyūga Kumokawa.
Out in the wider world, if any small or medium-sized power obtained a B-rank jutsu, it could invite disaster, even attracting the bandit-like forces of Kumogakure.
If not for Kumokawa's demonstrated talent for ninjutsu and his recent impressive performance, Hiruzen wouldn't have granted him access to the Forbidden Technique Vault at all.
As for the reasons for placing Chidori and the Strength of a Hundred Seal there... perhaps there was a sliver of hope and expectation in his heart, but more than that, it was a test of Kumokawa's character.
If Kumokawa chose solid, practical B-rank Wind Release or taijutsu to cultivate, he would earn a top-tier evaluation in Hiruzen's mind.
If he chose sealing techniques or ninjutsu of other elements, it would be an above-average evaluation.
Even if he only chose to cultivate the Strength of a Hundred Seal, Hiruzen would give him a below-average evaluation.
While Hiruzen believed it impossible for Kumokawa to master the Strength of a Hundred Seal in a short time, at least it would allow him to leverage his strong chakra control.
But choosing both Chidori and the Strength of a Hundred Seal simultaneously...
"Rock bottom," Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed with disappointment. "He doesn't even understand the principle of not biting off more than he can chew. The boy is far too muddled and greedy."
His original intention was for the boy to choose some suitable techniques to cultivate before leaving the village, to improve his current strength as much as possible. After all, once on the battlefield, blades have no eyes.
If he could distinguish himself with military achievements, he'd have another chance to learn techniques.
Next time, it wouldn't be ordinary B-rank techniques, but something like the "Spiritualization Technique" that Dan Katō had access to in his lifetime.
"A pity. The boy ultimately lacks maturity."
The decision to allow Hyūga Kumokawa into the Forbidden Technique Vault was also influenced by his own emotional state and anxiety lately.
Thinking this, Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped watching Kumokawa, ceased the Telescope Technique, and lowered his head to review the documents on his desk.
Konoha's advance forces were already assembled, and there were still many matters requiring Hiruzen's attention.
Inside the vault, sensing the feeling of being watched disappear, Hyūga Kumokawa finally allowed a smile to surface.
He stood up and walked over to the shelves holding the various clan secret techniques, gathering them and spreading them out before him.
Now, let's see how much he could master in this limited time.
Ōtsutsuki bloodline, show me your limits!
....
"Phew..."
He didn't know how much time had passed before Sarutobi Hiruzen finally let out a long breath, set down the last document, and instinctively turned to look out the window.
Winter nights arrived exceptionally early. The sky was already quite dark, and the white street lamps had been lit one by one, casting his elongated shadow onto the wall behind him.
Hiruzen's gaze swept toward the horizon, where opaque snow stretched as far as the eye could see.
The cheerful sounds of children playing drifted in from outside, like bubbles continuously rising to the surface, their noise only heard once they broke through.
"Is it already six o'clock?"
Hiruzen checked the time. His stomach cooperatively voiced its protest, reminding him he'd skipped lunch.
But before heading home for dinner, he had one more thing to do.
With this thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen left his office and walked, unhurried, toward the building's underground levels.
If I'm not mistaken, that foolish boy Hyūga Kumokawa is probably regretting his choices by now, he thought. If it comes to it, I'll give him a stern talking-to, then temporarily entrust the Strength of a Hundred Seal scroll to him. That technique really does suit him.
Reaching the tightly shut door, Hiruzen formed hand seals to dissolve the barriers and seals, then gently pushed the door open.
Zzzzt!
A cacophony of noisy, chaotic sounds assaulted his ears, making Hiruzen instinctively pause. He looked up, and his pupils couldn't help but constrict.
Before him, Hyūga Kumokawa sat cross-legged in a corner far from the bookshelves. Sweat had soaked through his white, high-collared shirt, clinging to his back and chest, outlining the still-slim yet now powerfully built frame of a youth.
Violent, chaotic chakra surged within him, rushing toward his right palm, transforming into countless thin arcs of electricity that crawled outward, leaving brief, dazzling blue trails in the air.
His knuckles were white with strain, veins bulging on the back of his hand. The skin took on an unnatural, scorched brown hue. Fine cracks appeared, seeping tiny droplets of blood that were instantly cauterized by the searing arcs.
"So that's how it is..."
Hyūga Kumokawa's Byakugan was fixed on his arm. Seeming to grasp something, the words escaped him instinctively. Hearing the door open, he looked up.
Sarutobi Hiruzen met his gaze and found those eyes... were shining with an almost startling intensity.
The next moment, Hyūga Kumokawa clenched his fist. The wildly scattering, hair-like arcs of electricity suddenly contracted inward!
Zzzzzt!
The screeching noise died down for an instant, then erupted into a higher-pitched, more concentrated, more piercing sound. It was like a thousand birds of prey shrieking simultaneously, assaulting Hiruzen's eardrums.
"Lord Third!"
Hyūga Kumokawa stood up excitedly, looking at the stunned Hiruzen. "I've learned it!"
The rampaging Lightning Release chakra was now constrained within the narrow space of his palm. No longer scattered sparks, it showed a tendency toward materialization, forming a mass composed entirely of highly condensed, visibly solid lightning!
Countless tiny but lethal arcs danced across its surface like living serpents. The surrounding space seemed to warp and blur from the density of the electrical energy.
That pure, blue light completely illuminated Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, overwhelming the glow of the candles.
"You..."
Looking at the young man before him, Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his mouth, suddenly feeling his throat go dry.