"So that's how it is?"
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help letting out a deep sigh, his emotions rising and falling entirely with Ryuji Hyuga's words. It made sense, since Yin Seal had so far only been truly mastered by Uzumaki Mito, and even Tsunade had merely learned it without full control. If Ryuji Hyuga could also master this technique in a short time, then Hiruzen Sarutobi would inevitably feel shock and unease.
When one person's talent exceeds others by a small margin, they are called a genius, but when the gap is too large, they are called a monster. Ryuji Hyuga understood this very well, and his current level was just right. Anything more would have crossed a line.
"…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a long time, as if hesitating over something, before finally patting Ryuji Hyuga on the shoulder and speaking gently. "Remember this. During this mission, you must be careful, careful, and careful again, and obey the guidance and orders of your seniors."
In truth, he was already reluctant to let this child leave the village to risk his life. Loyal to inherited ideals, gifted with promising talent, burdened with a background of standing alone with only a Kunai to rely on, and unlike Kakashi Hatake, without any stains on his record, Ryuji Hyuga was almost perfect. Aside from that disgusting thing, the Caged Bird Curse Seal, he seemed like a blade made just for him.
Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi also knew that good steel, if not tempered, could never become a sharp blade. Experience and trial were unavoidable.
"Yes, Third Hokage!" Ryuji Hyuga answered solemnly. "Please rest assured, I will complete the mission smoothly and return safely."
"Mm, go on."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with satisfaction, then added, "If the Hyuga Clan cuts off your resource supply, come to me. You are a good child, the future hope of Konoha. As Hokage and as the head of the family, I will not let you be wronged."
"Thank you."
Ryuji Hyuga showed gratitude at just the right moment, while Hiruzen Sarutobi wore the same kindly expression. It looked like a warm scene between elder and junior. In reality, Ryuji Hyuga's heart was completely still, like stagnant water, as he watched Hiruzen Sarutobi perform with cold detachment.
He had always known that he was different from Naruto Uzumaki. He could never call him "Third Grandpa." Hiruzen Sarutobi would never agree, and he himself would never be willing.
But it did not matter. This was already enough.
Hiruzen Sarutobi played the role of the benevolent elder, and Ryuji Hyuga played the role of the devoted junior. Hiruzen Sarutobi's pot of "kindness" had been aged for decades, and Ryuji Hyuga's cup of "filial respect" was warmed to just the right degree. Both of them were skilled performers.
The difference was that Hiruzen Sarutobi kept his head lowered, watching the board, unaware that he was already a piece on it, while Ryuji Hyuga had arranged the board in advance and now watched Hiruzen Sarutobi step into the game. When it was over, Ryuji Hyuga left.
But he also took many things with him.
Name: Ryuji Hyuga
Age: 15
Bloodline: Otsutsuki Clan (9.9%)
Chakra Capacity: S Rank
Chakra Attributes: Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning, Yin, Yang
Ninjutsu: Wind Release Pressure Harm (B Rank), Fire Release Great Fire Destruction (B Rank), Fine Affliction Extraction Technique (B Rank), Summoning Jutsu Ro Gate of Life (A Rank), Lightning Release Lightning Cutter (S Rank), Yin Seal (S Rank)
Taijutsu: Front Lotus (B Rank), Reverse Lotus (A Rank)
Secret Techniques: Shadow Strangulation, Adamantine Sealing
Bloodline Inheritance: Tenseigan Second Stage (30.3%) [Abilities: Mental Puppet, Chakra Beads]
Achievements: …
Remaining Reality Points: 18094
"Quite a harvest indeed."
His figure leaped across rooftops as the panel appeared before his eyes, and a smile spread across Ryuji Hyuga's face. He had already been only one step away from fully mastering Lightning Cutter, so completing it through studying the Scroll was only natural.
In his view, the true gains were Yin Seal and those two secret techniques. Thinking of this, Ryuji Hyuga raised his left hand and looked at his palm. There was a black mark shaped like a diamond, still faint in color, but enough to prove that he had already mastered Yin Seal.
With Yin Seal, there was no longer a need to hide in advance like last time in the Land of Hot Water to refine Chakra before unleashing the full power of Ninjutsu. Even so, what surprised Ryuji Hyuga the most was the strange sense of familiarity he felt toward Yin Seal. It was not familiarity from having seen it before, but something that came from deep within his bloodline.
"Otsutsuki Clan…"
Ryuji Hyuga's gaze flickered slightly as he looked at the mark on his palm, the sense of familiarity growing stronger. Suddenly, realization struck him.
"Karma?"
The word escaped his lips in a low voice, his heart stopping for a moment before beating violently again. Yes, that was it. This was the source of that familiarity.
"Karma" was a unique ability of the Otsutsuki Clan. They could digitize and copy themselves, then implant that data into another person, who would then be called a "vessel." A black diamond-shaped mark would appear on the vessel's palm, and that mark was what was known as "Karma."
Simply put, "Karma" was a compressed backup of an Otsutsuki, a file that would slowly "unfreeze" over time, or accelerate through combat. When all the data had been fully released, the vessel's body would be replaced by the Otsutsuki's data, and the vessel's own existence would completely disappear, completing the Otsutsuki's resurrection.
Thinking of the similarities between Yin Seal and "Karma," Ryuji Hyuga subconsciously pressed his dry lips together. If the term data felt too abstract, it could also be called genes. The essence was packaging one's own genes and transferring them into another body, gradually overtaking that individual.
While people in the Ninja World were still playing with organ and cell transplants, the Otsutsuki Clan were already cutting and pasting their own genetic data. If Yin Seal was used to store Chakra, then "Karma" was used to store one's own genetic data, both operating on the principles of storage and release. Although their effects were vastly different, the underlying logic was the same, and "Karma" also had the ability to absorb Ninjutsu and release Chakra.
In fact, Orochimaru's Curse Seal had similar effects, though even Orochimaru himself likely had not developed it to that level yet. If he could truly master "Karma," an authority unique to the Otsutsuki, even a weakened version, the possibilities would multiply. Just thinking about it made Ryuji Hyuga's eyes grow serious.
After a brief moment of thought, he raised his head and silently willed, "Manifest. A method that allows me to cultivate the complete 'Karma.'"
Insufficient points.
"As expected."
Ryuji Hyuga's eyes shifted slightly, without any surprise. "Karma" was, after all, an ability that allowed the Otsutsuki Clan to surpass death, and it likely had extremely strict requirements regarding Otsutsuki bloodline purity. At the very least, Otsutsuki Kinshiki and Otsutsuki Urashiki had never displayed it.
Only Otsutsuki Momoshiki, whom even Urashiki had to respect, and Otsutsuki Isshiki, who was qualified to come to the Ninja World to plant a Divine Tree, possessed the power of "Karma." Ryuji Hyuga lowered his standards and silently willed again, "Manifest. A method suited to my current cultivation of 'Karma,' based on 'Yin Seal' and 'Curse Seal.'"
Spend 8000 Reality Points. Confirm manifestation.
A smile appeared on Ryuji Hyuga's face, and without hesitation he thought, "Manifest!"