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“Shin Uzumaki, I acknowledge your strength. Perhaps no one in the entire Shinobi world is stronger than you. But you are not suitable to teach Hinata.”
Hiashi Hyūga said solemnly.
Hinata needed to learn the Hyūga Clan’s traditional Gentle Fist style, something Shin Uzumaki couldn’t teach her.
Furthermore, Hinata was destined to become the head of the Hyūga Clan. How could her training be entrusted to an outsider like Shin Uzumaki?
“It’s rare for you to praise me. But tell me—why am I supposedly unsuitable to teach Hinata?”
Shin smiled and asked Hiashi.
“The [Gentle Fist]. You may be powerful, but you cannot teach—”
“I know it. Your Hyūga Clan’s [Gentle Fist] is quite simple.”
Shin interrupted Hiashi. He naturally knew how to use the [Gentle Fist]. He had obtained the secret techniques of various Konoha clans from Danzō, including the [Gentle Fist].
He had specifically studied it. In fact, his mastery of the [Gentle Fist] surpassed Hiashi’s.
Honestly, Hiashi Hyūga was rather weak. His strength was barely at the level of an elite Jonin, maybe quasi-Kage at best. He hadn’t even reached Kage level.
Even the Kaguya Clan head had Kage-level strength. How could the Hyūga Clan, with such limited power, call themselves a prominent Konoha clan? It was laughable.
Especially after the Uchiha Clan massacre, they even claimed to be Konoha’s number one clan. The gap was enormous.
The Uchiha Clan, before their downfall, had numerous powerful members. If Itachi and Shisui hadn’t become traitors, the Uchiha might have actually overthrown Konoha.
Fugaku Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha were atleast quasi-Kage level. Yet the Hyūga Clan, supposedly their equals, couldn’t even produce one Kage-level shinobi.
Shin didn’t understand what the Hyūga Clan had to be proud of.
The Uchiha at least had the strength to back up their arrogance. The Hyūga truly didn’t.
“You say you know the Hyūga Clan’s [Gentle Fist]?”
Hiashi frowned. Claiming to know their clan’s secret technique and calling it simple? This was intolerable.
“Indeed. Did you think I’d lie to you?”
Hiashi remained silent. With Shin Uzumaki’s strength, there was no need for him to lie. But Hiashi still didn’t believe Shin knew the [Gentle Fist].
The [Gentle Fist] required the [Byakugan] to be used effectively. Without the [Byakugan], even if one knew the forms, it would be like having the shell without the spirit.
“Want to try it? I promise I won’t kill you.”
Seeing Hiashi’s disbelief, Shin offered the challenge.
Hiashi’s expression remained stern, but inwardly, he was reeling. Try it? And he promises not to kill me?
Was this guy serious? Hiashi clenched his fists, growing angrier the more he thought about it.
Why didn’t I beat him up back when he was weaker?
He remembered Shin from the Academy—he hadn’t seemed particularly strong then. How had he become so powerful?
Hiashi didn’t know Shin had been hiding his strength even back then. If Hiashi had attacked him, he still would have lost.
“I may not have the [Byakugan], but I possess its evolved form. Is it so strange that I know the [Gentle Fist]?”
The [Byakugan] evolved into the [Tenseigan]. Shin’s Nine-Tomoe Rinne-Tenseigan was even more advanced, possessing all the [Tenseigan]’s abilities.
“The [Byakugan] can evolve?”
Hiashi’s breath hitched. He’d heard Shin mention the [Byakugan]’s evolution before. Could it really evolve?
“Indeed. If the Sharingan can evolve, why can’t the [Byakugan]?”
Shin actually thought the [Byakugan] wasn’t as weak as commonly perceived. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki’s [Byakugan], for instance, was incredibly powerful.
“Can you tell me… about the [Byakugan]’s evolution?”
Hiashi didn’t know how Shin knew, but he believed him. With Shin’s strength, he wouldn’t waste time teasing him.
“Evolving the [Byakugan] is extremely difficult. You wouldn’t be able to do it. So I won’t trouble you with the details.”
Shin didn’t elaborate. Hiashi certainly couldn’t achieve it.
The Ōtsutsuki evolved the [Tenseigan] by transplanting a pure Hyūga [Byakugan]. What the Hyūga needed to evolve their [Byakugan], Shin wasn’t sure.
Perhaps they needed cells from the Ōtsutsuki Clan on the moon, similar to how Madara Uchiha used Hashirama Senju’s cells to awaken the Rinnegan.
But Shin had wiped out the Ōtsutsuki Clan on the moon; there was nothing left. Where would they get the cells?
Hiashi’s face darkened. Shin had piqued his interest, only to shut him down. It was frustrating.
“If you entrust Hinata to my training, perhaps I can help her [Byakugan] evolve.”
Shin couldn’t guarantee it, hence the “perhaps.”
Mikoto’s Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan hadn’t evolved into the Rinnegan even with his help. Evolving Hinata’s [Byakugan] into the [Tenseigan] would likely be even more difficult.
Hiashi remained silent, still undecided.
“I’m taking Hinata with me regardless. I’m just informing you. Your decision is irrelevant.”
Hinata was related to his mission, and Shin genuinely liked her. Taking her was non-negotiable.
Hiashi glared at Shin angrily. This was no different from robbery!
If it weren’t Shin Uzumaki, someone far stronger than him, Hiashi would have fought back.
“I’ll be staying at the Hyūga compound for a while. Make the necessary arrangements.”
Shin said with a smile.
Hiashi’s face turned black. He wanted to punch Shin. This was outrageous.
But considering Shin’s strength, the frustrated Hiashi chose to endure it. He couldn’t afford to fight back.
That first punch had nearly killed him. He didn’t want another one. The next one would surely finish him off.
Hiashi, his face dark, instructed his clansmen to arrange a place for Shin. At the same time, he worried about how to explain this to the Third Hokage.
Shin Uzumaki suddenly living in the Hyūga compound… he had to explain it to Hiruzen. Though Shin wasn’t officially a missing-nin, he was treated like one.
The only reason he wasn’t officially designated as such was because Konoha didn’t want to anger him.
Now, with Shin staying in the Hyūga Clan grounds, if Hiashi didn’t explain things clearly to Hiruzen, it could arouse suspicion.
Hiashi didn’t want to be ostracized by the Third Hokage.
Look at the Uchiha Clan—they were being pushed to the Village outskirts.
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