Chapter 149 – Even the Hokage Is No Exception
"These eyes… what are they?" Hiashi Hyūga's voice trembled in disbelief.
A suffocating pressure weighed down on him—the kind that came not from killing intent, but from blood itself. Even though Hatake Yusuke hadn't released the full power of his eyes, the restrained energy alone was enough to make every vein in Hiashi's body tighten instinctively.
"Tenseigan?" Toneri's usually calm expression flickered with genuine surprise.
It was his first time sensing such power. And unlike Hiashi, who only felt it as pressure, Toneri could feel it through his very bloodline—the chakra in his body responding, bending, submitting to the purer force in front of him.
"The Tenseigan," Yusuke explained calmly. "Or rather, a final evolution of the Byakugan. Though, in my case, it's… a bit different."
"Final evolution of the Byakugan?" Hiashi muttered, still stunned. "You mean… the Byakugan can evolve?"
"Yes. But not just anyone can achieve it," Yusuke said. "Only those with pure Ōtsutsuki blood possess the potential to awaken it. And to do so… they require a pair of Byakugan from the Hyūga main family."
Hiashi fell silent. Slowly, the realization dawned on him.
The ancient texts passed down through the generations of Hyūga clan heads—the ones most members dismissed as myth—had spoken of such a thing. That the fusion of Ōtsutsuki blood with the Byakugan could give birth to an eye beyond comprehension. He had never thought he would live to see it.
"I understand now, Hatake Jōnin." Hiashi exhaled deeply, his expression softening. "I will grant you a pair of Byakugan. But in return… I ask that you aid the Hyūga Clan should we ever face calamity."
He wasn't submitting. He was acknowledging.
Even if he refused, he knew the truth—he couldn't stop someone like Yusuke. The fact that Yusuke came to speak peacefully instead of taking by force was, in itself, an act of mercy.
And besides, the Ōtsutsuki were their ancestors. To aid their descendant was not humiliation—it was duty.
Yusuke smiled faintly. "I give you my word."
"Then it's settled. Once the Chūnin Exams are over, come to the Hyūga compound. I'll give you my late wife's eyes."
That statement carried more weight than most would realize. Normally, every Hyūga of the main family was sealed upon death—the Caged Bird Seal ensuring the Byakugan could never be misused. But Hiashi's wife… had been the sole exception.
— — —
Meanwhile, in the arena—
Naruto lunged forward first, charging with his kunai aimed straight at Neji Hyūga.
Neji's Byakugan flared to life, his eyes sharp and clear. In an instant, he read Naruto's movements and parried effortlessly.
Naruto followed with a heavy punch, but Neji redirected it smoothly using his Gentle Fist, dispersing the force before it even landed. Naruto twisted midair, regaining balance, and dove back in—relentless as ever.
But every attack was neutralized, every strike countered.
"Not good, Naruto!" Sakura shouted from the stands, worry lacing her voice. "He can close your chakra points if he gets too close!"
She knew better than anyone—against a Hyūga prodigy, close combat was suicide.
Neji saw an opening. He struck forward, his palm aimed precisely at Naruto's shoulder, the other hand following up to pierce his chakra network.
Naruto's eyes widened. Just like Hinata…! he realized. In a split-second, he remembered Kakashi's advice—and threw himself into a roll to avoid the hit.
The palm missed by inches.
"Tch. You dodged?" Neji frowned.
"That was close…" Naruto muttered, rubbing his shoulder. "If he hits me again, I won't be able to use ninjutsu. I've gotta keep my distance."
"So you've finally realized it," Neji said coldly. "You never stood a chance from the beginning."
He raised his stance again. "Now, let's end this."
But Naruto wasn't backing down. "Not yet!"
He clasped his hands together. "Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Five clones appeared and rushed in from all sides. Neji moved like flowing water, dismantling them one after another.
As the clones vanished, he began lecturing Naruto on destiny, talent, and the futility of struggle—his usual fatalistic sermon.
But this time, Naruto didn't respond with anger. He just smiled, gritting his teeth as he summoned even more clones.
"Then I'll just show you," he said. "That destiny doesn't matter!"
A storm of Narutos flooded the arena. Neji dashed through the crowd, his eyes easily distinguishing the real one—until the supposed "real" Naruto vanished before his palm connected.
"What…?"
Two more clones appeared from both flanks, diving in simultaneously.
Neji's Byakugan spun. "Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation!"
A surge of chakra erupted around him, spinning into a perfect sphere of defense.
But Naruto… was smiling.
He remembered Yusuke's words clearly:
"When a Hyūga uses that rotation, for just a moment afterward, his chakra flow stiffens. That's your chance."
Chakra swirled violently in Naruto's hand, guided by his clone's assistance. The air whirled and roared.
"Rasengan!"
The clone vanished, and Naruto thrust forward. The spiraling chakra sphere crashed into Neji's spinning barrier, tearing through it like a storm breaking glass.
The impact sent Neji flying, the Rasengan exploding against his chest with enough force to crater the arena floor.
"That's… the Rasengan?" Genma Shiranui muttered in disbelief.
As the former subordinate of the Fourth Hokage, he recognized that jutsu immediately.
"The Fourth…" Kotetsu whispered, staring at Naruto's blond hair.
Neji coughed, trembling as he tried to stand. "How… did you break my defense…?"
Naruto looked down at him, his expression calm. "You lose."
He turned and walked off without another word.
The entire stadium fell silent for several heartbeats—then erupted in shock.
"Naruto… actually won?" Sakura gasped.
Ino and the others stared wide-eyed, unable to process what they'd just witnessed.
Even the villagers who had mocked him for years were speechless.
"Not bad… for the demon fox brat," someone murmured.
"Yeah, but he's still a monster," another spat. "Why isn't he dead yet?"
A few spectators began to cheer, but others sneered—whispers of "monster," "fox," and "curse" spreading through the stands.
Naruto heard every word.
And yet, despite the insults, his heart felt warm. For the first time, not everyone hated him.
That alone was enough.
But the warmth vanished in an instant.
A dark figure descended silently into the center of the arena. The killing intent that followed froze every living soul in place.
Then—blood splattered.
Half the spectators who had insulted Naruto were dead before they even realized what had happened. The rest collapsed, wounded, screaming in panic.
"B-blood—people are dying!" someone shrieked.
"Stop, Yusuke!" Tsunade shouted, her voice sharp with alarm. She recognized that smile—the calm, polite smile Yusuke wore only when his fury had reached its peak.
"Be quiet," he said softly.
Naruto stared in horror. "Uncle… what are you doing?"
The man who had always felt warm, kind, and playful now stood amid corpses, his hands drenched in red.
Sakura, Ino, Gaara—everyone could only watch in stunned disbelief.
They were shinobi; they knew killing was part of their world. But civilians? Even the Hokage wouldn't cross that line.
Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long, weary sigh. He knew there was no stopping what was about to come.
Only Pakura remained calm. She'd seen it before. In Sunagakure, half a city had fallen in one night—by this same man's hand.
"Everyone," Yusuke said gently, his tone almost polite. "Settle down. Or you'll end up like them."
His gaze swept across the arena—calm, unblinking, absolute.
"I'll make one thing clear. You all saw what happened. Do you know why I killed them?"
Silence.
"Because they deserved to die," he said coldly. "You call him a demon fox?"
He turned toward Naruto and pointed.
"Listen well. This boy is my nephew. Anyone who dares to insult or defile him… will die. No exceptions. Even if you're the Hokage—"
His piercing eyes locked onto Hiruzen. "—you are not exempt."
The crowd held its breath.
Naruto's vision blurred as tears welled in his eyes.
All his life, he'd been alone—rejected, shunned, treated like filth. Shopkeepers turned him away. Strangers whispered behind his back. He laughed, smiled, and acted cheerful… but deep down, he was terrified of losing the few who showed him kindness.
And now, for the first time—someone stood up for him.
Someone was willing to kill for him.
The tears finally fell.
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