Click.
Pushing open the door that had been closed for so long, Hyūga Kumokawa stepped out.
The slightly dazzling sunlight fell on his face, warm and ticklish. He squinted his eyes against the brightness.
There had been a moderate rain yesterday, leaving Konoha with a fine day today. Puddles on the ground reflected the blue sky, like patches of azure and white painted on a blank sheet of paper.
The stuffy, oppressive feeling from days of secluded training washed away with the memory of the rain, flowing into the drains.
"Seems like it'll be a good day," Hyūga Kumokawa murmured to himself.
Amidst Might Guy's enthusiastic, spirit-fueled shouts beside him, Hyūga Kumokawa walked side-by-side with him out of the residence and opened his panel.
[Name: Hyūga Kumokawa]
[Age: 15]
[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (5.5% → 6.8%)]
[Chakra Capacity: S-Rank]
[Chakra Affinities: Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning, Yin, Yang]
[Jutsu: Three Basic Jutsu (C-Rank), Wind Release: Wind Cutter (B-Rank), Chakra Scalpel (A-Rank), Lightning Release Chakra Mode (B-Rank), Lightning Release: Chidori (A-Rank), Lightning Release: Chidori Current (B-Rank), Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear (B-Rank)…]
[Taijutsu: Gentle Fist: Thirty-Two Palms (C-Rank), Eight Gates Released Formation: Gate of Injury (Forbidden Jutsu), Gentle Fist: Single Strike Body (B-Rank), Vacuum Fist (A-Rank)]
[Kekkei Genkai: Tenseigan - Second Stage (12% → 20.1%) [Ability: Mental Puppetry]]
[Achievements: [Crocodile Tears], [Honeyed Words], [Muddling Through], [Sacrificing the Pawn], Hidden Dagger], [Falsehood Made Real], [Fabrication], [Playing Possum], [Insincerity], [Leading On]…]
[Remaining Fulfillment Points: 10,651]
"Finally done."
Looking at the new jutsu in the [Jutsu] column and the second-stage Kekkei Genkai, a smile appeared on Hyūga Kumokawa's face.
This body, bearing the Ōtsutsuki bloodline, learned ninjutsu at a speed far exceeding expectations.
In just two months, he not only mastered Lightning Release Chakra Mode but even developed Lightning Release: Chidori based on it.
Lightning Release Chakra Mode, a B-Rank jutsu—also known as the Lightning Release Armor—concentrates Lightning Release chakra throughout the body, enveloping it in a layer of electrical energy. It activates the body physically, allows the use of Lightning Body Flicker, and enhances defense and neural transmission speed.
By honing both body and jutsu to their peak, speed could even rival that of Minato Namikaze using the Flying Thunder God Technique. It enabled instantaneous evasion of Sasuke Uchiha's Amaterasu. The speed was so great it was likened to blue lightning.
As for Lightning Release: Chidori, it was a derivative of Lightning Release: Lightning Cutter. The two were not the same technique. Their difficulty levels were completely different—the former was A-Rank, the latter S-Rank. The difference lay in the degree of chakra shape transformation.
"Chakra Shape Transformation" and "Chakra Nature Transformation" were both methods to use and enhance ninjutsu.
Simply put, the former was "molding form," turning formless chakra into blades, needles, etc., controlling the jutsu's power and attack range. The latter was "adding properties," turning neutral chakra into wind, fire, water, earth, or lightning.
In terms of practical effect, Chidori prioritized versatility over raw destructive power compared to Lightning Cutter. Lightning Cutter, through advanced "shape transformation," possessed greater piercing and cutting force. Chidori relied more on the diverse forms of Lightning Release chakra to inflict damage.
For example, Chidori Sharp Spear and Chidori Sword, which shaped Lightning Release chakra into a spear or blade, and Chidori Blade, which infused weapons with Lightning Release chakra to drastically increase their sharpness.
Hyūga Kumokawa had also attempted to develop Lightning Release: Chidori on a whim after mastering Lightning Release Chakra Mode. After all, Sasuke Uchiha in the original story had mastered Lightning Release: Chidori in just a few days.
If that second-rate guy could do it, there was no reason he couldn't.
However, taking it a step further to achieve Lightning Release: Lightning Cutter was far from sufficient with only two months. It represented the pinnacle of Lightning Release shape transformation.
Then there was Kakashi's "Purple Electricity," developed after losing his Sharingan. That seemed closer to the extreme of Lightning Release nature transformation.
"Even so, this training speed is truly outrageous," Hyūga Kumokawa couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
No wonder even the usually optimistic Might Guy had a moment of doubt upon seeing it…
'Naruto, also known as Eye Legend: Five Village Brawl, The Temptation to Return Home, My Hokage Grandfather, Dad, and Teacher, and Black Zetsu's Mom-Saving Adventure.'
This world, which chronicled the domestic affairs of the Ōtsutsuki family, was indeed a place where bloodline was paramount.
"With basic self-preservation capabilities now, I can finally proceed with my hands untied, entering a new phase of planning."
"Although the system's manifested abilities and items are based on this world's existing power system… in the end, power systems from other worlds like 'Bleach' are fundamentally about 'souls' anyway."
"Let's see how many points I can harvest by creating a new biological entity and branch system from scratch, fabricating a complete, logically sound backstory for it, and making others believe this lie…"
Lost in thought, Hyūga Kumokawa looked at the boiled-blood excitement of Might Guy ahead, who seemed to have a blazing flame burning behind him.
"Guy-senpai…"
"Kumokawa!"
Before he could finish, Might Guy suddenly turned around, grinning widely. "From now on, just call me Guy. Drop the 'senpai.'"
Hyūga Kumokawa was momentarily taken aback, instinctively wanting to refuse. Maintaining a humble image was important.
But looking at the earnestness on Might Guy's face and the subtle shift in his gaze, Hyūga Kumokawa couldn't help but fall into a brief silence.
'As expected. The honest and straightforward truly counter the cunning and manipulative.'
Hyūga Kumokawa sighed inwardly. In the end, meeting Might Guy's expectant look, he smiled and said, "Guy."
Hearing this, Might Guy's smile widened.
"Guy," Hyūga Kumokawa continued, "what's happening in the village? I saw people heading towards the entrance."
"Don't know," Might Guy shook his head, puzzled, but then grinned. "Let's go find out! Race you there!"
Hyūga Kumokawa didn't refuse, not wanting to spoil the mood. Seeing Guy take off without waiting for an answer, he just smiled and followed.
However, he actually knew very well what the villagers were doing.
They were going to welcome the Kumogakure delegation coming to Konoha to sign the peace treaty.
Although he had been in seclusion these past months, that didn't mean his intelligence channels were cut off.
Hyūga Kumokawa understood the importance of information and had naturally prepared some contingencies in advance.
He knew that the biggest contributor to this peace treaty wasn't Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding the fort in Konoha, but Shimura Danzō, who had been dispatched.
Don't be fooled by Danzō's usual reputation for being adept at internal strife and inept at external affairs. In reality, Danzō had been quite active during the Second and Third Great Shinobi Wars. Otherwise, he wouldn't have earned the moniker "The Darkness of the Shinobi" across the entire shinobi world.
Hanzo of Amegakure in the Land of Rain was pressured and manipulated by him into severing ties with the original "Akatsuki" founded by Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan. Before that, Hanzo had indeed been inclined to ally with Akatsuki.
If the two had united, the outcome of the war in the Land of Rain would have been uncertain. So, in terms of results, one could say Danzō single-handedly altered the course of the Third Great Ninja War.
Regardless of how dirty Danzō's methods were—a man whose title "The Darkness" might as well be read as "The Shit-Stirrer"—his underhanded tactics often yielded surprisingly effective results.
This time was no different.
By inciting conflict between Iwagakure and Kumogakure, he heightened tensions between the two nations, which in turn eased relations between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
However, Hyūga Kumokawa understood clearly: all of this was part of Kumogakure's scheme.
"This day has finally arrived."
Looking at the gathering crowd in the distance, Hyūga Kumokawa smiled.