Seeing Hiashi staring at her eyes in utter silence, Hinata grew anxious.
Tears welled up as she hurriedly explained, "Father, it's all my fault. It has nothing to do with Brother Jie! I chose to drink that potion myself. Please don't blame him."
Seeing Hinata's panic, Jie was momentarily speechless.
Just as he was about to reassure her, Hiashi abruptly broke the silence. "Hizashi, do you remember a certain inheritance left behind by our ancestors?" he asked.
"I believe Hinata's current eyes closely match its description. 'Azure eyes, shining with the light of a starry sky.'" A rare trace of genuine excitement colored the usually stoic clan leader's face.
Hizashi paused, falling into deep thought at his brother's words. Realization dawned on him, followed by a look of sheer astonishment...
"Brother, do you mean the inheritance left by Ancestor Tennin? ...But wasn't his visual prowess innate? I've never heard of any descendant naturally awakening the eyes he described."
Hiashi frowned slightly and shook his head. "True enough. However, Ancestor Tennin never explicitly stated that these eyes could only be acquired at birth."
"...I must find that document. This could be the key to the Hyuga clan's ultimate prosperity!"
Without another word, he completely abandoned Jie and rushed deep into the Hyuga compound.
Startled by his brother's erratic behavior, Hizashi jumped to his feet to chase after him, but quickly stopped himself.
The Hokage was a guest in their home. The clan head abruptly leaving was already a severe breach of etiquette... if Hizashi also left him unattended, it would be a blatant insult to Jie.
Turning back to Jie, Hizashi offered an awkward, apologetic smile...
"Please forgive him, Lord Hokage. My brother was simply overcome with excitement and neglected his duties as a host. On behalf of him and the entire Hyuga clan, I offer my deepest apologies."
Jie didn't take offense. Instead, he was thoroughly intrigued by Hiashi's reaction.
Based on the brothers' exchange, it seemed Hinata's newly mutated eyes had a precedent in Hyuga history.
It wasn't long before Hiashi returned, clutching an ancient, weathered scroll. His face was flushed with exhilaration...
"These are the ones! These are the eyes of our ancestor! The legendary evolution of the Byakugan—the Thousand-Pupil Byakugan!" He strode over to Hinata, staring fervently into her azure irises.
'Thousand-Pupil Byakugan?' Hearing this completely unfamiliar term piqued Jie's interest. It appeared the Hyuga clan was far more complex than they let on.
After a long while, Hiashi finally regained his composure. Realizing his earlier rudeness, an embarrassed smile crept onto his face.
"Clan Head Hiashi, what exactly is this Thousand-Pupil Byakugan?" Jie asked directly.
Hiashi hesitated for a moment before explaining. "Much like your Uchiha clan, Lord Hokage, the Hyuga clan boasts a lineage spanning centuries back to the Warring States Period."
"...According to our ancestral records, there was once an era where the glory of both the Uchiha and the Senju was eclipsed by the Hyuga."
"...The man who led us to that absolute peak was Ancestor Tennin, who was born with a Byakugan completely unlike any other."
He unrolled the scroll slightly. "The records state that Ancestor Tennin's Byakugan shone with the brilliance of stars, housing an unfathomable power."
"Relying on those extraordinary eyes and his own unmatched talent, he guided the Hyuga to briefly overshadow even the mighty Uchiha."
"He named his ocular prowess the Thousand-Pupil Byakugan. And now, Hinata's eyes match his description flawlessly!"
By the end of his tale, Hiashi was trembling with emotion. "The Thousand-Pupil Byakugan is the hope for the Hyuga clan's ultimate resurgence!" he declared loudly, unable to contain his fervor.
Jie and Hinata exchanged a surprised glance at his booming proclamation.
'A powerful and unique force within the Thousand-Pupil Byakugan...' Jie pondered inwardly. 'It's likely similar to the Mangekyo Sharingan, containing its own distinct ocular jutsu.'
Meanwhile, Hinata had her own revelations. 'The Thousand-Pupil Byakugan... It sounds like an incredible power. Since Brother Jie gave these eyes to me, I have to use them to help him. No matter who it is, I won't let anyone hurt him.'
Having revealed the clan's deepest secrets, Hiashi offered a bitter smile.
Had it not been for the potion Jie provided that awakened Hinata's eyes, he never would have disclosed such classified history.
After all, the Thousand-Pupil Byakugan represented the Hyuga's path to supremacy. Even though Hinata was now Jie's disciple, there was no guarantee the Uchiha Hokage would allow her to grow strong enough to lead the Hyuga to the pinnacle.
But there was no turning back now... Hiashi could only gamble on Jie's goodwill.
"Clan Head Hiashi, I never expected the Hyuga to have such an illustrious chapter in its history," Jie commented thoughtfully.
"Truly worthy of a shinobi clan that has survived since the Warring States Period. Your foundation is incredibly profound."
"However... did this Ancestor Tennin leave behind any training methods for the Thousand-Pupil Byakugan?"
This dojutsu was entirely uncharted territory for Jie as well. He had no idea how to maximize Hinata's newfound potential.
Despite the abruptness of the request, he could only hope the Hyuga retained Tennin's inheritance, granting him a comprehensive understanding of the eyes.
Furthermore, if Hinata could awaken the Thousand-Pupil Byakugan, it meant members of the Otsutsuki clan might be capable of the same. Gathering more intel would only benefit him.
Hiashi didn't hesitate to answer. "Yes! Along with this scroll, Ancestor Tennin left behind a sealed box. It is said to contain the entirety of his legacy, but it can only be opened by a Hyuga possessing the Thousand-Pupil Byakugan. I'll go retrieve it immediately."
But just as Hiashi stood up, a look of mild surprise crossed Jie's face.
"There's no need for that, Clan Head Hiashi," Jie said, raising a hand to stop him. "It seems I already know exactly what the Thousand-Pupil Byakugan is."
Right at that moment, a notification had chimed in Jie's mind...
[Ding! System Analysis Complete]
The system had just provided him with everything he needed to know.
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