212 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

"Lord Hokage, are there other ways to awaken the Tenseigan?" Hyūga Hiashi asked cautiously, casting a subtle glance at Hyūga Kaori.

Before, Hiashi had been puzzled as to why Akira specifically requested Kaori accompany him. Now, he was almost certain of the answer.

Yet, this realization didn't bring him joy. Instead, it filled his heart with unease and even fear.

If his suspicions were correct, the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Akira, believed Kaori—a member of the Hyūga clan's branch family—had the potential to awaken the Tenseigan.

This was not good news for Hiashi or the Hyūga main family as a whole.

For the branch family, especially those who hadn't been entirely brainwashed, harbored deep-seated resentment toward the main family—so much so that it bordered on hatred.

Even Hiashi's younger brother, Hyūga Hizashi, had once harbored murderous intent toward his own daughter, Hinata. The idea of any other branch family members feeling differently was almost laughable.

Kaori, without a doubt, was one of those who kept her hatred buried deep inside. Hiashi was confident in this assessment.

At his side, Kaori suddenly raised her head. Her flawless face lit up with unconcealed delight. She, too, had begun to connect the dots. The mere thought of such a possibility made her heart race, her fair cheeks tinged with a rosy blush.

"There are other ways," Akira said, his tone measured. "But this method requires extremely pure Byakugan and doesn't guarantee success. Moreover, it comes with considerable risk."

"Lord Hokage, who in the Hyūga clan meets the requirements?" Hiashi pressed, dismissing the risk without hesitation. The Hyūga had to take risks if they wanted to change their fate.

"Originally, there were two candidates in the Hyūga clan who had the potential to awaken the Tenseigan," Akira replied evenly. "But now, there's only Kaori."

Hiashi's face went pale at those words. His fists clenched tightly as his mind flashed to the memory of his daughter's Byakugan being stolen. Although she'd received a transplant, her new Byakugan could never compare to the original.

Bitterness and fury surged in his heart. The main family had missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for rebirth!

Meanwhile, Kaori couldn't suppress the radiant smile that spread across her face, the heavy stone of uncertainty in her heart finally lifted.

Akira turned a solemn gaze toward her.

"Awakening the Tenseigan is not without its perils. Kaori, as a jōnin, do you willingly accept the risks?"

"Don't rush to answer just yet." Seeing her eagerness, Akira quickly interjected. "This is a serious matter. You must think it through carefully. If you succeed, you will gain extraordinary power. But with that power comes immense responsibility. The enemies you'll face in the future will be ruthless, and even the Tenseigan may not guarantee survival."

Without a moment's hesitation, Kaori declared, "Lord Hokage, no matter the danger, I'm willing to face it—even if it costs me my life!"

"Good." Akira nodded approvingly. "In that case, follow me shortly. I'll guide you through the process."

"Yes, Lord Hokage," Kaori replied, her smile genuine and full of resolve.

"Lord Hokage," Hiashi interjected reluctantly, "is there any chance my daughter could still awaken the Tenseigan?"

Akira shook his head. "As things stand, there's no possibility."

Hiashi lowered his head, his expression dark and filled with regret. But then a thought struck him, and he looked up sharply.

"What if we recover my daughter's original Byakugan?"

"In that case, the possibility exists," Akira confirmed with a nod.

A flicker of hope lit Hiashi's eyes.

"Have you found the whereabouts of those who stole the Byakugan?" Akira asked, curious.

"No," Hiashi admitted, shaking his head. "But I recall the village's cloning technology has advanced significantly. I plan to use it to create a pair of Byakugan identical to my daughter's original eyes."

"If that works, then she could regain her potential, correct?" Hiashi's voice was steady, but his gaze burned with determination.

For the Hyūga, the Tenseigan—an eye technique rivaling the Rinnegan—was a long-awaited dream. The birth of such power in their clan would be monumental.

Akira raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by Hiashi's resourcefulness.

"That's possible. However, you must handle this discreetly. Don't let too many people know."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Hiashi's face lit up with joy.

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave to prepare the documentation for the Caged Bird seal. The technique will be on your desk by tomorrow evening," Hiashi said respectfully.

"Go ahead," Akira dismissed him with a wave.

As Hiashi walked through the corridor, his mind churned with new ideas. Muttering to himself, he wondered aloud, "If Hinata had the potential, would having another child create the same possibility?"

His pulse quickened at the thought. If the Hyūga clan produced two—or even three—Tenseigan users, they might one day seize the position of Hokage.

The matter of the Caged Bird seal faded from his mind. That accursed technique had already driven a wedge between him and his once-close brother, Hizashi.

"Perhaps abolishing the Caged Bird seal could even mend my relationship with Hizashi," Hiashi thought as he made his way toward the clan's compound, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.

...

Meanwhile, Kaori followed Akira to one of his private laboratories within the ShinTen Biotech.

As Hokage, Akira had accumulated several private labs over the years. Some housed tailed beast fragments, others cultivated chakra for experimental techniques, and others were dedicated to cloning research.

The lab they entered was spacious but sparsely furnished, containing only essential equipment.

Pointing to an examination table, Akira instructed, "Kaori, lie down. I need to assess the purity of your Byakugan."

Without hesitation, Kaori complied, her trust in Akira absolute. She reclined on the table, ready for the evaluation.

Akira's gaze lingered briefly on her figure before he quickly redirected his focus, silently chiding himself. He leaned in to begin a thorough inspection of her Byakugan.