Yoichi created hundreds of shadow clones, and in no time, they gathered all the Ōtsutsuki clan's inheritance from the moon into the hall.
The Ōtsutsuki clan on the moon had developed remarkably well. Their puppet techniques had been refined with chakra to the point of energy automation—wireless chakra transmission and control. While this technology relied on the Tenseigan, it was far superior to anything in the ninja world.
"Yoichi-sensei, I can control the Tenseigan now, but it consumes a massive amount of chakra. Without the chakra you provided, using it even once might kill me," Rumi said cheerfully as she approached Yoichi with light steps. Since arriving on the moon, Rumi's once reserved personality had begun to lighten up.
Previously, seeing how close Kurenai was with Yoichi-sensei had made her envious. But now, on the moon, she could also act the same way.
"Also, my Byakugan seems to have undergone a change. Sensei, did you do something to help me?" Rumi asked as she moved even closer to Yoichi, almost pressing against him in the vast hall. She pretended to lean in and look at the book Yoichi was holding, but it was clear her proximity was intentional.
"Don't worry about chakra. I'll seal enough chakra within you to power the Tenseigan. For the next few years, I'll rely on you to control it, Rumi."
Yoichi flipped through the book as he spoke. The power of the Tenseigan was overwhelming, far surpassing that of a tailed beast, and it could only be activated by the Byakugan's power. Such tremendous strength couldn't be entrusted to just anyone, and Rumi was the perfect person for the task.
"Rumi, with your current strength, how many puppets can you control? And can we bring the Tenseigan back to Konoha?"
Rumi thought for a moment and then said, "We can take it back. The Tenseigan's power is sealed, but we should also bring the energy-dispersing devices. That way, even in Konoha, I can still control the puppets. As for the puppets, they don't drain my chakra; they use the Tenseigan's power."
The Tenseigan, formed from all the Byakugan on the moon, could regenerate its power as long as it wasn't destroyed. The branch family on the moon had even used the Tenseigan in battle to defeat the main family. So, moving it was not an issue.
The war between the branch and main family hadn't happened too long ago. The chakra stored within the remnants of the main family still held much information, hoping their descendants would stop the branch family's madness. All of the Tenseigan's knowledge had been passed down to the Byakugan users through chakra.
"Let's head back now. We'll leave a third of the puppets here and develop them slowly," Yoichi said, standing up. He accidentally brushed against Rumi as he did so. "Sorry about that, Rumi," he apologized.
"Sensei, it's okay," Rumi blushed slightly and then asked, "Sensei, am I going to be in charge of the Tenseigan now?"
Yoichi nodded. "Yes, I can only trust you with it. Why, is something wrong?"
Rumi lowered her head and hesitated before asking, "Could I ask for a favor, Sensei?"
"What kind of favor?"
"I haven't decided yet, but I promise it won't trouble you, Sensei. When the time comes, I'll let you know," Rumi said softly.
Yoichi thought for a moment and replied, "Alright, whenever you're ready, I'll do my best to help you, even if you want to become the head of the Hyūga clan."
Rumi chuckled but didn't say anything. Why would she want to be the clan leader? The Caged Bird seal had been removed, and she now controlled the Tenseigan, with Yoichi-sensei at her side. No one in the Hyūga clan would dare oppose her.
What she wanted was the promise from Yoichi-sensei, and with that, everything would fall into place. At this point, Rumi no longer considered Kurenai a rival.
Little Kurenai didn't stand a chance against her now; Rumi had set her sights on surpassing Rin!
After gathering their things, Rumi and Yoichi stored the inheritance scrolls in sealing scrolls. The massive Tenseigan and its equipment were moved into a separate dimension by a Kamui clone.
For the return journey, they didn't need to take the same path back to the moon. Instead, they traveled through a spatial tunnel that connected the moon's core to the world of ninjas.
Once they passed through the space tunnel and emerged through the water, Yoichi and Rumi flew into the sky. Yoichi quickly scanned their surroundings to confirm their location and noted the direction of Konoha.
"We're quite close. We should consider developing this area in the future," Yoichi commented before flying back to the village with Rumi. Upon arriving, he set Rumi down and said, "I'll compile the findings from the moon into a Sealed Book in the next couple of days. You can read it at your leisure or share it with others."
The Ōtsutsuki clan's inheritance from the moon was incredibly comprehensive, containing all the Hyūga clan's Gentle Fist techniques, as well as advanced techniques like the God Vacuum Palm, likely left behind by Hamura Ōtsutsuki. However, most people wouldn't be able to use even one move.
"Thank you, Sensei!" Rumi said, but before she could continue, she felt a sharp pain in her eyes. She closed them and rubbed her eyelids.
"It's probably a sign of your Byakugan evolving. Go home and rest. If anything feels off, come to me immediately or visit the Konoha Hospital," Yoichi advised. He recalled how quickly Toneri had awakened the Tenseigan—within a single day.
Though Rumi's Byakugan might not be as pure as Hanabi's, it was more than enough to awaken the Tenseigan. It was only a matter of time.
"I understand, Sensei," Rumi replied. However, instead of heading home, she wanted to visit the Hokage's office to see Kurenai's reaction.
"Sensei, what about him?" Rumi asked, looking at the unconscious Toneri. This boy's mission was to destroy the ninja world.
"He'll recover and stay in Konoha for now. If he grows up and still wants to destroy the world, we'll deal with it then," Yoichi said, placing his hand over Toneri's eyes. When he removed his hand, Toneri had grown a new pair of eyes, though a seal now limited the amount of chakra he could use.
"Since he's one of your clan members, you can check with Hiashi when you return and see if he wants to take him in. As for the Ōtsutsuki inheritance on the moon, I'll leave that in your care," Yoichi added.
"I understand, Sensei. I'll head back now," Rumi said, bidding him farewell before leaving the Uchiha district.
For the first time in a long while, Rumi felt truly powerful, not just because of the changes in her body, but because of her newfound confidence.
...
Upon returning to Konoha, the village was thriving, but underneath the surface, hidden currents were stirring within the ninja world.
"Next is the three-nation conference. Due to the Daimyo of the Land of Rain being unwell, Hanzo of the Rain Village will be speaking on his behalf," a ninja from the Cloud Village announced. In front of him were several connected desktop computers using special signal lines for transmission.
It had taken them more than half a month to set up this remote meeting between the Rock Village, the Earth Daimyo, the Cloud Village, the Lightning Daimyo, and Hanzo.
The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the increasingly domineering actions of Konoha. After Chiyo led the survivors of the Sand Village and tried to seek refuge with Hanzo, she noticed how frequently Konoha's ninja appeared in the Land of Rain, making her realize that even Rain Village might not be safe.
As a result, she changed course and headed to the Land of Earth.
The Earth Daimyo and Lightning Daimyo had been hesitant at first. The Third Shinobi World War had ended only a few years prior, and their villages had spent considerable resources to recover. Another war would bleed them dry.
However, when Chiyo informed Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, that the Sand Village had fallen and that the Rain Village was in danger, Ōnoki couldn't remain idle.
He immediately contacted A, the Raikage of the Cloud Village, as well as the Earth and Lightning Daimyo. With the technical assistance of the Cloud Village, they finally managed to hold this remote meeting.
"Is the Daimyo of the Land of Rain really ill?" The Lightning Daimyo asked with clear distrust. After witnessing how Konoha had possibly manipulated their own Daimyo, he couldn't shake his suspicions toward Hanzo, who had seized control of his nation.
"Are you sure you're not controlling him, 'Half-God'?" the Lightning Daimyo added, emphasizing Hanzo's notorious nickname.
Hanzo, maintaining a calm expression, responded, "There's no need for that. I get along well with the Daimyo. He simply doesn't understand war matters, so he has entrusted me to handle everything."
"How can anyone be sure of that?" the Lightning Daimyo shot back.
"Let's stay on topic," Ōnoki interrupted, cutting through the tension. "The danger posed by Konoha far exceeds any internal disputes. If we don't unite, Konoha will target us next."
After Ōnoki's interjection, the Earth Daimyo also chimed in, "He's right. Let's not get distracted. The greater issue is Konoha. We believe they have manipulated the Fire Daimyo, and they're likely planning to do the same to the Wind Daimyo. If we don't act now, we'll be next."
A, sitting nearby, nodded and added, "Exactly. We've already received reports that the Fire Daimyo has become unreachable. Additionally, two of his top advisors, Minister Tsukiyo and Minister Hiwo, were suspicious of the situation, but they were mysteriously killed when we tried to contact them. The ninjas we sent to investigate also disappeared."
The Raikage's assistant, Mabui, then added, "The information we received from the surviving Sand ninjas also suggests that Konoha might be using Edo Tensei, the Reanimation Jutsu, and that they've already resurrected the First Hokage. On top of that, they've stolen the Sand Village's One-Tailed Beast."
Ōnoki confirmed this, adding, "Konoha has violated the most fundamental rules of the ninja world. They've broken the laws by using forbidden techniques like Edo Tensei and capturing the Sand Village's Tailed Beast."
It had all the signs of Konoha preparing for war. According to their intelligence, Konoha had also seized Mist Village's Tailed Beast, though details were unclear. After the meeting, Ōnoki and A would send emissaries to Mist Village to confirm if they could form an alliance. The situation was urgent.
"How are the Four-Tails and Five-Tails in Iwa?" A suddenly asked. In terms of Tailed Beast strength, they were at a disadvantage. Konoha had the Nine-Tails and Two-Tails, while they only had the Eight-Tails. Though Mist Village held the Seven-Tails, they were unsure if its Jinchuriki could properly use its power.
"They're close. We've already identified where the Tailed Beasts will reappear, and we're ready to capture and seal them when the time comes," Ōnoki replied.
A offered, "If necessary, I can send B to help you. Last time, he got along well with your Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki. Maybe they'll help us win this war."
Though confident in B's strength, A's voice lost some of its conviction. During their last battle, two Jinchuriki had been killed by Yoichi, forcing the Eight-Tails to sever its own tail to escape.
"In the end, it'll be up to your Dust Release to stop the Fifth Hokage, Ōnoki," A concluded.
It was a grim truth they had all agreed upon earlier. Even Perfect Jinchuriki might not stand a chance against someone as powerful as Yoichi. Their only hope lay in uniting all the villages, pooling their resources, and facing Konoha with everything they had.
After hours of discussion, the alliance decided to form two main forces: one elite army from the Rock and Cloud villages to support Hanzo in preventing Konoha from completely overtaking the Land of Rain. The second army would be composed of the finest shinobi from both the Cloud and Rock villages, with efforts underway to bring Taki and Kusagakure into the fold.
After securing the needed resources, the Earth and Lightning Daimyo left the rest of the strategic planning to Ōnoki, A, and Hanzo. Their goal was to assemble as many allies as possible to stand against Konoha's overwhelming might.
...
Back in Konoha...
"I'm back, Kurenai!" Rumi called out as she pushed open the door to the Hokage's office. She found Kurenai sitting dutifully at her desk, handling paperwork. With a mischievous smile, Rumi walked over.
"Rumi, you...!" Kurenai stood up, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. "What were you doing with Yoichi-sensei?"
"That's classified information. Without permission from Yoichi-sensei, I can't say. But, Kurenai, it was just the two of us... alone!" Rumi teased, covering her mouth with a giggle, her tone dripping with mischief.
"You..." Kurenai began, but before she could get a word in, Rumi interrupted with a grin.
"Anyway, Kurenai, I'm not feeling well today. Maybe it's something Yoichi-sensei did... or maybe not. I'll be going now." Rumi laughed as she made her exit, leaving Kurenai fuming inside the office.
Rumi paused at the doorway, waiting until she heard Kurenai stomping in frustration before finally walking away with a satisfied smile.
She made her way back toward the Hyūga compound, her steps light and confident. But instead of heading home, Rumi went to Hiashi's residence. It was her first time visiting the main family head's house, and despite the past tensions between the branch and main families, she held her head high.
"Please inform Lord Hiashi that Rumi is here to see him," Rumi said to the servant, Hyūga Natsu, whom she had met a few times before.
"Rumi-sama, Lady Hiwari is home as well. You may enter directly," Natsu replied, recognizing her as Hiashi's sister-in-law.
"I'm not here to see my sister. I'm here to speak with Lord Hiashi," Rumi responded.
Natsu hesitated for a moment but quickly nodded. "Please follow me."
Natsu led her to a guest room and went to inform Hiashi. Shortly after, Hiashi entered, taking a seat across from Rumi. After tea was served, he spoke first.
"Rumi, what brings you here today? Did the Fifth Hokage send a message?"
Hiashi and the Hyūga clan had recently been supportive of Konoha's changes, particularly the reforms in the police force. Still, some elders believed the Fifth Hokage was overprotective of Rumi, interfering in the affairs of the branch and main families.
"Lord Hiashi, did you know that the Hyūga clan is descended from the branch family of the Ōtsutsuki clan? Today, Yoichi-sensei and I went to the moon and uncovered the true origins of our clan," Rumi revealed, sharing the story of the Ōtsutsuki inheritance. However, she carefully omitted details about the Tenseigan and her own transformation.
Hiashi listened intently, his initial shock giving way to deep contemplation. After hearing the full account, he finally asked, "What does the Fifth Hokage intend?"
"Yoichi-sensei wants to know if you're willing to take in Toneri, though his chakra has been sealed for now. As for the Ōtsutsuki inheritance, only I have access to it for now, but I can allow others to view it under certain conditions," Rumi replied confidently, knowing that Yoichi had given her the leverage she needed.
"I will select a few talented branch members to pass on some of the Ōtsutsuki clan's secret techniques.
"As for the main family, your inheritance is complete, with many techniques that only the main family can learn. I suppose I won't need to pass those on."
"Rumi!" Hiashi's tone darkened as he furrowed his brows, his voice stern. "You are a member of the Hyūga clan, and any secret techniques you obtain must be handed over to the clan."
"These techniques were acquired by Yoichi-sensei and me. They have nothing to do with the Hyūga clan," Rumi responded, undeterred.
"Rumi," Hiashi said sharply. "Out of respect for your sister, I've been speaking to you kindly, and I've even helped calm the elders of the main family. But do not assume I am without power. Even the Fifth Hokage has no right to interfere in Hyūga clan matters."
Just as Hiashi finished speaking, he froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. Rumi slowly removed her headband, revealing her smooth, unmarked forehead. The Caged Bird Seal, which should have been there, had completely disappeared.
"Lord Hiashi, the main family no longer has any means to control me," Rumi said with a soft smile, though her gaze was far from gentle.
(End of Chapter)
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