Shin watched the two, his lips curling into a smile as he gestured for them to look closer.
Hyuga Hizashi frowned, turning his attention to the ninja from the Aburame clan. His gaze fixed on the unmistakable mark etched on the Aburame ninja's forehead.
"The Caged Bird... How is this possible!?" Hyuga Hizashi exclaimed, a dawning realization flashing in his eyes. Trembling, he reached up to touch his own forehead, finding only smooth skin.
"Could it be...!?" Hizashi's voice shook as he forced himself to stay calm, his entire body tingling with a mixture of disbelief and hope. He closed his eyes and drew on every bit of chakra left in his exhausted body.
"Byakugan!"
Veins surfaced around his temples as his Byakugan surged to life. But the chakra depletion in his body was already at critical levels, and soon, his Byakugan faded, his eyes closing involuntarily.
Though pale and weakened from the effort, Hizashi couldn't suppress the joy lighting up his features. He touched his forehead in awe. "I saw it—The Caged Bird Seal has truly been removed!"
The Caged Bird Seal, aside from binding Hyuga branch members to serve the main family, could be used to punish and even kill disobedient branch members. Hizashi's clear forehead meant that he was finally free.
For a moment, Hizashi felt as if he were dreaming, his whole being pulsing with a newfound liberation.
Meanwhile, the Aburame ninja—now sporting the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead—was speechless.
This arrangement wasn't ideal, but Shin's Munch-Munch Fruit powers allowed him to transfer matter, whether a physical body, a tree, or even a curse mark. However, it couldn't simply erase objects without a substitute. Thus, the nearby Aburame ninja had become the unfortunate carrier for Hizashi's former seal due to Shin's aversion to inconveniencing himself by hunting for a more appropriate vessel.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with a fervor bordering on obsession. "This is truly remarkable. I'm beginning to believe you possess a bloodline limit related to human transformation. Your power to transfer physical traits, chakra, and even curse marks at will... this ability could elevate an ordinary ninja to levels rivaling the legends of our world. What I wonder now is—what are the limits of this power, and how much can the human body endure?"
Shin gave him an approving nod. Orochimaru's questions had touched upon crucial points. While the transformation abilities granted by the Munch-Munch Fruit were indeed potent, the human body had its limitations.
For someone of average potential, like a civilian with limited chakra and physical ability, Shin's modifications could, at best, raise them to a Chunin-level ninjas. It took extraordinary aptitude, like that of Sara, to truly reach higher echelons of strength.
As the fruit's user, Shin himself had a much greater capacity, allowing him to withstand more extreme modifications. Yet, even he couldn't immediately assimilate colossal entities like the Gedo Statue without preparations.
However, as he continued to strengthen his body and unlock more of the Otsutsuki lineage within him, Shin felt certain he'd soon be able to absorb the Gedo Statue's essence fully.
Initially, Shin had assumed that gaining the Rinnegan would elevate the world of Naruto to a base camp status. Surprisingly, it only gives him additional 'world-travel energy'. Evidently, the presence of the Rinnegan alone wasn't enough to trigger any drastic shifts in the timeline. However, Shin was confident that the change would be inevitable once he consumed the Gedo Statue.
The Gedo Statue served as a linchpin preventing Kaguya Otsutsuki's return. Once its influence was removed, even if she managed to escape the moon, she would lack the resources needed to execute her Divine Tree Plan and consume all life on the planet.
Orochimaru's statements left the other ninjas in a state of shock. Among them, Jiraiya felt concerned the most. The ability Shin had just demonstrated could strip the Hyuga clan of its hold over its branch family, effectively dismantling a centuries-old system. In a broader sense, Shin's power posed a threat, granting him the leverage to amass allies within the Hyuga clan and potentially destabilize Konoha itself.
Before Jiraiya could voice his thoughts, Hyuga Hizashi knelt before Shin. "Lord Kurogami, please allow me to pledge the loyalty of the Hyuga branch family. We would be honored to serve as your strength."
"Are you insane, Hyuga Hizashi?" shouted the Inuzuka clan member, horrified. "Have you considered the consequences? You're betraying your own clan!"
Hizashi shot him a cold glare. "I understand the consequences all too well. But if living under the Hyuga main house as slaves is our only fate, I'd rather tear the Hyuga clan apart."
The Inuzuka ninja shook his head, confused. "But you're the brother of Hyuga Hiashi… You never used to think like this."
Hizashi nodded bitterly. "You're right. I didn't. The strict hierarchy within the Hyuga clan never bothered me much, and my elder brother, Hiashi, never gave me a reason to rebel against our family."
"Then why—?"
Hizashi's face hardened. "Because I have a son! My son, Neji, is a prodigy. His talent surpasses mine, surpasses even that of most Hyuga clan members."
"But under this accursed system—under this wretched Caged Bird Seal—Neji is condemned to live a life in service to the main house, risking everything for someone weaker than he is, just because of the circumstances of his birth."
With a clenched fist, Hizashi seethed. "My son has greater potential than me. However, because of the timing of my birth, he's expected to waste his potential protecting someone far less capable. This abomination of a system has caged him just as it caged me!"
"I can live with this curse—I've endured it my entire life. But to think that my son, with all his gifts, will live and die in shackles. I refuse to stand by and let that happen!"
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