Natsu Hyuga gave a soft hum of affirmation and followed Kiyoshi inside.
Walking behind his tall silhouette, she felt an inexplicable sense of security. Upon reaching the living room, she took the initiative to pick up the teapot and pour tea for him. As a member of the Branch House, she had been specifically trained in the arts of service. The tea ceremony was a vital part of that education.
"Not bad," Kiyoshi nodded with satisfaction.
'A maid is a maid, after all.' Even within the Branch House, there were hierarchies of competence. In the original timeline, Natsu eventually earned the position of serving Hanabi Hyuga personally, which spoke volumes about her diligence.
Hanabi was the "second chance" child born after Hiashi realized Hinata was seemingly a failure; she carried all his hopes. Her status was paramount.
Seeing Kiyoshi's calm expression as he finished the scalding tea in one gulp, Natsu was surprised by his heat resistance, but also relieved. It meant her service was acceptable.
However, before she could fully relax, her heart tightened again.
"Guren," Kiyoshi called out.
Natsu looked on, confused, as a small blue-haired girl emerged from the inner rooms.
"Kiyoshi... is this the girl you adopted?" Natsu asked, a vague realization dawning on her.
"Yes. She looks quite well-behaved, doesn't she?" Kiyoshi beckoned Guren over.
Guren was shy in the presence of an unfamiliar woman. Moreover, Natsu's white eyes frightened herâthey looked like the eyes of a ghost. Instinctively, she pressed closer to Kiyoshi's side. Kiyoshi patted her head like one would a puppy.
"Guren, you'll help me with the housework from now on."
"Okay," Guren agreed without hesitation. Staying in Kiyoshi's home without doing anything made her feel uneasy; having tasks to perform brought her peace of mind.
While Guren was reassured, Natsu felt a sudden surge of urgency. What if Kiyoshi lost interest in her? After all, she could only come by occasionally to clean or cook. If this little girl could do those things, what need was there for her?
Natsu clenched her hands and forced a flattering smile, mentioning that she had recently learned a new "Gentle Fist" technique. She immediately began explaining it to him.
She described the [Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm] and the [Eight Trigrams Mountain Crusher].
Kiyoshi memorized them after a single hearing, and a new notification flashed in his mind.
You have obtained the Trait: [Hyuga Fundamentals (Purple)].
[Trait: Hyuga Fundamentals (Purple)]
Requirement: Learn and use two legendary "Gentle Fist" techniques exclusive to the Hyuga Clan.
Progress: (25%).
Effect: Your formidable chakra control allows you to expel chakra from every tenketsu in your body without relying on a Byakugan.
Your physical body begins to adapt to this change, granting the "Telescopic Vision" ability, allowing you to observe objects up to 3 kilometers away.
Insight is increased by 40% on its original basis.
Note: This can be further evolved.
'interesting.'
Kiyoshi stopped stroking Guren's head and stared at the panel only he could see. He had actually obtained abilities identical to the Byakugan! This proved that Traits didn't just boost stats; they could grant powers nearly identical to Kekkei Genkai. This opened up entirely new possibilities.
To Natsu, it simply looked like Kiyoshi was staring intensely at her. She shifted her legs uncomfortably, lowering her eyes to avoid his gaze.
Kiyoshi pondered. The Byakugan had many facets: Telescopic Vision, X-ray Vision, Insight, Genjutsu, and even the ability to see destiny or thoughts. Some could even perform space-time "Intangibility." However, beyond the first three, only the Otsutsuki clan or those with high "purity" could manifest the advanced powers.
''Very good, Natsu. Keep bringing me more 'Gentle Fist' techniques,'' Kiyoshi smiled.
Referring to her as "Natsu" instead of "Classmate Natsu" instantly eased her anxiety.
"Rest assured, Kiyoshi-kun," she whispered.
"Come here," Kiyoshi said.
Natsu leaned forward. Kiyoshi placed his hand over her headband, conducting chakra into her body. As his understanding of Moryo's power deepened and his "Dark Medical Ninjutsu" evolved, the life-force cost required to heal and restore the body had dropped by more than half.
Feeling the Caged Bird Curse in her mind weaken further, Natsu was overjoyed. It was true... only Kiyoshi-kun could pull her out of this hopeless cage.
"Now then, we need to discuss the 'details' further," Kiyoshi said calmly.
The reason his progress hit 25% so quickly was largely because his training in the [Lightning Style Chakra Mode] had already accustomed him to expelling chakra from all his tenketsu. Everything else was just drawing parallels.
"I... I should wash..." Natsu realized what was about to happen. Her face grew hot. For someone raised in a traditional, strict clan, such things before marriage felt shameless. If her clansmen knew, they would brand her a harlot.
"How can one neglect their training?" Kiyoshi said righteously, handing her a black fabric strip. Exploring the mysteries of the Hyuga was a top priority that could not be delayed for a second.
Natsu bit her lip, her cheeks burning. She took the strip and tied it around her forehead, covering those ghostly white eyes.
"Go to your room," Kiyoshi told Guren. The "advanced discussion" was about to begin. Guren, who hadn't even refined chakra yet, just needed to focus on her meditation.
Guren nodded blankly, looked at the blindfolded "ghost sister," then at Kiyoshi, and obediently went to her room.
Once she was gone, Kiyoshi stood up. Natsu heard his footstepsâsteady and deliberate in the darkness. She knew she wasn't supposed to use her Byakugan right now...
*Click.* The door to the bedroom closed.
***
"What are Lord Kiyoshi and the ghost-sister doing?" Guren wondered in her room. She didn't know about the Byakugan; she genuinely thought Natsu was some kind of spirit.
Before long, she heard noisesâmuffled, rhythmic, and sounding somewhere between a cry and a plea. Guren's little head suddenly "realized" the truth.
'Of course! Lord Kiyoshi even covered the ghost's eyes. He must be performing a righteous exorcism!'
"Lord Kiyoshi is so amazing," little Guren thought to herself.
***
'Just a little more... the final catalyst will likely be the Battle of Kannabi Bridge,' Kiyoshi thought later, his eyes closed.
He could feel his chakra hitting a bottleneck. Every person's maximum chakra is largely determined at birth. Training merely allows one to reach that inherent limit. Even the Otsutsuki had limits; Kaguya only achieved her vast reserves by fusing with the God Tree.
'Until I evolve into the Eternal Mangekyo, I can rely on my ocular power to push my chakra limits,' he calculated. Beyond that lay the Rinnegan, requiring the combination of Indra and Ashura's chakra to manifest the Six Paths power.
"Ki... Kiyoshi-kun, I should head back."
Kiyoshi opened his eyes. Natsu was carefully smoothing the wrinkles in her skirt. After a while, she looked up at him.
"There's a bathroom. Use it if you need to," Kiyoshi waved a hand.
"Yes." Natsu nodded. After a moment of hesitation, she went to wash. It would be bad if she returned to the clan looking disheveled.
Kiyoshi sat in the room, mentally scheduling his training for the new forbidden techniques. Even as Natsu said her goodbyes and left, he only gave a faint hum in response.
***
Hyuga Clan.
By the time Natsu returned, it was already past dinner time. She found Ginka Hyuga waiting for her in the shadows.
"Natsu, you're late," Ginka whispered, her white eyes scanning Natsu's refreshed appearance and the lingering "glow" on her face. "Did Lord Hiashi's 'mission' go well?"
Natsu looked away, her voice soft but firm. "Kiyoshi-kun is... very dedicated to his research. I am simply helping him."
Ginka smirked, realizing that Natsu was now firmly entwined with the Uchiha genius. 'Good. The deeper she falls, the more leverage we have.'