Chapter 126 (Patreon)

The next morning, at eight o’clock.

Mihawk’s internal clock rarely failed him, but this time, it never woke him at its usual hour.

By the time he opened his eyes, the sun was already hanging high in the sky, casting a warm golden glow across the village.

There was a comforting weight in his arms.

Looking down, Mihawk found Hinata lying against his chest beneath the blanket. Her sleeping face carried a contented smile, as though she were having a wonderful dream.

As he gazed at her, memories of the previous night returned to him—the birthday surprise, their kiss, the cake they had shared, and how they had eventually fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

A smile naturally appeared on Mihawk’s face.

His hand moved gently across her back through her clothes before he began stroking her hair, careful not to disturb her sleep.

Perhaps Hinata sensed his movements.

Not long after Mihawk awakened, her eyelids fluttered slightly before her sleepy pale eyes slowly opened.

Her gaze instinctively moved toward him.

Mihawk had been watching her with an affectionate smile, but the moment he saw her eyes clearly, his expression gradually froze.

Hinata rubbed her eyes and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, “Mihawk-kun, what’s wrong?”

Mihawk stared at her in disbelief. He slowly raised one hand and gently touched the skin beneath her left eye.

“Hinata, your eyes…”

“My eyes?”

The strangeness of Mihawk’s expression instantly drove away the last traces of Hinata’s sleepiness.

She hurriedly touched her face and anxiously asked, “Is something wrong with them?”

Mihawk remained silent for several seconds.

Then a sincere smile appeared on his face.

“Congratulations, Hinata.”

“Huh?”

Hinata stared at him in confusion, unable to understand what he meant.

Mihawk pulled the blanket around her shoulders, lifted her from the bed, and carried her over to the dressing table.

He stood behind Hinata and gently brushed the loose strands of hair away from her face.

When Hinata looked into the mirror, she immediately froze.

Her previously pure-white eyes had changed. Pale blue irises had appeared within them, surrounded by intricate white, flower-like patterns.

Mihawk rested his chin lightly on her shoulder.

“They’re beautiful, Hinata.”

Hinata’s mind went completely blank.

She stared at the unfamiliar eyes reflected in the mirror. Despite countless thoughts passing through her mind, she could not manage to say a single word.

Only after a long silence did she finally look up at Mihawk.

“Mihawk-kun, my eyes… What happened to them?”

Mihawk wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and answered without concealing anything.

“Do you remember the white pill I gave you?”

“Mm.”

Hinata nodded repeatedly.

“The pill’s full name is the Evolution Catalyst,” Mihawk explained. “Once consumed, it strengthens and evolves the bloodline of the person who takes it.”

He looked at Hinata’s newly transformed eyes in the mirror and smiled.

“Hinata, congratulations. Your eyes have surpassed the limits of the Hyūga clan.”

Mihawk’s words left Hinata unable to recover from her shock for quite some time.

She had never imagined that the Byakugan, which her clan had inherited for generations, could evolve into something even greater.

Hinata suddenly remembered something.

“Then was the sudden increase in my strength back then also caused by the Evolution Catalyst?”

“Not entirely,” Mihawk replied, unwilling to let her become discouraged. “Without all the training you put yourself through, the Evolution Catalyst’s effects would never have awakened so quickly.”

“So that was why…”

Hinata could tell that Mihawk was trying to comfort her.

It would be a lie to say that she did not feel slightly disheartened after learning that much of her sudden improvement had come from the pill.

However, that disappointment was soon overwhelmed by intense excitement and happiness.

Hinata turned around and hugged Mihawk tightly, the blanket still wrapped around her shoulders.

“Mihawk-kun, I finally won’t hold you back anymore.”

Her voice carried a rare degree of excitement.

“Yeah…”

Mihawk returned her embrace, resting one hand gently against her back. Despite their closeness, the only emotions in his heart were warmth and genuine happiness for her.

“You won’t hold me back,” he agreed. “If anything, I might have to rely on you to protect me from now on.”

“Hehe…”

A playful giggle, remarkably similar to Hanabi’s, escaped Hinata’s lips.

————

At noon, inside the dojo.

Mihawk sat on a meditation cushion and looked curiously at Hinata, who was sitting across from him.

“Hinata, can you sense whether your eyes have gained any new abilities?”

“I think so. Let me try.”

Hinata nodded before closing her eyes.

Mihawk did not disturb her and waited quietly.

In the shinobi world, the Byakugan, Sharingan, and Rinnegan were revered as the Three Great Dōjutsu.

Under exceptional circumstances, the evolutionary path connected to the Sharingan could ultimately lead to the Rinnegan. The Byakugan possessed its own higher form as well—the Tenseigan.

Judging from the differences between the Sharingan and Rinnegan users Mihawk knew, merely awakening a powerful dōjutsu did not mean someone would immediately master all its abilities.

Certain powers differed depending on the individual, while many others needed to be discovered and developed through training.

A person did not automatically understand every ability of their dōjutsu the moment it awakened.

Both Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, yet there had once been an enormous difference between their mastery of it.

Likewise, even after obtaining the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, the difference between Sasuke and Uchiha Madara remained immense.

Some dōjutsu abilities could be used immediately after awakening, while others had to be slowly drawn out or would only reveal themselves once the proper conditions had been met.

Susanoo was one such example.

A Mangekyō Sharingan user had to develop it gradually, advancing from a partial skeletal form to a humanoid form, then an armored form, and finally the Complete Body — Susanoo.

Of course, Kakashi’s one-time use of Complete Body — Susanoo, made possible by power temporarily entrusted to him, was far too unusual to count.

Mihawk believed Hinata would not be able to enter Tenseigan Chakra Mode yet.

Tenseigan Chakra Mode was a higher application of the Tenseigan’s power, much like Susanoo was for the Mangekyō Sharingan.

At the very least, Hinata would first need to become familiar with her evolved eyes and establish complete control over their power.

After keeping her eyes closed for some time, Hinata slowly opened them. A delighted smile appeared on her face.

“Mihawk-kun, I can feel two new abilities.”

Mihawk leaned forward with interest.

“What abilities?”

“Attraction and repulsion.”

Hinata looked like a child eager to demonstrate an exciting new discovery.

She turned toward the sword rack sitting some distance away and raised one hand toward it.

“Mihawk-kun, look!”

The moment she spoke, the sword rack placed on the tatami began to tremble.

It rose into the air before flying directly toward them.

Overcome with excitement, Hinata briefly forgot to control her newfound strength. She thrust her palm forward, and a powerful repulsive force erupted from her body.

The approaching sword rack was violently blasted away.

Unfortunately, Mihawk, who was sitting directly in front of her, was sent flying as well.

“Ah! Mihawk-kun!”

Hinata’s panicked voice rang throughout the dojo.