Chapter 56: The Seed of Transcendence (Patreon)

"Is that so?"

Upon hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen also let out a deep sigh. His emotions were now completely swayed by Hyūga Kumokawa's words.

That made sense. Up to now, only Uzumaki Mito had truly mastered the Strength of a Hundred Seal. Even Tsunade had only learned it, not fully mastered it. If Hyūga Kumokawa could master such a technique in such a short time... Hiruzen might start feeling suspicious and wary.

A person's talent, slightly surpassing others, makes them a genius. But if it surpasses others by too much, they become a monster.

Hyūga Kumokawa understood this principle well. This current level was just right.

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent for a long while, seemingly hesitating about something. Finally, he patted Kumokawa's shoulder warmly. "Remember, during this mission, you must be cautious, cautious, and cautious again. Follow the commands and orders of your seniors."

Truthfully, he was even starting to feel reluctant to send this child out of the village to risk his life.

Loyalty to inherit a will, promising talent, a lonely, unsupported background, and unlike Kakashi, no tarnished record...

Apart from that detestable "Caged Bird Cursed Seal," Hyūga Kumokawa seemed almost tailor-made to be his "sword."

But Hiruzen also understood that good steel, without tempering, cannot become a sharp blade.

"Yes, Lord Third!" Hyūga Kumokawa said solemnly. "Please rest assured. I will complete the mission and return safely."

"Good. Go now."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction, adding, "If the Hyūga clan cuts off your resource supply, come to me. You are a good child, a hope for Konoha's future. As Hokage and as... the village's patriarch, I will not let you suffer injustice."

"Thank you."

Hyūga Kumokawa timely showed a grateful expression. Sarutobi Hiruzen mirrored it with a benevolent look. A truly heartwarming scene of harmony between elder and youth.

In reality, Hyūga Kumokawa's heart remained as still and cold as a stagnant pond, looking down with detachment at Hiruzen's performance.

He was always clear that he was fundamentally different from Uzumaki Naruto. He could never call him "Gramps."

Hiruzen would never allow it, and Kumokawa himself would never be willing.

But it didn't matter. It was enough.

Hiruzen acted the benevolent elder; Kumokawa acted the respectful junior.

The "affection" in Hiruzen's pot had aged for decades; the "filial piety" in Kumokawa's cup was also warmed to just the right temperature.

Both were masters of performance.

The only difference was that Sarutobi Hiruzen was focused on studying the chessboard, unaware he was already a piece in the game. Meanwhile, Hyūga Kumokawa had already set the board and was watching the man before him step into his carefully laid trap.

Hyūga Kumokawa left.

But he also took away many things.

[Name: Hyūga Kumokawa]

[Age: 15]

[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (9.9%)]

[Chakra Capacity: S-rank]

[Chakra Natures: Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning, Yin, Yang]

[Ninjutsu: …Wind Release: Pressure Damage (B-rank), Fire Release: Great Flame Destruction (B-rank), Delicate Illness Extraction Technique (B-rank), Summoning: Rashōmon (A-rank), Lightning Release: Chidori (S-rank), Strength of a Hundred Seal (S-rank)…]

[Taijutsu: Primary Lotus (B-rank), Reverse Lotus (A-rank)…]

[Secret Techniques: Shadow Strangle Jutsu, Adamantine Sealing Chains]

[Kekkei Genkai: Tenseigan – Second Stage (30.3%) [Abilities: Spiritual Puppetry, Chakra Rosary Beads]]

[Achievements: …]

[Remaining Realization Points: 18,094]

"What a bountiful harvest."

His figure flitted across the rooftops. Looking at the status panel floating before his eyes, a smile appeared on Hyūga Kumokawa's face.

He had already been just a step away from mastering "Chidori" himself. Now, mastering it completely after reviewing the scroll was only natural.

In his view, the true gains were the "Strength of a Hundred Seal" and the two secret techniques.

Thinking of this, Hyūga Kumokawa raised his left hand and looked at his palm.

There, a "◇"-shaped black mark was faintly visible. Though the color was still light, it at least proved he had mastered the Strength of a Hundred Seal.

With this technique, he wouldn't need to hide away and refine chakra in advance, like last time in the Land of Hot Water, to unleash techniques at their maximum power.

However, what surprised Kumokawa most was the inexplicable sense of familiarity he felt with the "Strength of a Hundred Seal" technique.

It wasn't familiarity from having seen it before, but a familiarity rising from the depths of his bloodline.

"Ōtsutsuki clan..."

Hyūga Kumokawa's eyes gleamed faintly as he looked at the mark on his palm. The sense of familiarity grew stronger.

Finally, a thought struck him. His heart skipped a beat, then began to pound violently.

"Kāma?"

The word escaped his lips in a whisper.

Yes, that was it. That was the source of the familiarity.

"Kāma" was a unique ability of the Ōtsutsuki clan. They could digitize and replicate themselves, then implant this data into another person. The recipient was called a "Vessel."

The Vessel's palm would bear a black diamond-shaped mark—this was the so-called "Kāma."

Simply put, "Kāma" was a compressed "backup file of an Ōtsutsuki." The compressed file would gradually "thaw" over time, a process that could be accelerated through battle.

When all data is "thawed," the Vessel's body is "replaced" by the Ōtsutsuki member's data. The Vessel's own existence is completely erased, and the Ōtsutsuki member is thus resurrected.

"..."

Thinking of the similarities between the "Strength of a Hundred Seal" and "Kāma," Hyūga Kumokawa unconsciously licked his parched lips.

If the term "data" is too abstract, one could also call it "genes."

Its essence is packaging one's own genes and transferring them to another individual, gradually usurping that individual's body.

While the shinobi world was still playing with organ transplants and cell transplants, the Ōtsutsuki clan was already cutting and pasting their own genetic data.

If the "Strength of a Hundred Seal" is for storing chakra, then "Kāma" is for storing one's own genetic data. The underlying principle of both is "storage" and "release."

Although their functions are worlds apart, their principles are interconnected. Moreover, "Kāma" also possesses the ability to absorb ninjutsu and release chakra.

In fact, Orochimaru's Cursed Seal had a similar effect, though it probably hadn't even been developed by Orochimaru yet.

"If I could truly master 'Kāma,' this ability unique to the Ōtsutsuki... or even just a watered-down version..."

Considering this possibility, even Hyūga Kumokawa couldn't help but focus his gaze.

If that were truly possible, the things he could accomplish would multiply.

After pondering for a moment, Hyūga Kumokawa looked up and thought inwardly: Materialize - a method for me to cultivate the complete 'Kāma.'

[Insufficient Points]

"As expected."

Hyūga Kumokawa's eyes shifted slightly, not particularly surprised by this.

"Kāma" was, after all, the ability that allowed the Ōtsutsuki clan to transcend death. It likely had extremely high requirements regarding the purity of the Ōtsutsuki bloodline. At least, Ōtsutsuki Kinshiki and Ōtsutsuki Urashiki never demonstrated it.

Only Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki, whom even Urashiki had to respect, and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, who possessed the qualifications to come to the shinobi world to plant the God Tree, these two possessed the "Kāma" ability.

Hyūga Kumokawa lowered his standard, thinking inwardly: Materialize - a method suitable for my current level to cultivate 'Kāma,' based on the 'Strength of a Hundred Seal' and 'Cursed Seal.'

[Cost: 8000 Realization Points. Confirm Materialization?]

A smile surfaced on Hyūga Kumokawa's face. Without hesitation, he thought: Materialize!