"Hikari, the Hyūga's Gentle Fist is the strongest taijutsu in the world—offense and defense as one. With the Byakugan, it counters all physical, ninjutsu, and genjutsu."
"The Eight Trigrams Palms are the main family's secret. At most… I can only teach you how to awaken your eyes and the basics of the Gentle Fist."
Even with hollow, bloodied sockets where her eyes once were, Hyūga Tenkei spoke those words with pride.
---
Konoha Streets.
Her cane and bundle set aside, Hikari crouched alone on the roadside, cloaked in white.
Memories of Tenkei's face—gentle as still water despite her blindness—resurfaced.
Optimistic. Kind. Selfless. Pure…
Every virtue Hikari lacked, that woman had embodied.
You guarded their secrets. Didn't even teach your own daughter. And in the end? The Hyūga erased you from their records.
How pathetic, Tenkei.
A humorless laugh escaped Hikari—mocking, yet tinged with pity.
Being barred from the Hyūga meant little to her.
With her strength, anywhere but Kirigakure could be home.
Still, she hadn't expected the Hyūga to discard Tenkei's status so brazenly. No honorary title. Not even a footnote in their history.
Lucky I didn't rush in waving my Byakugan.
The two branch-family brothers who'd confronted her? Pulverized, then dumped in the river.
No one knew she'd visited the compound. No ties to Tenkei remained.
At least there's room to maneuver.
Her fingers brushed the smooth black cloth covering her eyes.
She'd be stuck with it for now.
Activating the Byakugan made veins bulge around the eyes, creeping down the cheeks—far too conspicuous.
If exposed, the Hyūga would never let a rogue bloodline escape their control.
Until she could match the clan's might, she needed something to mask it. A mask felt cumbersome; the blindfold was simpler.
Plan Summary:
- Hyūga homecoming: Scrapped.
- Blind act: Ongoing.
- Next goal: Secure a legal Konoha identity to access ninjutsu archives.
(Illegal methods were viable but risky. Her body wasn't fully matured yet. Konoha's stability—not stolen secrets—was her priority.)
Revised Strategy:
1. Enroll in the Academy as a civilian.
2. Excel. Lure the Hokage's patronage.
3. Avoid Root's attention. Find a powerful ally…
Piece by piece, she rebuilt her shattered plans on that lonely street corner.
---
Southside, atop a zelkova tree.
Rustle—
A silver-haired ANBU flipped a page of Make-Out Paradise, lounging in the shadows.
Afternoon surveillance: Direct order from the Sandaime.
"Monitor the unidentified kekkei genkai user. Likely not a spy, but exercise caution. Apprehend if hostile."
"Yaaawn…"
Hatake Kakashi blinked drowsily, eye crinkling at the girl below.
Six hours. Not a single move.
Passersby mistook her for a blind beggar. Coins and snacks piled at her feet. Even women cooed offers to "adopt the poor thing."
Kakashi tallied the donations.
Enough to buy eight limited-edition Icha Icha novels.
"Tch." My mission pay doesn't even cover one.
He scratched his spiky hair, mildly aggrieved.
We share traits—silver hair, bloodline, eye disability. Where's my charity?
(Then again, he did hide his face 24/7.)
Resigned, he resumed reading.
If she gets paid to sit, I get paid to laze. Fair's fair.
---
Dusk fell.
The bustling avenue emptied, leaving only the "pitiful blind girl" silhouetted against twilight.
Kakashi pocketed his book, squinting.
Seven PM. No food. No bathroom breaks. Do kekkei genkai users not need bodily functions?
His mission mandated three days of surveillance. If she kept this up, he'd be mosquito bait all night.
Objective:
- Study her sealess water release.
- Replicate it via Sharingan.
(Assuming she ever moved.)
---
Then—
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A monster lurched into view.
Green-skinned. No head. Twisted limbs. Guttural grunts.
Kakashi's hand flew to his forehead protector—
Sharingan: ACTIVATE.
The creature sharpened into focus: vibrant green spandex, bowl-cut hair, gleaming teeth.
…Gai?!
He deactivated the dōjutsu, rubbing his eye.
Too much reading. Hallucinating.
But when he glanced down—
The motionless girl had lifted her head.
Her covered gaze locked onto Gai like a predator sighting prey.
---
(•̀ᴗ•́)و