"Join the Hyūga clan?"
Uchiha Shigure hesitated, his thoughts tangled like roots beneath the soil. For so long he had been called Uchiha Shigure—the surname itself had etched itself into his bones, his identity. If he became part of the Hyūga clan, would that name vanish? Would he suddenly become Hyūga Shigure, erasing the Uchiha blood that still ran through his veins?
More than that, did joining even matter anymore? In the aftermath of so many elite losses, the Uchiha clan no longer dared to move against him. He had power, recognition, and—most importantly—fear on his side. Shigure wondered what benefit truly came with binding himself to the Hyūga so late in the game.
His strength had already leapt ahead. Copying and mastering the Byakugan's physical techniques had given him leverage most Hyūga could only dream of. And if he wanted to learn more, his Sharingan made it possible to take them without the need for rituals or formal clansmanship.
But the question wasn't only about jutsu. He clenched his fists lightly at his sides.
How can I learn the truth about my mother?
Joining the Hyūga might only be a symbol, but perhaps it was that symbol which could open the last locked doors.
Seeing his student's turmoil, Hyūga Hizashi stepped closer. His expression was steady, his words deliberate.
"Shigure," Hizashi said gently, "if you learn the Hyūga clan's secret techniques, two things happen. First, your strength will grow. Second, with the Hyūga standing behind you, your influence in the village will multiply. Any who wish to strike at you will first measure whether they can withstand the weight of an entire clan."
His voice softened further, carrying a sincerity that Shigure rarely heard directed his way.
"Even as your teacher, I've seen how the Uchiha treat you. Aside from Shisui and Obito… tell me, who considered you kin? Who has truly stood at your side? As for your parents—your father was cast out, but your mother was once a princess of the Hyūga. You have blood here, whether you acknowledge it or not."
Hizashi placed a firm, warm hand on Shigure's shoulder. "These aren't my words as a Hyūga. They're the words of a teacher… of someone who truly wishes for your happiness."
Shigure drew a sharp breath, conflicted. Hizashi's eyes were open, guileless, carrying neither deceit nor expectation. For once, there was no manipulation, no clan politics—only truth.
"I'll wait for your decision," Hizashi added, stepping back. "But don't be hasty."
Shigure looked down at his hands, the choice echoing in his chest. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face.
"All right then," he said. "Sensei, rather than biting at this question forever, let's do something practical. Teach me the Hyūga clan's taijutsu. Now. I want to see if you can show me something I still don't know."
Hizashi blinked in surprise at the sudden boldness. "Shigure, what do you mean by—"
Shigure's eyes shifted, crimson bleeding into black, the tomoe spiraling alive. This time he consciously allowed the veins around his eyes to thicken, Byakugan-esque bursts beneath his skin.
"This…!" Hizashi stiffened. "Those eyes—you carry the magatama… are they a mutation of the Byakugan? Or is it a mutated Sharingan…?"
Shigure exhaled, tired of the half-truths and evasions. "Hyūga-sensei, let's not dance around it anymore. My eyes are called the Byakuran. They combine both bloodlines—Sharingan and Byakugan—merged as one."
Hizashi's throat went dry.
"With them, I carry the Byakugan's 360-degree perception… and the Sharingan's copying and prediction. I've already used them to learn much of your clan's taijutsu. I lied before when I called it chance. It was always this." He lowered his gaze slightly. "I hope you can forgive me."
Silence stretched, broken only by the soft rustle of the evening breeze. Then Hizashi nodded.
"Show me."
Shigure obeyed, his stance shifting fluidly across the packed earth. His voice rang out as his hands blurred.
"Eight Trigrams Palm…!"
"Eight Trigrams: Rotation!"
"Soft Fist—"
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
Each landed with precision, power flowing effortlessly from muscle to strike, a catalogue of secrets once meant to remain within Hyūga walls.
Hizashi's eyes widened. By the time Shigure stepped back, breath steady, Hizashi was speechless.
"You've even achieved resuscitation technique…" he murmured, almost in disbelief. "That… that art is reserved for only the most advanced. Even I was not permitted!"
He shook his head, awe creeping into his voice. "I don't know whether what is terrifying is your dojutsu… or you as a person."
Shigure smirked faintly, though not without humility.
Hizashi finally drew himself upright. "You've taken much already… but there are still techniques you lack. Allow me to show you."
The moonlight spilled across the training grounds as Hizashi blurred forward. His palm thrust outward, a shockwave of chakra bursting free.
"Eight Trigrams: Empty Wall Palm!"
The blast rippled through the air, carrying force beyond the standard Vacuum Palm. Hizashi pivoted, his chakra spinning into another dazzling form.
"This palm surpasses even Return to Heaven. This is Great Heavenly Rotation—wider, stronger, overwhelming all within its field!"
He moved again, demonstrating the refined subtleties of Hyūga footwork: the shifting stances that let the clan dominate close combat. Step by step, Hizashi unfolded a treasury of taijutsu secrets, honed by experience rather than scrolls.
Shigure drank it in greedily, practicing at once, weaving the corrections into his own movements. His Byakuran recorded everything, but more importantly, he understood.
Moments later, he halted, exhaling. Sweat glistened faintly on his brow, but his smile was triumphant.
"It's done," he said simply.
Hizashi gazed at him, astonished by how quickly his pupil had absorbed techniques that took decades for most to master. "Then… you are ready. With this, I believe you could even stand against the clan head himself."
Shigure's eyes gleamed. "Then why wait? Let's put it to the test."
"Now?" Hizashi looked at the night sky. The full moon glowed brilliantly overhead. His expression hardened. "Are you certain? Tonight of all nights?"
"What of it?" Shigure tilted his head. "Is there something wrong with the moon?"
Hizashi's mouth pressed thin. "The clan head… grows stronger under the full moon. It is not superstition, but power tied to the moon's heritage—to the very blood of Hamura Ōtsutsuki that flows through our veins."
Shigure froze, surprise flickering in his gaze. That isn't in the history… Could it be because of the Outer Path statue sealed in the moon? Or something else tied to Hamura's descendants?
Instead of doubt, excitement coiled in his gut. "Then I want to see it with my own eyes."
Hizashi let out a slow breath. "You're relentless." Then he smiled faintly. "Very well. It is your choice. I'll support you."
Shigure nodded, then suddenly clapped a hand lightly against Hizashi's arm. Chakra pulsed through the contact. Hizashi gasped as his body seemed to surge with fresh vitality.
"This—my chakra?" Hizashi blinked. "It feels… more abundant. You did this?"
"Yes," Shigure answered calmly. "I can draw a fraction of another's bloodline force. In return, I can stimulate their chakra, pulling their hidden potential to the surface."
Hizashi stared, stunned. "But… will that harm you?"
Shigure shook his head. "No. If anything, it strengthens me. It purifies my Byakuran further. Our gains are shared—it is mutually beneficial."
At that, Hizashi broke into a grin. "If what you say is true, then this ability alone could change the balance of a clan. Shigure, with it, you might have a bargaining chip even against the clan leader himself!"
Shigure's eyes sharpened, a spark of anticipation lighting within them. The night air turned sharp, like the stillness before a storm. Somewhere above them, the moon seemed to pulse brighter.
The challenge was drawing near.
--
Unlock 50 exclusive advanced chapters for just $10 – don't miss out! Check the synopsis/description for the link! 🚀
Loved this fic? 🔥 Then you'll absolutely binge my other hits — "Douluo Dalu: Ten Thousand Years Early System!" & "Douluo Dalu: The Godly Drunkard System" — don't miss out!