Chapter 90: The Heist
True immortality, it seemed, conferred not just power but an escape from the tyranny of time. Akira's goal was not a temporary Sage Mode, but a permanent, unshakable state of being—a true Sage.
Jūgo's clan possessed bodies naturally attuned to senjutsu, instinctively drawing in natural energy. By integrating that physique, the path to achieving a permanent Sage Mode would be drastically shortened. Therefore, Jūgo's Sage Transformation was non-negotiable; it would be one of the five.
"That leaves one final slot," Akira murmured, his gaze shifting to a much larger cultivation tank at the far end of the lab.
Suspended within the green nutrient bath were massive, irregular chunks of pale, wood-like tissue, each several meters in diameter. This was the harvested flesh of the Gedo Statue, recovered from the battlefield in Amegakure.
Months of analysis had led to a pivotal conclusion. While inert now, these tissues would reactivate if infused with the chakra of all nine tailed beasts. They would, in essence, return to life as a fragment of the Ten-Tails.
As dead matter, its utility was limited. But revived, it would embody the raw, primordial power of the Ten-Tails—the very essence of Six Paths-level energy. Its value would be incalculable. The Demonic Mirror Jutsu's fusion targets weren't restricted to humanoid beings; Hiruko's original research had used a summoned creature. A resurrected fragment of the Divine Tree, the Ten-Tails' true form, was a worthy candidate.
Thus, Akira's revised list of five was set:
The Senju Hashirama clone (Peak Yang).
The Otsutsuki Toneri clone (Pure Otsutsuki lineage).
A vessel bearing the Tenseigan (Evolved Ocular Power).
Jūgo's Sage Transformation body (Ultimate Senjutsu Affinity).
The revived Gedo Statue tissue (Ten-Tails/Divine Tree essence).
Only the first was complete. The remaining four were works in progress.
The Toneri clone required a trip to the moon, a confrontation with the lunar Otsutsuki. With his current power, Akira was confident in securing a sample. The primary concern was the "Great Tenseigan" on the moon—a planetary weapon that drained the chakra of any non-Hamura descendant who approached. That would require careful planning.
The Tenseigan vessel, the revival of the Gedo Statue tissue, and securing Jūgo's body… these depended on opportunity and luck. They could fall into place quickly or demand years of effort.
'According to the original timeline,' Akira pondered, 'the Byakugan most compatible with Toneri's chakra belonged to Hyuga Hanabi.' But Hanabi wasn't born yet. Her elder sister, Hinata, was only an infant of a few months.
'Hinata Hyuga, the "Byakugan Princess," will have to suffice,' he decided. 'Her bloodline purity is undoubtedly high.' Toneri's later choice of Hanabi was likely due to timing—waiting for his plan to mature—or possibly a marginally better compatibility. Hinata's eyes would serve the purpose.
The method of acquisition presented itself. 'Then I shall pay the Hyuga a visit… wearing a familiar face.'
From the Kamui dimension, he retrieved items: a black cloak lined with red clouds, and a single-eyed, orange, spiral-patterned mask. The uniform of the Akatsuki, and the visage of "Uchiha Madara."
If he was going to sow chaos, he might as well commit to the role.
The mask, crafted from Gedo Statue material and enhanced with Yin-Yang Release, was impervious even to the Byakugan's sight. He donned the disguise, and with a swirl of intangible space, vanished from the lab.
A figure materialized in the heart of the Hyuga compound, within the meticulously maintained gardens of the clan head's lavish residence. The architecture here spoke of ancient wealth and strict tradition, far more ornate than the Uchiha's comparatively austere style.
The moment he appeared, cloaked in Akatsuki garb and the eerie mask, he was detected.
"INTRUDER!"
The serene atmosphere shattered. From behind screens and within shadowed corridors, Hyuga clansmen—members of the Branch House, identifiable by their forehead protectors worn low—leapt into the courtyard. They moved with fluid grace, forming a tight, encircling ring around the interloper. The Main House was heavily guarded even in the village's center.
"Reaction time is commendable," the masked figure observed, his voice distorted and echoing slightly within the mask. A single, crimson Sharingan glowed with cold detachment from the single eyehole. "The Byakugan's reconnaissance is indeed peerless." He ignored the circle of hostile shinobi and began walking calmly, purposefully, toward the innermost buildings.
"Stop him! He must not reach the family quarters!" a Branch member shouted, lunging forward, fingers poised for the Gentle Fist.
"Wood Release: Wood Spear."
Thwip!
A sharp, hardened spike of wood erupted from the palm of the masked man's hand. It shot forward with blinding speed, piercing the attacker's shoulder and hurling him back into a wall with a sickening crunch. The man slumped, unconscious.
"Heh…" A low, disdainful chuckle emanated from behind the mask. The lone Sharingan swept over the tense faces. "Do not sacrifice yourselves meaninglessly. You are not my targets. Stand aside and avoid a futile death."
Using Wood Release was not inherently difficult for one who possessed the cells. It was, at its core, the manipulation of vitality to grow and shape plant matter. The true challenge was replicating the scale and potency of Hashirama Senju, whose chakra reserves were said to rival a tailed beast's. Akira's chakra was formidable, but not on that mythic level.
His words had an effect. A visible ripple of hesitation passed through some of the Branch House members. Their loyalty was enforced by the Caged Bird Seal, a mark of absolute subservience, but not every will was entirely broken. This enemy was clearly here for the Main House. Dying for masters who treated them as disposable property held little appeal for some.
Of course, none dared to actually break ranks. The seal ensured ultimate punishment for disobedience. But their attacks lost their initial ferocity.
Others, the truly indoctrinated or those fearing the seal's wrath more than death, pressed the assault.
Akira showed no mercy to these. Engaging him in taijutsu while he wielded the intangibility of Kamui was a fatal mistake. He moved not with the flowing style of the Gentle Fist, but with brutal, efficient lethality. Wooden spikes, enhanced speed, and precise strikes targeting vital points. In minutes, over a dozen Branch House ninja lay still on the pristine stones, their blood darkening the gravel.
The scent of copper filled the air, and the sounds of battle drew more Hyuga like moths to a flame. Yet the masked intruder was an unstoppable force, carving a path of controlled violence directly toward the sanctum of the Hyuga clan leadership.
(End of Chapter)
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