Chapter 34

Back in Kumo, the atmosphere among the two Kage was tense. Once again, they had been forced to acknowledge the overwhelming power of their so-called guardian, Naruto Uzumaki, and the gap that existed between him and everyone else. The realization stung Ay deeply, as it clashed with his pride and his desire to always be the strongest.

"My boy, Naruto be hitting hard," Killer Bee remarked with his usual carefree attitude as he strolled up to the group. His presence, as always, brought a momentary lightness to the oppressive mood.

"Bee," Ay said, his tone gruff but tinged with a hint of relief.

"What's up, brother? What's got you in a gloom?" Bee asked, casually adjusting his sunglasses.

"You should already know the answer," Ay snapped, crossing his arms. "I don't like being second."

"Hey, hey, but you've always been second," Bee replied with a teasing grin.

"The difference wasn't so big before, you blockhead," Ay growled, hitting Bee with a lariat to the throat.

"Don't be so serious, chill," Bee said, coughing slightly but maintaining his grin. "I got a solution for you. How about you visit the moon and talk to the people living there? Maybe they got some hotshot on Naruto's level." Bee hopped backward, avoiding another lariat with ease.

Ay paused mid-motion, glaring at his brother, while Onoki, the Tsuchikage, raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"What? Do you mean to tell me there's someone as strong as Uzumaki Naruto up there?" Onoki asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Yeah, that's what my partner said," Bee replied, referring to Gyuki, the Eight-Tails. "The brother of the Sage of Six Paths lived inside the moon, right? So, there's gotta be people living there too. If Naruto can become strong with the Sage's help, then there might be someone blessed by his brother. Makes sense, or nah?"

Onoki frowned, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "What do you think, Raikage?" he asked, turning to Ay.

Ay let out a frustrated sigh. "Even if there is someone strong as him, what can we do about it?"

"We don't need them to fight Naruto directly," Onoki said, his tone measured. "We just need to ensure there's someone who can keep a balance of power. And, if the person is sane, we can lend them our support to maintain that balance."

Bee interjected, his tone unusually serious for once. "Do you guys really need to go that far? Naruto ain't gonna turn on us, you know."

Ay shook his head, his expression grim. "We can never be sure. It's not about Naruto's intentions. It's about having a failsafe. If someone as powerful as him ever loses control, we need to be ready to stop him."

Bee let out a small sigh, but he didn't argue further. He understood his brother's cautious nature, even if he didn't fully agree with it.

"Get ready. We'll check it out," Ay ordered, his voice firm. "Bee, dress for the mission."

As Bee turned to leave, Onoki stepped forward and handed him a glowing artifact, a crystalline orb pulsating with electric energy. "Take this," the Tsuchikage said. "The Lightning Heart. It's an artifact capable of amplifying lightning-based abilities. Use it if necessary. We need to test the strength of anyone living up there."

Bee accepted the artifact with a nod, tucking it safely into his cloak. Though his carefree demeanor hadn't faded entirely, the weight of the mission ahead was evident in his movements. As the group prepared for their journey, the looming uncertainty of what they might find on the moon cast a shadow over their determination.

Hinata sat quietly in the cold, dimly lit room of the palace. The air was thick with the weight of her predicament, her heart heavy with uncertainty. The green orb that Toneri had embedded in the palace's heart pulsed faintly, its energy forming an invisible barrier that confined her to the place. There was no escape. She had been left alone to consider Toneri's proposal, though the very thought of it repulsed her.

She didn't understand why Toneri had chosen her. Perhaps it was her connection to the Hyuga clan, or perhaps it was something deeper in her Byakugan that he coveted. Either way, she knew one thing—she would never willingly go along with his plans.

"Byakugan Princess, you are here," a deep, resonant voice echoed in her mind.

Startled, Hinata glanced around the room, but there was no one there. Slowly, the world around her seemed to blur, and she realized the voice wasn't coming from the outside. It was within her mind.

A figure materialized before her, shrouded in a faint, ethereal glow. It was unmistakably Hamura Otsutsuki, the brother of the Sage of Six Paths. His appearance was ancient and regal, resembling an old oni, with sharp, dignified features and eyes that glowed with wisdom and power. His form was almost identical to the murals that adorned the palace walls, even matching the portrait hung in her current room.

"Why are you calling me that?" Hinata asked cautiously. "And… can you contact Naruto? Or anyone else?" She hoped this conversation was private, hidden from Toneri's probing eyes.

Hamura's expression remained solemn. "I call you that because of the purity of your eyes. They are the strongest Byakugan I have seen in a thousand years. Do not underestimate them, young Hinata. Just as the Sharingan has its secrets and strength, the Byakugan has its own brilliance—one that has been forgotten over time."

Hinata listened intently, but the weight of the situation pressed on her. "Can you reach Naruto?"

Hamura shook his head. "It is unfortunate, but no. Only you can see and hear me. Your eyes, similar to mine, are the bridge that allows this connection. Thus, I must rely on you. The misguided child, Toneri, has veered far from the path I envisioned for my descendants. His ignorance and arrogance will bring destruction unless he is stopped."

Hinata felt a pang of disappointment. She had hoped for outside help, but it seemed the burden was hers to bear.

"What can I do?" she asked, her voice steady with resolve.

"I will guide you to the Tenseigan Vessel," Hamura said. "There, I will aid you in confronting him. The path to the vessel is clear to you now. Toneri will not notice your movements, for the systems protecting the vessel were designed by me. Follow my lead, and we will act swiftly."

Hinata nodded as she felt a surge of Hamura's chakra entering her body. It wasn't enough to break the seal suppressing her powers, but it gave her a subtle boost. With newfound determination, she slipped out of the room and moved through the palace.

Hamura's presence shielded her from detection as she traversed the grand halls and corridors, her footsteps silent against the cold marble floors. The green orb's oppressive energy seemed to recede in his presence, allowing her to press forward unimpeded.

After what felt like an eternity, Hinata stepped onto the island housing the Tenseigan Vessel. The towering golden sphere stood before her, radiating an otherworldly light. It was massive, larger than she had imagined, and its presence was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

The vessel was a masterpiece of ancient chakra engineering. Hamura's voice explained its history as she stood before it, marveling at its beauty.

"This is the Tenseigan Vessel," Hamura said. "It was created by removing the Byakugan from my descendants and clustering them together, forming this golden sphere that resembles an eye. Its power was meant to aid the inhabitants of Earth and sustain the Otsutsuki clan on the moon. However, its purpose has been twisted over time. Toneri intends to use this power for destruction."

Hinata stepped closer, the golden light bathing her in its glow. She could feel the immense energy emanating from the vessel—a mixture of hope and anguish, as if the countless Byakugan sealed within still carried the memories of those who had once wielded them.

"This vessel is protected by a barrier," Hamura continued. "Only my descendants can make direct contact with it. Anyone else who tries will have their chakra absorbed. Use this to your advantage. If Toneri approaches the vessel, his own chakra may be compromised."

Hinata nodded, taking in every word. She placed her hand gently on the vessel, feeling its warmth and the pulsing power within. Hamura's chakra surged once more, strengthening her resolve.

"Stay strong, young Hinata," Hamura said. "The path ahead will be difficult, but your heart is pure, and your will is unshakable. Together, we will stop Toneri and ensure that this power is not misused."

Hinata's eyes burned with determination. "I will do whatever it takes to protect the people I care about. I won't let Toneri use this power to hurt anyone."

Hinata's heart pounded as Hamura's voice resonated in her mind. "Free yourself from worries and let me guide you," he said, his presence now stronger, bolstered by the immense energy of the Tenseigan Vessel.

She hesitated for a moment, glancing at the ethereal figure of the elderly man. But Matatabi's warmth surged through her, the two-tailed beast's emotions comforting her, steadying her resolve. It was a silent reassurance that Hamura's intentions were pure.

Taking a deep breath, Hinata nodded. She released her fears and doubts, letting Hamura's calming aura envelop her. Her body rose from the ground, carried by an unseen force, and she flew toward the heart of the golden Energy Vessel. The light of the vessel grew brighter as she entered its core, where the cluster of Byakugan pulsed like a living entity.

As she reached the center, a strange sensation washed over her. The countless Byakugan seemed to respond to her presence, their energy surrounding and almost embracing her. The golden sphere glowed even more intensely, and she felt as though she was being drawn into its depths.

"Don't be afraid," Hamura said gently, his voice steady and reassuring. "I will awaken your powers."

The Tenseigan Sage appeared before her, his translucent figure solidifying slightly as he placed his hands over her eyes. A cold sensation spread across her face, and for a moment, she felt hollow, as though her very essence had been pulled away. Her breath caught in her throat as the sensation shifted, and a new presence filled the void.

Amid the sea of Byakugan surrounding her, a single pair of Tenseigan glowed brighter than the rest. These ancient, radiant eyes, brimming with untold power, detached from the cluster and moved toward her. Hinata felt them merge with her body, embedding themselves into her soul.

The process was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Hamura explained as he worked, "Normally, the awakening of the Tenseigan requires an exchange of eyes between two individuals of pure lineage, much like the Mangekyo Sharingan. The chakra must be potent, and the bond unbreakable. But you, Hinata, have exceeded those conditions. With your pure heart, powerful chakra, and the addition of Matatabi's strength, the Tenseigan has chosen you."

The moment the new eyes fused with her, an explosion of energy coursed through her body. Every nerve, every cell, felt like it was on fire as the chakra of the Tenseigan Vessel flooded her system. The raw, overwhelming power consumed her, and she writhed in agony, her screams echoing through the chamber.

"It will take time to adjust," Hamura said, his tone strained with concern. "Let the power flow and take it all in. This pain is necessary—it is the price of awakening such strength."

Hinata's body convulsed as the energy continued to pour into her. It was as though her very essence was being rewritten, transformed by the ancient power of the Tenseigan. She could feel her chakra pathways expanding, her body straining to contain the immense energy.

Tears streamed down her face as the pain intensified. It wasn't just physical; it was emotional and spiritual, as if the power of the countless Byakugan and the will of Hamura himself were reshaping her very soul.

Even Hamura, with all his wisdom and power, could do little to ease her suffering. "I cannot intervene further," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "To do so would disrupt the process and put you at risk. But you are strong, Hinata. Endure this, and you will emerge far greater than you have ever been."

Through the haze of pain, Hinata clung to his words. Her mind was a whirlwind of memories—of her family, her friends, and Naruto. The thought of him, of his unwavering belief in her, gave her strength. She grit her teeth, forcing herself to endure the unbearable.