Ch.230 Mastering the Hogan

Once the food arrived, everyone started devouring it.

Perhaps because the day's exam had drained so much energy, everyone was eating with exceptional focus—even Sasuke, who was in a foul mood.

After a long while, the group finally leaned back, patting their full stomachs with satisfied burps.

Now that they were fed and rested, the students split into small groups and began chatting casually.

The boys started discussing the day's exam, while the girls talked about various daily topics.

Neji, however, didn't join the casual conversations. Instead, he turned toward Shinji and asked,

"Shinji, I heard you used an enemy's hand to complete hand signs during the fight today?"

As soon as Neji's question was asked, the once noisy room fell completely silent.

Sasuke glanced sideways.

Kimimaro raised his eyes.

Everyone else's attention immediately shifted to Shinji.

Although they were still just Academy students, many of them came from powerful clans. Some were heirs to Kekkei Genkai or secret techniques, and their foundational knowledge was solid.

Because of this, they all clearly understood just how difficult and outrageous such a feat would be.

"Yeah," Shinji replied casually with a nod.

At the time, he had simply been curious to try the technique. There wasn't much pressure, and since the enemy was unprepared, it had worked.

Now, if he had to reproduce it, he wasn't even sure he could do it again. So, he didn't think much of it.

But to everyone else, his nonchalant attitude added a whole new layer of meaning.

Neji sighed internally and thought to himself,

"Shinji hasn't even awakened his Sharingan, yet he can do things like this. He really is stronger than me. His consecutive first-place finishes aren't luck."

Sasuke's fists clenched, then relaxed—only to tighten again.

Unlike the others, he had witnessed the event firsthand.

Shinji had not only saved him but had done so by borrowing the enemy's hand, completing hand signs, and performing a jutsu that heavily injured the opponent.

Even now, recalling it, Sasuke couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and admiration.

"I have to master that technique!" he decided silently.

Kimimaro lowered his gaze.

Unlike the others, his mind was simpler—more focused.

Kimimaro didn't care much for flashy techniques. What he valued was pure, efficient combat. He admired direct, overwhelming power, much like Upper Moon One.

Shikamaru spoke up,

"I've never heard of anyone doing something like that. Shinji, where did you even come up with that idea?"

Shion clapped her hands excitedly,

"Yeah, Shinji! How did you think of that technique?"

Shinji glanced at Sasuke.

The inspiration had come from the original timeline's Sasuke. After all, the original Sasuke was notorious for his flashy, borderline reckless techniques.

As Shinji looked at him, everyone else's eyes naturally followed.

Sasuke immediately responded,

"What's the big deal? For us Uchiha, that's nothing special!"

Before anyone could reply, Sasuke stood up and gave Shinji a glance.

"Thanks for today. But next time, I'll be the one taking first place!"

With that, he walked out of the restaurant.

Shinji chuckled to himself.

Originally, he hadn't thought much of the day's events, but seeing Sasuke fired up gave him a new perspective.

"Maybe frustrating him like this is a good thing. It might even help him awaken his Sharingan."

Kimimaro soon followed Sasuke, bidding the others farewell.

He had little interest in social gatherings like this. If it weren't for Orochimaru's orders to keep an eye on Sasuke, he wouldn't have attended.

Shion pouted,

"They're no fun at all!"

Kiba sighed,

"They just came for the free barbecue. Typical!"

Shino, in his usual calm manner, remarked,

"They're going to train—unlike you."

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean!?" Kiba snapped.

The room soon filled with playful banter.

Later that night.

Shinji returned to his apartment after the gathering.

On his way home, he could clearly sense someone monitoring him.

"So, the village is keeping an eye on me, huh? Must be because of the guys I took down."

After the events involving Night Owl's team, the Hidden Leaf must have gathered some intelligence, prompting them to assign surveillance for protection.

Shinji pretended not to notice and returned to his room to sleep.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

Throughout the week, Shinji attended classes as a normal Academy student. Apart from the occasional experiments in the medical unit, he did nothing suspicious.

Through observation, he realized that Sasuke was also under surveillance—though far more intensely.

By the end of the week, the monitoring of Shinji was lifted. However, Sasuke's remained in place, showing the village's clear focus.

Now free, Shinji resumed his personal work.

That night, leaving a shadow clone in his apartment, Shinji slipped out under the cover of darkness, heading for the Forest of Death.

Using Susanoo Tomoshibi, he activated the Byakugan he had acquired, significantly boosting his long-range scouting. This allowed him to avoid the village's patrols and slip into an isolated cave.

"Still guards posted around here after all this time? Gotta be careful."

Settling in the cave, Shinji pulled out several small storage containers. Some were empty, while others held floating eyeballs suspended in liquid.

Among them was a jar containing the Hogan—the Red Eye—he had taken from Night Owl.

"Let's try this out."

Eager, Shinji activated his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, summoning Susanoo!

A golden skeletal figure erupted from him, half-formed but radiant. Three sets of eye sockets gleamed on its skull.

The first and second sets shone with crimson light—the Mangekyō Sharingan. The third emitted a pale white glow—Byakugan.

Without hesitation, Shinji used Susanoo Tomoshibi, retrieving the Mangekyō and Byakugan and carefully placing them back into their containers.

Next, he opened the jar holding the Hogan, letting the crimson eyes rest in his palm.

With a flicker of chakra, the red eyes slowly ascended into Susanoo's empty sockets.