Chapter 19

Hyuga Kagami, having just completed an A-rank mission, was walking home unaware of the discussions happening in the Hokage's office.

Long ago, Hyuga Kagami's parents died in the war. However, being part of the noble Hyuga clan, he had lived a relatively better life than other orphaned ninja thanks to the clan's protection.

At the very least, he had inherited a private home left behind by his parents.

Upon returning home, Hyuga Kagami noticed that the house was spotless. It was obvious someone had been cleaning during his absence, and the only person who would do that for him was Hyuga Suzune—his fiancée. The engagement had been arranged when his parents were still alive. After their death, Suzune's family had taken great care of him, treating him like their own.

After locking the door, Hyuga Kagami pulled out the secret technique scroll he had received from Orochimaru.

He studied it carefully and barely managed to understand its core principles.

In essence, the technique involved using a specialized chakra control method to stimulate cell regeneration, drastically speeding up healing and chakra recovery.

In terms of results, the technique lived up to its name—"Body Regeneration." It truly did regenerate the body by accelerating cell division.

But Kagami was well aware that human cells can only divide a limited number of times. Accelerating this process meant burning through one's lifespan faster. In other words, the more this jutsu was used, the sooner one would die.

"Still, it's a powerful trump card if used only in desperate situations."

Thinking of its downsides reminded him of Orochimaru's yet-to-be-completed technique—Living Corpse Reincarnation. A realization struck him.

"If Orochimaru gains the ability to switch bodies regularly, he completely bypasses the technique's fatal flaw. No wonder he became nearly immortal. Even Itachi could only seal him, not kill him."

The regeneration technique not only healed the body but also generated new chakra by producing new cells. So, with no limitations, the user would become nearly indestructible with a constant supply of chakra.

To most, using this would be suicidal.

But to Orochimaru, who planned to change bodies frequently, wearing out one was no big deal. It was no surprise he became so terrifying.

Hyuga Kagami couldn't help but admire Orochimaru's genius.

Though Kagami couldn't use it recklessly, mastering another secret technique was still valuable. He quickly focused and began studying the jutsu intently.

Whether it was due to the physical changes brought on by the Tenseigan or simply his increased chakra reserves, Kagami found that he was learning new techniques much faster than before. He was already well-versed in chakra flow and human physiology, so he quickly grasped the chakra control and hand seals required for this jutsu.

Once he had fully mastered the regeneration technique, he didn't hesitate to burn the scroll. Being cautious by nature, he didn't want to leave behind any evidence that might be used against him.

Afterward, he began to reflect on the problems he faced during the recent mission.

Whether it was the Wheel of Samsara or the puppet of the Third Kazekage, both were extremely powerful, but they couldn't be exposed openly. If he encountered enemies while on a mission with fellow Konoha nin, his methods would be severely limited.

This limitation had become painfully obvious during his last mission.

He needed visible and legitimate combat techniques—methods he could use in front of others without raising suspicions.

Given his Hyuga heritage, further developing the Gentle Fist was clearly the best path forward.

"It's about time I tried mastering Rotation."

The concept behind Rotation wasn't complex. Previously, he had lacked the chakra reserves needed to perform it. But now, his chakra levels far surpassed those of Hyuga Neji when Neji first mastered it. Understanding the technique and having enough chakra, there was no reason he couldn't do it too.

The next day, Hyuga Kagami found a secluded grove away from the Hyuga compound.

After confirming no one was around, he began practicing immediately.

There were two hurdles to mastering Rotation: full control over one's chakra points and having a sufficient, stable supply of chakra.

For Kagami, both were non-issues. After only a few attempts, he had already formed a basic version of the technique.

This also further confirmed that the physical changes from the Tenseigan were more than just increased chakra. His perception, balance, chakra control, and even sensory abilities had all significantly improved.

Exhaling lightly, Kagami wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel he had brought.

After a morning of hard training, he had managed to grasp the basics of Rotation.

There was still much room for improvement, but it was more than enough for real combat.

Having just mastered both the body regeneration technique and Rotation, Kagami was in high spirits. After a brief rest, he headed once again to the mission center.

Just like last time, the place was quiet, and most of the shinobi passing through looked rushed.

Because of his previous record of leading an A-rank mission, and due to the overwhelming backlog of missions, Kagami was granted special permission to take on A-rank missions again.

A-rank missions were typically commissioned by foreign dignitaries or large organizations, and normally only special jounin or higher were allowed to take them.

But with his body now more in sync with the Tenseigan, and his recent acquisition of two advanced techniques, Kagami's strength now rivaled that of a special jounin—even without relying on his most powerful tools like the Wheel of Samsara or the Third Kazekage puppet. He was more than qualified to take on mid-tier A-rank missions.

He skimmed through the A-rank mission list and frowned slightly.

At this level, there were very few solo missions available. And the ones that were—assassinations, mostly—were extremely risky, requiring elite jounin to even have a chance at success.

At that moment, Hyuga Kagami realized just how much of a problem it was to not have a reliable teammate.

Just as he was stewing over this dilemma, a green figure dashed into the mission center...