After the matchup was set—in the contestants' section.
Tōjin said to Mitsuki, who was about to fight, "My aunt is really strong, Mitsuki."
Mitsuki smiled. "Yeah. I know. She's probably the second strongest ninja in Konoha after the Hokage right now."
But Tōjin said, "Still—I hope you win. I know you've been hiding your strength. As a friend—I really want to have an honest match with you."
He extended his fist toward Mitsuki.
Mitsuki gazed at Tōjin. Then extended his own fist. Pressing it against Tōjin's.
"I'll do my best."
Mitsuki turned. Sleeves flowing in the breeze. And headed to the dueling ground.
On the dueling ground.
Hanabi stood gracefully in an orange-red kimono dress. Facing the eight-year-old Mitsuki—she showed no elder's airs. Greeting him with a smile. "Mitsuki, right? Tōjin's friend."
Mitsuki nodded. "Yeah. I guess."
Hanabi said, "I know that boy Tōjin. He doesn't easily accept his peers. So I won't underestimate you."
As she spoke—she'd already assumed a combat stance. Activating her Byakugan.
Whoosh.
Mitsuki launched the first attack.
Off the field: "Attacking first against a Hyūga elite? Is this what they call youthful fearlessness?"
Mid-run—Mitsuki's sleeves whipped out.
—Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.
Hiss hiss hiss.
An incredible number of snake hands burst from Mitsuki's sleeves. Attacking Hanabi.
Hanabi looked surprised. "That technique..."
Slash. Slash. Slash.
Her footwork was nimble. Her hand strikes precise. In no time—she'd severed those snake hands.
Mitsuki closed within ten meters. Formed hand seals.
—Wind Release: Breakthrough.
BOOM. Powerful wind pressure rushed forward.
"Ha!"
Hanabi's sleeve swept up. After crushing the Wind Release with Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm—the aftershock sent Mitsuki flying back.
"Ugh. What powerful impact." Mitsuki barely steadied himself. His young face showing strain.
Whoosh.
Hanabi struck like a startled swan. Her Byakugan locked on as she thrust a finger fast and precisely at Mitsuki's chest.
But... the unique sensation of striking a pressure point didn't come from her fingertip. Instead—her finger felt like it was pressing into boneless water.
Hanabi was surprised. "So soft. His body structure is different from normal!"
Whoosh. Mitsuki's small hand seized Hanabi's wrist.
—Lightning Release: Thunder Snake.
Crackle. Golden Lightning Release coiled upward.
Simultaneously—Mitsuki's neck extended bizarrely. Wrapping toward Hanabi's nape. About to bite.
But Hanabi released chakra directly from her chakra pathway system. Shaking off the Lightning Release. Her free left hand precisely grabbed Mitsuki's extended neck. And slammed him backward.
BOOM.
Mitsuki was thrown hard to the ground. But that soft body took no damage.
Hanabi understood. "I get it now. You're Miss Orochimaru's child."
"..." Mitsuki got up. Brushing dust off himself.
He wasn't particularly attached to victory. Nor did he want to easily reveal his power.
In the past—he would've surrendered at this point.
But Tōjin had expectations for him. And wanted to fight him.
To fight... he needed to win.
When he raised his face again—Mitsuki's eyes had completely changed.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Suddenly—pale green chakra flames rose from his small body. His form transformed. A horn sprouted from his forehead. And his external chakra took the shape of coiling sage serpents.
Off the field—shocked cries rang out: "What... what is that?!"
Even Hanabi couldn't hide her astonishment. "You've surprised me. At such a young age—you've mastered Sage Mode!"
Tōjin: "That's... the same as Kimimaro-niisan."
Then Mitsuki closed his eyes. Crackle. When he reopened them—the Mangekyō Sharingan appeared.
Even Tōjin couldn't hide his shock anymore. "Mitsuki... he has them too?"
Seeing those unique eyes—Hanabi's expression finally grew completely serious. "That pattern isn't the fake cloned eyes of Uchiha Shin—but genuine ones. Sage Mode and Mangekyō Sharingan in one body. Mitsuki—you really are a deeply hidden child."
BOOM.
Mitsuki shattered the ground. Exploding forward.
Hanabi's pupils contracted. "So fast!"
Bang bang bang bang bang.
Both sides engaged in a dazzling taijutsu exchange.
Hyūga Hiashi: "Fighting Hanabi without falling behind? Who is that child?!"
Finally—in one exchange—Hanabi used dual Vacuum Palms to knock Mitsuki back.
As he retreated—Mitsuki's left eye focused on Hanabi's form.
Hanabi tensed. "Chakra's gathering in his left eye's pathways. It's a visual jutsu!"
Almost without hesitation—Hanabi's feet spun as chakra released from her entire pathway system.
—Eight Trigrams Palm: Rotation.
At the same moment—Mitsuki's visual jutsu activated.
—Mizuchi's Decree.
Whoosh.
From the focal point—massive amounts of pitch-black water suddenly surged forth. Mixing into Hanabi's Rotation. And seeping inward.
In the stands—Orochimaru said hoarsely, "Mizuchi's Decree. Mitsuki's left eye power. Like Amaterasu and Mogarebikari—it's a phenomenon-type visual jutsu that produces deadly 'Mizuchi Water' at the focal point. This water combines weight, corrosiveness, and toxicity. Getting hit means certain death."
Whoosh.
After the Mizuchi Water mixed into Rotation's protective wall—it turned completely black. Seconds later it collapsed into a circular pool of black water spreading on the ground.
In the center of the black water—the Substitution Technique log rapidly deflated. Dissolving completely.
Whoosh. Hanabi appeared twenty meters back. Looking at that pool of black water with lingering fear. "If Rotation hadn't bought me that opening—I wouldn't have had time to use Substitution before falling for your trick. Mangekyō Sharingan visual jutsu are still dangerous."
Mitsuki said meaningfully, "Mangekyō visual jutsu are suited for surprise instant kills. If they don't succeed the first time—they become much harder when the opponent's on guard. Especially when facing someone whose visual prowess isn't inferior to your own."
Hanabi sighed sincerely. "Kids these days are really incredible. I thought Tōjin was impressive enough—but it seems among his peers, he's not the strongest yet. At least... not currently."
Hanabi closed her eyes.
"Then Auntie will use her true 'visual power' as you suggested. I was planning to save this to surprise Father."
Crackle.
When Hanabi's Byakugan opened again—they'd been washed pure. Replaced by azure blue. That blue light wasn't static—but flowed like stars. Full of divine essence.
Hanabi had once had her Byakugan stolen by Toneri. And those eyes had awakened the Tenseigan. Though the Tenseigan later fell dormant—the seed of that power remained.
Under Naruto's secret guidance—Hanabi had finally reawakened that sleeping power.
—Tenseigan.
In the stands—Hyūga Hiashi shot to his feet. "This child—like her sister—has obtained those eyes too?!"
Naruto smiled. "No. It's slightly different. In how they awakened. But the essence of their strength ultimately won't change."
Whoosh.
A dark green chakra cloak adorned Hanabi's entire body.
—Tenseigan Chakra Mode.
It's too late, my head still hurts badly. I'll save the acknowledgments for tomorrow's first chapter. Good night, my dears~
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