Chapter 157: Father-in-Law, Your Son-in-Law
Hiashi Hyuga led Izayoi and Hinata to a tea room.
The three knelt on cushions, and Hiashi began to brew tea, asking, "Izayoi, have you and Otsutsuki Toneri allied? How much do you know about him?"
Busy with the tea, Hiashi didn't notice his daughter's gaze suddenly becoming strange after he spoke.
Izayoi, however, had a slight realization, vaguely guessing the topic of this conversation.
He didn't answer directly, instead asking, "Why do you ask that, Uncle?"
"If you have allied, I hope you don't trust him too much. You must remain vigilant," Hiashi Hyuga warned with a serious expression. "This person definitely has ill intentions toward you."
Hinata couldn't help but lower her head, clenching her fists, afraid she might burst out laughing.
After all, Izayoi's secret about being Otsutsuki Toneri was known only to her. Even her father, sister, and Karin couldn't be told.
Yet, the more she tried not to laugh, the more Hinata's mind wandered.
The thought of her perpetually expressionless and serious father warning her boyfriend not to trust himself, while being completely manipulated by Izayoi like everyone else in the ninja world, brought a suppressed giggle to Hinata's beautiful and delicate face.
Fortunately, Hiashi Hyuga's gaze was fixed on Izayoi at the moment; otherwise, if he had noticed his daughter's expression, he would surely have reprimanded her.
Despite his affection, Hiashi Hyuga was very particular about etiquette.
Izayoi, however, was intrigued.
If he remembered correctly, in the The Last: Naruto the Movie, Hiashi Hyuga seemed to have considerable knowledge about the moon branch of the clan.
Could it be that Otsutsuki Hamura, a thousand years ago, or the Otsutsuki clan who initially maintained contact with the Hyuga clan, had given the coordinates of the spatial passage to the Hyuga clan, and it had been passed down to this day?
If so, that would certainly be good news for Izayoi.
Izayoi still couldn't truly fly. The Tenseigan, which had only completed two awakenings, could see images on the moon, but he still couldn't find the spatial passage to the moon.
Undoubtedly, this spatial passage had been sealed.
Sealing Jutsu was the most mysterious and outlandish ninjutsu in the ninja world. Even if Izayoi sent out numerous Wood Clones, he couldn't find the location of that seal.
Without breaking the seal, he couldn't see the spatial passage, which surely contained vast amounts of chakra.
This was why Izayoi had been unable to go to the moon.
Izayoi had initially thought he would only be able to go to the moon and plunder the Otsutsuki clan's millennium-old heritage once his Tenseigan completed its final evolution.
Now, seeing his future father-in-law talking about Otsutsuki Toneri, Izayoi felt a flicker of anticipation.
If his future father-in-law indeed had the coordinates of the spatial passage, perhaps he could go to the moon earlier.
So, Izayoi played along with Hiashi Hyuga, feigning confusion. "Uncle, why do you seem to have a prejudice against Otsutsuki Toneri?"
Hinata, head bowed, bit her lower lip hard, struggling to suppress her laughter.
However, Hiashi Hyuga's next reply made Hinata look up in surprise.
"Indeed, I have a prejudice against him," Hiashi Hyuga nodded, his voice grave. "If the person he chose to ally with wasn't you, but someone else, I would never have thought this way. But precisely because he chose to ally with you, he must have ill intentions!"
"Father, you know about Otsutsuki?"
Hinata wasn't foolish; she instantly realized that Hiashi Hyuga wasn't hostile towards Otsutsuki Toneri as a person, but rather because of his surname.
Thinking this, Hinata couldn't help but steal a glance at Izayoi, her heart filled with questions.
Wasn't Otsutsuki Toneri a fabricated identity Izayoi had created?
Was the reason he claimed to be from the moon because people in the ninja world couldn't gather information on him that way?
From her father's reaction, it seemed the Otsutsuki surname was real. Could people really live on the moon?
Hiashi Hyuga's subsequent words left Hinata dumbfounded.
"Because… our Hyuga clan, a thousand years ago, was called Otsutsuki."
As he spoke, Hiashi Hyuga's expression was also slightly complex.
After becoming clan head, when Hiashi Hyuga reviewed the clan's secrets, he initially believed them to be mythical stories cherished by an ancestor, a fabricated history.
It wasn't until Otsutsuki Toneri's appearance that Hiashi Hyuga realized those secrets were real.
The mythological story of the Sage of Six Paths was also true.
"Th-this…"
Hinata stammered, unable to speak, her small face filled with shock.
Izayoi didn't speak, instead taking over the tea-making duties, quietly listening to Hiashi Hyuga's story.
Since his future son-in-law had already become a super-standard combatant and an 'ally' with Otsutsuki Toneri, Hiashi Hyuga no longer concealed these secrets, known only to the clan head. He slowly said, "The mythological story of the Sage of Six Paths creating the moon is actually true. And few know that the Sage of Six Paths actually had a younger brother, our Hyuga clan's ancestor, named Otsutsuki Hamura."
"To guard a certain 'treasure,' our ancestor led a portion of the clan to settle on the moon," Hiashi Hyuga lamented. "As for what that treasure was, I originally didn't know, but now it seems it must be the Gedo Statue that Otsutsuki Toneri mentioned."
"Perhaps to erase the traces of the Gedo Statue, or perhaps due to some conflict between the two branches of the clan a thousand years ago, the Otsutsuki clan branch that remained in the ninja world changed their surname and crest to the current Hyuga clan."
"Initially, the two branches maintained contact, exchanging communication periodically and even establishing an ancient pact. But as the Warring States period began, these two branches gradually stopped communicating and interacting, until now it became a secret known only to the Main House head of the Hyuga clan."
Hinata's expression was blank, as if listening to a tall tale.
She never imagined that a surname she believed Izayoi had made up was actually her family's surname from a thousand years ago.
People could really live on the moon, and the Gedo Statue was truly there. What about Otsutsuki Toneri?
Why did Izayoi-kun appear as Otsutsuki Toneri, and why did he know all of this?
Thinking this, Hinata couldn't help but turn to look at Izayoi.
Izayoi, meanwhile, poured tea for Hiashi Hyuga, and suddenly asked, "That ancient pact, Uncle, do you know what it was?"
"That's why I told you to remain vigilant."
Hiashi Hyuga hadn't yet sensed anything amiss. After taking a sip of hot tea, he said with a serious expression, "According to the ancient pact, if the most outstanding new generation from the moon branch and the most outstanding new generation from the Hyuga clan are a male and a female, then there is an engagement set by our ancestors."
"If that branch still remembers the ancient pact, then Otsutsuki Toneri is Hinata's fiancé. He must also know your relationship with Hinata, Izayoi, and absolutely won't be benevolent toward you. So, you must remain vigilant and absolutely not trust Otsutsuki Toneri."
From Hiashi Hyuga's warning, it was evident that even if an 'engagement' existed between Hinata and Otsutsuki Toneri, he would firmly choose Izayoi over Toneri.
Even if the latter possessed Sage Eyes, Hiashi Hyuga showed no hesitation.
As a doting father, Hiashi Hyuga's paternal love for his daughters was very subtle.
He could see the feelings between Hinata and Izayoi, and knew they had already confirmed their relationship.
Hiashi Hyuga was also very satisfied with Izayoi as his future son-in-law.
Furthermore, at his age, Izayoi already possessed super-standard combat power. By the time Izayoi reached Otsutsuki Toneri's age, he might even surpass the owner of those Sage Eyes. Hinata was still young and couldn't fully grasp Hiashi Hyuga's care.
However, Izayoi saw Hiashi Hyuga's decision and felt a strong affection for his future father-in-law.
"I'm very happy, Uncle, that you clearly know about the engagement between Hinata and Otsutsuki Toneri, yet still chose to go against this pact and picked me."
Izayoi suddenly grasped Hinata's small hand, whose brain was still in a daze, and chuckled at Hiashi Hyuga, "Since you still remember the ancient pact, Uncle, then I won't hide it anymore."
Under Hiashi Hyuga's slowly widening eyes and shocked gaze, Izayoi dispelled his Wood Transformation Technique. His hair color visibly changed from black to white, and his blue eyes, pupils transforming into blue-white, with irises like a solar corona, emitted an ocular power that sent shivers down one's spine just by looking at them.
These eyes, just last year, were completely unknown.
Forget the Three Great Dojutsu; their reputation wasn't even as widespread as the Red Eyes.
At least legends of the Red Eyes, extremely rare ocular techniques capable of countering the Byakugan, circulated in the ninja world.
But the Tenseigan had never even been heard of.
Not even in the Hyuga clan's secret texts was the Tenseigan recorded.
However, from the beginning of this year, the name of these eyes quickly spread to every corner of the ninja world, crowned as Sage Eyes on par with the Rinnegan.
Furthermore, due to Otsutsuki Toneri's astonishing performance, countless people strongly agreed with his words, believing the Tenseigan to be superior to the Rinnegan.
The appearance of the Tenseigan was also widely known.
However, those who had witnessed the Tenseigan up close were very few.
Although it was his first time seeing these eyes, Hiashi Hyuga recognized them as the Tenseigan at first glance.
"Th-this… this…"
This time, it was Hiashi Hyuga who was dumbfounded, his voice stammering in shock, utterly unable to speak.
Izayoi was very pleased with Hiashi Hyuga's reaction. He embraced Hinata, who was staring blankly at him, and continued to chuckle, "Father-in-law, please allow me to reintroduce myself. Your son-in-law… Otsutsuki Izayoi."
"…"
The atmosphere in the tea room was utterly silent.
Hiashi Hyuga stared blankly at Izayoi. It took a long time for him to come back to his senses, and then he couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You brat! I knew you had a clear target on Hinata, kidnapping my daughter soon after enrolling. So you had 'ulterior motives' all along!"
"So, Izayoi-kun… you were my fiancé all along?" Hinata said blankly, leaning in Izayoi's embrace.
"That's right, we were destined to be together," Izayoi said, grasping Hinata's small hand and interlocking their fingers. "The Sage of Six Paths was actually the ancestor of the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan. The most exceptional individuals of these two clans, if they can obtain each other's power, have the potential to awaken the legendary Rinnegan, known as… 'When the two poles unite, the power of all creation can be obtained.'"
"Uchiha Madara awakened the Rinnegan because he obtained Hashirama Senju's power during the Valley of the End battle. The Rinnegan eyes of the Akatsuki leader originally belonged to Uchiha Madara."
"As the Sage of Six Paths' younger brother, Otsutsuki Hamura also possessed an ultimate ocular technique, the Tenseigan."
"And the awakening method of the Tenseigan is not much different from the Rinnegan. As long as the descendants of both bloodlines, the purest and most pure-blooded Byakugan users, absorb each other's chakra, they can hope to obtain the power of all creation."
Hearing this, Hinata had a slight realization. "So that's it. No wonder you asked Hanabi and me to absorb your chakra every day, Izayoi-kun. No wonder our Byakugan abilities and chakra reserves are so much greater than the rest of the clan."
Hiashi Hyuga also looked at Izayoi with a gentle gaze.
He finally understood why Hinata and Hanabi had been able to break their limits; it was all thanks to Izayoi.
Considering Izayoi's selfless kindness towards his two daughters, Hiashi Hyuga became even more satisfied with him as a son-in-law.
At the same time, the confusion in his heart was resolved.
"So, the Senju, Uchiha, Uzumaki, and Hyuga clans all originated from the same family. No wonder you could simultaneously awaken the Tenseigan, Wood Release, and Uzumaki clan abilities. Is this the secret of super-standard combat power?" Hiashi Hyuga sighed softly, finally understanding why Izayoi, at his age, could possess such extraordinary combat power.
Such talent was comparable to Hashirama Senju himself.
Only the Sage of Six Paths and his ancestor Otsutsuki Hamura could be more exceptional than Izayoi.
Recalling Izayoi's flawless entry into Konoha as an orphan commoner, Hiashi Hyuga couldn't help but ask, "Your parents should still be alive, right? How is that branch doing now?"
Hinata also looked at Izayoi with eager eyes.
She didn't mind Izayoi's concealment; instead, she was happy about it.
This meant that Izayoi-kun wasn't an orphan; he had a surname, and even family.
However, Izayoi's next reply made Hinata feel a pang of sadness.
"That branch is gone."
Izayoi shook his head, feigning indifference. "Because the Gedo Statue was summoned to the ninja world, a dispute arose within that branch, and then a war broke out. My hazy memories only recall my severely wounded 'father' bringing me to Konoha, arranging this identity for me, and sealing a memory into my brain, which would unlock as I grew, allowing me to gain my current strength and understand my mission."
"After I awakened the Tenseigan, I could also see the moon with long-distance vision, and I confirmed that it is completely empty."
"Izayoi-kun, you've been through so much these past years," Hinata said with heartfelt sympathy, gently touching Izayoi's face. She finally understood why Izayoi had instigated war and insisted on defeating the Akatsuki leader to reclaim the Gedo Statue.
It turned out that these were all his missions.
Hiashi Hyuga also felt a bit of sadness, but more so, a secret delight.
With only Izayoi left from that branch, it meant that the Tenseigan and Wood Release would now be legacies of the Hyuga clan.
Hinata marrying out wouldn't dilute the bloodline; instead, it would bring back the even more noble Otsutsuki surname.
It was a massive gain!
So, Hiashi Hyuga offered comfort, "My condolences. The Hyuga clan is also the Otsutsuki clan; this is also your home."
"I've long come to terms with it."
Izayoi let out a theatrical sigh, rubbed Hinata's head, and chuckled at Hiashi Hyuga, "However, the memories my father left me don't include the coordinates of the spatial passage to the moon. I wonder if you have any records of the coordinates, Uncle? I'd like to go back and see."
"I don't know about that either," Hiashi Hyuga shook his head. "The Hyuga clan is a millennium-old noble family, and the traditions passed down are simply too numerous. I've only seen the compiled versions of the secrets, and they don't contain the coordinates. However, in the archives, there are still many books and scrolls filled with the marks of time and history. If you need them, you can go through them yourself."
"I can?" Izayoi's expression brightened.
"Of course," Hiashi Hyuga nodded with a smile.
"Izayoi-kun, I'll help you too," Hinata said with renewed vigor, rolling up the sleeves of her kimono.
She was determined to help Izayoi-kun find his way home and also to visit the moon to pay respects to Izayoi's parents.
The girl, finally having her confusion resolved, was now incredibly excited. She had already shed the label of girlfriend and re-embraced the label of fiancée.
Just as Izayoi had said, they were a match made in heaven!
....
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