Since the Hyūga clan knew of the existence of the Tenseigan, how could they possibly remain unmoved?
Moreover, before Senju Hashirama established the village system, the entire shinobi world was in the Warring States era. In that era, any clan that wasn't strong would truly be wiped out completely!
And no one knew from which generation onward, but the Hyūga clan had already begun attempting to create a Tenseigan that belonged to their clan.
However, just as Hiashi had said, the Hyūga clan's Tenseigan had always remained in a state of being about to be born but never fully formed—or rather, it had only been shrouded in a faint layer of the Tenseigan's unique radiance.
"The two newly promoted main branch elders have also been dealt with. The Byakugan are here."
As the last few main branch elders returned, everyone's expressions turned solemn.
They all knew that what they were about to enter next was the true hidden ground of the Hyūga clan—a place created over countless years, at the cost of who knew how many clan members' lives, all to nurture the Tenseigan.
Deep down, they still held onto a sliver of hope.
They hoped the plan would succeed—that the eyes of the current Hyūga clan alone would be enough to truly create the Tenseigan. If that happened, not only would they avoid sacrifice, they might even render Keizumi unable to pass judgment on them!
"Let's go!"
Hiashi took a deep breath. Nearly four hundred pairs of Byakugan—if this succeeded, they would not be sinners of the Hyūga clan. Even in the clan's future history, they would be praised for their resolve!
But if they failed…
Then they could only atone with their lives—with their own eyes.
As Hiashi and the others headed toward the ancestral shrine, the entirety of Konohagakure remained completely unaware of anything unusual within the Hyūga clan. After all, the Hyūga compound was surrounded by high walls that effectively blocked outside surveillance.
When they opened the shrine, and Hiashi activated a hidden mechanism, an entirely different world lay beneath it.
A massive blue eye floated beneath the shrine.
Even though those main branch elders had never seen a Tenseigan in their lives, the moment they laid eyes on it, they couldn't help but become entranced.
"So this… is the Tenseigan!"
"Stronger than the Sharingan, the Mangekyō Sharingan—even the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan—the Tenseigan!"
One of the elders stepped forward, unable to resist the urge to touch it—but ultimately stopped himself.
After all, this enormous Tenseigan could be said to be the fusion of the eyes of all their ancestors present here!
Their status as the main branch had granted them supreme authority within the Hyūga clan. Their duty—or rather, their final destination—was this very Tenseigan.
Every main branch member, upon death, would willingly offer their eyes to it.
How could this Tenseigan not also be their ancestors?
In fact, in the earliest times, the Hyūga clan only had the main family line—there were no other main branch members at all.
It was only over the past several hundred years, after the Tenseigan plan began, that branch family members whose bloodline had regressed to a more ancient form—those whose Byakugan carried a faint trace of blue—were deliberately elevated into the main branch.
Their blood was considered the purest.
Their eyes were considered the most beneficial for the Tenseigan.
"According to the records in the clan head's notes, when the Tenseigan was first created, it only had a faint blue glow."
"If we use the Uchiha clan's Sharingan as a reference, then that pale-blue Tenseigan was roughly equivalent to the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"We've been feeding this Tenseigan for hundreds of years, and it has gradually deepened into a dark blue. Compared to the Uchiha, it should now be at the level of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan—roughly the level of Uchiha Madara's eyes back then!"
"If the estimates of past clan heads aren't wrong, once this Tenseigan turns sapphire-blue, it will truly become complete!"
Hiashi looked at the Tenseigan and carefully placed the blood-stained Byakugan in his hand before it.
The moment the Byakugan made contact—
It was instantly devoured.
One pair after another, Hiashi personally fed the eyes into the Tenseigan. And the massive eye seemed to know no satisfaction, devouring these eyes—once belonging to living Hyūga clan members—without hesitation.
Under their gaze, the Tenseigan's color grew deeper and deeper.
So deep that just a single glance made one feel drawn in, unable to resist being captivated by its radiance.
"It still hasn't reached the edge of transformation…"
One elder looked at the dwindling number of Byakugan and the massive Tenseigan, disappointment rising in his heart.
"There are only thirty pairs left…"
Another elder sighed. It seemed that relying solely on the branch family's Byakugan was still not enough.
"Should we bring Neji here…"
A third elder spoke—but his suggestion was met with silence.
If they all had to sacrifice themselves to complete the Tenseigan, then Neji would become the clan head of the Hyūga—though that position would exist solely to protect Hinata.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves!"
"You should all be able to feel it—the Tenseigan is already on the verge of transformation!"
"It's a pity that in our generation, not even Hiashi's Byakugan carries a trace of blue. Otherwise, this might have gone much more smoothly."
"Now, we can only pray—pray that our eyes will trigger its transformation. Otherwise, after gouging out our eyes, we'll have to find a way to escape Konoha!"
Another elder spoke.
To keep this secret, they had even dared to kill a Hokage advisor. If they died within Konoha and their missing eyes were discovered, it might expose the Hyūga clan's secret!
But if they died outside the village, the loss of their eyes could be explained away—as self-destruction, or as having been taken by another hidden village.
"I'll go first."
"I'm older. Maybe it's my pair that will be enough. That way… you all can see the Tenseigan for me."
The oldest elder smiled as he inserted his fingers into his own eye socket.
It had to be said—people of the shinobi world were truly ruthless. Even an old man who had lived a life of comfort could gouge out his own eyes without hesitation.
And Hiashi, from beginning to end, merely watched in silence.
Because if the plan failed—
He would face the same fate.
"It transformed a little more… but still not enough."
"I'll go next."
The second elder sighed. He was the one who had suggested bringing Neji.
"Maybe it'll be enough with mine…"
The third elder gouged out his eyes and personally offered them to the Tenseigan.
"The plan… won't fail, right…"
The fourth elder reluctantly dug out his eyes. Regret had already set in—but it was far too late.
"Then, Clan Head, you'll have to see the Tenseigan's final radiance for us."
"This time… it's truly just one step away!"
The fifth elder offered his eyes to the Tenseigan.