After retrieving Gekko's corpse, Haruma immediately activated the Devouring Hand.
A tide of black mist swallowed the body, and a terrifying suction force twisted both mist and corpse into a warped shape before drawing them into the refining space.
The moment Gekko's body passed through the black hole, it disintegrated into countless molecules.
The residual physical energy, as well as the mental energy and fragments of memory stored within his brain, were refined into pure energy and portions of them crystallised into memory "films."
That energy became a black radiance, a warm current that flowed through Haruma's entire being, enhancing both his body and spirit.
And within that flood of power, something entirely new began to form inside him.
This new ability was called Transparent Release.
Transparent Release could be considered either a secret technique or a unique kekkei genkai.
Why unique? Because it only had one ability.
To render the user's body completely transparent and erase their presence.
But there was a flaw, once the user attacked, the transparency would vanish. Furthermore, shinobi with strong sensory perception could still detect them.
In essence, it was a high-grade invisibility technique requiring no tools.
Compared to the Dust Release of the Second Tsuchikage, Mu, which not only made the user invisible but erased all traces of their chakra.
Gekko's Transparent Release was far weaker.
Mu's technique had earned him the title of "the Invisible Man."
Still, even a watered-down version was more than enough for Haruma right now.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
After gaining Transparent Release, Haruma created three shadow clones.
"Transformation Jutsu."
The moment they appeared, the clones transformed into Kabuto, Zaku, and Kin.
From his wardrobe, Haruma took out three backpacks filled with supplies. The clones picked them up, activated transparency, and vanished into the night from the balcony.
A moment later, Haruma himself emerged from the room but now he wore a completely different guise. A black ANBU cloak wrapped around him, a mask covering his face from nose to chin. His hair was hidden beneath a blonde wig, and his eyes gleamed crimson with the three-tomoe sharingan. In his hand, a short sword.
From the outside, he looked indistinguishable from a true ANBU operative.
Swish
Stepping out, Haruma faded into transparency and disappeared into the village.
Invisible, he leapt silently from rooftop to rooftop. From above, he saw civilians being herded toward shelters by Konoha shinobi, while Sand and Sound ninja engaged the defenders to buy time.
Elsewhere, three giant serpents from Ryuchi Cave rampaged through the village.
Haruma ignored it all.
Before long, he arrived at a large mansion.
On its signboard were two characters.
Hyuga.
Releasing his senses fully, Haruma stormed into the clan compound.
Splatter
"Ughh…"
Through Haruma's perspective, the scene rewound in an instant.
In only seconds, an elderly man in a formal kimono, with white hair and pale eyes, was cut down, his limbs spurting blood. The moment before the blood sprayed, Haruma's transparency had dropped.
A gloved hand seized the old man's throat, and together they vanished.
Inside an abandoned house, Haruma used Devouring Hand again. The suffocating Hyuga elder, terror etched on his face, was dragged into the bead's refining space.
There, his body dissolved into molecules. His chakra, physical and spiritual energy became a multiplied surge of black light that strengthened Haruma's body and spirit, while his soul was refined into blue radiance, fortifying Haruma's very essence.
And in that torrent of power, something else took shape.
The byakugan.
One of the three great dojutsu, and a prerequisite for the future Tenseigan.
"Byakugan!"
Forming a seal, veins bulged around Haruma's temples. His scarlet sharingan shifted, turning into pale, featureless eyes.
His vision turned black-and-white.
Within kilometers around him, the world unfolded in his mind. He could switch between god's-eye perspective and first-person view at will.
Every figure appeared in shades of black and white except for glowing clusters of blue light.
Chakra signatures.
"So the range begins at several kilometres?" Haruma mused with satisfaction. "This old man must have been from the main branch and a powerful one in his youth."
It made sense. In this world where life expectancy was short, anyone who lived beyond fifty had either extraordinary luck or formidable strength.
Though he had yet to sift through the elder's memories, Haruma already knew.
A normal Byakugan could usually see only about one kilometer. To extend further required immense power and training.
Yet even without refinement, his new eyes already spanned kilometres. Proof of the elder's strength, and of the fact that devouring a living person granted one hundred percent of their abilities.
Cutting off his limbs had only cost a sliver of physical energy. His skills and lifetime of knowledge were intact.
No time to marvel further, Haruma again formed a seal.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Two clones appeared, activated transparency, and vanished into the chaos.
Haruma himself cloaked in invisibility once more, byakugan active, scanning for his next target.
Before long, he arrived at another clan compound.
The Yamanaka clan.
As one of the founding families of Konoha, their estate was in the village's heart, alongside other great clans, only the Uchiha had been exiled to the outskirts after the Nine-Tails' attack.
Using his Byakugan, Haruma located a target swiftly.
Flickering forward as a blur, his pale eyes shifted back into the scarlet of the sharingan.
As he closed in, he unleashed a devastating combination. Sharingan Genjutsu + Binding Illusion + Shackling Stakes.
The Yamanaka clansman froze, his mind trapped in illusion. Haruma's body shimmered back into view.
With a blur too fast for the naked eye, he severed the man's limbs and gripped his throat, then vanished with him.
In another deserted house, the victim was devoured.
This time Haruma didn't bother with clones. Activating transparency once more, he went hunting.
Soon, he struck again, this time at the Nara clan.
Using the same deadly combination, he captured a clansman, consumed him, and emerged once more, cloaked in invisibility.
In less than half an hour, Haruma had already gained Transparent Release, the Byakugan, Yamanaka techniques, and Nara techniques.
And yet, this was only the first step of the "Leaping the Dragon's Gate."
From the age of three, Haruma had awaited this day.
From three to twelve, nine long years. Nine years of wild schemes, first imagining, then drafting his grave-robbing plan, refining it until it became flawless.
Transparent Release, the Byakugan, the Yamanaka techniques, the Nara techniques…
This was just the beginning.
Those he had slain so far were but small fish.
The true prey, the great ones, Haruma had yet to catch.