According to the fragmented memories of his past life, the Tenseigan was a devastating force—a supreme power, said to be an evolved form of the Byakugan, and one that could rival even the Rinnegan.
As far as Hyuga Kyou knew, there were only two possible paths to evolving the Tenseigan.
The first method mirrored what Ōtsutsuki Toneri had done: combining the branch of the Ōtsutsuki bloodline that resided on the moon with the Hyuga clan's main family bloodline from Earth. Through this hybridization, the Tenseigan could be awakened.
The second method required merging a large number of Byakugan eyes.
However, Kyou immediately dismissed the first route. He wasn't from the main house, nor could he access the Ōtsutsuki lineage preserved on the moon. The second method was equally impractical due to the existence of the Caged Bird Seal. This forbidden technique caused the Byakugan of branch family members to self-destruct upon death or removal, rendering them unusable. Relying solely on main family members would never yield enough Byakugan to attempt the fusion.
Though both avenues seemed blocked, the second path sparked a new idea in Kyou's mind.
Byakugan, Sharingan, all bloodline limits—at their core, they were simply expressions of specific genetic configurations. If acquiring enough physical Byakugan eyes was impossible, then perhaps he could work from a genetic level instead. What if, by gathering enough genetic material from Hyuga clan members and merging these sequences, he could trigger the evolution of the Byakugan into the Tenseigan from within?
Driven by this radical theory, Kyou began dedicating himself to the study of genetic science under Orochimaru's tutelage.
Through long hours of research, data analysis, and microscopic observation, he eventually made a groundbreaking discovery—every Hyuga clan member's DNA contained thirty-three unique genetic sequences.
Further observations revealed something even more intriguing. Among those thirty-three sequences, the number of sequences in an active state varied between individuals.
In Kyou's own body, only the sequences labeled 17, 33, and 3 were currently active. Others, such as sequence 11 and 6, remained dormant. He had managed to collect genetic samples from over a dozen other Hyuga members, and across the board, the pattern remained consistent. Only a small subset of the thirty-three sequences were ever active in any one person.
This discovery further validated Kyou's hypothesis.
He began to speculate: what if someone could activate all thirty-three of these unique gene sequences? Could it be possible that every Hyuga member held the dormant potential to evolve their Byakugan into the Tenseigan?
The very idea took root in his mind and grew like wildfire, consuming him with possibility.
Thanks to the war, and Orochimaru's arrangement to station him in a battlefield hospital, Kyou had easy access to a wide range of Hyuga DNA samples. After sorting through and analyzing hundreds of gene samples, he successfully extracted sequence 4, 1, and 6 in their active states.
Combining those with his own sequences—17, 3, and 3—he now had access to the majority of the active sequences required.
All that remained were the elusive sequences numbered 1, 3, and 13. These three sequences had yet to be acquired in their activated forms.
Kyou had already collected more than enough samples from the branch family. Unfortunately, none of them possessed these three active sequences. Naturally, his gaze turned to the main family.
But the main house was elusive. Its members rarely stepped onto the battlefield. Even when they did, they were surrounded by layers of protection. Kyou, a lower-ranked shinobi, had neither the status nor the means to get close. His attempts to collect genetic material had repeatedly failed.
With no alternatives, he had to rely on Orochimaru's help.
To Kyou's surprise, Orochimaru didn't refuse. Yet, even for one of the Legendary Sannin, stealing genetic material from the Hyuga main house wasn't an easy task.
One month passed. Then three. Then a full year. The experiment came to an unexpected halt.
Though frustrated, Kyou understood his position well. He was just a small man struggling to survive in a world of giants. If he wanted to alter his fate, he would have to carve the opportunity out himself. He couldn't sit around and wait for miracles to fall from the sky.
Just as he was preparing to shift his attention to a newborn in the main family—Hinata, who was soon to be born—fate suddenly offered him a surprise.
Orochimaru, on the verge of his defection, unexpectedly handed over a preserved chunk of flesh containing main family DNA. Kyou had not expected this. He had assumed Orochimaru would cut ties with everyone as he vanished from the village.
Now, as he processed the tissue sample in his underground lab, his thoughts churned.
"Orochimaru is likely planning to defect within the next few days," he mused silently. "But not only did he not eliminate me, he even delivered a key experimental material before his departure. Why? Is this his way of keeping me in Konoha? Does he want me to stay behind and act as his spy?"
Kyou furrowed his brow in thought. Whether it was Orochimaru's recent behavior, or the vague memories from his past life, he could feel it clearly—Orochimaru's obsession with the Byakugan had already faded.
This was both a relief and a warning.
The relief was that he no longer had to worry about Orochimaru stealing or interfering with his Tenseigan research.
The warning, however, was even more severe. Orochimaru's attention had shifted to something even more dangerous—something beyond the scope of the Byakugan. And if someone like Orochimaru found the Byakugan unworthy of pursuit, then Kyou had to move even faster.
Time was limited.
He had the genes.
Now, he needed to awaken them.
He extracted the target DNA from the sample under carefully filtered light, his gloved hands moving with precision. Cold metal tools clinked gently against the edge of the tray. The scent of sterilization solution hovered faintly in the air.
Each droplet of blood from the main family tissue was a treasure.
Each string of DNA was a potential key.
Kyou placed the newly activated gene sequences into containment vials, labeling them carefully. His heart pounded in his chest—not from fear, but from anticipation.
Just a little more.
Only one step remained.