Perhaps it was fate—or coincidence—but at that very moment, Hinata Hongdie's thoughts were also filled with Lucien.
"Shigure... I've always been a burden to you... but I want to grow stronger. I won't give up. I'll keep holding on... until you notice my efforts..."
Her pale eyes shimmered with stubborn light. "Why... why am I thinking of him now, in the middle of this battle?" Resolve burned deeper, refusing to allow defeat.
Across from her, Matsuyama Shuichi was reaching his limits. His strength was tremendous, but his stamina was dwindling. Still, his mocking words lashed out.
"You're the Hyuga clan's lady? If I injure you, the Hyugas will cause no end of trouble. Ha! But look at me—muscles built from relentless toil! A real ninja is forged through sweat and pain. And you? Delicate, fragile, sheltered! A so-called Gentle Fist without the Byakugan... nothing but a joke!"
"Don't go too far!" Hizashi snapped, unable to stop himself. Bloodline limits were a dangerous subject—abusing them in words could easily stir clan conflict.
Shuichi shrugged, feigning apology. "My apologies, Hizashi-sensei. I didn't mean to insult the Hyuga clan as a whole. I just can't stand how weak your students are. That gentle lady, Hatake Kusuo... and that Uchiha Shigure. All three of them belong to the weakest, bottom-ranked class, don't they?"
Hongdie, panting heavily, suddenly raised her head. Her gaze hardened. "...What did you just say? Repeat it."
"Huh? Didn't you hear me? I said you're the weakest class—"
"Not that!" Her voice cut sharp as ice. "The line before it."
Confused, Shuichi frowned. "About Uchiha Shigure? I said he's also bottom-ranked."
Something snapped within her. The very ground beneath her feet cracked as an astonishing surge of energy erupted. In a blur of speed, she appeared right in front of Shuichi before he could even blink.
Her expression was cold—emotionless. Her white eyes bulged with the veins of the Byakugan. For the first time, they had opened of their own will, answering her fiery willpower.
"Don't insult Shigure," she whispered.
The quiet words struck like a hammer. Shuichi's body trembled. Fear swallowed his heart whole. His vision blurred. And before he could understand what had happened, his consciousness faded—knocked out cold.
"R-Red Butterfly?!" Kusuo gasped, stunned by her sudden awakening.
"She opened her eyes..." Hizashi muttered in awe. "The Byakugan has awakened at last."
But the price was steep. Overdrawing chakra for the first time, her awakened vision quickly faded. The veins receded, her eyes dulled to normal—and her small frame crumpled from sheer exhaustion.
A figure appeared just as she fell, strong arms catching her gently.
"Sh-Shigure?" she whispered faintly, relief easing her expression. In the dim haze, she almost smiled.
"It's me," his voice was low, reassuring. "Rest now. Leave the rest to me."
Lucien's white hair caught the light as he handed her over to Hizashi.
"Teacher Hizashi, she's exhausted her chakra from opening her bloodline. Take her back to the Hyuga estate for treatment. I'll handle things here."
Hizashi saw no deceit in him. Trusting Lucien completely, he departed, bringing the unconscious Hongdie to safety.
Suzuki Saori blinked in surprise. "Wait—just leaving like that? The match isn't finished yet..."
Even Kusuo, battered and injured, warned desperately. "Shigure—be careful! They're strong! Violet's genjutsu defeated a Chunin once!"
"You're hurt, Kusuo. Heal first," Lucien said firmly.
He turned, face impassive, as he stepped into the center of the arena. Looking directly at Katori Sumire and Yoshida Kappei, his words echoed with chilling calm.
"Both at the same time... or one by one?"
"Uchiha Shigure... you're too arrogant," murmured Yoshida, steady but solemn.
"Hmph. I'll go first," Violet snorted, venom in her eyes. "Let's see what's so special about the 'proud Uchiha.' All you people do is cling to your bloodline!"
Lucien's tone was razor-sharp. "Don't mistake me for the rest of the Uchiha."
Violet frowned. "What?"
He crooked a finger at her. "Stop talking. Come at me."
The provocation stung her pride. With a cry, Violet lunged, kunai in hand, body flicking forward.
But Lucien's Sharingan spun, and through Byakuran he saw clearly—the subtle, hidden twists of chakra within her attack.
"An illusion... clever."
Her posture, her angles—it was all a ruse.
Though Lucien did not yet command genjutsu himself, his three-tomoe Sharingan could pierce through the veil. Someday, with Mangekyo, even the strongest illusions would be meaningless.
Still, he played along. Dropping to the ground, he clutched his head and screamed in feigned agony.
"No! Shigure's caught in her illusion!" Kusuo cried, alarmed.
Violet smirked cruelly. "As I thought. Even an Uchiha is helpless without their eyes fully awakened. My illusion will crush you!"
But just as she celebrated—Shigure's body dissolved into nothingness.
"What?!" Violet's smirk shattered. Her kunai hand twitched in disbelief.
"He... disappeared? No! He was under my genjutsu—how could he escape?!"
"Behind you!" Suzuki Saori's sharp voice cut like lightning.
Violet's chest tightened with sudden fear.
"No... don't tell me... he's using my illusion against me..."
P.S. This chapter was centered on Hongdie's awakening and her powerful emotional trigger tied to Lucien, contrasting her fragile body with her indomitable heart. Then we transitioned into Lucien's cool, overwhelming presence, turning Violet's illusion back on her in dramatic irony.
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