Chapter 82 – A Changed Byakugan
Active achievements are just too damn hard.
Naruto stood up, planning to train first.
He faced the fish pond; a school of silver carp drifted through the slightly murky water.
He crossed his fingers and formed seals in rapid succession.
Adamantine Sealing Chains!
A faint current of air whirled around Naruto.
Five chains sprouted from his waist.
Like nimble tentacles they stabbed into the water.
Under his control they soon snared a plump silver carp.
A few seconds later blood burst outward.
Naruto frowned.
Too much force.
Adamantine Chains were meant for Tailed Beasts; precision wasn't required—but he was a Ninja who chased perfection.
Master this jutsu and you gain five extra arms; in a way it's incredibly practical.
He formed seals again.
An hour passed; Hinata appeared.
She stared at the chains dancing around him, each end clamped around a fish.
So flexible.
What jutsu is this?
"Naruto-kun."
She waited until he stopped before calling out.
He'd sensed her earlier but hadn't interrupted the exercise.
He released the five carp and turned—then froze.
Hinata looked different.
She'd parted her bangs; her black hair, longer now, fell straight before curling slightly at the ends.
Gone was the cute, timid aura—replaced by a quiet, girlish charm.
"What is it, Naruto-kun?"
She tilted her head with a smile.
"Nothing."
He grinned. "Didn't see you for a few days—you're even prettier."
"Really?"
Her smile widened.
Something felt off.
Influence of the Lunar Character Card?
Still within acceptable limits.
He glanced at the sunset—mealtime again.
He led her to Ichiraku Ramen.
"How's the special training going?"
He slid a bowl toward her.
With the Chunin Exams looming Hiashi had drilled her hard,
so Naruto hadn't seen her in days.
"Father was surprised,"
she said between chopsticks. "He taught me main-house secrets and I learned them quickly."
"One was Kaiten—absolute defense, right?"
Naruto pictured another absolute defense: Gaara's sand shield.
All "absolute" early on, absolutely useless later.
For now it helped.
Problem: Neji knew it too.
Two spinning tops on the field?
A beyblade match?
Which absolute defense is more absolute?
Classic spear-versus-shield.
"Interested in Kaiten, Naruto-kun? I could teach you."
She blinked with a bright smile.
He stared at that dazzling grin.
She's definitely trying to seduce me!
And you'd teach an outsider the main-house secret?
Hiashi would cry in the bathroom.
This isn't just "elbow out"—her whole body's running outside.
"I don't have the Byakugan; Kaiten wouldn't help."
Besides, he had Kurama—
wrap its Chakra around himself and nothing pierced it.
Kaiten only repelled physical hits;
in late-stage mecha brawls you'd die to random AOE.
Hinata nodded and kept slurping noodles.
"Yo, Naruto."
A gust of pervert wind—Jiraiya arrived.
"Boss, one tonkotsu. Oh, the handsome guy beside me pays."
He turned to Naruto. "Didn't know you'd be so generous."
"Well if it isn't the Toad Sage—fallen so low you mooch off your student?"
Naruto rolled his eyes.
In canon this guy bled him dry.
"What? A student treating his master is only proper."
Jiraiya, shameless, winked at Hinata. "Not bad—already ten percent of my skill."
"Tch."
Naruto scoffed.
If you had ten times my skill you'd have bagged Tsunade.
And what romance tricks?
Straight as rebar.
The girls you "score" only want your wallet.
"What's that look for?"
Jiraiya bristled.
What's with this brat?
No respect for elders.
Are you really Minato's kid?
"Nothing."
Naruto handed over chopsticks.
"Now that's better."
Jiraiya beamed. "Next time I'll take you somewhere fun."
"…"
Naruto covered Hinata's ears—bad influence.
She was curious about the "Toad Sage" but stayed quiet.
"Eat, don't talk."
He cut Jiraiya off before women cropped up again.
"Fine."
Jiraiya caught the hint.
Reminds me of Minato.
Haven't felt Kushina's iron fist in a while—kinda miss it.
Hinata… heard a bit.
Probably won't explode like Kushina.
Kinda plain…
"…"
Seeing the twenty bowls before her, Jiraiyaretracted that thought—
at least her appetite's impressive.
"See you tomorrow, Hinata."
Naruto waved outside the Hyuga Main House.
"Hot springs tomorrow?"
Once she left, Jiraiya reverted.
"No."
Naruto refused. "Nothing fun there; I need to train."
"Oh, right—the Chunin Exams."
Jiraiya snapped his fingers. "Your opponent: Gaaraof the Sand."
Sandstorm?
More like Sand-boom.
Naruto chuckled.
Puns cost money.
"Gaara's no joke; winning won't be easy."
Jiraiya frowned, mistaking the laugh for arrogance.
"So teach me a killer move?"
Naruto asked offhand.
"Since you beg…"
Jiraiya's lecherous grin returned; he rubbed thumb and fingers. "Need something round and smooth—get me?"
"Got it."
Naruto nodded. "I'll bring it tomorrow—won't disappoint."
"Oh?"
Jiraiya's eyes lit up. "Perfect. I'll show you a technique to steamroll the whole Ninja World."
"…"
You dare brag that big?
Naruto sighed.
Sage Mode, that's all.
He glanced at Jiraiya. "Why are you so perverted?"
"A man who isn't perverted isn't a man!"
Jiraiya declared righteously.
"…"
Can't be saved—just castrate him.
Might complete that achievement in one snip.
Remove the tool, end the crime.
Too cruel—not his style.
Forget the achievement.
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