Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Genetic mutation?
"Double... Double bloodlines?"
Fujino Daikichi stared in shock, his mouth agape. For over twenty years of teaching, he had never encountered a ninja with double bloodlines. Just having one Bloodline Limit could make a person stand out from the crowd. If someone had two, that would be terrifying.
But the moment the kunai changed its trajectory before hitting Hyuga Satoru was too clear. If that's the case, there's only one possibility.
"Magnetic Release..."
As a member of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Satoru already has the Byakugan bloodline. Awakening Magnetic Release on top of that undoubtedly makes him a ninja with double bloodlines.
Fujino Daikichi's eyes flickered. "Double bloodlines are a serious matter. I must report this to the Hokage immediately..."
In the crowd, there was a stir.
"Oh my god, what are Double Bloodline Limits?"
"It should mean having two bloodlines. I never thought there could be such a ninja."
Even Kakashi Hatake, who is always calm, had a hint of shock in his eyes after hearing this term. He stared directly at Hyuga Satoru on the playground. He knew better than an ordinary person what double bloodlines meant.
Irupo, who had been injured by Hyuga Satoru earlier, covered his chest and stared at the figure standing in front of Rin Uchiha. The shock in his eyes was beyond compare.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"In the nearly thousand-year history of the Hyuga clan, there has never been a ninja with double bloodlines. The Byakugan is already one of the most powerful eye techniques. How could someone awaken another bloodline?"
He suddenly remembered the palm strike with which Hyuga Satoru had defeated him earlier. Could it be a move developed using Magnetic Release? But he had never heard of Magnetic Release having such an ability.
"Satoru... is that amazing?"
Anko took a glance around. Looking at the shocked expressions of everyone around, she couldn't help but feel curious.
The Hokage's Office.
A pile of documents was scattered messily on the table. Sarutobi Hiruzen, with a cigarette holder in his mouth, was seriously dealing with the documents.
Suddenly, a figure appeared out of thin air beside the Hokage's desk. The person wore an animal mask and was wrapped in black clothing.
"Speak."
Without looking up, Sarutobi Hiruzen spat out a word as he dealt with the documents.
"Hokage-sama," the Anbu bowed slightly. "Fujino Daikichi, the teacher in charge of Class A at the ninja academy, reported some news. A student from the Hyuga branch family that he teaches has awakened Magnetic Release and has double bloodlines."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand suddenly froze. He looked up at the Anbu and spoke in a deep voice.
"Is the news reliable?"
"It is."
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent. He knew Fujino Daikichi. Having taught at the ninja academy for nearly 20 years, he was one of the most senior teachers. With his experience, he shouldn't go wrong with such information.
So there was only one possibility.
A glint sparkled in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes. That student from the Hyuga clan had truly awakened double bloodlines. But...
He frowned. This just didn't seem possible.
Rumor has it that during the era of the First Hokage, there was a ninja with double bloodlines in Kirigakure. But a Hyuga with double bloodlines, this was the first time he had heard of it!
The Byakugan that the Hyuga clan has is already a remarkable bloodline limit. He had never heard of anyone awakening another bloodline ability. Magnetic Release... This bloodline seems to often awaken among the sand ninjas. Genetic mutation?
Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Get me all the information about that Hyuga student. Also, notify the head of the Hyuga clan. Since he is a member of the Hyuga clan, it's natural for them to conduct the investigation."
"Yes!" The figure beside the Hokage's desk disappeared.
He let out a long puff of white mist. Sarutobi Hiruzen bit on the cigarette holder and leaned back in his chair, a hint of exhaustion showing on his face.
"With double bloodline limits, if nothing unexpected occurs, his future achievements will be limitless. It's a pity that he's from the branch family."
At the Hyuga clan compound.
As soon as today's assessment ended, Hyuga Satoru returned home. Immediately, the branch family guards found him and asked him to go to the main hall of the clan.
Hyuga Satoru curled his lips. "They came really quickly."
After revealing some of his abilities, he would surely be scrutinized by the clan. But this was also within his plan. His training cost an arm and a leg. If he didn't show some value, how could he get any rewards?
As for the consequences, Hyuga Satoru had already considered them. Because he was from the branch family, even Sarutobi Hiruzen might not be able to interfere easily. He could only let the main branch family handle it themselves. Similarly, after getting the news, Danzo rushed to the Hokage's Office to ask for the person. After learning that he was from the branch family, he immediately hightailed it out of there.
Are you kidding? Let a member of the branch family join ROOT? Isn't that just like running around naked in front of the Hyuga clan?
The Byakugan could peer into secrets, and the priority of the Caged Bird seal was higher than Shikakukonetsu (Tongue - Biting Restraining Seal). Taking in a member of the branch family would just be asking for trouble for himself.
In a sense, the Caged Bird seal really did protect the branch family. All Hyuga Satoru had to face was the main branch family.
Following the branch family guards, Hyuga Satoru came to the main branch family's ancestral hall. This was where the Hyuga clan held meetings, and only ninjas with relatively high status from the main branch family and the branch family could enter.
Hyuga Satoru had time - traveled for so long, and this was the first time he had come here. He couldn't help but look around curiously.
Compared to other places in the Hyuga clan, the decoration here was more imposing, exuding an aura of majesty. There were several cushions placed below the ancestral hall. Several middle - aged men were seated cross - legged on them, and there was also a young man standing beside them.
The branch family guard stepped forward, knelt down, and said respectfully to the man in the middle, "Head of the clan, he's here."
Head of the clan?
Hyuga Satoru curiously sized up the man. He was wearing a white robe. Although there were already white hairs at his temples, those Byakugan eyes were full of spirit and were staring right at him.
This person should be the current head of the Hyuga clan. I heard his name might be Hyuga Mizuki. The young man standing beside him should be Hyuga Hiashi. But in the current timeline, he hasn't become the head of the clan yet.
Hyuga Satoru analyzed silently in his heart.
Seeing that Hyuga Satoru showed no fear when seeing him and instead sized him up from head to toe, Hyuga Mizuki frowned and spoke first.
"Your name is Hyuga Satoru, right? I heard that you awakened a second Bloodline Limit?"
"Yes." Hyuga Satoru answered affirmatively without the slightest hesitation.
Once the Electromagnetic Force ability was used, it couldn't be covered up. Instead of wrangling over it later, it would save a lot of trouble to pretend that it was a Bloodline Limit now.
"Magnetic Release?"
"Yes."
The main hall fell into a brief silence.
After a moment of silence, Hyuga Mizuki said in a deep voice, "Throughout the nearly thousand - year history of our Hyuga clan, it seems that no one has ever awakened any other Bloodline Limit. Why did you awaken one?"
The others also turned their gazes towards Hyuga Satoru, waiting for his answer.
Hyuga Satoru shook his head and said, "I don't know either."
There's no way he could answer this. He had to flat - out deny it.
"When did you awaken it?"
"When the news of my father's death came. I felt like the sky was about to fall. It was as if something in my head was about to explode. I lay in bed for a few days. When I woke up, I found that I seemed different."
"At that time, I didn't know I had awakened Magnetic Release. Later, I slowly realized that I had gained some other abilities."
Hyuga Satoru recounted in a steady stream. Hyuga Mizuki and the others exchanged glances, and their expressions kept changing.
Even before Hyuga Satoru arrived, all the information about him had already been placed in front of them. Naturally, they also knew about Hyuga Satoru's family situation. His mother died during childbirth, and his father, a guard of the branch family, died while on a mission. It seemed that the information mentioned that Hyuga Satoru had fallen ill after his father's death, but it wasn't very detailed.
So, did it awaken under the blow of losing both parents, with intense emotional upheaval?
Why did only he awaken? Gene Mutation???
Hyuga Satoru's expression remained unchanged, but he sneered inwardly. He had inherited the memories of his predecessor. Naturally, he knew that he had fallen ill after his father's death, and he could just use it as an excuse.
The Hyuuga clan didn't intermarry with other clans. His identity and bloodline were beyond doubt. His parents had already died. With the dead unable to testify, in any case, there was only one explanation: Gene Mutation.
Coupled with the Caged Bird seal on his forehead, there was no way he could pose a threat to the main branch family. So, the outcome of this matter was already doomed.
Sure enough, after a long silence, Hyuga Mizuki nodded, obviously agreeing with Hyuga Satoru's statement.
Just as Hyuga Satoru heaved a sigh of relief, Hyuga Mizuki suddenly looked up and stared straight at him.
"Since you awakened a new bloodline a long time ago, why have you never gone to the clan's training ground to practice and never told us?"