"This isn't just genetic repair—it's the evolution of life itself. The cells have undergone a qualitative change."
Hyuga Mirai examined the flesh he had fused with the Ten-Tails' cells and found that his own had nearly evolved to another level of existence.
The vitality was overwhelming—fire and lightning could hardly destroy them. Even in ordinary conditions, they reproduced and divided rapidly, and within each cell lingered a trace of Mirai's will.
Given enough time and energy, this small piece of flesh might evolve into a new life altogether, one nearly identical to Hyuga Mirai, its progress of evolution matching his own.
No wonder Kaguya could only be sealed, not killed. Even a sliver of Ten-Tails flesh carried such vitality. And Kaguya had devoured an entire chakra fruit. By calculation, it was the fruit itself that benefited the Otsutsuki the most, while the Ten-Tails was of a lower tier.
As for the abilities born from fusing with the Ten-Tails, Mirai would have to test them personally. A fragment of flesh was not enough to simulate it.
"Good enough. Later, I can cultivate a second or even a third Ten-Tails."
He remembered that apart from the Gedo Statue, Isshiki had also raised a smaller Ten-Tails. After he absorbed this one and became a true Sage of Six Paths, he would claim that as well.
"Ayaka, I'm going to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. I may be delayed for some time. If anyone comes looking, direct them all to Number 18."
After giving Ayaka Uzumaki instructions and receiving her reply, Mirai went to the cultivation chamber of the Ten-Tails.
Fully prepared, nine Truth-Seeking Orbs appeared behind him, his body clad in the robes of a Sage.
"Seal!"
His hands formed seals, and the orbs turned into chains, binding the Ten-Tails.
The contact jolted the beast awake.
A deafening roar shook the chamber as the surrounding seals shattered. Four additional chakra chains wrapped around it, forcing its massive body into a frenzy of struggle.
But the strength of the orbs surpassed normal fūinjutsu, and with Mirai himself present, the Ten-Tails could do nothing beyond howl.
Under his control, its body shrank steadily until it compressed into a blue magatama. The chains pulled it into Mirai's body with seamless ease.
Whoosh—
A violent wind swept through, the sign of chakra bursting free. Yet in an instant, Mirai suppressed it.
How much chakra did this Ten-Tails contain? Half the power of the nine bijū, plus the endless energy drawn by the God Tree from the Dragon Vein. Even Mirai himself could not compare to the Ten-Tails in raw chakra.
"That power… like the Sage of Six Paths himself—no, even greater."
Within Ayaka Uzumaki, Kurama trembled as it witnessed Mirai absorb the beast. The sensation was identical to when it once faced the Sage, yet this time an instinctive fear welled up.
For the Sage had been separated from the Ten-Tails, while Mirai now stood before it with greater presence than Hagoromo of old.
His hair turned pure white. The robe's collar and cuffs bore nine magatama patterns. Two sharp horns sprouted atop his head, his skin covered in Truth-Seeking Orb-like substance, and on his forehead a Rinnegan with nine tomoe emerged.
"Kaguya's will? How tiresome. Trying to tempt me into casting Infinite Tsukuyomi? When you crawl out from the moon someday, I won't forget this."
He dispelled the faint whispers in his ears with a single seal—echoes of Kaguya's will, lingering within the Ten-Tails.
The first chakra fruit was the purest, most suited for Otsutsuki evolution. The Ten-Tails, a being torn from Kaguya, retained some of that power but inevitably carried her imprint.
Fortunately, Mirai was her descendant, his genes close to hers apart from his eyes.
"The Rinnegan can't be used yet, nor can Kekkei Mōra. To wield them, I must first drive out Kaguya's will. But… the Shikotsumyaku has evolved. Tomogoroshi no Haikotsu, is it?"
From his hand grew a decayed bone radiating power opposite to the Sage Body. Anyone pierced by it would die irreversibly—even Six Paths healing could not restore them.
Only one who had fully merged with the Ten-Tails, evolving life to another level, could withstand such annihilation.
Mirai sealed the power away. His horns, robe, and third eye vanished, his hair returning to normal. Only his eyes retained their glowing blue Tenseigan form.
He could now use the Byakugan's long-range and penetrating vision while maintaining the Tenseigan—no need to switch back and forth.
His strength had risen greatly, though the lingering will of Kaguya remained a problem. He estimated it would take time to expel it and fully integrate the Ten-Tails.
…
Stepping out of the chamber, Ayaka Uzumaki pounced on him at once.
"Lord Mirai, where did that form go? You looked so amazing just now! Did it work? You've grown even stronger, haven't you?"
Her words tumbled out like machine-gun fire. She inhaled deeply, secretly thinking his scent had become even more captivating.
"Halfway successful. It will take more time for full completion."
He patted her crimson hair, helpless against her puppy-like behavior.
"By the way, Kurama—stop causing Ayaka trouble. Unlike the Sage, I'm not so patient. If you won't aid her properly, think of the consequences… Isobu as well."
Inside Ayaka and Nohara Rin's seal spaces, the two bijū saw Mirai's gaze.
Those piercing blue eyes carried the same overwhelming force as the Sage—but colder, harsher. They realized that if they ignored him, they truly would vanish.
Immortality applied only to beings below the Six Paths. As creations of Yin-Yang Release, they could be erased by it just as easily.
Crack—
Both seals shattered within the girls. The beasts dared not move.
Though the seals were gone, neither Kurama nor Isobu tried to seize their hosts. Kurama merely snorted, then lay down to rest, shifting farther from the open gate.
When Ayaka appeared inside her seal space, she flung the door wide with glee. "Heh, Kurama, did you hear? Lord Mirai said that for me! He cares about me enough to warn you."
Proudly, she walked up and patted his fur.
The fox's veins bulged in anger, but it turned away, ears drooping, pretending to sleep. With Mirai behind her, it dared not respond.
Ayaka hopped around on its back, but Kurama stayed silent. At last, she grew bored and left.
Meanwhile, Nohara Rin was taken aback. Since her mistake, Mirai had barely acknowledged her. Now, suddenly, he had released her seal.
Isobu, calmer than Kurama and unwilling to die, made no attempt to seize her body. Instead, after the seal broke, it greeted her. If resistance was pointless, better to try coexistence.
Having absorbed the Ten-Tails, Mirai began a full check of his body, recording data carefully. Greedy though he was, he wanted those beside him to share in his longevity.
But Kaguya's will remained an obstacle. He planned to try erasing it slowly with Yin-Yang Release. If that failed, he would seek another method.
…
Konoha
Though she had agreed to Tsunade's request, Kurenai Yuhi had only put on a brave front in the Hokage's office. To truly persuade Kiyo Hyuga, her words alone would not suffice. Only one man could.
Yet recalling Hyuga Mirai's bold declaration, her heart raced as if opening the Fifth Gate.
After so long, she was finally certain. As Guy had said, persistence would earn its answer.
A faint smile flickered across her lips as she wandered toward the Hyuga compound. Only when she noticed the increasing number of stares did she snap out of her daydream.
The clan knew the village's genjutsu master was a friend of the clan head, so no one stopped her. Still, they thought her expression rather strange.
At last, she arrived outside Kiyo Hyuga's courtyard.
"Kiyo, are you there?" she called.
(End of Chapter)