Chapter 207 — Fetal Movement! The Era of Colored Eyes Never Ends, Tenseigan Unleashed!
"Please."
Ōtsutsuki Ukai led the three into the main family's residence. Many members of the clan had gathered, their gazes filled with curiosity toward the visitors.
Most had never seen anyone from the surface. Their knowledge of Earth came only from the few who had traveled there and returned. Yet the three looked no different from them, though most eyes fell on Hyūga Hiashi and the pair of Byakugan he bore.
Ōtsutsuki Ukai ordered tea to be served. After everyone was seated and had set down their cups, he finally spoke. His eyes held a trace of impatience—he had long wanted to ask about the Gedō Statue.
"Renji, the Gedō Statue is an artifact our clan has guarded for generations. I hope you can tell us where it is now."
Though not as extreme as the branch family, Ukai carried deep guilt. The Moon had been entrusted to them by the Sage of Six Paths, and their duty—beyond maintaining the seal—was to protect the Gedō Statue itself. Its disappearance during his time as clan head felt like a failure to their ancestors' mission.
"Even if you found it, you wouldn't be able to bring it back," Renji said calmly. "Your strength is far too weak. Only one with those eyes can summon the Gedō Statue."
The statue had been summoned by Uchiha Madara. To sustain his life, he had drawn chakra from it until he found Obito to continue his plan. Later, when Nagato fell into rage, it was summoned again—but by then, it was already on Earth.
Ōtsutsuki Ukai fell silent, frustration and awe flickering in his eyes. Had the shinobi of the surface truly become so powerful? It made sense—the Gedō Statue had remained safe for centuries only because no one from below could reach the Moon. If they could summon it now, the lunar Ōtsutsuki were clearly no match.
Yet even knowing that, could they simply accept it? Watching their sacred artifact taken from them felt unbearable—like seeing one's goddess stolen away while powerless to act. Ukai clenched his fist, forcing such thoughts aside.
"If we go together, we can bring it back!"
Renji turned his head toward the young clansman behind Ukai. Reckless, he thought. Typical of youth.
Even if they all descended to Earth, they wouldn't last against Nagato. The Ōtsutsuki on the Moon, aside from Toneri, were weak compared to shinobi who had endured centuries of war. The Moon had known only peace. Though main and branch families clashed, their disputes had never reached annihilation—until the branch family sacrificed all their Byakugan to forge a massive chakra stone, destroying the main family at great cost to themselves.
"I doubt that's possible."
Hyūga Hiashi shook his head. The Ōtsutsuki clan's strength was likely below even that of the Hyūga. From Renji's tone, the one who took the statue must be extraordinarily powerful.
"Impossible?!"
Ōtsutsuki Ukai frowned, wanting to argue but unable to. Among the three visitors, Hiashi was clearly the weakest—if even he said so, Renji and the woman beside him were far beyond his level. The sheer pressure Renji gave off made Ukai uneasy; his words likely weren't an exaggeration.
"You can't even resolve your conflict with the branch family," Renji said evenly. "How do you expect to handle the Gedō Statue?"
The words struck Ukai's heart directly. It was true—they hadn't solved the branch problem at all. Suppression was not the same as resolution.
"Branch family? Why not just use the Caged Bird?"
Hiashi looked at Ukai in surprise. Though he himself disapproved of the seal, he knew the Hyūga and Ōtsutsuki shared common roots. Surely they had the same technique.
"Why would we curse our own kin?"
Ōtsutsuki Ukai frowned slightly. "We know the technique, but we've never used it. We're all one family. Branding someone with such a mark is nothing but humiliation."
Hiashi's chest tightened. Among the Hyūga, many still believed the branch family existed only to serve and die for the main family. Was that truly what the clan should be? He fell silent, lost in thought.
Renji, meanwhile, had gained new understanding. He realized he'd overlooked something—why did the Hyūga use the Caged Bird while the Uchiha never needed to?
The Uchiha were ruled by passion. Give them a Caged Bird and they'd awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan overnight and destroy the village. Their emotions were their power. The Sharingan could be transplanted, yes, but at a steep cost—constant chakra drain. Few shinobi could endure that.
The Byakugan, however, could be transplanted freely without such drawbacks. Worse, even children possessed it naturally. Without the Caged Bird's restriction, assassinations and theft would spiral out of control. The shinobi world would go mad hunting for Byakugan.
The Byakugan might not match the Mangekyō's might, but it remained a powerful upgrade. Thus, the Caged Bird existed not only as control—it was protection.
Renji rubbed his temple, feeling a headache. His plan to abolish the Caged Bird suddenly felt naïve. Some Hyūga might not even want it gone. For weaker or noncombatant members, it was a shield.
He'd have to reconsider everything once he returned. Perhaps allow voluntary removal—or alter the seal so the Byakugan went blind upon removal or death. Still, it wasn't a change that could be made with words alone.
"Hey, something's not right here."
Tsunade tugged at Renji's sleeve, whispering.
"Of course it's not," Renji said with a faint smile. "Bad memories are attacking him."
After all, his actions had led Neji to remove the Caged Bird and push for its abolition.
"Talking behind my back, are we? I'm not as fragile as you think."
Hiashi turned toward them—he had heard everything. The two hadn't even bothered to hide it. Still, after listening, he felt strangely calm.
"Ōtsutsuki clan head, I'm here to discuss cooperation."
Since the main family was still intact, they could restrain the branch—for now. Before the branch completed their chakra stone, they posed no true threat.
At Renji's words, Ōtsutsuki Ukai straightened, his gaze sharp.
"Go on."
Renji's tone was steady. "Your branch has misunderstood your ancestor's will. You know they plan to destroy the world the Sage of Six Paths created, don't you?"
"We know."
Ōtsutsuki Ukai nodded gravely. Their conflict had begun from that ideology—the main family guarded the Moon, while the branch sought to destroy the Earth.
"You know about it too?"
Ukai's eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn't expected surface dwellers to know such things. Tsunade and Hiashi exchanged glances; Renji seemed to know everything. Tsunade couldn't help wondering if he had come from the future.
"Did you also know," Renji continued, "that fusing many Byakugan into a single chakra stone can create an immensely powerful weapon?"
Ukai's eyes widened again—how could Renji know that?
"They're preparing to sacrifice all their Byakugan," Renji said, "to create that stone, annihilate your main family, and then forge the Tenseigan to destroy the Earth. You understand what I mean."
Ukai did—and the realization chilled him. The branch had long spoken of destroying Earth. To do so, they needed a colossal Tenseigan. And the only way to make one was by fusing the chakra stone with the clan's entire collection of Byakugan.
"No—we must stop them!"
Ōtsutsuki Ukai rose abruptly, his eyes blazing. "Forgive me. I can't host you any longer today."
Without another word, he gathered his retainers and hurried toward the branch compound. He had never imagined such madness could be real—but now, he feared it already was.
"What exactly did you say to him?!"
Hyūga Hiashi watched as most of the clan members rushed off in the same direction. From Renji's earlier words, he already knew—they were heading straight for the branch family.
But there were things he still did not understand.
"Hiashi, some things are better left unknown!"
If he learned this, Hyūga Hiashi would probably be unable to sleep a single night.
"How much do you actually know?! And you said our Hyūga ancestors followed yours up—so our Hyūga ancestors were Ōtsutsuki?!"
Hyūga Hiashi felt as if he had just learned something earth-shattering; Renji knew more about the Hyūga past than the Hyūga themselves.
Tsunade, sitting beside them, looked puzzled. By the ancestors' accounts, it seemed all three present shared the same forebears.
"Hiashi, you're clever, aren't you!"
"Hey, I'm not an idiot or deaf!"
Hyūga Hiashi's face flashed with embarrassment. Was Renji treating him like a fool? Hadn't he just said the same thing himself?
"Ha, just joking. Anyway, the main family should be able to resolve this, but we'll need to discuss the Caged Bird policy later."
Renji had originally planned to abolish it outright, but on reflection he realized the seal also protected their bloodline.
That was why Danzo never studied the Hyūga bloodline; the Caged Bird's existence explained it. Without the Caged Bird, the Hyūga might have been wiped out back in the Warring States period.
"Hmm?"
Hyūga Hiashi was surprised — hadn't Renji said earlier he would abolish it?
"Don't forget there's a Byakugan in Aoi's eyes. Your clan's bloodline could be used directly without the side effects the Uchiha suffer, so for protection we should think this through."
Hearing Renji, Hiashi nodded. It seemed Renji had discovered what the elders had feared: their bloodline was easy to use and lacked harmful side effects.
Renji had been reckless before, but now he felt a little more humane.
"You're right. Our Caged Bird isn't only a restriction on the branch; it protects ordinary members."
"But is there a way to modify it so it deactivates when someone dies or their eyes are removed?"
Renji shared his earlier idea with Hiashi. At once Hiashi's expression changed.
What? You think it's that simple to optimize?
If it were that easy they would have done it long ago. Renji's suggestion essentially removed the main family's life-and-death control, which was far more than a small tweak — it would be a major systemic change.
"Renji, I know you want to change the Hyūga, and I appreciate that, but it won't happen overnight. I want change too, but it's difficult."
Hyūga Hiashi shook his head. He understood Renji's intent; since Hizashi died, Hiashi had secretly wanted to reform the main-branch injustice.
"There's the Ōtsutsuki clan — you could research it with them."
"But—"
"I'd rather try and fail than do nothing."
Renji looked at Hiashi seriously. If you want change, act. If you lack the courage to take the first step, you'll never succeed.
"Tons of grand talk."
Tsunade watched Renji's earnestness quietly.
Hiashi seemed persuaded; perhaps he could discuss the matter further with the elders. Changing the branch system couldn't be done by words alone. To prevent tragedies like Hizashi and Neji's, action was required. Many branch members feared the Caged Bird, and that fear underpinned everything.
Ōtsutsuki Ukai's earlier words also gave Hiashi new insight. They were all human, all Hyūga—why mark some with the Caged Bird? It was meant as protection, but most didn't understand; it truly handed their lives to the main family.
"I'll ask around and see what people think."
The three talked freely, while the Ōtsutsuki retainers nearby pretended not to hear.
Late into the night, Ōtsutsuki Ukai returned, travel-worn and stained with blood; he had clearly been in battle.
But the news was gratifying: they had found the chakra stone.
That confirmed Renji's claim. When the branch leader was captured and confronted with Renji's accusation, he admitted their plan without hiding it and denounced them as cowards.
"Sigh, you were right."
Ōtsutsuki Ukai looked older; he had thought the main-branch split was only ideological. He never expected the branch to go this far.
They were mad enough to gouge out every eye and use them to forge a laser weapon to annihilate the main family.
"Not surprising; they misunderstood their ancestor's will. After the Gedō Statue was taken, they grew obsessed."
Renji nodded — the branch had lost their minds.
"I've seen you before."
When the branch leader was brought in, the first face he recognized was Hyūga Hiashi.
He remembered Hiashi from when he had accompanied Ōtsutsuki Sheren to Earth and had met Hiashi and his daughter Hinata then. He hadn't expected to meet him here.
"We know each other?"
Hiashi asked. The branch leader remained silent and sat down, prepared to die for his failure.
"This fellow—"
Hiashi felt annoyed by the leader's silence but at a loss for words.
"Did you tell him this?"
The branch leader fixed his gaze on Renji. He had wanted to see Renji, and Ōtsutsuki Ukai had said Renji told them these things. The leader was surprised.
"Yes. First, this world was not created by the Sage of Six Paths; it has always existed, and your ancestor never ordered its destruction."
"Impossible!"
The branch leader refused to believe it. They had gone so far as to sacrifice every eye. How could he accept Renji's words?
"Believe it or not. Clan chief Ukai, can you improve the Caged Bird?"
Renji repeated the discussion he had with Hiashi. After hearing him, Ukai was silent for a moment and then shook his head. "We don't know how yet, but we can research it."
He had no guarantee of success, but it was worth trying. However, the Hyūga would need to provide an example of their Caged Bird for study.
Hiashi nodded at Ukai, and the exchange sent a shiver through the branch leader. He feared death, but he feared the Caged Bird worse: once branded, their lives would forever be controlled by the main family, and the branch's plan would fail — their ancestor's supposed wish would be unfulfilled.
"In truth, the main family could have destroyed the branch or branded you long ago, but they consider you kin. Yet you're willing to sacrifice your own eyes to wipe out the main family."
"Did Hamura actually say to destroy the failed world?"
Renji's voice grew cold as he addressed the branch leader. Words can be distorted across generations; perhaps Hamura's words were twisted. If Hamura knew his descendants would destroy the world his brother created, he would be furious.
The branch leader's face flushed with anger.
"You don't understand — the Gedō Statue was stolen by you Earth people!"
He sprang up, accusing Renji, rage in his eyes. The branch had not fully descended into this madness until the Gedō Statue was summoned away; then relations finally shattered. Now a man from Earth dared to say this aloud.
"So go after the one who stole the Gedō Statue. Why destroy the world? Who offended you? You claim ancestral duty, but your ancestor fought for humanity and his mother. You were brought to the Moon to guard the seal — why meddle in Earth's affairs?"
Renji's words were merciless. The branch leader grew pale and purple with anger.
"But that's my ancestor's will."
His voice weakened. He was uncertain; Renji's words sounded plausible.
"You know his will? You don't know anything!"
...Could we be a little civil?
Ōtsutsuki Ukai wanted to protest — this was their clan, after all, and such accusations were a blow to their honor.
"Ukai clan chief, please watch these lunatics closely. Don't let them destroy Earth, or next time I'll come to the Moon and strike."
"Yes, yes."
Ōtsutsuki Ukai wiped his brow, unsure how to respond. The threat of Renji coming to the Moon seemed real enough to terrify him.
"Why not just brand them with Caged Birds?"
Renji suddenly mused that the Caged Bird might not be entirely evil — perhaps simply sealing them would be simplest.
Hiashi's face flickered; hadn't Renji opposed the Caged Bird earlier? Now he saw its utility.
"It's partly because of the Gedō Statue and Earth's continual wars," Ukai added to explain the branch's state. Seeing Earth's chaos had driven them to extremes. If the Gedō Statue allowed the Ten-Tails to be revived, Earth would face catastrophe.
"Now things are unified there. Ukai, if you have time you should come down and see."
Ōtsutsuki Ukai was surprised; he had not been to Earth recently. If it truly was peaceful, he might consider visiting.
"If it's unified, is that why you know about the Gedō Statue — have you found it?"
Ukai wondered if they could recover it and prevent the branch's radicalization.
"No. The Gedō Statue was summoned by others, but we will find it. As for Earth affairs, the people there will handle them."
Renji said, glaring at the branch leader, who bristled but dared not meet his gaze.
"The Moon matters will be handled by our main family. Rest assured, we won't let the branch destroy the Moon."
Ōtsutsuki Ukai and Renji promised. They would prevent the branch from creating that chakra stone. Even if not for Earth, they would do it for their clan's sake.
[Ding! Fate of Ōtsutsuki Sheren altered — reward: one lottery draw!]
What!? It seemed the branch could no longer wipe out the main family. The lottery chance was awarded to Renji; he felt the situation was perfectly resolved.
Use!
Renji thought silently.
[Ding! Lottery used. Congratulations — you have obtained: Tenseigan.]
Wait!? What? Tenseigan!?
He already had the Rinnegan, and now the Tenseigan too — next would be another magatama Rinnegan or the Pure Eye. Who said the colored-eye era was over? Now it was the tattoo era! He would revive the eye era!
At that moment, Renji felt a stirring in his eyes like fetal movement.
His black pupils involuntarily adopted the Byakugan appearance, and everyone present was stunned when Renji's Byakugan manifested!
Hyūga Hiashi seriously questioned his senses.
Was he hallucinating? Did Renji really have Byakugan?
Hiashi rubbed his eyes and pinched his arm; the pain proved it was no dream. Renji truly had Byakugan!
What on earth was happening? How did he obtain Byakugan?!
Tsunade could not help but twitch the corner of her mouth. Was Renji suddenly revealing he possessed Byakugan to show off? Was he not even considering Hiashi's feelings?
She drew a six for herself.
(End of Chapter)
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