Bang!
A wooden training post as tall as a man and thick as a barrel was sent flying with a single punch.
"This is…"
Hyūga Aotsuki stared at the shattered post, then recalled what Yamanaka Koji's training used to look like — her expression turned strange.
How to describe it…
It was like watching a quiet, scholarly boy suddenly rip open his shirt to reveal sculpted muscles — an instant shift from gentle youth to musclebound powerhouse.
A total change in art style!
That about summed it up.
To think — even without chakra reinforcement, he could send a full-sized post flying with a single blow.
Even a chūnin specializing in taijutsu might not manage that.
But Kōji, a genin who'd always relied on ninjutsu, had done it easily.
It was nothing short of shocking.
Of course, that power didn't come without a price.
His appearance had changed drastically.
Once, he had been slim, almost frail-looking.
But now?
He'd grown taller, his frame thicker and solid with muscle — his physique was that of a grown man.
And he was only twelve.
Sure, people in the shinobi world matured quickly… but not that quickly.
Meanwhile, the chakra tests were in — his Wind Release affinity had risen noticeably.
His control and power with wind techniques had both improved to a visible degree, and his overall chakra capacity had increased by nearly thirty percent.
At this point, his combat ability rivaled that of a chūnin — and his potential had broken through its previous ceiling.
"I—"
Kōji turned to Tangping, eyes full of gratitude, but before he could speak, Tangping cut him off.
"Remember — this strength came from practicing your clan's forbidden technique. Keep that story straight. And use some disguise jutsu to hide your changes — you can gradually 'recover' your old look later."
Tangping's tone was serious.
He'd already prepared the cover story before performing the surgery.
The Yamanaka Clan really did have records of such forbidden arts — that was part of why they'd declined over the years.
The technique traded life force for temporary power.
Most who used it had died in battle, and after the Second and Third Hokage suppressed the old ninja clans, the Yamanaka never recovered.
The "forbidden jutsu" itself had long since been lost.
But since they now held the right to define the truth, no one would question it.
"I understand."
Kōji wasn't stupid.
He knew exactly what kind of chaos would erupt if word of this "enhancement surgery" ever spread.
He nodded solemnly, fully aware of the stakes.
Tangping wasn't worried about him betraying secrets — Kōji wasn't one of those "well-meaning idiots" who ruined plans through carelessness.
What did worry him was something else entirely.
Money.
His money was gone.
That freshly earned hundred million ryō — gone in a flash.
When the funds came from investors, it was easy to spend with reckless joy.
But when it was his money… it hurt.
Then again, if he thought about it another way —
The money hadn't disappeared.
It had just changed form and now stayed loyally by his side.
Yes, the money was standing right there, flexing its muscles and calling him "boss."
With Kōji and Aotsuki, Tangping's little private team was finally taking shape.
Their power was still minuscule compared to giants like the Uchiha or Root,
but their potential was limitless.
Still, the top priority now was clear —
He needed more money.
Research required funding.
Power required resources.
And in this world, science was not a hobby for the poor.
It made sense why that classic saying existed:
"The rich rely on technology.
The poor rely on mutation."
Now Tangping truly understood those words.
Without having "latched onto the White Faction's thigh," he would never have gotten this far.
He was about to continue gathering more test data when—
Kreeee!
A piercing cry echoed through the skies above Konoha.
Everyone instinctively looked up.
A messenger hawk!
The bird's presence meant one thing —
an urgent summons for all jōnin.
"What happened?" Kōji murmured under his breath.
Tangping frowned slightly, running through possibilities in his mind.
What could be so serious that every jōnin needed to assemble?
Then a spark of realization flashed through his thoughts.
If he wasn't mistaken, there was only one event that fit this timing—
The Third Kazekage's disappearance.
That incident would soon ignite the flames of the Third Great Ninja War.
If possible, Tangping would've loved to avoid it entirely.
But unless the village leadership collectively lost their memory,
there was no way they'd leave a "genius" like him sitting idle.
They'd drag him to the battlefield without hesitation.
"Let's head back and wait for orders," Tangping decided, then added,
"Looks like you'll both get the chance to show off that new power soon."
A war was the best — and worst — stage to prove their strength.
And Hyūga Aotsuki wouldn't escape it either.
Once war began, any able-bodied ninja would be mobilized.
Especially someone from the Hyūga Clan.
Even if she lost a leg — no, even if she lost two — they'd probably have her carried onto the battlefield.
After all, the Byakugan had irreplaceable strategic value.
The more, the better.
"Understood." ×2
Both Kōji and Aotsuki nodded firmly.
Tangping and Aotsuki then left the Yamanaka training grounds together.
On the way, Tangping asked,
"Have your eyes changed at all?"
Aotsuki activated her Byakugan and replied,
"My maximum vision range increased from one kilometer to three, and… my blind spot is gone."
That revelation made Tangping's eyes light up.
If anyone else had asked, she would never have revealed such sensitive information — it could easily be used against her.
But Tangping was different; she trusted him completely.
"Good. Keep your appearance as it was, and keep experimenting with your eyes' abilities. There might be some surprises waiting for you."
Just one "fetal movement" had already caused her Byakugan to evolve drastically — proof of how terrifying the Tenseigan's potential was.
He remembered that the Tenseigan's powers were many —
even if the ultimate Tenseigan Chakra Mode was far off,
abilities like gravitational control, mental domination, and pressure fields might emerge early.
If she could unlock even a fraction of those, her strength would soar.
"Mm."
Aotsuki nodded reluctantly before turning to leave —
the Uchiha compound was just ahead.
She had only accompanied Tangping this far because her presence let him slip past Root surveillance.
Root had been watching Tangping like a hawk.
Without Aotsuki's help, there was no way he could have moved undetected.
He had left the hospital on the pretense of retrieving items from the Uchiha compound before visiting his private lab.
Now that the field tests were complete, he'd return to the hospital and keep up appearances until his body had fully recovered.
Better to lie flat in a hospital bed than get caught up in clan politics.
The Uchiha compound was nothing but a vortex of trouble lately.
Inside the Hokage Tower.
Every jōnin and clan head had gathered in the council chamber.
No one spoke.
The silence was so heavy it could've been cut with a kunai.
At last, Mitokado Homura rose to address the room.
"Everyone — Sunagakure has sent us a letter, demanding that Konoha give them an explanation for the disappearance of their Kazekage."
The room stirred.
Even now, Homura could scarcely believe it himself —
the Third Kazekage of the Sand had vanished without a trace.
According to the letter, he had gone missing on his way back from the joint Chūnin Exams — implying that his disappearance occurred within Konoha's sphere of influence.
And so, the Sand demanded a "proper explanation."
Baseless accusations!
But in the ninja world, such things weren't unusual at all — wars had been started over less.
And since the message had been sent publicly in the name of the village, not a single person,
it represented the will of Sunagakure itself.
One wrong move now could spark a full-scale war.
That was why Sarutobi Hiruzen had called everyone together.
But after Homura finished speaking—
A strange, heavy silence filled the entire conference hall once more.
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