The second Byakugan target was Hyuga Natsu. Branch family. Stationed at a mountain pass two days east of Sound Village.
Sasuke traveled alone this time. Team Taka's presence would only complicate things, and he needed to test if the second absorption would be easier than the first.
He found Natsu on patrol. Mid-afternoon. The Hyuga was alone, checking the perimeter of his station.
Perfect.
Sasuke dropped from the trees. Natsu spun, Byakugan activating instantly.
"Uchiha," Natsu said warily. "What are you doing here?"
"I need your eyes."
Natsu's stance shifted to Gentle Fist. "You'll have to—"
Sasuke moved. Lightning fast. Sharingan predicted Natsu's counter before he made it. Chidori formed, struck low—not to kill, but to cripple.
Natsu collapsed, his leg's chakra network disrupted.
"Don't fight," Sasuke said calmly. "It's already over."
He pressed his hand to Natsu's face. Mangekyo activated. Takama-ga-hara blazed.
The absorption was smoother this time. His technique had refined from the first Byakugan absorption. His eyes knew how to process Hyuga genetics now.
Natsu screamed as his Byakugan was pulled from his eyes, the ocular chakra transferring to Sasuke's eyes.
Fifteen seconds. Faster than before.
Natsu slumped, his eyes now normal. Powerless.
Sasuke's hand moved immediately. Lightning chakra formed into a blade. Precise strike through the heart.
Natsu died instantly.
Sasuke stood, forming hand seals. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu."
The massive fireball engulfed Natsu's body and the surrounding area. Flames consumed everything—body, blood, evidence of combat. Within a minute, only ash and scorched earth remained.
No body. No witnesses. No complications.
Sasuke deactivated his Mangekyo and checked his eyes. Pain was there, but manageable. Not the severe burning from the first absorption. Just... discomfort. Like his eye was adjusting to an upgrade rather than fighting foreign invasion.
"Adaptation is accelerating," he muttered. "Good."
He estimated maybe five days for full integration this time instead of two weeks.
Progress.
Target three: Hyuga Kenji. Border station in the Land of Rivers. Also branch family. Also alone.
Sasuke hit him at night. Quick combat. Absorption. Execution. Fire Release to destroy the evidence.
This time the absorption took only twelve seconds. His Takama-ga-hara was refining with each use, learning to process Byakugan structures more efficiently.
The integration pain was even less. Maybe three days needed instead of five.
His Byakugan effectiveness had increased to approximately 45%. He could maintain partial 360-degree vision for several minutes now. Chakra point perception was becoming clearer.
Target four: Hyuga Yuki. Medical station near the coast.
Same pattern. Ambush. Absorb. Kill. Incinerate.
Ten seconds for absorption. The Caged Bird Seal barely even flickered anymore—his technique was too fast for it to properly register the theft.
Integration took two days. Byakugan at 55% effectiveness.
Sasuke was starting to see the pattern. Each absorption made the next easier. His body was learning. Optimizing. The Hashirama cells were doing exactly what he'd hoped—facilitating the integration of foreign genetics.
Target five: Hyuga Takumi. Isolated watchtower in the Land of Fire.
Eight seconds for absorption.
Thirty-six hours for integration.
Byakugan at 65% effectiveness.