Chapter 25: Transformation

Although Hyuga Kyou felt a twinge of pride at his earlier performance, he knew not to let this somewhat fortunate victory go to his head.

In truth, after fighting Guy, Zabuza's spirit and stamina had taken a hit, and more importantly, he had broken several ribs.

The injury, though not visible, significantly impacted his combat effectiveness, especially in Taijutsu.

This was one of the main reasons Zabuza chose to force Hyuga Kyou back with a slash and then abandon his sword to use Ninjutsu. With his ribs injured, a direct Taijutsu confrontation would put him at a disadvantage.

With Zabuza weakened, Hyuga Kyou's unexpected assault, coupled with the Tenseigan's unmatched insight, made for a quick victory.

But this also indicated that Hyuga Kyou was undergoing a transformation. The once mediocre ninja was disappearing, replaced by a decisive, sharp, and opportunistic new force.

Guy asked curiously, "Kyou, you didn't seem scared of those Kirigakure ninjas. But weren't they all Jonin?"

Hyuga Kyou replied, "Probably just Tokubetsu Jonin."

Tokubetsu Jonin, while classified as Jonin, were a clear step below true Jonin, which included many monsters and even Kage-level ninjas.

On the other hand, Tokubetsu Jonin were a defined group. The strong ones quickly advanced, leaving the remainder, who were often slightly weaker than average Jonin, with few Kage-level threats.

Moreover, Hyuga Kyou's attitude towards Kirigakure had been partly an act.

Upon encountering the Kirigakure assassination squad and the Konoha ANBU, he had started performing.

He needed to shed his previous mediocrity but couldn't do it too abruptly. His opponent needed to be chosen carefully. Zabuza, a Tokubetsu Jonin with considerable strength but not much experience, was a perfect stepping stone.

His arrogance was also deliberate.

Firstly, as a member of a bloodline clan, a certain amount of arrogance was normal.

Secondly, arrogance made one appear difficult to deal with, making people think twice before messing with them, thereby reducing future trouble.

The real reason Hyuga Kyou was so keen on establishing a new image was something else.

Yesterday, Rin mentioned that, due to a severe manpower shortage, the village leadership had decided to promote some Chunin to Tokubetsu Jonin.

And this was an opportunity Hyuga Kyou was determined to seize.

Becoming a Tokubetsu Jonin would mean a significant change in status. His current position as a wartime-promoted Chunin was inferior to those who had passed the regular exams.

If he became a Tokubetsu Jonin, he would leapfrog over all the Chunin, shedding his cannon fodder status and becoming one of the village's senior combat forces.

Moreover, as a Tokubetsu Jonin, he could accumulate merits to request training in advanced Ninjutsu and even secret techniques from the village.

The Fourth Hokage had earned the chance to learn the Flying Thunder God technique through his battlefield exploits, laying the foundation for his rise to Kage level.

After hours of tracking, Hyuga Kyou and Guy finally found the rogue ninjas.

The enemy group consisted of five, all dressed as Kirigakure ninjas. The leader, with hair tied up in a bun and two red marks above his eyebrows, seemed to be a notable member of the Kaguya clan.

Hyuga Kyou whispered, "Looks like the Kaguya clan with the 'Shikotsumyaku.' Be careful!"

Guy nodded cautiously.

He knew that clans with famous Kekkei Genkai were always dangerous. The Kaguya clan was known for their ferocity and madness, feared on the battlefield.

The Kaguya ninja laughed, "Did Konoha send only you two kids to hunt us down?"

The other rogue ninjas joined in, with one sneering, "I heard your Hokage got killed in your own village. Looks like Konoha's finished."

Using his Tenseigan to scan the surroundings and confirming there were no others around, Hyuga Kyou made up his mind.

The Kaguya's Shikotsumyaku combined with their advanced Taijutsu made them formidable, their bone armor hard to penetrate even with Gentle Fist. They countered Taijutsu specialists like Hyuga Kyou and Guy.

Thus, Hyuga Kyou decided to use the Revolving Heaven to pull the Kaguya leader closer and seal his chakra with Gentle Fist, preventing him from using his bloodline.

After finalizing his plan, Hyuga Kyou feigned weakness, saying, "This is the Land of Fire. Leave immediately!"

The rogue ninjas only laughed harder, one even pulling out a flask and drinking openly.

Hyuga Kyou stepped forward, putting on a show of bravado, "If you don't leave now, don't blame us Konoha ninjas for being rude!"

The Kaguya ninja also took a few steps forward, laughing, "Kid, do you even know who I..."

Before he could finish, he felt a powerful force pulling him towards Hyuga Kyou.

At the same time, Hyuga Kyou leapt forward like a tiger, meeting him halfway!

They were only about ten meters apart, so in the blink of an eye, the two collided.

Thud thud thud...

With a series of dull thuds, the Kaguya ninja's chakra points were sealed by Hyuga Kyou's Gentle Fist before he could even activate his bloodline, and he fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Not done yet, Hyuga Kyou followed up with a set of Eight Trigrams Palms, striking vital points and quickly ending his opponent's life.

This group of rogues were defectors and mission targets, unlike Zabuza, so they were to be eliminated.

While Hyuga Kyou dealt with the leader, Guy swiftly dispatched the remaining four.

Sealing the Kaguya ninja's body in a mission scroll, Hyuga Kyou and Guy wasted no time, heading back to the village.

On the way, Guy couldn't help but ask, "Kyou, what happened back there?"

Hyuga Kyou chuckled, "Did you think you were the only one with a secret technique? That was mine."