Giant White Eyes

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The Hyuga clan's standing within Konoha was an awkward one. Renowned for their Byakugan, they produced many skilled jounin, yet what they truly lacked was a true powerhouse capable of upholding the family's prestige.

Still, no ninja in the village dared to target the Hyuga. The Byakugan remained a valuable asset, providing unparalleled reconnaissance and combat advantages in both battle and missions.

As one of Konoha's more traditional clans, the Hyuga placed immense value on their bloodline, which often resulted in a level of exclusivity that distanced them from the rest of the village. Few outsiders ever ventured into the Hyuga compound, where the architecture starkly contrasted with the rest of Konoha. The buildings, inspired by the Warring States Period, reflected the clan's rigid adherence to tradition, sometimes at the cost of modern progress.

"Does our architecture surprise you, Muzan-san?" Hizashi Hyuga asked as they walked through the district.

Hizashi and his brother Hiashi often felt pride when passing by their clan's homes. Despite the division between the main and branch families, the Hyuga still shared a collective dignity tied to their bloodline.

"No, not surprised," Muzan replied, shaking his head slightly. He gestured toward a part of the neighborhood ahead. "But now that Konoha has electricity, your buildings seem outdated. Tradition is important, but clinging to old ways without adapting is nothing but backwardness and ignorance."

Hizashi blinked, caught off guard by Muzan's bluntness. He had never considered their traditional architecture from that perspective. Muzan's words challenged the very foundation of what he had always believed in. The beautifully crafted buildings, while significant, were not built for modernization. The mess of wires and lack of proper infrastructure posed problems that were hard to ignore.

"Tradition has value," Muzan continued, "but it must evolve. Clinging to outdated ways only leads to stagnation."

Hizashi found himself unable to argue. He walked ahead quietly, his pace slowing as Muzan's words sank in. For the first time, someone had shown him the stubbornness of the Hyuga clan from an outside perspective.

With his mind filled with doubts, Hizashi led Muzan to his home. The main and branch families lived in separate parts of the district, with the branch family placed on the outskirts as a form of sentinel. As the brother of the clan head, Hizashi's home was closer to the center, but still not within the main family's core area.

"This is my home," Hizashi said.

He had planned to say more, but his eyes caught on the tangled wires near his house's entrance. His words failed him. Opening the door, he saw his young son playing in the yard.

"Neji, stop running around in the yard!" Hizashi called softly.

His wife quickly scooped up the boy. She noticed Hizashi leading a guest and retreated into the house, casting a curious glance at Muzan.

"That was my son, Neji," Hizashi added with a small smile.

Muzan's eyes gleamed with interest. The boy in question, Neji Hyuga, had the potential to become one of the strongest in Konoha. His future was bright.

"I would like to have a closer look at the boy," Muzan said.

Hizashi hesitated, but eventually signaled for his wife to bring Neji back. Muzan studied the child intently before nodding. "This child will be a pillar of Konoha one day."

Whether Neji's future would shine in the light or be swallowed by darkness depended on the path Hizashi chose for him. One thing was certain: Hizashi had gained incredible strength. Even if he couldn't challenge the clan head-on, he could now protect his son from the curse of the Caged Bird Seal.

"Thank you, Muzan-san," Hizashi said with a nod of appreciation. After Neji returned inside, Hizashi led Muzan to the backyard, where they could speak privately.

In the secluded garden, Muzan began to test Hizashi's newfound powers. "Blood Demon Art: Byakugan Compound Eyes!" Hizashi invoked the technique, summoning over twenty floating eyes around him. Even with his eyes closed, he could still perceive his surroundings.

"I can see everything through these eyes," Hizashi murmured. "It's strange... the world appears more three-dimensional."

This ability surpassed even the Yamanaka clan's sensory techniques. Hizashi had no blind spots, and he could discern the weaknesses of anyone he observed.

"Indeed," Muzan said. "There's a deep connection between kekkei genkai and blood demon arts. Your transformation has greatly enhanced your abilities."

Transformation required talent. The stronger one's bloodline, the greater the power they could access after being turned. In Hizashi's case, his new abilities granted him immense potential beyond that of an ordinary demon.

"These eyes are made of flesh and blood," Muzan explained. "Try merging them. Let's see what happens."

Hizashi focused, and slowly, the floating eyes began to fuse. As they combined, the range of his Byakugan expanded significantly. He could now see far beyond the village, deep into the forests and mountains. The strain, however, was intense. Sweat beaded on Hizashi's brow after only a few minutes of using the technique.

"This power requires a lot of chakra," Hizashi panted, deactivating the ability and wiping his brow.

"Your abilities will evolve with time," Muzan assured him. "With practice, your eyes will continue to grow stronger."

Hizashi nodded. The Twelve Kizuki each had multiple blood demon arts, but developing those abilities took patience and discipline. For a demon, time was their greatest weapon, and Hizashi had plenty of it to master his powers.

As they continued to explore the depths of Hizashi's abilities, he suddenly stiffened, retracting his chakra.

"Someone is watching us," Hizashi said, his gaze snapping toward the entrance of the house.

It was likely the giant floating eyes had drawn attention. The use of the Byakugan was strictly monitored, and whoever had noticed would soon arrive.

Just as Hizashi had predicted, the door to the yard slid open, and the only person with the authority to enter unannounced stepped inside—Hiashi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga clan.

Hiashi's gaze immediately locked onto the black-cloaked figure sitting calmly next to his brother.

"Hatake Muzan," Hiashi said, his voice even but cautious. There was only one person in Konoha who wore such attire.

"I wasn't aware you had business with the Hyuga clan," Hiashi remarked, his eyes narrowing as they shifted between Muzan and Hizashi.

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