"No, there's no need to cut them all."
The original's gaze grew increasingly sharp, as if solving an ancient riddle.
"If I were the creator of the Caged Bird Seal, to ensure absolute secrecy of control..."
"I would definitely filter from the source."
"I would find the Chakra cone cell that is the simplest, most independent, and most marginalized connection."
"And use the frequency recognized by such cells as the signal source for activation."
"We just need to look in this direction, starting from the simplest neural circuits."
The Shadow Clone rubbed its chin, thoughtful: "Even if we find that nerve, what happens after we cut it?"
"Won't that part of the field of vision go dark?"
"That's where Sealing Techniques come in."
The original drew a complex circular symbol at the break in the nerve bundle on the paper.
"After cutting the nerve, a miniature sealing technique circuit is implanted at the break."
"The function of this circuit is like a bridge."
"It will skip that'specific frequency' we've selected and connect all other normal visual signals."
"Reconnecting them to the cerebral cortex."
"This way, all images, light, and even Chakra of other natures can be transmitted normally."
"Only that 'lethal frequency' used to detonate the cursed seal is intercepted by this bridge."
After hearing this inference.
The Shadow Clone, who had been slumped on the bed, suddenly sat bolt upright.
He stared intently at the circle representing the sealing technique, his pupils contracting violently.
A chilling sense of déjà vu washed over him.
"Huh?"
"A sealing technique circuit... that's a technique formula, a bunch of Chakra lines."
"It's not actual biological eyeball tissue."
"While it can transmit signals, it doesn't possess the function of'seeing' itself."
The Shadow Clone's breathing began to quicken, and his voice rose a few notches.
"If a sealing technique is used to replace a section of nerve and flesh..."
"Then on a physical level, the place where that 'bridge' is set up..."
"That point, for the Byakugan, simply doesn't exist!"
"There... nothing can be seen!"
The moment the words fell.
The air in the Barracks seemed to freeze.
The original and the Shadow Clone looked up at the same time, their gazes clashing fiercely in the air.
On both their faces was the ecstasy of discovering a world-shaking secret, as well as extreme shock.
No more words were needed.
At this moment, all the clues came full circle.
Why could the branch family not detect the signs of activation?
Because that frequency was filtered out.
Why was it filtered out?
Because the transmission nerves had been tampered with.
What was the price of that tampering?
A physical loss of vision.
The two spoke in unison, their voices trembling yet incredibly firm:
"A three hundred and fifty-nine degree field of vision!"
"One degree is missing!"
That was the sole blind spot of the Hyuga Branch Family's Byakugan.
Located behind the first thoracic vertebra.
The visual blind spot that the Main Family claimed was due to "insufficient cultivation" or a "physiological defect."
It turned out it wasn't a defect.
It was a lock—a lock of despair that secured the lives of all branch family members, yet was disguised as a "blind spot right under one's nose."
The air in the Barracks seemed to solidify, save for the occasional crackle of the lamp wick.
The sharp light in Aokawa's eyes did not fade; it was the excitement of a hunter finally seeing the structure of a trap.
"I was originally wondering if this one-degree blind spot was to facilitate the entry of the Main Family's Chakra signals," the original spoke slowly, his voice very steady.
"But the blind spot is behind us. If the Main Family activates the Caged Bird Seal from the front, the signal must pass through the three hundred and fifty-nine degree visible area ahead. Why can we still not see that Chakra?"
"If we follow what we just deduced, everything makes sense."
The Shadow Clone took over, pointing firmly at the anatomical diagram of the eye.
"By cutting specific visual nerves, the 359-degree field of vision can see other Chakra, but not the Main Family's specific Chakra frequency."
As long as specific visual nerves are severed, the eyes become truly "blind" to Chakra of that frequency.
And the surgical incision is right in that blind spot that all Hyuga Clan members have grown accustomed to.
The most dangerous places often hide the filthiest secrets.
"No matter how perfect the inference is, it's still just an inference." Aokawa sat cross-legged, a faint blue halo rising around him.
"My spirit particles control hasn't fully recovered yet, but it's enough for a deep internal examination."
He looked at the Shadow Clone: "You stay outside and use your Byakugan to assist, keeping an eye on the flow of the meridians for me."
"Understood." The Shadow Clone dropped his playful grin, veins bulging around his eyes as his Byakugan activated instantly.
Aokawa slowly closed his eyes.
An extremely faint but exceptionally pure blue spirit particles flowed upstream along the meridians, cautiously invading the optic nerve plexus behind the eyeballs.
This was an extremely dangerous act.
Optic nerves are as fragile as spider silk; one slight mishap could cause permanent blindness.
But under the spirit particles's pervasive perception, everything became clear and distinguishable.
"Three millimeters to the left... avoid the main artery..."
The Shadow Clone calmly reported the positions, though fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
Finally.
The spirit particles feelers reached the end of the optic nerve corresponding to the first thoracic vertebra.
The sight before him made Aokawa's heart contract sharply.
Among the dense, star-bright nerve bundles, the one at the very edge appeared a weird, deathly gray.
It was severed.
There was no exquisite sealing technique formula at the break, nor any complex Chakra circuit.
Only ugly scars and the withering and atrophy at both ends caused by years of disuse.
"Ha..."
The original snapped his eyes open and let out a short, ironic laugh.
"We overestimated those pigs."
"There is no 'Chakra bridge' as I imagined, nor any precise'signal filtering valve'."
"They simply and crudely severed that one nerve."
"Severing more sets of chakra cone cells means the Caged Bird Seal can be activated using a wider range of frequencies—it doesn't even need a specific frequency, just anything in that band will do."
"As for whether it affects the branch family's vision?"
Aokawa sneered: "Who cares if a tool sees clearly? As long as they aren't blind and can kill, that's enough."
Simple, crude, yet effective for over a thousand years.
This is the wisdom of the Hyuga Main Family.
"Now that we've found the lesion, things will be easier."
The Shadow Clone deactivated his Byakugan, looking eager: "How do we do this? Sew it back?"
"Not you."
The original shook his head, looking at the Shadow Clone's somewhat translucent body: "Your Chakra is almost empty. In such a delicate surgery, one hand tremor and I'm blind."
"I'll release you first; the memories and experience will flow back."
"Then I'll summon one at full strength."
With that, without waiting for the Shadow Clone to protest, he formed a hand sign with one hand.
"Poof."
White mist exploded, and the Shadow Clone vanished into a cloud of smoke.
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