[Of course, aside from the two methods mentioned above, there is another approach that has not been tested but has an extremely high probability of success.]
[That is to find a way to continuously fuse Byakugan with one's own Byakugan, thereby increasing the purity of one's Byakugan and gambling on the chance of awakening the Tenseigan. As an advanced form of the Byakugan, the Tenseigan has an extremely high probability of overriding the negative effects of the Caged Bird Seal—much like the suppression the Mangekyō Sharingan has over an ordinary Sharingan.]
[The advantages and disadvantages of this method are both very clear. The disadvantages are the low probability of success—awakening the Tenseigan is highly dependent on natural potential and would consume a large amount of material. The advantage is that once awakened, one could practically stride sideways across the Shinobi World. Even during the Fourth Great Ninja War, as long as you avoid provoking those few monstrous individuals, you could still live a very comfortable and carefree life.]
Within the Hyūga clan grounds, the atmosphere was eerily strange.
"Absolutely not!!"
An elder of the Main House suddenly stood up, breaking the silence, his roar was so loud it seemed to shake the roof beams.
"This idea is far too dangerous! Fusing Byakugan to awaken the Tenseigan? How many clan members would have to be sacrificed?!"
Other elders quickly chimed in: "Exactly! Absolutely unacceptable!"
"The Hyūga cannot slaughter one another!"
The Branch House members present also nodded in agreement.
They weren't a bunch of lunatics like the Uchiha.
Slaughtering their own kin for power? That was something they could never do.
---
At the location of Team Three.
Upon hearing the Sky Screen's description, Neji's hand unconsciously moved toward his forehead again.
'The Tenseigan!'
If awakening the Tenseigan could free him from the Caged Bird Seal…
No… that wouldn't work. How many clan members would have to be sacrificed?
He shook his head, trying to banish that terrible thought out of his mind.
---
[Another Timeline]
Hizashi stood in his courtyard, a sudden spark of hope igniting in his heart.
If his brother's children had the potential to awaken the Tenseigan, then surely he or Neji—with their talents—could also awaken it.
But… would he really be able to lay hands on his own clansmen?
Thinking of that, Hizashi fell silent. He remembered the power the Sky Screen had shown earlier—the Tenseigan user cleaving the moon in half, destroying everything in its path.
If Neji could possess that kind of world-shattering power…
What if… he found a pair of eyes and struck a deal with Orochimaru?
Hizashi's heart wavered violently.
He looked at Neji not far away, who was currently looking up at the Sky Screen, his eyes full of curiosity.
"Tou-san?" Neji noticed his gaze and turned his head. "What's wrong?"
Hizashi shook his head and squeezed out a smile: "Nothing."
But in his heart, that thought could no longer be waved away.
---
Just as the Hyūga clan and others were lost in thought, the Sky Screen soon faded, and then opened again.
This time, the style had changed dramatically.
On the screen, Kakashi appeared dressed garishly in a flashy pink suit, holding a microphone in his hand, appearing to be hosting some kind of event.
The people of the Shinobi World were astonished.
This time, it wasn't a story or legends of a Shinobi Clan?
It seemed to be something much more lighthearted.
The ordinary people of the Shinobi World, in particular, were filled with anticipation. Finally, something that wasn't about fighting and killing—a chance to relax.
On the screen, Kakashi spoke:
"Shinobi Champion: Eating Contest! The participating contestants are as follows!"
The camera panned across the six contestants.
In the present timeline, Naruto immediately recognized several of them—his future self, Hinata, and Kiba.
As for Shino… well, his presence was so faint that Naruto completely overlooked him.
On the training ground below, Kakashi, who was watching the Sky Screen, looked somewhat surprised.
"Do I really dress like that sometimes?"
He touched his own mask as he stared at the flamboyantly dressed version of himself on the screen, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
"It looks… quite festive."
---
Akatsuki Hideout.
"Tch. Ugly as hell."
Obito, face hidden behind his mask, scoffed inwardly.
He stared at the gaudily dressed Kakashi on the Sky Screen, his eyes full of disgust.
On the Sky Screen, Kakashi's voice continued:
"Today's challenge is… Ichiraku's Miso Chashu Ramen! And the time limit is thirty minutes!"
With Kakashi's signal, all the contestants began devouring their ramen furiously.
Bowl after bowl, chopsticks flying, broth splashing everywhere, and the cheers of the audience rose one after another.
As time gradually passed, at the ten-minute mark, Shino slumped to the ground, unable to eat any more, followed by Kiba and Sai, who were carried away by the staff.
In the last one minute, only three people remained on the field.
When the Naruto on the screen looked at his stack of 30 bowls, Kakashi's voice rang out:
"Wow! Contestant Yamato has eaten 31 bowls!"
Yamato smiled slightly and wiped his mouth: "That was easy."
Just then, Kakashi spoke again, his voice filled with surprise: "And the winner is—Contestant Hinata!"
The camera cut to Hinata. On her table were four neat rows of empty bowls, stacked high. Behind her, the scoreboard clearly displayed the number 46!
The whole audience was in an uproar.
"46 bowls of ramen! This girl looks so slender, but she can eat that much?"
"Incredible! And it didn't even seem like her limit…"
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Training Ground]
Naruto stared at the number on the Sky Screen, completely dumbfounded.
"F-Forty-six bowls?"
"Hinata… can eat that much?"
"If we really do get married in the future… how am I going to afford to feed her?"
Sasuke sneered from the side: "A dead-last is still a dead-last. You can't even provide for your wife."
Naruto glared at him. "Shut up!"
Then he scratched his head, looking troubled: "But 46 bowls! How many missions will I have to do just to earn enough for food?"
---
Hyūga Clan Grounds.
Hiashi was equally shocked as he stared at the number on the Sky Screen.
46 bowls?
He turned to look at Hinata beside him—his usually gentle, shy daughter who always ate in small, dainty bites.
Had she… not been getting enough to eat all this time?
Thinking about how he had recently told her he would be intensifying her training, a pang of guilt welled up in Hiashi's heart.
He cleared his throat lightly and spoke:
"Hinata."
Hinata looked up. "Tou-san?"
Hiashi then said with a serious expression: "From now on, eat as much as you want. Don't hold back."
Hinata blinked, then a spark of delight lit up her eyes.
"Yes, Tou-san!"
---
[Konoha, Year 83]
Boruto and Himawari stared at the number 46 on the Sky Screen, their eyes wide open.
Boruto swallowed hard, "Mom is… a competitive eater?"
Himawari was equally stunned, "Mom ate 46 bowls of ramen? That's amazing!"
Hinata sat nearby, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
"That was a very long time ago."
*****
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