Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 146: The Target—The Four Great Historical Tablets

He was a legend.

In Nagano Shinya's eyes, the Second Hokage was a legendary figure worthy of respect.

It was this man who assisted the First Hokage in implementing numerous reforms, paving the way for the Shinobi World to step out of the Warring States era.

Moreover, the forbidden techniques attributed to Hyuga Fuji had reportedly all been developed by the Second Hokage himself.

Thus, when this figure gathered them together, Nagano Shinya did not hesitate to join him in the rebellion against Hyuga Fuji.

It had been a grueling battle.

The Edo Tensei shinobi who sided with Hyuga Fuji clashed fiercely with their group, fighting on a desolate battlefield far from any human settlements.

Thanks to the immortality granted by the Edo Tensei technique, the battle was drawn out and brutal.

Only the sealing talismans developed by the Second Hokage gave them a slight edge, allowing them to push forward and confront Hyuga Fuji directly.

But that was as far as they got.

Hyuga Fuji's Byakugan, which had transformed into a striking blue, displayed unfathomable chakra levels. A golden sphere formed on his fingertips, unleashing a storm that devoured everything in its path.

Faced with this overwhelming golden tempest, they were powerless. The blinding radiance engulfed them, disintegrating their Edo Tensei bodies.

The Second Hokage bore the brunt of the attack, targeted and defeated by Hyuga Fuji.

Only eleven of them managed to escape, their immortal Edo Tensei bodies granting them the ability to retreat.

Even though they had faced death together, their differing national loyalties bred distrust. Each chose to go their separate ways.

As for why Nagano Shinya came to the former territory of the Hyuga Clan, it was because of the Second Hokage's final words.

Though the Second Hokage had been the first to fall under Hyuga Fuji's assault, he seemed to have glimpsed some hidden truth in Fuji's power during his last moments. He shared one critical piece of information before the battle ended.

The source of Hyuga Fuji's overwhelming strength was recorded in the historical tablet of the Hyuga Clan. Similar historical tablets also existed for the Kaguya Clan, the Senju Clan, and the Uchiha Clan.

Nagano Shinya clung tightly to this revelation.

Undoubtedly, the other Edo Tensei shinobi who had fled remembered it as well.

And in their hearts, the same ambition likely took root.

Hyuga Fuji had gained godlike power from just one historical tablet. If they could obtain one—better yet, all of them—couldn't they surpass even the so-called "God of Shinobi" and ascend to divinity themselves?

The allure of such power was irresistible to Nagano Shinya.

Thus, even though he knew Hyuga Fuji had already secured the Hyuga Clan's historical tablet, he ventured to this place.

And then… he was ambushed.

"That's the whole story," Nagano Shinya explained, bound by sealing talismans that made escape impossible. "I'm not your enemy—I have plenty of information on Hyuga Fuji that could help you."

Kakashi's typically deadpan expression flickered with disbelief as he muttered, "Getting stronger by obtaining a tablet? That's absurd."

The last Edo Tensei shinobi they captured had refused to speak, preferring to be sealed rather than reveal such fantastical-sounding information.

If not for the clarity in Nagano Shinya's eyes, Kakashi might have thought this was some elaborate ploy orchestrated by Hyuga Fuji.

"Then how do you explain Hyuga Fuji's immense chakra levels at such a young age? Or figures like the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara? Shinobi of their caliber shouldn't exist in this world!"

Nagano Shinya was resolute, his logic sound. "Throughout history, only three shinobi have ever reached such transcendent levels of power. Doesn't it seem suspicious? Besides, this was the Second Hokage's own claim—why would he lie?"

Hearing Nagano Shinya place Hyuga Fuji alongside Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, Kakashi frowned. But then he recalled Tsunade's descriptions of Fuji's chakra levels and visibly relaxed. Turning to his companion, who had remained silent throughout, Kakashi asked:

"Yakumaru, what do you think?"

Uchiha Yakumaru didn't respond immediately. Lost in thought, he muttered softly:

"Historical tablets… the stone monuments… historical tablets… the monuments…"

"Yakumaru? Yakumaru!"

Kakashi called out twice more before finally shaking Yakumaru's shoulder, snapping him out of his reverie.

"Sorry," Yakumaru apologized, glancing at the bound Edo Tensei shinobi with a furrowed brow. "I just remembered something important."

He gestured for Kakashi to follow him to a quieter spot within the ruined Hyuga Clan compound.

Once a place of grandeur, the Hyuga Clan's former territory was now a dilapidated wasteland. Crumbling walls and decaying buildings were overrun by weeds and vines.

In this desolate place, birds occasionally flitted among the ruins, their chirping echoing through the still air, bringing a faint semblance of life to the dead landscape.

When the two finally stopped in a secluded area, Kakashi spoke first:

"What's going on? You're not seriously buying that Edo Tensei shinobi's story, are you?"

Yakumaru took a deep breath. "It's not about believing or not. The truth is, the Uchiha Clan really does have a stone tablet. The clan leader once showed it to me—it contains records about our past, and calling it a 'historical tablet' wouldn't be far off."

"..."

Kakashi's mouth fell slightly open. Seeing Yakumaru's serious expression, he temporarily set aside his doubts. "Is this tablet special? Does it really grant power to the Uchiha?"

"It's extremely special. You need a Sharingan to even read its contents," Yakumaru explained gravely. "And only by progressing from Sharingan to Mangekyo Sharingan can you gradually uncover its full message. The tablet does include methods for the Uchiha to grow stronger."

He paused, then asked: "If the Sharingan can evolve, do you think the Byakugan might have the same potential?"

"What are you implying?"

"That Edo Tensei shinobi mentioned Hyuga Fuji's eyes turning blue. I suspect Fuji discovered a way to evolve the Byakugan, and the key lies in the so-called Hyuga Clan historical tablet."

Yakumaru's tone grew grim. "Honestly, his chakra reserves are unnaturally vast. If we didn't already know the Nine-Tails was sealed in Lady Kushina, I might have thought Fuji had become its jinchuriki back then."

Kakashi nodded in realization. "But if the Byakugan can evolve, then everything about his chakra makes sense."

"Exactly," Yakumaru said. "I even suspect his eyes have evolved more than once, possibly reaching the same level as Uchiha Madara's in the past."

Hearing this, Kakashi's expression turned serious. "I'll report this to Lady Tsunade immediately."

(Chapter End)

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