Naruto: Fooling the Ninja World, I'm Hailed as a Savior

"Is that so?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply, his emotions swayed by Hyuga Kawa's words. He acknowledged that the Strength of a Hundred Seal technique had only been mastered by Uzumaki Mito thus far, and even Tsunade had only learned it but not fully mastered it.

If Hyuga Kawa could learn even this technique so quickly, Hiruzen might have felt more than just surprise—he might have felt wary. When someone's talent is a little stronger than others, they're a genius; but if it's too much stronger, they're a monster. Hyuga Kawa knew this well, and his current display was just right.

Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a long time, seemingly hesitant, before patting Hyuga Kawa's shoulder and saying warmly, "Remember, during this mission, you must be extremely cautious, and obey the commands and orders of your seniors." In truth, he was somewhat reluctant to send this child into battle.

With his loyalty, promising talent, orphaned background, and no blemishes like Kakashi… aside from the abhorrent Caged Bird curse mark, Hyuga Kawa was practically a "blade" tailor-made for him. But Hiruzen also knew that good steel, without tempering, couldn't become a sharp blade.

"Yes, Third Hokage!" Hyuga Kawa said earnestly. "Please rest assured, I will successfully complete the mission and return safely."

"Good, go now." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with satisfaction, adding, "If the Hyuga clan cuts off your resources, come to me. You are a good child, the future hope of Konoha. As Hokage and patriarch, I will never let you suffer any injustice."

"Thank you." Hyuga Kawa appropriately displayed gratitude, and Hiruzen Sarutobi likewise showed a benevolent expression—a harmonious scene of elder and junior. However, Hyuga Kawa's heart remained unruffled, like stagnant water, as he coolly observed Hiruzen Sarutobi's performance.

He always knew he was different from Uzumaki Naruto; he could never call him "Grandpa Third." Hiruzen wouldn't agree, and Kawa himself wouldn't be willing. But it didn't matter; it was enough.

Hiruzen Sarutobi played the benevolent elder, and Hyuga Kawa played the dutiful subordinate. Hiruzen's "benevolence" had been aged in his jar for decades, and Kawa's "filial piety" was warmed to just the right degree.

Both were masters of performance. The only difference was that Hiruzen was engrossed in his chess game, unaware he was a piece within it, while Hyuga Kawa had already set up the board, looking up at Hiruzen, watching him fall into his own game.

Hyuga Kawa left, but he took much with him.

[Name: Hyuga Kawa]

[Age: 15]

[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (9.9%)]

[Chakra Limit: S-rank]

[Chakra Natures: Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning, Yin, Yang]

[Ninjutsu: …Wind Release: Pressure Damage (B-rank), Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation (B-rank), Delicate Illness Extraction Technique (A-rank), Summoning Technique: Rashōmon (A-rank), Lightning Release: Chidori (S-rank), Strength of a Hundred Seal (S-rank)… ]

[Taijutsu: Front Lotus (B-rank), Reverse Lotus (A-rank)… ]

[Secret Techniques: Shadow Neck-Binding Technique, Adamantine Chains]

[Kekkei Genkai: Tenseigan – Stage Two (30.3%) [Abilities: Chakra Gripping Heavenly Core, Truth-Seeking Orb Spirit Devouring Blast, Chakra Beads]]

[Achievements: …]

[Remaining Truth Points: 18094]

"What a bountiful harvest."

His figure continuously leaped across the rooftops. Looking at the status panel that appeared before his eyes, Hyuga Kawa smiled. He was already just a step away from mastering Chidori, and now, after reviewing the scrolls, fully grasping it was only natural. For Hyuga Kawa, the real gains were the Strength of a Hundred Seal and the two secret techniques.

At this thought, Hyuga Kawa raised his left hand and looked at his palm. There was a faint black diamond-shaped mark there. Though light in color, it confirmed his mastery of the Strength of a Hundred Seal. With this technique, he wouldn't need to hide and refine chakra in advance to use his most powerful ninjutsu, unlike his previous experience in the Land of Hot Water.

However, what surprised Hyuga Kawa most was an inexplicable sense of familiarity he had with the Strength of a Hundred Seal technique. It wasn't familiarity from previous encounters, but a deep-seated familiarity from his bloodline.

"Ōtsutsuki clan…"

Hyuga Kawa's eyes flickered slightly as he stared at the mark on his palm. That feeling of familiarity grew stronger and stronger. Finally, his heart stirred, and he suddenly had an idea.

"Karma (Kama)?"

Hyuga Kawa blurted out softly. His heart instantly seized, then began to pound violently. Yes, that's it. That's the source of this familiarity.

Karma is a unique ability of the Ōtsutsuki clan. They can digitalize and replicate themselves, then implant this data into others, who are then called "vessels." A black diamond-shaped mark appears on the vessel's palm—this is Karma.

Simply put, Karma is a compressed "Ōtsutsuki backup file." This compressed file gradually "unzips" over time, or its "unzipping" can be accelerated through combat. Once all data is "unzipped," the "vessel's" body is "replaced" by the Ōtsutsuki clan member's data, and the "vessel's" own existence completely vanishes, allowing the Ōtsutsuki clan member to resurrect.

"..."

Thinking about the similarities between the Strength of a Hundred Seal and Karma, Hyuga Kawa subconsciously moistened his dry lips. If the word "data" is too abstract, you could also call it "genes." In essence, it's about packaging one's own genes and transferring them to another individual, gradually taking over that individual's body.

While people in the ninja world were still experimenting with organ and cell transplants, the Ōtsutsuki clan was already cutting and pasting their own genetic data.

If the Strength of a Hundred Seal is for storing chakra, then Karma is for storing one's own genetic data.

Both operate on the principles of "storage" and "release." Although their functions are vastly different, their underlying principles are similar, and Karma also possesses the ability to absorb ninjutsu and release chakra.

Orochimaru's Cursed Seals also have a similar effect, but unfortunately, even Orochimaru probably hasn't developed that yet.

"If I could truly master Karma, this unique power belonging to the Ōtsutsuki, even if it's just a limited version…"

The thought of this possibility made even Hyuga Kawa's gaze sharpen. If it were truly possible, he could achieve so much more.

After a moment's thought, Hyuga Kawa looked up and silently thought, "Manifest - a way for me to cultivate the complete Karma."

[Insufficient Points]

"As expected."

Hyuga Kawa's eyes flickered, not at all surprised. After all, Karma is an ability that allows the Ōtsutsuki clan to transcend death. It likely has extremely high requirements for Ōtsutsuki bloodline purity; at least, Ōtsutsuki Kinshiki and Ōtsutsuki Urashiki never demonstrated it.

Only Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki, whom even Urashiki had to respect, and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, who was qualified to come to the ninja world to plant the God Tree, possessed the Karma ability.

Hyuga Kawa lowered his standards and silently thought, "Manifest - a way to cultivate Karma that suits my current abilities, based on the Strength of a Hundred Seal and Cursed Seals."

[Cost: 8000 Truth Points. Do you wish to manifest?]

A smile appeared on Hyuga Kawa's face. Without hesitation, he thought, "Manifest!"