Three Days Later

Hinata felt it, a power, burning behind her eyes. It had started when she first admitted her truth to Mika, starting out as a twinge. Now just as they had mastered the Rasengan it was a roaring fire, a constant heat that made her tremble at it's magnitude. So, for that reason, she led her friends away from Jiraiya and Naruto. Her skin was feverish, her chakra erratic... which was naturally what Shin noticed.

"Hinata, you smell in agony. What is wrong?"

She fell to her knees, shaking. "My chakra, my eyes... something's wrong." And then her chakra tore out of her body, her Byakugan activating in a forceful ripple. Only it's clarity was unlike anything she had seen before, she could see for hundreds of meters away, with crystal clarity. She saw things she had only thought of before. Mika's perfectly controlled chakra flow, his chakra points, and so much more. She saw heat and light, things she sort of saw before... she even saw another force, a glorious light surrounding all things, like free floating chakra in the air, only crystal in it's power.

"AH!" Neji said, collapsing, holding his head. His eyes too had activated, before his strong chakra rippled out. "I... I can see the earth, and this weird extra chakra... It's floating through the earth, through the trees, the grass."

Hinata nodded, eyes wide. "I see it too!"

Mika gaped. "Hinata... is... explain now!" She did, as did Neji, describing it perfectly to Mika. "The monks of the world call it Natural energy. Sage mode, the kind Jiraiya uses... the First Used. It taps into Natural energy. How can you see it now?" Mika frowned, and Hinata saw why Mika was so freaking capable in one instant. "My best guess, your clan has been so rigid in their powers for centuries, that changing things up, along with spiritual growth, has allowed your Byakugan's to develop."

Hinata sighed, struggling to stand. "That would explain a... Jiriaya, it is rude to listen into our conversation."

The man appeared suddenly, a Chameleon like jutsu breaking from around him. He was standing by a tree, eyes cold and wide. "Be careful playing with Sage mode. It will turn you into stone if done incorrectly." He rubbed his nose. "You three... your chakra levels are nowhere near strong enough to handle the power of Sage mode. It takes incredible chakra and resilience to handle it. I can barely manage it, and I am a Sanin."

Hinata sighed. "Based on my meager understanding, it would also require extreme control. I can tell by your chakra you have meh control, not when compared to us three. So we each have an advantage... Mika, you are working on seals, anything you can do?"

"Not yet, but Hinata... with your help, we could mange something in a year or two. There are ten classes of sealing, I am already level three. I give myself a year before I am class six or seven..."

"Kid I was level six at seventeen." Jiraiya mocked.

Neji laughed at him, as did Shin. "Mika is the smartest of us four. He will easily get it sooner than you did."

Shin nodded, leaping into his father's arms. "Mika's intelligence is why infusions with his chakra made me able to talk. It's so spiritually aligned it altered me too much to not be aware."

"""

Jiraiya growled, hating these kids. 'This is why I hate geniuses, they just get things! They even mastered the Rasengan in less than a week!'

Killer intent exploded from four startling him. Mika was in his face suddenly. "You said that aloud. We earned everything. Smarts mean nothing if you cannot use them. How many geniuses are regulated to dishwashers or broodmares because they were women? No, chance and hard work are needed to make anything out of our minds. Do not, ever, say we just got things. We earned it, all of out."

Neji nodded, eyes narrowed. "Jealousy is not a good look, Jiraiya."

The man laughed, only he knew it was hallow. "Me Jealous?"

"Yes, very." Hinata called out. "It's pathetic. Now, if that is all, we have training to do."

And they walked off, leaving Jiraiya a mess of anger, rage... and yes, jealousy.

:::

The four ninja all mediated, focusing on the breathes of energy around them. Oddly, all of them could feel Natural energy once the Hyuuga's pointed it out. Knowing, from a physical level, how real it was, allowed them to feel it. Hinata got it first, her control the best. Neji was next, with his powerful eyes. Mika and Shin got it at the same time, moments later, able to sort of feel it's warm touch in the air once the others started to focus on the energy's presence. He felt it through them, their connection.

"We will not even touch the power of the Earth, not until our chakras are stronger... but we will do it."

They all nodded, even Shin, at Mika's command. Shin hissed out. "The Toad Sage is a moron but he was right, we cannot afford death. Not until we save the Branch Family."

That was a goal they had all agreed on... it bonded them, connected them and made them at peace with each other. It was, during their inner chats, the thing that was their undying bond. The one thing they could never not agree to and with. Neji craved freedom. Hinata justice. Mika and Shin the power to help others. It was who they were, and it was drove them to greatness... all in different ways and at different times.

"I still am ashamed to think how I acted when I believed you didn't care, Hinata." Neji smiled at his sister.

She smiled back. "I can't blame you, looking back... we will make the right change. We have a new tool to overcome our worthless kin... and we will."

"And I will be there for you all... always."

"Always."


Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joy to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.