Counsel and the Scroll of Seals!

"Shinichi... in the future, you must protect your little sister well. Make sure her world becomes rich and colorful too."

Hyuga Hanako did not know what she had thought of, but her mood suddenly darkened. As she spoke to Shinichi Hyuga, her eyes filled with deep concern.

Shinichi Hyuga's breath caught at her words. Only then did he solemnly nod and promise:

"Mom, don't worry. I'll definitely protect her!"

Shinichi Hyuga could guess why Hyuga Hanako was worrying about the future of the child in her womb. The Hyuga Clan's oppressive Clan System weighed heavily on everyone.

Shinichi Hyuga benefited from this system, but every child his mother bore after him would be branded with the Caged Bird Seal and become part of the Branch Family. This Clan System sometimes oppressed female members even more deeply than male ones.

"Mm, I believe in you. Our Shinichi is the most outstanding genius the Hyuga Clan has seen in nearly a hundred years. If it's you, you'll definitely be able to protect your future little sister."

Hana seemed to be trying to cheer Shinichi up. As she spoke, she went along with his words and treated the child in her womb as a girl.

Just as mother and son were looking forward to the future, the door to the room was suddenly pushed open. Hyuga Hiashi, now dressed in a casual kimono, strolled inside. When he saw his wife and son, his gaze fell on Shinichi Hyuga.

"Have you finished today's training?"

Without even greeting his wife first, Hiashi immediately asked about Shinichi Hyuga's training.

"Mm. After tea, I practiced Chakra shape transformation and did some taijutsu training."

"I only stopped after exhausting all my stamina and using up more than half my Chakra."

"Father, you weren't at the Clan Compound this afternoon. What did you go out for?"

Shinichi Hyuga sat up as he answered. Facing the stern Hyuga Hiashi, he did not speak with the cautious wariness one might show a strict parent. He was open and natural.

"I went to the Hokage Building. Didn't you want to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique?"

"I met with the Third Hokage this afternoon. He agreed to give you one week. During that week, you may go to the Hokage Building and borrow the Scroll of Seals."

As he mentioned this, Hiashi puffed out his chest, his face brimming with pride. Hana glanced at her husband and covered her mouth with a laugh before lowering her head and resuming her knitting.

Shinichi, however, stared at Hyuga Hiashi in astonishment.

"Borrow the Scroll of Seals from the Hokage Building? For a whole week?!"

He had not expected Hiashi to have left the Clan Compound that afternoon for this very matter. They had only brought it up at noon, yet by evening it had already been settled.

Hyuga Hiashi's efficiency truly surprised Shinichi Hyuga. Of course, what surprised him even more was that Hiashi had actually pulled it off. Before this, Shinichi had not held much hope.

The Scroll of Seals was, after all, a scroll of Forbidden Jutsu. How could it possibly be borrowed so easily, especially by a little kid like him?

Only then did Shinichi realize that he seemed to have underestimated the Hyuga Clan's influence in Konoha.

"Heh heh, are you surprised?"

"Your father is the head of the Hyuga Clan. In Konoha, there's nothing your dad can't do!"

"Shinichi, as long as it is for your growth, the Hyuga Clan can bear any price!"

"A mere Scroll of Seals..."

"It's nothing!"

Hyuga Hiashi seemed determined to show off properly in front of his son and wife. As he spoke, he raised his chest even higher.

Shinichi Hyuga had displayed astonishing talent since childhood, leaving his father with few chances to impress him. Now that his son had made a request, no matter what, he had to get it done!

Shinichi Hyuga saw right through Hyuga Hiashi's typically East Asian patriarchal mindset. If he had truly been a five-year-old child born and raised in this world, he probably would not have been able to sense Hiashi's love through his behavior.

But Shinichi Hyuga had seen similar parent-child relationships before. Now that it was his turn, he could still feel Hiashi's regard and affection for him.

Though those expectations were, in a sense, also heavy shackles, his personality was ultimately different from Hyuga Hinata's gentle nature.

Hiashi's expectations for him actually matched Shinichi's own expectations of himself.

To grow stronger...

The goals men pursued were nothing more than power, authority, and wealth. Shinichi Hyuga was no exception. What he desired was the power to control everything!

"Thank you. Thank you, Father."

Shinichi Hyuga slowly rose to his feet and bowed slightly to Hyuga Hiashi from the bottom of his heart. Seeing his son's solemn expression, Hiashi was briefly at a loss.

"Uh..."

"Hmph!"

"What are you saying? You're the son I'm most proud of!"

Even someone like Hiashi, who was not good at expressing his emotions, could not help but reveal his true feelings in this atmosphere. He walked up to Shinichi and gently rubbed his head, his smile filled with affection.

The setting sun slanted through the window, its light falling over the warm and harmonious family of three.

"The Flying Thunder God Technique!"

"I can't wait!"

Early the next morning, Shinichi Hyuga left the Hyuga Clan Compound under Hyuga Hiashi's lead and headed toward the Hokage Building.

It had already been several months since Shinichi Hyuga last left the Clan Compound. Back then, he had not gone out to "sightsee" or "browse" Konoha, but to attend the funeral of clan members who had died during the Third Shinobi War.

There were only two places in Konoha that Shinichi Hyuga knew especially well. One was his own Clan Compound, and the other was the Cemetery where the Memorial Stone stood.

This trip to the Hokage Building could be considered his first time exploring a new area since arriving in this world.

"Shinichi, be polite when you meet the Hokage."

"You can address the Third Hokage and Fourth Hokage a little more familiarly. You're a child, so they won't hold it against you."

"Do not spread word of borrowing the Scroll of Seals."

"Remember, no matter how many techniques from the Scroll of Seals you memorize, aside from the Flying Thunder God Technique, you must not practice any of the other Forbidden Jutsu!"

"This is for your own good. Do you understand?"

As they walked through Konoha's streets and drew closer to the Hokage Building, more and more ninja appeared along the way. Quite a few stopped upon seeing Hiashi and his son and bowed to Hiashi. There were genin, chunin, and even some Special Jonin among them.

Hyuga Hiashi held no important post in the village. He was neither an Anbu captain or Squad Leader, nor the leader of the Reconnaissance Unit, nor the head of the Jonin Squad, much less the commander of the Konoha Military Police Force.

Even so, Hiashi was known by the vast majority of Konoha Ninja and received their courtesy and respect.

Hiashi did not return the greetings of those ninja who bowed to him. He appeared somewhat arrogant, yet they did not mind at all. Instead, his seemingly haughty bearing made them respect and fear him even more.

Yet at this moment, Hiashi had eyes only for his son.

Before meeting the Hokage, Hyuga Hiashi repeatedly reminded him. Clearly, he also knew that the techniques within the Scroll of Seals often came with enormous and uncontrollable risks.

He feared that his son would be drawn to some ninjutsu in the book, recklessly practice it, and ruin his life.

"Mm, I understand."

"Even with the Flying Thunder God Technique, I won't practice it rashly until I understand its principles and risks."

Shinichi Hyuga seriously nodded at Hiashi's concerns.

Although he had always been dismissive of his "genius" title, he did not want to injure himself practicing some ninjutsu and inexplicably become crippled.

Even if, as a transmigrator, he could shout, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never underestimate a poor youth!"

Once he, a member of the Main Family, became "crippled," he would probably be branded with the Caged Bird Seal within a few years. He would not have thirty years to develop at all...