The Future Is Long

He was fast, but his accuracy was clearly inferior to Itachi's. It seemed he did not excel at long-range combat.

Although this was merely a sparring match, like an adult teaching children, Shisui Uchiha had not been off the battlefield for long and instinctively responded with his full strength.

Something was wrong.

An Explosive Tag!?

At the end of one kunai, he spotted a piece of paper covered in intricate markings. His attempt to dodge abruptly stalled for one simple reason: Itachi had not gone far yet!

This brat!

The Three Tomoe in Shisui Uchiha's eyes flashed, and the kunai's flight speed suddenly slowed.

No! It was fake!

Just as he used his extraordinary reflexes to make out the writing on the kunai, Yuzuru Hyuga, who had been closely following behind it, seized the chance to close in.

"Not bad tactics!" Once he realized it was a psychological ploy, using the Explosive Tag to limit his Body Flicker Technique, Shisui Uchiha felt only admiration and delight.

What an outstanding little guy!

But it still was not enough.

Shisui Uchiha pulled out a kunai. He did not even draw the katana on his back. With a casual throw, his kunai struck the first incoming kunai and bounced away at a bizarre angle.

After knocking down three kunai, it continued flying straight toward the fiercely charging Yuzuru Hyuga.

Yuzuru Hyuga neither dodged nor retreated. Just as the kunai's edge was about to pierce through his Byakugan, smoke exploded.

Having never learned the Body Flicker Technique, Yuzuru Hyuga currently lacked close-range mobility the most. However, one ninjutsu could help him make short-distance movements: the already max-level Substitution Technique.

Such a fast Substitution Technique!?

Before Shisui could marvel at it, one of Yuzuru Hyuga's feet had stepped into his inner range.

Eight Trigrams Palm?

No. He had merely used the Byakugan to see through the direction of my chakra movement, predicted where I would move, and used his footwork to block me.

"Ha!"

With a low shout, Yuzuru Hyuga's fists became streaks of light.

"Very impressive strength!" Shisui Uchiha's praise made Itachi, who was watching nearby, unable to stop himself from taking a deep breath.

But observation was more important than jealousy!

Itachi Uchiha had never watched Yuzuru Hyuga's fighting stance so carefully before.

As Shisui Uchiha shifted about, he effortlessly deflected Yuzuru Hyuga's attacks with his fists and palms. "But that alone is not enough to break through my defense."

The Three Tomoe slowly turned, making Yuzuru Hyuga's attacks appear clear and monotonous.

Little did he know that Yuzuru Hyuga was also constantly evaluating his own combat ability and beginning to consider the direction of his next "evolution."

With a Body Flicker Technique, Shisui Uchiha dodged the sinister kunai Yuzuru Hyuga had suddenly thrown.

Lacking mobility options.

Shisui Uchiha easily sidestepped his powerful punch.

Lacking more threatening attack methods. The not-yet-max-level Gentle Fist was truly garbage—or perhaps even at max level, it would not be much stronger.

The Sharingan in Shisui Uchiha's eyes suddenly spun faster.

Lacking resistance to genjutsu.

Yuzuru Hyuga swayed and dropped to one knee.

"Alright, the victor has been decided."

The battle ended. Free experience obtained: 271

That was four or five times what he got from beating up Itachi!

After the brief dizziness faded, Yuzuru Hyuga fell silent for a moment. Just as Shisui Uchiha began wondering whether he had damaged the child's mindset—

Yuzuru Hyuga looked up with a gentle smile. "That was amazing!"

"Ah, I'm not that amazing." Shisui Uchiha actually felt embarrassed by the praise.

He could not help it. Yuzuru Hyuga's expression looked far too genuine. Being stared at like that by a child truly made him feel strangely embarrassed.

"Brother Shisui, can you teach me the Body Flicker Technique?"

"It's only a D-rank movement technique. Teaching you should not be a problem."

"Then what about a way to break genjutsu? Just now, in an instant, I seemed to hallucinate and pass out. Genjutsu is really terrifying."

"Mm, let's start with the most basic Illusion Technique: Release. Unfortunately, the Hyuga Clan has never seemed to like learning ninjutsu very much."

"I like it."

"Huh?"

"Do you have Fire Release, Water Release, Wind Release, or anything else you can teach me?"

"Isn't that a bit... too much? Can you learn all that?"

"Brother Shisui, just teach me. I'll figure out the rest."

"Then shall we start with the Body Flicker Technique and give it a try?"

"Sure! I'll be in your care, Brother Shisui!"

Itachi Uchiha and Izumi, who had somehow walked over to his side, looked at each other.

Had they forgotten there were still people over here?

No.

"I want to learn too!" Izumi immediately hurried over.

Itachi Uchiha hesitated awkwardly for a while, until Shisui came over and rubbed his hair. "You too. It's time for you to learn something new."

"Mm!"

Thus, the three children began their respective training under the guidance of Shisui, who was himself only eight years old.

Night fell. Hyuga Residence.

Lying facedown on the bed, Yuzuru Hyuga hummed a tune while his mother applied ointment to his back.

The system text floating before his eyes put him in an especially good mood.

Body Flicker Technique (D): Level 1 (20/200)

Leaf Style Taijutsu: Shadow Dance (C): Level 1 (17/400)

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (C): Level 1 (27/400)

Illusion Technique: Binding Stakes (D): Level 1 (12/200)

Illusion Technique: Release (D): Level 1 (34/200)

Kunai Throwing Technique (E): Level 2 (139/200)

In just one afternoon of training, Yuzuru Hyuga had forcefully wrung a full five ninjutsu techniques out of Shisui Uchiha. As for Kunai Throwing Technique, Yuzuru Hyuga had already practiced throwing before, but he had never learned a proper throwing skill. This time, the moment he got started, he was already at Level 2.

Shisui Uchiha had not wanted Yuzuru Hyuga to bite off more than he could chew, but Yuzuru Hyuga's smile and attitude were truly deceptive. Using the excuse of, I'll just listen first. If I can't learn it, I'll decisively give up and specialize in one thing, he had even tricked the Great Fireball Technique out of him.

Originally, Shisui Uchiha had planned to teach him only the Body Flicker Technique and, at most, one taijutsu technique.

The Uchiha Clan really had so many good people!

"You child, what exactly have you been training in to get yourself covered in injuries?"

"An actor's self-cultivation."

"Huh?"

"Today was a huge profit."

"Mm?"

"Anyway, today was a wonderful day."

"Honestly, why have you picked up your father's bad habit of never explaining yourself properly?"

His mother gave his back an annoyed slap. His fair back, covered in bruises, had been rubbed bright red with medicinal oil.

Yuzuru Hyuga merely grinned. Without crying out in pain, he slowly put on his white robe-like outer garment again.

"Mom, I'm hungry."

"I know! We're having your favorite steak today."

"Thank you!"

"Watch your little brother. If he cries, remember to call Riko over. She's on duty today. Don't expect anything from your father; all he can do is push a cradle."

Yuzuru Hyuga watched his mother leave to prepare dinner, then looked at his father, who sat nearby with a sour expression and seemed to be staring at nothing in particular. He gave him a gentle smile. "I trained with Brother Shisui today."

Hizashi Hyuga took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"As expected of a genius from the Uchiha Clan. He knows so much ninjutsu and taijutsu. Unlike the Branch House teachers, who go on and on about either being too young or about what the Branch House is not allowed to learn."

Hizashi Hyuga closed his eyes to compose himself. Stay calm. Stay calm.

"Ah, what a pity. As a member of the Branch House, I can't get too close to them. Otherwise, I could go mooch dinner at the Uchiha Clan's place tonight. Maybe I could even learn a few more ninjutsu techniques."

"If you know you can't get too close, why are you still training with him!?" Hizashi Hyuga could not hold back any longer.

Yuzuru Hyuga hummed Jay Chou's "Ocean of Flowers," stretched a few times, then lazily sprawled across the bed as if he were about to melt into it.

"Who else is there to teach me?" Yuzuru Hyuga lay lazily on his mother's pillow.

"Hmph." Hizashi Hyuga raised his chin, practically begging for someone to stick an arrow over his head.

"I wonder who in the Hyuga Clan can teach me to become stronger. If Shisui is too busy, who should I ask to teach me next time? Maybe I should beg Lord Hiashi for some ninjutsu scrolls. No matter how stingy he is, I should be able to get a few B-rank ninjutsu, right?" Yuzuru Hyuga narrowed his eyes.

"Hmph!" Hizashi Hyuga raised his teacup and slowly took a sip, too lazy to bother with him. Do whatever you want.

"Perfect. I can also let Lord Hiashi see how similar the Rotation I learned by myself is to the Main House's Rotation."

"Pfft!"

Not even caring that he had sprayed tea across the table.

Hizashi Hyuga stared at Yuzuru Hyuga as if he were a monster. "What did you just say you learned by yourself?"

Yuzuru Hyuga slowly walked to the doorway, put on his wooden sandals, jumped down from the wooden corridor, and stepped into the courtyard.

The next moment, a blue glow flickered, and a huge spiral flashed into existence before vanishing.

"You! Don't let anyone see that. Get inside!"

"I showed it to Senior Shisui several times today. Even he said the Rotation I mastered by myself was perfect and almost no different from the Main House's!"

"You let someone from the Uchiha Clan find out?"

"Yes. Otherwise, how could I let everyone in the Branch House know that I mastered Rotation?"

Father and son looked at each other and fell silent.

Hizashi Hyuga stood inside the brightly lit room.

Yuzuru Hyuga stood in the courtyard, sparse light illuminating his face, making it shift between brightness and shadow.

".Tomorrow morning, come with me to see Lord Hiashi." Hizashi Hyuga turned slowly, his face dark.

"Yes, Father! Oh, could you ask Lord Hiashi to demonstrate the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms? I think if I watch it a few more times—" Yuzuru Hyuga walked onto the corridor with a smile.

Then he realized something was wrong.

Hizashi Hyuga suddenly turned around, grabbed Yuzuru Hyuga by the clothes, and pressed him over his knee. "You little brat, have I never beaten you before, so you've forgotten who your father is!?"

Yuzuru Hyuga's heart first trembled, but then he lay across his knee with a smile. "Ah?"

"Try hitting me."

"You still dare—"

Hizashi Hyuga raised his hand high, then sensed something was wrong. Looking up, he saw his wife holding a dinner tray with a dark expression, staring straight at him. Unsurprisingly, the words "try it" had come from his wife.

Hizashi Hyuga placed his hand on Yuzuru Hyuga's backside and gave it a light pat. "Hmph!"

Yuzuru Hyuga saw his mother roll her eyes beautifully—though for a member of the Hyuga Clan, the gesture was not very obvious, she had indeed done it.

"Dinner!"

"Gah gah gah!" Neji, lying in his cradle, pointed at his father and let out shrill, goose-like laughter.

Hizashi Hyuga's expression changed several times before he finally gave a cold smile.

The future was long, after all.

P.S. I think I heard someone bookmarking and voting with recommendation tickets? Was that you, Yan Zu? Or Yu Yan?