Hiashi's Conversation!

Neji changed into clean clothes, took out his loose long hair from inside his clothes, and returned to the Laboratory.

He put his forehead protector back on. His main purpose in coming to the Laboratory today had been to use up his excess Chakra.

It was time to go back. Hiashi, Hinata, and little Hanabi should have been waiting for him.

"Izumi, I'm heading back early today. I'll leave the rest to you."

"Okay!"

Watching Neji leave, Uchiha Izumi seemed somewhat lonely. He still had family.

What do I have left?

Sadness welled up in her heart, and suddenly, a stinging pain came from her eyes, making Izumi cover them.

"What's going on?"

That fluttering sensation vanished in an instant. It seemed like she had felt it before.

When Izumi slowly opened her eyes, they only felt a little sore. She did not notice that her Sharingan had activated at some point, its tomoe undergoing slight changes.

Her emotions did not seem sufficient to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan. Izumi knew nothing about this and did not think much of it.

Neji returned to the Hyuga Compound and sensed three figures standing by the main gate from far away.

Hiashi stood there with a serious expression, while Hinata stood beside him, holding little Hanabi's hand. The two girls occasionally looked down the road.

Hanabi's slightly chubby little face was filled with dissatisfaction. "When is Brother Neji coming back? We've been waiting for so long."

Hinata glanced at her stern father and softly comforted her, "He should be back soon. Maybe something delayed him."

"Oh~"

Little Hanabi was not making a fuss, only voicing a small complaint. Her beautiful big sister was at home, and there was also this adorable little girl.

Brother Neji, that big dummy, actually made them wait here for so long. When he got back, she would definitely make him apologize properly. Hmph!

Just as little Hanabi complained inwardly, a grayish-white figure appeared at the end of the road.

Hiashi stood with his hands behind his back and looked over. His gaze fell on the Konoha forehead protector fashioned into an eyepatch, and the corners of his lips curled up imperceptibly.

Though he was not surprised, he was sincerely pleased.

Hizashi's sacrifice, along with Neji losing his eyes, had always weighed heavily on his mind. Even now, he had not formally decided on the next Main Family heir.

Both Hinata and Hanabi had displayed astonishing talent.

Their performances had also planted the thought of abolishing the Main Family and Branch Family system deep in his heart.

Yet he still had some hesitation over how to act.

For the moment, he had not thought of a good solution and could only quietly accumulate strength.

Before long, Neji arrived before the three of them and gave a slight bow. "Clan Head, Hinata, Hanabi, sorry to have kept you waiting."

Hiashi nodded slightly. "Not bad."

"Hmph, Brother Neji, do you know how long you made us wait? You'll have to compensate my sister and me!"

"Let me think. Brother Neji has to take us out to play, treat us to delicious food, and finally train with us."

"Then my sister and I will forgive you!"

Lively as ever, little Hanabi bounced forward and hugged Neji's leg. Her puffed-up little face was adorable.

Hinata shyly scolded her, "Hanabi!"

Little Hanabi made a face and hid behind Neji, looking like a mischievous little troublemaker.

Hmph! Silly Sister obviously wants to spend more time with Brother Neji, but she's always too shy to say it.

Let Hanabi give you a helping hand!

Hehe!

Don't thank me later, Sister!

Still, Hanabi secretly glanced at Hiashi. She was still a little afraid of her strict father.

However, Hiashi did not reprimand her. Hanabi worked hard, and Hinata did too.

They had already met his expectations. Besides, this felt somewhat like a family.

Neji smiled gently. "Of course, but you'll have to wait until I have time. Now that I've become a genin, I'll have missions to do."

Little Hanabi tilted her head curiously. "Brother Neji, is being a genin fun?"

"Well, I'm afraid I can't tell you that yet."

"Why not? Didn't Brother Neji already become a genin?"

Neji looked at little Hanabi and laughed, shaking his head slightly, which only made Hanabi more curious.

Hinata, standing nearby, could not bear to watch any longer and lightly tapped Hanabi's little head.

"Dummy, Brother Neji just became a genin. He hasn't done any missions yet, so how could he tell you?"

Little Hanabi covered her head and shot her sister a look. Silly Sister, do you really think I don't know that?

Hmph!

Silly Sister, that's why Brother Neji still has no idea how you feel.

Hiashi watched the sisters fooling around and revealed a faint smile. Then he said to Neji, "Let's go. Come inside first."

"Okay."

Neji nodded lightly, took little Hanabi's hand, and entered the compound with Hinata.

The four arrived at the courtyard, where a bamboo water fountain occasionally clacked softly.

Hiashi sat beside the courtyard, watching Hinata play with Hanabi, and said to Neji beside him, "Tell me about it."

"Okay."

Clack~

The bamboo water fountain fell and made a soft sound as Neji began recounting what had happened that day.

Hiashi listened quietly. After all, the Hokage personally handled the assignment of jonin instructors and teams, so he had no way of knowing beforehand.

After listening to Neji's account, Hiashi nodded slightly.

"Might Guy is a very powerful jonin, highly skilled in Taijutsu. Even I would not gain much advantage against him in Taijutsu."

"Being assigned under him is not bad. It is a good choice for someone like you who practices Gentle Fist, especially with the Gentle Fist you developed yourself."

Neji agreed completely. Though it sounded repetitive, Might Guy truly was powerful.

The Eight Gates in particular were terrifying, with each gate opened bringing a tremendous increase in power. If he could learn it, it would become another trump card.

"Though you are not as hardworking as your companion named Rock Lee, your physique is not weak either. If you have the chance, you may learn his secret technique."

"Teacher Might Guy's secret technique?"

Neji pretended not to know.

"That's right. It is the forbidden technique known as the Eight Gates. Those lacking sufficient determination cannot master it deeply, and it carries the risk of death. Few know the hardship involved, and even fewer succeed."

Hiashi was rather moved by this. He had personally witnessed the determination and hard work of both Might Duy and Might Guy.

Might Duy had also completely made the name of the Eight Gates known, crushing the Mist Ninja's Seven Ninja Swordsmen and leaving them shorthanded ever since.

He had truly become famous throughout the ninja world and left behind a great name.

"So if you can learn it, I will not object. As for the others, they will not dare say anything either."

Hiashi's words were domineering, revealing the authority of the clan head.

Neji understood. As a Hyuga clansman, if he learned the Eight Gates, there would certainly be people who had something to say.

There would not be no one in the Branch Family with their own thoughts, so this could be considered a promise to Neji.

"You can tell your teacher these words. This is my intention. As for the Third Hokage..."

"I will speak to him myself."

"Understood, Clan Head."

He had originally thought learning it was hopeless, but now it seemed there was a chance.

The art of balance, the methods of imperial rule... It seemed Hiashi would likely cede some benefits to Konoha.

Neji fell silent. It seemed Hiashi truly intended to change things.

I am Feng Zhen, master of Wind Fist Style!