The So-Called Hyuga (Part 1)

Hyuga Main Family.

Hyuga clan head Hyuga Hayato and his son Hyuga Hiashi were sipping tea, waiting for news that would greatly impact Konoha's future political landscape.

During the long wait, Hyuga Hayato couldn't help but recall the origin of his name.

Throughout the prolonged Warring States period, the Hyuga clan's unique Main and Branch Family System had given them a considerable advantage.

In particular, the Byakugan's abilities had once allowed them to act as information brokers, and the Hyuga clan was indeed well-suited for that role.

Yet despite possessing a wealth of intelligence, the Hyuga clan failed to see the shifting tides. When the two great powers of the shinobi world rose, they could only be swept along into joining Konoha, bearing the name of one of the three great Dōjutsu clans while holding only the status of an ordinary family.

Thus, Hyuga Hayato's father gave him this name, hoping he would see the path for the Hyuga clan and preserve their thousand-year legacy.

Though the Hyuga no longer worked as information merchants, their long service as Konoha's scouts meant they still maintained an underground intelligence network, ensuring the Hyuga weren't blind or deaf in the vast village of Konoha.

After all, the Hyuga weren't like the Uchiha, living in their own world. Hyuga Hayato took a small sip of tea, savoring its fragrance, and thought of the Uchiha's current predicament. The corner of his mouth curled into a faint, knowing smile.

Just then, a black-clad ninja appeared before them, dropping to one knee.

The news they'd been waiting for had arrived.

"Clan head, young master. It's confirmed. Over the past few days, the barrier around Lady Mito has fluctuated several times, and her Chakra has been alternating between strong and weak. We can confirm the Jinchuriki has been replaced. The new Jinchuriki is Uzumaki Kushina, who came to Konoha earlier."

Hyuga Hayato waved his hand, dismissing the black-clad ninja.

Then he asked:

"Hiashi, the Jinchuriki replacement and Lady Mito's passing are things that can't be hidden. So why did I have Suki and the others keep watch?"

Hyuga Hiashi thought for a moment and responded:

"Because the Jinchuriki must have a connection to the Hokage. Conversely, knowing who the Jinchuriki is makes it highly likely to find the next Hokage. That's why Father had Suki and the others keep watch."

Hyuga Hayato laughed heartily at this and praised:

"Good. Next, look into Uzumaki Kushina's personal relationships. See if there's anything noteworthy. Remember, handle this yourself!"

Hyuga Hiashi returned shortly. With the Uchiha growing increasingly disobedient and the Senju now gone, the Third Hokage had no choice but to support the Hyuga as a counterbalance. So when the Hyuga investigated something, results came quickly.

Hyuga Hiashi walked in with a stack of documents:

"Uzumaki Kushina has only been here a year. Her relationships are very simple. Above her, there's only the Sannin; below her, Nawaki."

"And what about her team?"

"I've checked everyone on her team. They're all mid-level members of various clans, nothing outstanding. The next generation's leaders from each clan are either above or below her, with no overlap."

"Right now, the two people closest to her are Namikaze Minato and Hyuga Ao." Hyuga Hiashi pointed to Hyuga Ao's picture.

"Among them, she's closest to a Branch Family member."

Hyuga Hayato studied Hyuga Ao's file:

"I remember she was the top graduate of her class, with a reputation as a prodigy. I'd taken note of her before."

He clapped his hands, summoning a servant, and ordered:

"Have Homoki test Hyuga Ao's Gentle Fist. If she's good enough, bring her to see me."

The servant acknowledged and vanished. Hyuga Hayato continued flipping through Hyuga Ao's file.

"Hiashi, do you know which two families Lady Mito was closest to?"

The sudden question caught Hyuga Hiashi off guard. He frowned, recalling:

"It should be the Sarutobi Clan, the Shimura Clan, and the Akimichi Clan."

Hyuga Hayato asked again: "And do you know why?"

"I don't know, Father."

Hyuga Hayato glanced at Hyuga Hiashi and sighed:

"That's the power of a wife's diplomacy. The Uzumaki were a clan equal to the Hyuga. Your grandmother died early, so we never pushed forward. But those shameless Sarutobi and Shimura—they just groveled."

For some reason, Hyuga Hiashi felt that his respected father was... jealous?

"And then? The Sarutobi produced a Hokage, the Shimura got the Darkness of the Shinobi, the Akimichi opened Barbecue Restaurants all over Konoha. Did anyone ever stop them?"

At that moment, Hyuga Hiashi was certain: his respected father was indeed jealous.

Suddenly, the sound stopped. Hyuga Hiashi looked up to find Hyuga Hayato staring at him, as if seeing right through his thoughts. A cold sweat broke out on his back.

Seeing Hyuga Hiashi's reaction, Hyuga Hayato snorted coldly and continued:

"So, do you understand what I mean?"

Hyuga Hiashi looked up, utterly confused. What did you just say?

Hyuga Hayato shot him a sharp glare:

"The Third Hokage is still in his prime. Judging by the timing, the Jinchuriki will either be the next Hokage's wife or the next Hokage's disciple. So, if Hyuga Ao's talent is good enough, she'll be your future wife."

With that, he stood up. "Think it over yourself."

Hyuga Hiashi sat there, lost in thought.

On the other side...

Ao was walking along the path back to the clan compound when she suddenly stopped, sensing a faint killing intent. Surprise flickered in her heart—who would dare strike at a Hyuga so close to the clan grounds?

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she heard wind whistling behind her. Three shuriken flew at her in a triangular formation.

Ao didn't panic. She sidestepped right, dodging the incoming shuriken with ease.

Then she felt a sharp threat at her back. She activated her Byakugan at once and was startled to find that the attacker had silently crept up behind her, palm already swinging toward her.

Using the shuriken's noise to mask your footsteps?

The thought flashed by in an instant. Ao spun and met the strike, her Dan energy erupting as she channeled both it and her Chakra into the clash.

Bang. Air surged at the point of impact, and both of them staggered back three steps. The exchange was evenly matched.

Ao's mind stirred. That palm strike was clearly Gentle Fist technique. Why would a Hyuga ninja attack me?

On the other side, Hyuga Homoki was even more shaken. He was at least a Tokubetsu Jonin, though his specialty was ambush and assassination.

It wasn't surprising that his sneak attack had been detected—she was a Hyuga, after all.

But he hadn't expected the palm strike to end in a draw. He'd held back some strength to allow for recovery, but the Chakra in his hand had been real.

Despite the turmoil in his thoughts, Homoki's movements didn't slow. He swung another palm strike at Ao's head.

After the probing exchange had ended in a tie, this strike was full force.

Ao felt the gust of wind from the palm and the thick Chakra coating the attacker's hand. She knew she couldn't take this blow head-on.

Her small, agile frame proved useful now. She ducked low, dodging the palm, and reached for the attacker's groin.

But the grab was a feint. As the attacker moved to defend, Ao turned her hand into a palm and used the momentum of his defense to lightly push herself backward.

Then she turned and bolted toward the Hyuga Clan Compound.

The situation is unclear. If the Main Family wanted to act, they wouldn't go through this much trouble. If it was a Branch Family member, this is too close to the compound.

I don't need to fight him head-on right now. First, get back to the compound.

As she ran, Ao thought it over, but her short legs became a disadvantage. The attacker used a Body Flicker and appeared behind her, another palm strike incoming.

But Ao had expected this. She spun and leaped, Chakra bursting from every tenketsu in her body.

"Rotation!"

The attacker's palm slammed into the Rotation and was deflected, but Ao used the force of the blow to propel herself away.

The attacker stood frozen, staring at his own palm, silent for a long moment. What was I doing when I was six or seven?

Ao sprinted toward the compound. When she saw that the attacker wasn't following, she felt a flicker of confusion. She'd already steeled herself to use Rotation all the way back if needed.

"The clan head wants to see you."

Looking at the Main Family attendant leading the way, Ao understood everything. But she still couldn't figure out what she'd done to catch the Main Family's attention.

The attendant led Ao to a room and told her to wait in the courtyard until summoned.

Ao steadied her breath, still chaotic from the earlier burst of Dan energy, and activated her Byakugan to try and see who was inside. But she quickly found that the room was somehow special—her Byakugan couldn't penetrate it.

She sighed. A sense of powerlessness filled her heart, but she had no room to resist. She closed her eyes, stood in a meditation stance, and simply waited.