The So-Called Hyuga (Part One)

The Hyuga Main Family.

The Hyuga Clan Head, Hyuga Hayato, and his son, Hyuga Hiashi, were drinking tea as they waited for news that would have a tremendous impact on Konoha's future power structure.

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

Throughout the long Warring States Period, the Hyuga Clan's unique Main and Branch Family System had allowed them to take full advantage of the situation.

In particular, the Byakugan's abilities had once turned them into information brokers, and the Hyuga Clan was indeed well suited to the trade.

Yet despite possessing vast amounts of information, the Hyuga Clan had failed to see the situation that followed clearly. When the twin heroes of the shinobi world rose to prominence, they could only be swept along into joining Konoha. They had the reputation of being one of the three great Dōjutsu clans, but only the status of an ordinary clan.

Thus, Hyuga Hayato's father had given him such a name, hoping he could see the path of the Hyuga Clan clearly and preserve its thousand-year foundation.

Although the Hyuga Clan no longer worked as information merchants, its long service as Konoha's scouts had allowed it to retain an underground intelligence network, ensuring that the Hyuga Clan would not be blind or deaf in the vast Konoha.

After all, the Hyuga Clan wasn't like the Uchiha, who lived in their own world. Hyuga Hayato took a small sip of tea, savoring its fragrance. Thinking of the Uchiha's current situation, he curled the corner of his mouth into a faint, ambiguous smile.

At that moment, a black-clad shinobi appeared before them in a body flicker and dropped to one knee.

The news they had been waiting for had arrived!

"Clan Head, Young Clan Head. It's confirmed. The barrier surrounding Lady Mito has fluctuated several times over the past few days, while Lady Mito's chakra has also grown strong and weak by turns. We can confirm that the Jinchuriki has been replaced. The new Jinchuriki is Uzumaki Kushina, who came to Konoha previously."

Hyuga Hayato waved his hand, and the black-clad shinobi vanished.

He then asked:

"Hiashi, the replacement of the Jinchuriki and Lady Mito's passing are actually things that can't be concealed. Why did I have Suki and the others keep watching them all this time?"

Hyuga Hiashi thought for a moment before replying:

"Because the Jinchuriki must have a connection to the Hokage. Put another way, knowing who the Jinchuriki is means we can most likely find the next Hokage. That's why Father had Suki and the others keep watch."

Hyuga Hayato burst out laughing and praised him:

"Not bad. Next, investigate Uzumaki Kushina's relationships and see whether anything stands out. Remember, handle it personally!"

Hyuga Hiashi returned before long. The Uchiha were becoming increasingly disobedient, and with the Senju gone, the Third Hokage could only support the Hyuga to contend with them. Thus, whenever the Hyuga investigated something, the results came quickly.

Hyuga Hiashi entered carrying a stack of documents.

"Uzumaki Kushina has only been here for a year, and her relationships are very simple. Above her are only the Sannin, while below her is Nawaki."

"What about her team?"

"I investigated everyone on her team. They're all at the middle level of their respective shinobi clans, with nothing particularly outstanding about them. The next-generation leaders of the shinobi clans are either above her or below her, and none of them have much interaction with her."

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

"Of the two, she has the better relationship with a member of the Branch Family."

Hyuga Hayato examined Hyuga Ao's information.

"I remember that he was the top student of their generation and was known as a prodigy. I even paid attention to him before."

After saying that, he clapped his hands and summoned a servant, ordering:

"Have Homoki test Hyuga Ao's Gentle Fist. If he passes, bring him here to meet me."

The servant accepted the order and disappeared, while Hyuga Hayato continued flipping through Hyuga Ao's information.

"Hiashi, do you know which two families Lady Mito had the best relationships with?"

Hyuga Hayato's sudden question caught Hyuga Hiashi off guard. He frowned and recalled.

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

Hyuga Hayato asked again, "Then do you know why?"

"Your son does not know."

Hyuga Hayato glanced at Hyuga Hiashi and sighed.

"This is what they call wife diplomacy. The Uzumaki were a clan on equal footing with the Hyuga. Your grandmother died young, and we didn't force our way closer to them. As a result, those shameless Sarutobi and Shimura people simply groveled at her feet."

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

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

At that moment, Hyuga Hiashi became certain. His respected father really was bitter.

Suddenly, Hyuga Hiashi realized that the voice had stopped. He looked up and saw Hyuga Hayato staring at him as if he had seen straight through his thoughts. Cold sweat instantly broke out across his body.

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

"So, do you understand what I mean?"

Hyuga Hiashi looked up, completely dumbfounded. What were you talking about just now?

Hyuga Hayato glared fiercely at Hyuga Hiashi.

"The Third Hokage is currently in the prime of his life. Judging by the timing, the Jinchuriki will either be the next Hokage's wife or his disciple. Therefore, if Hyuga Ao's aptitude is good, she will be your future wife."

After saying that, he stood up. "Think it over yourself."

Hyuga Hiashi remained seated, deep in thought.

Elsewhere.

Hyuga Ao was walking along the small path back to the Clan Territory when she suddenly stopped. She sensed a faint killing intent and felt puzzled. Who would dare attack a member of the Hyuga so close to the Hyuga Clan Territory?

The thought had barely crossed her mind when wind sounded behind her. Three shuriken shot toward her in a triangular formation.

Hyuga Ao calmly shifted one step to the right, narrowly avoiding the incoming shuriken.

A sharp edge suddenly seemed to press against her back. She immediately activated her Byakugan and was startled to discover that the attacker had already approached behind her without making a sound and was striking at her with one palm.

Did he use the sound of the shuriken cutting through the air to cover his footsteps?

The thought flashed by. Hyuga Ao turned and redirected her palm, unleashing her Dan energy. Wrapped in Dan energy and chakra, her palm collided head-on with the attacker's.

With a bang, air surged around the point where their palms met, and both sides retreated three steps. That exchange had ended in a perfect draw.

Hyuga Ao's heart stirred. That attack had clearly been a Gentle Fist technique. Why would a Hyuga shinobi attack her?

Meanwhile, Hyuga Homoki was even more shocked. He was, at the very least, a Special Jonin, though his specialty lay in surprise attacks and assassination.

It wasn't strange that his ambush had been noticed. After all, she was a Hyuga shinobi.

What he hadn't expected was for their palm strike to end in a fifty-fifty draw. Although he had held back so that he could withdraw his attack, the chakra in his hand had been genuine.

Though thoughts raced through his mind, Hyuga Homoki's hands didn't slow down. He struck out with another palm, aiming for Hyuga Ao's forehead.

After their previous probing exchange had ended evenly, this strike was made with full force.

Hyuga Ao felt the oncoming gust from the palm and the thick chakra gathered in the attacker's hand. She knew she couldn't block it head-on.

This was where the advantage of her small and agile body showed itself. Hyuga Ao ducked her head to avoid the palm and, taking advantage of the momentum, reached for the attacker's groin.

But the grab was only a feint. When the attacker moved to defend, Hyuga Ao changed her claw into a palm and lightly retreated, borrowing the force of his defensive movement.

Then she turned and ran toward the Hyuga Clan Territory.

The situation was unclear. If the Main Family had made the move, there was no need for such trouble. If it was someone from the Branch Family, this place was far too close to the Clan Territory.

There was no need for Hyuga Ao to fight him head-on yet. For now, she should run toward the Clan Territory.

Hyuga Ao carefully considered the situation as she ran, but the disadvantage of her short legs soon became apparent. With a body flicker, the attacker caught up behind her and struck out with another palm.

However, this was also within Hyuga Ao's expectations. She spun and leaped, causing chakra to burst from the acupoints throughout her body.

"Rotation!"

The attacker's palm struck Rotation and was sent flying back, but Hyuga Ao also used the force of the blow to escape rapidly.

The attacker froze in place and stared at his palm, speechless for a long time. "What was I doing when I was six or seven?"

Hyuga Ao hurried toward the Clan Territory. When she saw that the attacker hadn't pursued her, she couldn't help feeling somewhat puzzled. She had already prepared herself to use Rotation to force her way back the entire distance.

"The Clan Head wishes to see you."

Looking at the Main Family servant leading the way, Hyuga Ao understood everything. Yet she still couldn't figure out what had drawn the Main Family's attention to her.

The servant led Hyuga Ao outside a room, had her stand in the courtyard, and told her to wait for the person inside to summon her.

As Hyuga Ao calmed the chaotic flow of her energy after repeatedly releasing Dan energy, she activated her Byakugan and tried to see who was inside the room. She soon discovered that the building was somewhat unusual. Her Byakugan couldn't see through it at all.

She sighed, helplessness filling her heart. But she had no room to resist at that moment, so she closed her eyes to rest. In the end, she simply stood there practicing her stance and waited.