Hyuga Mami's Favor?

Loyal, single-minded, his head filled with nothing but the Hyuga Clan...

After so many days of laying the groundwork since arriving in this world,

Hyuga Sho had successfully disguised himself as a standard Hyuga Clan Branch Family ninja.

The kind who had been thoroughly brainwashed and harbored no doubts whatsoever.

But in truth,

Hyuga Sho had never stopped resisting his identity as a Branch Family Member.

Or rather, it was not just the Branch Family...

Anyone who stood in the way of his living freely was someone he would resist.

This was one thing

that had not changed in his previous life, and would not change in this one either.

Watching Hyuga Sho skillfully knock someone down and loot them in one smooth sequence,

Hyuga Mami no longer knew what expression to make.

During their days at the Ninja Academy,

there were occasionally a few Brats with no sense who shouted things like "Byakugan Monster."

They had all been knocked down by Hyuga Sho, who conveniently relieved them of their valuables.

Hyuga Mami thought about it carefully. Honestly, it seemed that his behavioral pattern had been developed under her supervision.

Nor could Hyuga Mami blame Hyuga Sho for it.

"Tomorrow is Saturday."

Hyuga Mami started walking down the road home.

Hyuga Sho followed behind her and counted the money.

Ebisu did not have much money on him. Probably... because he had spent it all on that indescribable magazine.

"Come over then. Let me see how well you have been practicing the Gentle Fist."

Hyuga Sho said, "Yes, Young Lady."

The next day arrived as scheduled.

Saturday was the weekend, a day off, and the Hyuga school was closed.

Early in the morning,

after eating the loving breakfast Hyuga Natsu had prepared, Hyuga Sho arrived at a relatively secluded small dojo in the Main Family compound.

This dojo looked to be only fifty or sixty square meters in size.

It was much smaller than the dojos he had seen before, which were often hundreds of square meters.

Hyuga Mami was already waiting there.

Aside from several practice Wood Golems, the place was empty.

Why had they specifically come here?

Hyuga Sho understood very well that this was the so-called "sense of ritual" Hyuga Mami had mentioned.

The Young Lady of the Main Family had a mysterious fixation on certain things.

For example, she had to carry a schoolbag to school, and she had to press her palms together to thank her ancestors before eating... and so on.

"I have heard from others about your training. You are very interested in cultivation?"

Hyuga Mami did not immediately ask Hyuga Sho to demonstrate.

Instead, she began by asking him questions.

Not only did Hyuga Sho train diligently at the Ninja Academy, he did the same after returning to the clan compound.

He displayed a fervent inclination toward training unlike anyone else's.

And yesterday, when he had thoroughly beaten Ebisu, Hyuga Mami had also seen... certain talents of his.

"Mm."

Hyuga Sho, looking utterly harmless, nodded.

"I want to become stronger."

"Why do you want to become stronger? Do not give me reasons like protecting the Main Family. I am tired of hearing those..."

Hyuga Mami asked calmly, her gaze distant.

"I have not thought about it. I just want to train. It feels enjoyable when I practice..."

Learning made me happy.

Hyuga Sho answered without the slightest hesitation.

He had encountered similar questions many times in his previous life.

Television dramas and martial arts novels were full of all kinds of "tests."

If he answered that he wanted revenge, wanted to resist, wanted to overthrow the Main Family, or something similar, it definitely would not work.

"..."

Hyuga Mami studied Hyuga Sho, seemingly verifying whether his answer was genuine.

"Mm..."

After a moment, she nodded.

"First, demonstrate Eight Trigrams Palms for me."

At once,

Hyuga Mami began instructing Hyuga Sho in Eight Trigrams Palms.

"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Palms" had sixty-four forms in total.

It was the Hyuga Clan's foundational Taijutsu.

It was renowned throughout the Shinobi World.

But unfortunately, in order to maintain absolute authority, the Hyuga Clan's Main Family

only taught Branch Family Members up to "Eight Trigrams Eight Palms."

Previously,

Hyuga Sho had already completely mastered Eight Trigrams Eight Palms, causing his Doka Degree to stagnate.

Thus, this Gentle Fist technique was far too low in difficulty for him.

Even so, Hyuga Sho still wore a serious expression, without the slightest trace of impatience.

From time to time, he even made "mistakes" in his movements, such as bending his hand.

Hyuga Mami, standing beside him, continuously corrected Hyuga Sho's "mistakes."

It was practically hand-in-hand instruction.

Hyuga Mami was exceptionally beautiful, with a style entirely different from Hyuga Natsu's.

She was cuter than every girl Hyuga Sho had seen in his previous life.

Training together like this was undoubtedly a most pleasing experience.

Simply being with her was a kind of enjoyment.

The entire morning passed.

Hyuga Mami had corrected all of Hyuga Sho's "mistakes."

Hyuga Mami secretly nodded as she watched Hyuga Sho, whose "arms had gone weak" but who was still "gritting his teeth and persevering."

Her evaluation of him rose another level. "His aptitude for training in the Gentle Fist is average, but his character is resolute, and he is quite strong as well."

Naturally, she did not know that Hyuga Sho was putting on an act.

After all, Hyuga Mami could not read minds. She had no idea what Hyuga Sho was thinking.

Coupled with Hyuga Sho's deliberate concealment,

everything fell into place naturally.

Seeing that even Hyuga Sho's legs had begun to "tremble,"

Hyuga Mami nodded. "That will be all for today. Tomorrow, I will teach you Sixteen Trigrams Palms. Remember to work hard..."

After saying that,

Hyuga Mami left on her own.

"..."

Hyuga Sho blinked and watched that distant, ethereal figure.

Yet a ripple stirred in his heart; he was far less Honest and Simple than he appeared.

Sixteen Trigrams Palms? Is that not the next palm technique that only members of the Main Family are qualified to learn? This Hyuga Mami...

Hyuga Sho turned and left.

His thoughts had already sunk into deep contemplation.

At the same time,

on a street somewhere in Konoha,

Shiranui Genma, with a toothpick in his mouth, stared at the bruised and battered Ebisu.

He had learned about Hyuga Sho from the latter.

"That guy... went too far..."

The lazy-looking Shiranui Genma had a cold glint in his eyes.

Ebisu was his good friend.

That Hyuga Sho had actually done something so excessive.

"That bastard Hyuga Sho..."

Ebisu gritted his teeth and adjusted his sunglasses.

"He looks Honest and Simple on the surface, but he is actually incredibly crafty. He has no martial honor. He launched a sneak attack before I could even get into position..."

"Hmph..."

Shiranui Genma spat out his toothpick and stared into the distance.

"Find a chance to beat him up."

Hyuga Sho, still pondering matters, did not yet know

that the order of his challenge plan was about to be disrupted.

To vent his anger for his good friend, Shiranui Genma was already preparing to cause him trouble ahead of schedule.