Main Family

Hyuga Sho's vision went dark.

Mirror Heaven and Earth Turn.

In the depths of his consciousness, against a cosmic backdrop, Hyuga Sho looked around.

A brilliant light flashed before his eyes.

It froze at the very bottom of the starry sky.

Above that dazzling light stretched countless dim constellations.

Once the light faded, Hyuga Sho recognized that star as the "Byakugan."

[Please choose an evolution path.]

That voice rang out again.

Hyuga Sho pondered for a moment, then reached out and tried to identify those constellations.

"What is the Otsutsuki Clan? Why does it say I'm their descendant? Was the Hyuga Clan's ancestral surname originally Otsutsuki? Should I be called Otsutsuki Sho? One of my Byakugan has already been destroyed, and the other is half-crippled too, yet I can awaken an Evolution Chart? What about the other members of the Hyuga Clan?"

Hyuga Sho had many questions.

But as he browsed through those Constellation Charts, his attention was quickly drawn to them.

Every Constellation Chart came with a description.

However, the descriptions of their power once fully mastered were all far too vague, absurd, and exaggerated.

For example, one Constellation Chart had lightning as its backdrop and was named "Take-Mikazuchi."

Once mastered, it granted control over lightning and the power of purification. All evil would scatter, unable to approach or disturb its wielder.

Another example was a constellation set against vengeful spirits, "Sugawara no Michizane."

Once mastered, it could pull the souls of the dead back from the Underworld, forming a vast Ghost Army, while the user became the lord of vengeful spirits.

The most exaggerated one had countless Star Points and depicted a god: "Kamimusubi."

It was also known as Kamimusubi.

Once fully mastered, it could seize the creation of heaven and earth, wield limitless power, and even allow one to freely walk through the cosmic skies and upon alien lands.

In Hyuga Sho's view, every one of them was ridiculously powerful, powerful to the point of seeming mystical.

These constellation Evolution Charts.

Some had over a dozen or even twenty Star Points, making them exceedingly complex.

Others were simple, with only two or three Star Points.

But with so many evolution route charts, Hyuga Sho had no idea which one to choose.

After all, he had only transmigrated into this world a few days ago.

He returned his consciousness to the "Byakugan" Star Point at the very bottom.

A line of description appeared before him.

[Byakugan: Kekkei Genkai · Hyuga Clan, the foundation of the Evolution Chart.]

Hyuga Sho quietly read through the relevant description.

"Whew..."

A moment later.

Hyuga Sho withdrew from his consciousness space.

To choose the right Evolution Chart, he needed a detailed understanding of this world.

More Star Points did not necessarily mean it suited him.

What suited him was the best.

[Doka Degree: 4.7%]

The next morning.

Early in the morning, after finishing his exercises, Hyuga Sho crossed the courtyard under Hyuga Natsu's guidance.

The Hyuga Clan's settlement lay at the southernmost edge of Konohagakure.

Walls had been built around it, enclosing the area as a compound.

The vast interior space was divided into two. The Branch Family and Main Family were separated into two estates.

An open stretch dozens of meters wide separated the Main Family's courtyard from the Branch Family's.

"That way is the Main Family, Sho-kun..."

Hyuga Natsu pointed toward the entrance to the Main Family's courtyard.

They passed through the gates.

The tall, imposing dojo and the decorations of little bridges and flowing water were things he had never seen on the Branch Family's side.

Hyuga Sho tried hard to memorize the situation here.

It might come in handy someday when he rebelled.

On the surface, Hyuga Sho acted like a child who had never seen the world, curious about this and that, while also displaying the restraint characteristic of a Branch Family Member.

Several members of the Main Family watched Hyuga Sho's every move.

"That child..."

"His complexion has improved quite a bit."

"He's still as dim-witted as ever."

Because Hyuga Sho's act was too convincing, no one noticed anything unusual about him.

When they reached the dojo.

Hyuga Natsu lowered her head. "Patriarch..."

"P-Patriarch!"

Hyuga Sho copied her, though his movements were far clumsier, making people want to laugh.

"Mm."

The person called the Patriarch was unexpectedly young.

He was around nineteen years old.

His name was Hyuga Hiashi.

Because the Old Clan Head had suddenly fallen ill and died in an accident five years ago.

His son... fourteen-year-old Hyuga Hiashi had become the head of the Hyuga Clan.

But such a young clan head had too little experience handling the clan's affairs and might not have been up to the task...

—For example, he might accidentally let the Branch Family overthrow him or something.

Therefore...

Another Main Family member, a highly respected member known as the "Elder," took on the role of assisting behind the scenes.

At that moment, the Elder stood beside Hyuga Hiashi with his hands tucked into his sleeves, his face stern like an old scholar.

Having experienced countless missions and battles, and participated in the Shinobi World War, the old man kept his aura restrained.

But the occasional sharp glint in his eyes sent chills down people's spines, intimidating them greatly.

According to his memories.

This Main Family Elder was currently the strongest member of the Hyuga Clan in terms of Combat Power.

Besides the Elder, the Mature Woman standing to Hyuga Hiashi's left and close to his age was Hyuga Hiashi's fiancée.

In other words... the future clan head's wife.

She was also a member of the Main Family.

Besides them, there were several other Main Family members, as well as...

A Black-haired Iceberg Loli.

The arrogant Iceberg Loli let her gaze drift into the distance, not Looking Towards Hyuga Sho at all.

Who was she again?

Hyuga Sho thought carefully.

She seemed to be... Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi's biological younger sister.

Five years ago, the Old Clan Head had a daughter in his old age and was overjoyed, only to suddenly fall ill and die by accident.

Hyuga Sho inwardly mocked the matter.

Right, her name was Hyuga Mami.

"Hyuga Sho, how is your body?" Hyuga Hiashi asked.

"Thank you for your concern, Patriarch. I'm completely fine now."

Hyuga Sho hurriedly replied.

His manner was exactly that of a clumsy child.

"..."

Hyuga Hiashi nodded.

Fine, my ass.

When this child had fainted a few days ago... he had examined his eyes and discovered that he had already...

Hyuga Hiashi began indoctrinating Hyuga Sho.

He went over all kinds of precautions, saying that the Branch Family must be loyal to the Main Family and Protect the Main Family unto death.

Hyuga Sho, meanwhile, flushed with excitement at just the right moment. "Patriarch! I'll definitely protect the Main Family even if it costs me my life!"

"Good."

Hyuga Hiashi nodded.

The Elder, the clan head's wife, and the others nodded as well.

However, they did not seem particularly enthusiastic, appearing somewhat indifferent.

After all, they only acknowledged him because of Hyuga Sho's attitude.

This child...

Everyone secretly shook their heads.

One Byakugan was ruined, and the other had suffered damage. Even if it came to protecting the Main Family, it would not be his turn.

In Hyuga Hiashi and the others' minds.

Hyuga Sho was already an abandoned pawn.

The kind of Dead Last Trash/Useless Person who only ate food and was of no use.

When he grew up, at most he might become a Genin?

In truth, every few decades, or even every century, there might be a case of a "Caged Bird defective" like Hyuga Sho.

How had their ancestors dealt with such matters?

Hyuga Hiashi had a headache.

But the shrewd Elder beside him had long since decided what to do.

"Hiashi, why not have this child Hyuga Sho accompany Mami to the Ninja Academy?"