A Teacher's Reluctance

With winter approaching, the weather was not yet bitterly cold, but the north wind already chilled people to the bone.

Hyuga Kazuya left the Hokage Building with his teacher. The frigid north wind made him shudder, and even the tangled thoughts in his mind seemed to clear somewhat.

Shaking his head, Hyuga Kazuya tried to fling away the countless thoughts filling his mind.

Looking at his teacher beside him, Kazuya saw that he had seemed absentminded ever since learning that Kazuya would become Minato Namikaze's disciple.

Just as Kazuya was about to remind him, he heard him say, "Kazuya, Kazuya, you're going to become Minato Namikaze's disciple?"

His teacher still asked in disbelief.

"I think that's what the Hokage meant."

Hyuga Kazuya answered with some uncertainty as well.

His teacher suddenly grew excited and pressed both hands onto Hyuga Kazuya's shoulders.

"That's Minato-senpai! Minato-senpai is Jiraiya-sama's disciple. If you become Minato-senpai's disciple, then that means..."

For some reason, he suddenly stopped speaking. As he reached that point, his expression became somewhat desolate, but the feeling lasted only an instant before he quickly returned to normal.

"Kazuya, you have to work hard from now on. When you make it big someday, don't forget your teacher."

By then, his teacher had withdrawn his hands from Hyuga Kazuya's shoulders. He spoke half-jokingly and half-seriously, though only he himself likely knew how much he meant it.

Hyuga Kazuya was just about to reply when his teacher spoke again.

"Kazuya, I have classes this afternoon, so I'll be leaving first."

His teacher did not wait for Hyuga Kazuya's response before hurrying away.

Watching his teacher's departing back, Hyuga Kazuya inexplicably felt something. He sensed his teacher's reluctance, anger, jealousy, and other negative emotions.

Perhaps there was even a trace of anticipation.

Hyuga Kazuya murmured inwardly.

*What Teacher wanted to say but stopped himself from saying was probably this: if I become Minato Namikaze's disciple, that means the current Third Hokage would be my grandmaster. Then I would have a place in Konoha, no matter where I went.

That was true. In the world of Naruto, civilian ninja like Teacher had weak strength, great difficulty obtaining ninjutsu, no room for advancement, and no clan background to speak of.

Teacher was only in his late twenties. Now he was a Ninja Academy teacher, and he would probably remain a Ninja Academy teacher for the rest of his life—a Chunin for life.

If he could be promoted to Special Jonin before he died, that would already be Konoha's greatest praise for his lifelong work of teaching and nurturing others.

As for being promoted during wartime? No civilian ninja in their right mind would even consider that.*

"Ah, social relationships and worldly dealings are troublesome in any world."

Hyuga Kazuya stopped his train of thought and no longer dwelled on such trivial matters. Otherwise, he would spend every day frowning at such a young age. Thinking about these possible future matters now was nothing but a waste of time.

Then Hyuga Kazuya hurried back to the clan, intending to find his uncle and tell him the good news that he would be joining Minato Namikaze's team.

On the way home, Hyuga Kazuya thought it over. Though he did not understand why it was Minato Namikaze, this was probably not a bad thing.

Minato Namikaze would become the Fourth Hokage in the future. Now that Kazuya had joined his team, with this connection alone, when Minato Namikaze became the Fourth Hokage, Kazuya should at least be able to land some high-ranking position.

If he could become Minato Namikaze's disciple.

Then he would be a true member of the Hokage lineage.

Perhaps.

Perhaps even becoming Hokage would no longer be entirely impossible.

Though Hyuga Kazuya knew that possibility was incredibly, incredibly slim.

There was no need for any other reason. Just one was enough: he was a member of the Hyuga Branch Family, and his life and death were in the hands of the Hyuga Main Family. His chances of becoming Hokage were infinitely close to zero.

Whether it was the Elder Council, Konoha's other higher-ups, or even the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, none of them would ever allow the Konoha Hokage's life to be controlled by someone else.

Thinking of this, Hyuga Kazuya could not help sighing.

He touched his forehead protector, feeling its coldness. Though he did not touch the Caged Bird seal on his forehead, it felt as though he could feel its pattern, as if the Caged Bird had already been planted in his consciousness.

Whenever he thought of this, no matter how good his mood was, a shadow inevitably fell over it. No one wanted to become a "slave" in any sense of the word.

Hyuga Kazuya composed himself and looked at the Hyuga Clan compound drawing ever closer.

He walked in slowly and soon returned to the small courtyard of his home.

"Uncle, Uncle, are you home?" Having composed himself, Hyuga Kazuya did not let the gloom in his heart seep into his voice. Instead, he spoke cheerfully.

"Kazuya, come over."

Hyuga Yang's voice came from the backyard.

Hyuga Kazuya entered the backyard and saw his uncle sitting in the pavilion there, drinking tea.

Hyuga Yang extended a hand, signaling for Hyuga Kazuya to come over.

Sitting seiza on the cushion in front of Hyuga Yang, Hyuga Kazuya picked up the tea on the table and took a light sip.

To be honest, I can't tell whether this tea is good or bad, Hyuga Kazuya thought as he carefully savored the tea in his cup.

"What is it? Who is your Team Leader Jonin after the class assignment?"

Hyuga Yang spoke then, asking with some curiosity.

"It's Minato Namikaze, Uncle. Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya's disciple and one of the Legendary Sannin."

Upon hearing it was Minato Namikaze, a strange glint flashed through Hyuga Yang's eyes before vanishing. He thought to himself.

Not bad. My old friend from back then really was reliable. Though Minato Namikaze was not the first choice among the people I wanted to find as backers for Hyuga Kazuya, he was still among the best options.

"Oh, then you must work hard. I heard Minato Namikaze's strength is among the very best even among Jonin."

"Don't worry, Uncle. My current strength is no worse than that of an ordinary Jonin."

Patting his chest, Hyuga Kazuya said somewhat proudly.

"Oh? Is that so? Want to spar?"

Hyuga Yang drained the tea in his cup, then slowly rose to his feet and walked toward the middle of the nearby Training Ground.

"Sure, but Uncle, you'll have to go easy on me. I can't beat you yet."

Hyuga Kazuya did not refuse, because he knew refusing would be useless. He was definitely taking a beating today.

Did he need a reason for why he was going to get beaten? No reason was needed. How could a Taijutsu ninja grow without taking a beating?

Hyuga Kazuya then followed Hyuga Yang to the center of the Training Ground.

The enormous Training Ground was paved with large bluestone slabs, and the Hyuga Clan crest was carved into its center. Standing on the hard stone, the two faced each other from roughly four or five meters apart.

"Begin. Same as before—you attack, I defend."