Hyuga Hiashi's Lingering Shadow

Nightfall.

The moonlight was like autumn water, the cold wind like a mad blade.

"We've said all there is to say. Since none of you agree with me, I won't say anything more."

"Coincidentally, three days from now is my son Sasuke Uchiha's birthday. The entire Uchiha clan will be celebrating at the clan grounds then. Not a single one of us will appear before you."

"Oh, right! Hyuga Patriarch, I heard that day is also your noble clan's eldest daughter's birthday, isn't it? I offer my congratulations here and now. And one more thing, you must be careful of Kumogakure..."

The fierce wind rustled the tree shadows, swaying them outside the window. In the room, a middle-aged man suddenly stood up. He slowly opened his eyes, his Byakugan filled with endless fatigue.

He had lost count of how many times he had woken up startled from sleep tonight. The scene of Fugaku Uchiha angrily leaving the Hokage's conference room that morning replayed vividly in his mind.

Especially the glance back he gave him before leaving, the dark expression on his face and the scheming Three Tomoe were truly unsettling.

Hyuga Hiashi panted lightly, allowing his mind to slowly calm down.

"Fugaku Uchiha..."

His tired Byakugan stared at the silhouette outside the window, and he softly muttered the name of the man who had become an indelible shadow in his heart for years.

The Uchiha brothers and the Hyuga brothers had long been one of the most talked-about topics in the village.

Both were prominent clans possessing special doujutsu, and both had twin brothers. Since birth, people had been comparing them.

Whether for the glory of their clan or the competitive spirit of youth, they were destined to be rivals and to fight each other forever.

However...

[Some people are alive, but they are already dead!]

That was the last battle between him and Hizashi, and the Fugaku Uchiha brothers.

That day, in the setting sun, two pairs of Three Tomoe were like red clouds in the sky. Fugaku Uchiha stood proudly in the cold wind, while he lay on the ground...

[The outcome of our battle was decided the year we were born.]

Ryuu Uchiha, with the equally disheveled Hizashi beneath him, flicked away his forehead protector with a kunai and said the most hurtful words coldly, brutally tearing off the Hyuga's fig leaf of many years.

[What Hyuga brothers? My Sharingan only sees a master and his slaves. How dare you be rivals to my elder brother and me?]

Damn Uchiha brothers! Damn Ryuu Uchiha!

He truly deserved to die!

But why did he die so easily?

The night wind still howled, raging through the Hyuga clan grounds. Hyuga Hiashi's eyes bulged with veins, but he couldn't fall asleep no matter what.

[Three days from now is my son Sasuke Uchiha's third birthday!]

Fugaku Uchiha's damned voice echoed in his mind again. Hyuga Hiashi clutched his forehead, his face contorted.

After a long while, a long sigh came from the darkness.

The Uchiha clan must be very lively in three days...

And what about the Hyuga?

This question was like the wind tonight, without an answer, without a destination.

The next day.

The training ground on the Hokage Rock.

The sun was bright, and a white cloud drifted in the blue sky, like a giant cruise ship.

A gentle breeze carrying warmth brushed against Qing Xuan's face, making his already listless eyes even more drowsy.

"What's with that expression?"

A displeased snort came from the hedgehog-haired uncle in front of him. His white hair swayed on his red jacket, and the veins under his eyes, painted with red oil paint, twitched as if expressing his displeasure with Qing Xuan.

"Isn't that Asuma?"

Qing Xuan lazily picked at his ear. "Why is someone else teaching today?"

"What can that kid Asuma teach you?"

Jiraiya scoffed, pointing at himself with a proud finger.

"Kid, watch closely! Standing before you is the legendary Sage of Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya! I will impart the profound secrets of ninjutsu, and you should be eternally grateful!"

"Wow! So amazing! So impressive! So noble!"

Qing Xuan applauded unenthusiastically, adding a critique.

"Your entrance animation isn't flashy enough; it lacks some atmosphere."

"Oh? Is that so? How should I do it then?"

Jiraiya guiltily pulled out his notebook.

"You could summon a toad or something, wouldn't that enhance the presence?"

"Right!"

Jiraiya slapped his left palm heavily, burying his head in writing while unable to resist looking up and asking, "Anything else? Anything else!"

Qing Xuan rubbed his chin, trying to offer more professional guidance. "I think your entrance needs a change too. Yours is too plain, no soul..."

"Oh! Is that so?"

"Eyes are the windows to the soul, and actions are the language of the body. Infusing your soul into your movements to embody a certain mood is something you need to seriously consider..."

"Sou ga su ne~"

"Your opening line is a bit too direct... Why not use that poem from last time?"

"The one about the 'Wandering Dragon Returning to the Sea'?"

"It has so much artistic conception!"

"Master! You agree I can use that?"

"What a surprise! It was prepared just for you!"

"Before, I felt only Liu Yun understood me! But now, Qing Xuan, you're my kindred spirit!"

"Then you must continue to work hard!"

"You two... What exactly are you two doing?!"

Beneath the shade of the trees, watching the two of them, who seemed to understand each other deeply while doing who-knows-what, Tsunade clenched her fist, feeling her patience had reached its limit!

After a painful beating.

Jiraiya, bruised and swollen, sat cross-legged in the sunlight, feeling completely refreshed.

"Let's get down to business first!"

He cleared his throat and looked at Qing Xuan, this brat he originally disliked so much, but now found more and more satisfying.

"Qing Xuan! Liu Yun and I were close friends. We used to talk about everything, inseparable! We gathered materials together, created together, and even..."

Qing Xuan's gaze flickered to Tsunade, who was standing nearby. "Chased after the same girl?"

A blush crept onto Tsunade's face. She glared fiercely at the brat, then casually landed a punch on Jiraiya, roaring, "Jiraiya! I didn't invite you here to listen to your nonsense! Get to the point already, you bastard!"

Jiraiya stumbled from the blow but sat up straight as if nothing had happened. At this moment, Qing Xuan felt a bit sorry for him.

If only you had been more serious back then, why would you have lost to your old man...

Perhaps this is the price of becoming a man like the wind?

"Liu Yun left behind a super powerful secret technique back then, and now it's your turn to inherit it!"

Qing Xuan's eyes immediately lit up. "Father has a secret technique?"

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, a proud look on his face. "That's a super powerful ultimate technique that Liu Yun and I developed together! We spent a lot of effort to complete it!"

Qing Xuan was stunned and suddenly had an immature thought.

Speaking of which, could my father really be a transmigrator?

Qing Xuan hadn't thought about it before, but ever since he came to Konohagakure, various signs made him unable to not think about it.

A transmigrator, and developing ninjutsu with Jiraiya.

Then this ninjutsu...

"It couldn't be the Rasengan, could it?"

Qing Xuan stared intently at Jiraiya, observing his reaction.

However.

"How could it be the Rasengan? That was developed by the Fourth Hokage!"

"Then... Raikiri?"