The Lion Raises His Head

At this point,

Hyuga Yu had long since stopped dreaming that he could unlock the Tenseigan in a fit of rage like some character in a fanfic, break free of the Caged Bird, launch a coup, reform the Hyuga Clan's flawed system, marry Tsunade, and claim the Hokage's seat.

After thirteen years with the Hyuga Clan,

the reality of life there had long since dispelled his fantasies.

To be honest,

apart from having to work like an ox for the Main House, bow and scrape, and kneel to grovel, there wasn't much about the clan that bothered him.

The treatment they offered was genuinely excellent.

Not only did they provide food and lodging, but the orphan allowance from the village, the clan's supplementary allowance, and the elders' private gifts had never once been late. On top of that, clan policy promised them a house when they came of age—and even a wife.

Apart from the ninja-related things—scrolls, tools, and guidance from high-ranking ninja, all of which cost a fortune and weren't easy to come by—

the clan took care of Branch House members from birth to death, arranging every aspect of their lives.

That was the real reason the Hyuga Clan's twisted Main House–Branch House system had endured to this day.

The clan was very rich—and willing to spend its money.

Under those circumstances, however much the Branch House members resented the system, their discontent remained limited to individuals and the current generation of those assigned to the Branch House.

But understanding the system didn't mean accepting it.

Hyuga Yu had no habit of kowtowing to people or bowing ninety degrees while shouting, "Honto ni sumimasen!" Even when in Rome, he'd accept no more than the superficial courtesies of daily life.

So,

even though he knew he had no talent as a ninja,

he was determined to become a Chunin, even if it meant risking his life, so he could stop living at someone else's mercy and kneeling to grovel!

And yet, at that moment,

facing the talented young woman from the Branch House, hearing her make him such a solemn promise,

Hyuga Yu suddenly fell silent.

Hyuga Natsu was the wife the clan had arranged for him. She was his fiancée.

He'd considered every possibility, but never imagined that

Hyuga Natsu—who would one day serve as Hyuga Hanabi's personal maid and survive both Pain's assault and the Fourth Shinobi World War—would now join him in the Guard Squad of the Main House's young master, Hyuga Genko, and head to the battlefield of the Third Shinobi World War.

"What's wrong, Yu-kun? You look pale..."

"Nothing." Hyuga Yu took a deep breath, then looked up and smiled at the little girl who was his fiancée.

"'Yu-kun' sounds strange. Just call me Lion."

"Lion?" Hyuga Natsu couldn't help giggling.

"If I call you that, it'll sound like I'm giggling."

Hyuga Yu suddenly said, "I'll protect you."

Hyuga Natsu froze at his words. She looked up, her long, curled eyelashes fluttering, and her face turned faintly red.

"What did you say?"

"Let's go, Natsu. Sorry for the trouble, but please take me to see Young Master Genko."

Half an hour later, Hyuga Yu met the unfortunate young master who would one day have his Byakugan stolen by Ao of the Mist in the reception room of the Main House residence.

Young Master Hyuga Genko of the Main House looked to be around eighteen. He wore a white kimono and had the standard Hyuga appearance:

black hair, white eyes, and handsome features. Except for his smooth forehead, which bore no Forehead Protector, he looked just like an adult Hyuga Neji.

"You're... Hyuga Yu?"

Hyuga Genko held a printed résumé and compared it with Hyuga Yu, who sat upright before him. He looked him over.

"I've heard of you."

"Your grades at the Ninja Academy were a little uneven?"

"Yes." Hyuga Yu nodded.

"In academics, you got perfect scores in the three core subjects of math, chemistry, and physics, and zeros in everything else."

"As for ninja fundamentals, you got a perfect score in basic swordsmanship. You barely passed ninja tool throwing, taijutsu, and the Three Body Techniques. You failed everything else."

Hyuga Genko flipped through the résumé and questioned him.

"Why were your grades so uneven?"

Hyuga Yu replied at once, "Because I trained in taijutsu with Might Guy and his son. I also went to Konoha Hospital to study the basics of Medical Ninjutsu."

Hyuga Genko frowned slightly, then asked, "Why study Konoha Steel Fist with Might Guy and his son? Isn't the Gentle Fist taught by the clan better than those second-rate techniques?"

Hyuga Yu answered without delay.

"I've studied both Steel Fist and Gentle Fist. Steel Fist is simply better for building a foundation and strengthening my body. It can help me unlock the Byakugan sooner."

Hearing that he'd done it to unlock the Byakugan, Hyuga Genko's expression softened.

There were two kinds of people who stood out during one's school days:

geniuses at the top of the rankings,

and hopeless dead-last students.

A useless dead-last from one of Konoha's foremost clans stood out even more.

Hyuga Genko had heard about Hyuga Yu's lack of talent as a ninja. He'd been born with little chakra, not even enough to qualify as an ordinary ninja, let alone one from the Hyuga Clan.

Hyuga Clan ninja needed an unusually large amount of chakra compared to ordinary ninja to activate and unlock the Byakugan.

Once he understood that Hyuga Yu had made all those strange choices at the Ninja Academy in order to unlock the Byakugan, Hyuga Genko couldn't help looking at him with new respect. He recognized his determination.

Before this, even he and the rest of the clan hadn't believed Hyuga Yu could unlock the Byakugan within three years of graduating. But then, during last year's Chunin Ninja Exams, Hyuga Yu had actually unlocked it ahead of schedule and made it all the way to the final tournament match.

Even if he hadn't managed to beat Uchiha Obito, who'd been the dead-last student at the time.

Hyuga Genko continued questioning him.

"So you learned your Medical Ninjutsu at the Ninja Academy? Which techniques can you use?"

"D-rank Chakra Heal, Chakra Needle and Thread, C-rank Epidermal Suturing, and B-rank Subtle Disease Extraction."

"Not bad." Hyuga Genko nodded, smiling at Hyuga Yu.

"With talent like yours, you've not only unlocked the Byakugan but mastered so many Medical Ninjutsu. Hyuga Yu, you've worked very hard."

"You're not quite qualified to serve as a reconnaissance ninja, but you're already a very capable Medical Ninja. You can help fill the gap in the clan's ranks."

After thinking it over carefully and recalling the message a Main House elder had sent earlier, he gave his instructions.

"I'll report this to the Main House. From now on, the clan will focus on training you as a Medical Ninja."

"Once the village's orders come through, I'll arrange for you to join the Medical Ninja at the Rear Camp and learn from them."

Hyuga Genko closed the résumé and looked at the boy sitting before him with his head lowered.

"Do you have any objections?"

Hyuga Yu suddenly looked up, his expression resolute. "Yes."

"Hmm?"

"I request permission to accompany the squad as a member of your Guard Squad."

Hyuga Genko frowned, then slapped the résumé down on the table and glared at him.

"I told you, you're not qualified to serve as a reconnaissance ninja."

Hyuga Yu lifted his chin. Beneath his heavy bangs, his pale eyes shone with determination as he stood his ground.

"I can do it!"