Clan Tournament

"Back when the Uchiha Clan existed, the person most loyal to Konoha was Uchiha Fugaku."

After returning to the Senju Clan.

Uchiha Akira slept until broad daylight.

"But unfortunately, during the more than ten years after he took office, he was constantly subjected to Shimura Danzō's open and covert suppression. The fact that he didn't commit seppuku already showed how strong Uchiha Fugaku's mental fortitude was."

One had to know that the last person Danzo had spread rumors about had long since committed seppuku.

—Konoha White Fang.

A powerful man who died because of rumors.

Otherwise, White Fang would also have been an excellent candidate for Hokage.

At the same time, he had no doubts whatsoever about Uchiha Fugaku's determined rebellion.

Instead, he thought it was perfectly natural.

If the one who acted on the night of the clan massacre had not been his son, Uchiha Itachi, but anyone else, they would have faced the full force of his Mangekyō Sharingan!

"By the way, if I remember correctly, today is Neji's Clan Tournament, right?"

Uchiha Akira stroked his chin.

A clan tournament was something like this.

Before ninja villages had been established, every major clan would hold such competitions to compare the strength of their younger generation.

But after ninja villages were established, just like in Konoha, peers could spar with one another and gain exposure to more combat systems. As a result, competitions as limited as clan tournaments had basically disappeared.

The Hyuga Clan was different.

The Hyuga Clan was absurdly conservative.

And even in a clan tournament, there could be certain under-the-table arrangements involving the Main Family and Branch Family.

For the Hyuga Clan, it could be called an old tradition.

He got up lazily and happened to run into Asuma Sarutobi, who had just arrived carrying breakfast. Seeing Uchiha Akira awake, Asuma looked utterly shocked. "B-Boss, why are you up so early today?"

It was only eight o'clock.

It was simply unbelievable!

"Get lost."

Uchiha Akira created a Shadow Clone, then grabbed the breakfast Asuma had brought. As he ate, he waved a hand.

"You only have one hour a day to train in senjutsu. A Shadow Clone is already enough."

Asuma: "..."

That hurt!

No, he had to master Sage Mode as soon as possible!

As he spoke, he began his daily hour of grueling training again. His expression shifted from blank confusion to anxious panic to excitement, and then his hand turned to stone.

The Shadow Clone rescued him at the last possible moment.

Asuma smiled bitterly. "As expected of Sage Mode, this is way too hard to learn! Even with Big Brother's help, I still have no clue what I'm doing. I can't control it at all!"

Although he had been training diligently all this time.

He knew very well that without Uchiha Akira's help, his senjutsu training would immediately grind to a halt, leaving him unable to take even a single step forward!

"Big Brother must have spent a very long time training back then too, right?"

Asuma could not help looking at the Shadow Clone.

"Not bad."

The Shadow Clone thought for a moment. "From realizing natural energy existed to mastering Sage Mode, the original body probably took less than a minute."

Learning it through the system counted as learning it, right?

Asuma: "..."

Heh.

He kind of wanted to die.

"Don't lose heart."

The Shadow Clone consoled him with complete sincerity. "Don't compare yourself to the original body. After all, sometimes the gap between people is bigger than the gap between people and dogs."

"???"

Asuma looked gloomily at the Shadow Clone. "Big Brother, honestly, I would've felt better if you hadn't said that last part."

His gaze turned toward the direction Uchiha Akira had left in.

Why was his teacher going to the Hyuga Clan?

Right.

Today... was supposed to be the Hyuga Clan's Clan Tournament, wasn't it?

Sure enough, it was because of that kid Neji.

His eyes flickered thoughtfully, and something stirred within him.

Hyuga Clan.

Training Ground.

Looking at the opponent before him, Hyuga Neji recalled what Hyuga Liuhuo had just told him.

"Neji, I know you are very talented, but the more talented you are, the more you should understand when that talent ought to be displayed."

"I won't interfere with how you display your talent and strength when facing opponents from the Branch Family, but—"

Neji still vividly remembered the stern expression on Hyuga Liuhuo's face when he had said those words.

It was as though, if Neji did not do as he said.

He would face extremely cruel consequences.

"When facing the young lady of the Main Family, you must not win!"

Hyuga Liuhuo's face was cold. "Neji, think about why your father died. The Branch Family exists forever to serve the Main Family. You must never overstep the Main Family. Do you understand?!"

Those words sounded like both a warning and a threat.

Hyuga Neji's expression remained calm. While thoughts churned through his mind, he had already defeated the Branch Family opponent before him.

He had not even used any Gentle Fist techniques, yet he was faster than before, and his methods were sharper. Every movement carried a blend of hardness and softness.

"???"

This was absolutely not strength that a seven-year-old child should possess. Hyuga Hiashi's face darkened slightly.

"Liuhuo, are you sure Neji didn't learn anything from Uchiha Akira?!"

Judging by Neji's appearance, his strength had clearly risen to an entirely new level!

Cold sweat streamed down Hyuga Liuhuo's forehead. "Y-Yes, Clan Head, please rest assured. Neji only learned some methods of strengthening his body from Uchiha Akira. Perhaps his strength has improved somewhat, but only the Gentle Fist is an ability truly compatible with the Byakugan!"

"And as a mere Branch Family member, Neji can never learn the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms before coming of age!"

Only then did Hyuga Hiashi's expression improve slightly.

No matter how great one's talent was, time would eventually wear it down until one became mediocre.

Hizashi Hyuga had been like that, and now Hyuga Neji would be the same.

After the final rounds, Hyuga Neji was, without question, the one left standing in the arena. He had earned the chance to battle Hyuga Hinata of the Main Family!

"Brother Neji, please go easy on me!"

Hyuga Hinata spoke softly as she assumed her opening stance.

"Lady Hinata, please go easy on me!"

Hyuga Neji stood still, waiting for Hyuga Hinata to attack. She also realized this and immediately launched her assault. However, her kind nature and habit of holding back.

Made her already weak attacks seem even more powerless at this moment.

"Too slow!"

Hyuga Neji shook his head. He struck in an instant. He did not need to look for an opening at all; in his eyes, Hyuga Hinata was covered in openings from head to toe.

—Bang!

Hyuga Hinata staggered back several steps before barely managing to stop herself.

But her breathing had already become ragged and rapid.

Still, when her small face saw Hyuga Hiashi's disappointed expression from the viewing platform, it became incomparably resolute. "Brother Neji, please keep going. I can still fight!"

"Are you sure?"

Hyuga Neji's expression shifted. At last, he assumed his opening stance.

Hyuga Hiashi's expression changed.

He could not help saying, "That is the opening stance of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

"How does he know it?!"