Clan Tournament

"The most loyal person to Konoha among the Uchiha Clan was once Uchiha Fugaku."

After returning to the Senju Clan.

Uchiha Siming slept straight through until dawn.

"But unfortunately, in the over ten years since he took office, he endured constant overt and covert suppression from Shimura Danzō. Not committing seppuku already counts as Uchiha Fugaku having exceptional mental fortitude."

After all, the last person Danzō slandered had already committed seppuku long ago.

—The Konoha White Fang.

A strong man who died from rumors.

Otherwise, White Fang would have been an excellent Hokage candidate as well.

At the same time, regarding Uchiha Fugaku's firm rebellion.

He had no doubt in his mind; instead, he found it perfectly normal.

If the one who struck on the night of the clan's annihilation hadn't been his son, Uchiha Itachi, but anyone else, they would have been met with a fierce counterattack from his Mangekyo Sharingan!

"Right, if I remember correctly, today is Neji's Clan Tournament, isn't it?"

Uchiha Siming rubbed his chin.

Clan tournaments and such.

Before the establishment of ninja villages, every major clan held such competitions to compare the strength of their younger generation.

But after the villages were founded—like in Konoha's case—peers could spar with each other and also encounter more diverse combat systems, so these very limited clan tournaments basically disappeared.

The Hyuga Clan is different.

The Hyuga Clan is damn conservative.

Moreover, even within a clan tournament, there might be some behind-the-scenes manipulation between the Main Family and the Branch Family.

For the Hyuga Clan, this is an old tradition.

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

It was only eight in the morning.

Absolutely unbelievable!

"Get lost."

Uchiha Siming split off a shadow clone, then grabbed the breakfast Asuma had brought, eating as he waved his hand:

"You only get one hour a day to train in Sage Mode anyway; a shadow clone is more than enough."

Asuma: "..."

So heartbreaking!

No, he had to learn Sage Mode as fast as possible!

With that, he began his grueling daily one-hour training. His expression shifted from blank to anxious to excited, and then his hand turned to stone.

The shadow clone saved him just in the nick of time.

Asuma smiled bitterly: "No wonder it's Sage Mode—this is way too hard to learn! Even with big brother's help, I'm completely lost and can't control it at all!"

Though he had been training hard all this time.

He knew very well that without Uchiha Siming's help, his Sage Mode training would grind to a halt, unable to advance another step!

"Big brother must have taken a very long time to learn it back then, right!"

Asuma couldn't help but look at the shadow clone.

"It was alright."

The shadow clone thought for a moment: "From realizing the existence of natural energy to learning Sage Mode, the original probably took less than a minute."

Learning it through the system counts, right?

Asuma: "..."

Haha.

He kind of wanted to die.

"Don't lose heart."

The shadow clone comforted him very sincerely: "Don't compare yourself to the original. After all, sometimes the gap between people is bigger than the gap between people and dogs."

"???"

Asuma stared gloomily at the shadow clone: "Big brother, actually, if you hadn't said that last part, I'd feel a bit better."

His gaze followed the direction Uchiha Siming had left.

What was his teacher doing at the Hyuga Clan?

Right.

Today... it should be the Hyuga Clan's Clan Tournament, shouldn't it?

Indeed, it was because of that little brat Neji.

A flicker of thought passed through his eyes, stirring a trace of emotion.

Hyuga Clan.

Training Ground.

Staring at the opponent before him, Hyuga Neji recalled what Hyuga Liuhuo had just said to him:

"Neji, I know you're extremely talented, but the more talented you are, the more you should know when to display that talent."

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

Neji's mind still vividly remembered the stern expression on Hyuga Liuhuo's face when he said this.

As if failing to follow his orders.

Would lead to a very cruel outcome.

"When facing the Main Family's young lady, you absolutely must not win!"

Hyuga Liuhuo's face carried a cold edge: "Neji, think about why your father died. The Branch Family exists forever to serve the Main Family. You must never overstep the Main Family, understand!"

These words were both a warning and a threat.

Hyuga Neji's expression remained calm as thoughts churned in his mind, even as he had already defeated his Branch Family opponent.

He hadn't used any Gentle Fist techniques, but his speed was faster than before, his moves more ruthless, each action carrying a rhythm of blending hardness and softness.

"???"

This was by no means the strength a seven-year-old should display. Hyuga Hiashi's face darkened:

"Liuhuo, are you sure Neji hasn't learned anything from following Uchiha Siming?!"

Judging by Neji's appearance, his strength had clearly taken another major leap!

Cold sweat dripped down Hyuga Liuhuo's forehead: "No, no, Clan Head, rest assured. Neji only learned some body-training methods from Uchiha Siming. Perhaps his strength has improved, but only the Gentle Fist is the ability most compatible with the Byakugan!"

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

Hearing this, Hyuga Hiashi's expression eased slightly.

No matter how great the talent, worn down by the passage of time, it would eventually become mediocrity.

Hyuga Hizashi was like that, and now Hyuga Neji was the same.

After the final rounds, there was no doubt that Hyuga Neji stood on the field, earning the chance to face the Main Family's Hyuga Hinata!

"Neji-nii-san, please guide me!"

Hyuga Hinata's voice was soft as she assumed her starting stance.

"Hinata-sama, please guide me!"

Hyuga Neji stood still, not moving an inch, waiting for Hyuga Hinata to attack. She realized this and launched her assault instantly, but her attacks were tempered by kindness and a tendency to hold back.

This made her already weak strikes feel even more powerless.

"Too slow!"

Hyuga Neji shook his head. He struck instantly, not needing to find any openings—in his eyes, Hyuga Hinata's entire body was full of them.

—Bam!

Hyuga Hinata stumbled back several steps before barely managing to stop.

But her breathing was already ragged, rapid and uneven.

Yet her small face, upon seeing the disappointed look on Hyuga Hiashi's face from the viewing platform, grew fiercely stubborn: "Neji-nii-san, please continue. I can still fight!"

"Are you sure?"

Hyuga Neji's expression shifted. He finally assumed his starting stance.

Hyuga Hiashi's face changed.

He couldn't help but say: "That's the starting stance of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

"How does he know it!"