First, Stand Up

"Heh, is this all you've got?"

Uchiha Siming's expression was unrestrained as he casually swept his gaze over the assembled Hyuga clan members, his eyes looking down on them as if the entire Hyuga Clan wasn't worth his notice.

Hyuga Neji's heart pounded wildly. He couldn't help but feel admiration and reverence welling up inside him—why was he so excited, anyway?

"Uchiha Siming, this is the Hyuga Clan." Seeing the crimson Three Tomoe Sharingan, Hyuga Hiashi's eyes darkened as he spoke in a low, stern voice: "If you can't give me a reasonable explanation today, then I'll go find Uchiha Fugaku and ask him about the Uchiha Clan's rules. I'm sure he'll teach his unruly clansman a proper lesson." His gaze was calm, but his words carried an undeniable authority.

"Heh, Hiashi, save that speech for someone else." Uchiha Siming let out a scornful laugh, finding it ridiculous. The corners of his mouth curled up bit by bit, exuding an arrogant demeanor. "Saying that in front of our Uchiha Clan? Do you even have the right? Don't forget, how many jonin does your Hyuga Clan have left now, and how many do we Uchiha have?" He was utterly unbridled, calling Hiashi by name without any respect.

They called themselves one of the three great clans that stood shoulder to shoulder, but in truth, the Hyuga Clan only rode on Hyuga Tianren's seniority. Add in the Main Family and Branch Family system, which preserved the Main Family's strength, and that was why the Senju, Uchiha, and Hyuga Clans were called the Big Three. But times had changed. Though the Senju Clan was gone, the Uchiha Clan's combat power had returned to its peak. The entire Hyuga Clan's jonin could be counted on one hand, while the Uchiha Clan—anyone who awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan stepped into the jonin rank—now had over twenty of them.

"You're asking for death!" Hyuga Hiashi's face twisted in fury. Under the eyes of his many subordinates, he struck out fiercely, his palm wind sharp and oppressive.

In the blink of an eye, Uchiha Siming's figure vanished from where he stood, reappearing behind Hyuga Hiashi in an instant, his hand raised high. But Hyuga Hiashi's reaction was equally swift; at the last moment, he spun around and blocked the lethal blow. The two exchanged over a hundred moves in moments, every strike landing solidly. The air roared with impact, as if it itself groaned under the unbearable strain.

"Damn it!" Hyuga Hiashi's expression shifted, his movements growing more frantic. He thought to himself, "How does he have such terrifying strength? It's like Tsunade's monstrous power—I can't seal his tenketsu at all!" Once the Eight Trigrams Palm was fully executed, it could seal an enemy's tenketsu, rendering them immobile. But it wasn't invincible. If the opponent's physical strength was too great, or their Chakra too overwhelming, even the Eight Trigrams Palm struggled to seal them. He had just used the Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, and it had done nothing.

"What's this? Is that all you've got?" Uchiha Siming was itching for more, growing more excited as he fought. "Hiashi, I've only been using three-tenths of my strength. I'm sure you're the same, right? Come on, stop holding back. Let's go all out!" His face was alight with excitement, his eyes gleaming.

Hyuga Hiashi: "???" His movements faltered, a look of horror crossing his face.

Then Uchiha Siming's figure was already right in front of him, his speed suddenly several times faster than before. Hiashi's vision blurred. The next moment, a heavy blow struck his chest, and he felt as if his bones were cracking. His whole body flew backward like a shrimp. Was this speed and power even something a human could possess?

"Huh? Wait, you really were using your full strength just now?" Uchiha Siming's face showed confusion and disbelief, as if he couldn't accept that the Hyuga Clan's patriarch was this weak.

Hyuga Hiashi's expression was grim. Since becoming clan head, he had never suffered such humiliation. But before he could spit out a threat, he heard Uchiha Siming's cold, icy voice.

"Hiashi, this is my first time warning you." Uchiha Siming looked down from on high at Hyuga Hiashi's disheveled figure. "And it's also the last."

"My disciple will never tolerate any form of discrimination. Among his peers, if he loses fair and square, I have nothing to say. But if someone tries to use their power and influence to oppress him..."

He grinned, flashing a set of brilliant white teeth, and spoke each word deliberately:

"I wouldn't mind teaching them how to behave using the rules of the Warring States Period!"

The rules of the Warring States Period?

"Of course not in the future."

Hyuga Hiashi's expression shifted, and he said coldly, "But I will report today's matter to Uchiha Fugaku. Uchiha Siming, you'd better be prepared!"

As a member of the Uchiha Clan, he had the audacity to show up at their Hyuga Clan's Martial Arts Tournament.

And he didn't show the Hyuga Clan the slightest bit of respect.

He was determined to seek justice for this!

He would even appeal to the Hokage. He believed that with the Hyuga Clan's years of ties with the Konoha High Command and his own influence, he could make the Uchiha Clan pay the price!

"Of course, go ahead."

Uchiha Siming's expression was unconcerned. Report him to the Uchiha Clan?

What a joke.

He was the Clan Leader's Son's life mentor—who the hell would dare touch him?!

His utterly brazen and carefree attitude left Hyuga Hiashi momentarily at a loss.

Damn it!

Was he really this arrogant? Couldn't even the Uchiha Clan Leader rein him in?! As expected, the Uchiha Clan all stuck together!

No!

He still had to go to the Hokage!

Just as Hyuga Hiashi was mulling this over in his mind, he saw a short figure draped in a cloak walk in.

Though his stature was not imposing, he carried a steady, mountain-like dignity. Especially in his eyes and brows, he resembled an aging lion that still exuded a powerful aura.

"Hokage-sama!"

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes lit up.

"Please, Hokage-sama, seek justice for the Hyuga Clan!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "???"

He froze on the spot.

Eh.

Wait.

Why was Siming here too?

And what did Hiashi mean by "seek justice"?

No.

This couldn't be related to Siming again, could it?

He had originally planned to go to the Uchiha Clan, but after thinking it over, he decided to visit the Hyuga Clan first. After all, the Hyuga Clan was one of Konoha's three great families. If the Uchiha Clan was a sharp, exposed blade, then the Hyuga Clan was the steadfast ship that remained stable no matter what.

Konoha had weathered many upheavals, but the Hyuga Clan had always come through unscathed.

That spoke to the Hyuga Clan's wisdom!

But today, he saw Hyuga Hiashi, the wisest of the Hyuga Clan, in a disheveled state. The white haori on his body was covered in dust, as if he had just been beaten up.

Mm.

His posture wasn't great either.

"Mm... Hiashi, stand up first and speak."

Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed, feeling that his timing wasn't the best.