Too Useful, Shisui (Happy New Year, Everyone)

"Brother Makoto, are you going to train?"

"Such diligence. No wonder you've achieved so much at such a young age!"

Konoha, within the Hyuga Clan compound.

Hyuga Makoto was taking Neji and Hinata out for training. Along the way, every Branch Family member they encountered greeted them warmly.

This had been going on for several days.

As the announcement continued to spread, the entire Hyuga Clan learned of Hyuga Makoto's accomplishments!

In particular, people kept talking about how Hizashi Hyuga had personally welcomed him, as well as how those from the Main Branch had looked grim yet been powerless to do anything.

The Branch Family members were no fools. They had all realized how special Hyuga Makoto was.

He was a free member of the Branch Family!

The way they looked at Hyuga Makoto had become fervent. They all yearned to be as free as he was.

But the Hokage had been the one to invite Hyuga Makoto, and they did not have that privilege.

The best thing they could do now was build a good relationship with Hyuga Makoto and hope to gain his recommendation!

"Thank you, everyone..."

Hyuga Makoto smiled politely, though his smile was somewhat stiff.

After all these days, he was practically exhausted from smiling!

He knew what the Branch Family members were thinking, but he was not foolish enough to make any promises.

"Everyone, I'll be going now. When we have time, let's sit down and have a proper chat."

"All right. Then I wish you every success, Brother Makoto!"

"Thank you..."

Hyuga Makoto hurriedly dragged Neji and Hinata away. Only after they had run out of the Hyuga compound did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"Phew, I'm exhausted..."

"You idiot, isn't this a good thing?"

Neji glared at Hyuga Makoto, but his eyes were just as fervent!

At first, he had not realized what Hyuga Makoto joining the Anbu meant.

But after listening to everyone's discussions over the past few days, he had also understood how special Hyuga Makoto was.

This was something his Father had always yearned for but had never managed to achieve!

"Indeed. Father has been praising Brother Makoto all this time, too."

Hinata also spoke softly from the side. She had truly never seen her Father praise anyone like this.

"Tch, what do you two know?"

Hyuga Makoto snorted softly, clasped his hands behind his head, and walked ahead.

"Besides, you two are progressing too slowly. Although you've already mastered walking on water, your Chakra control is still insufficient. You need to keep practicing!"

"Oh..."

Hinata and Neji immediately fell silent. Hyuga Makoto's training was simply too harsh!

But that training also made them perform exceptionally well at the academy.

Even Hinata was able to score highly on some assessments, which had left her Father somewhat surprised.

So although they found it extremely demanding, they were also filled with motivation!

They chatted idly as they walked and soon arrived in Konoha's busy district. At that moment, however, Neji frowned.

"Are they always this rough when arresting people?"

"Those guys..."

Hyuga Makoto turned to look. The people from the Police Department were pressing a villager hard against a wall, while quite a few people nearby whispered among themselves.

"They're harboring resentment, so they need to vent it."

"Resentment?"

Neji did not understand, while Hinata explained softly.

"I heard Father say that a genius from the Uchiha committed suicide."

"Suicide?"

Neji's expression immediately turned strange, as though he had thought of something unpleasant.

But by then, Hyuga Makoto's hand had already settled on his head.

"Uchiha Shisui. You've met him, too. They couldn't even find his body after he died, so the Uchiha are probably dissatisfied."

"They couldn't even find his body..."

Neji pursed his lips, and his unpleasant memories grew even more vivid.

Hyuga Makoto was also rather helpless. This kid Neji was far too good at making connections.

"But I have a similar problem, too..."

Hizashi Hyuga had been saddled with far too great a burden. Who knew what he would say if he were brought back through Impure World Reincarnation?

What pained Hyuga Makoto was that he later remembered Hizashi Hyuga's remains had been sent to Kumogakure. He no longer even had a chance to dig up his grave!

I have to find an opportunity to see if I can bring his remains back...

After sighing inwardly, he continued speaking.

"Come on, let's get something to eat, then we'll go train."

"Okay."

Neji did not say anything, while Hinata timidly nodded from the side.

"It's really pitiful, though. They can't even find his body, so he can't be laid to rest..."

"Ha, perhaps..."

Hyuga Makoto shook his head, but he found it somewhat amusing inside.

Uchiha Shisui was doing perfectly well right now!

At this moment, Shisui had already awakened. Although he was missing both eyes, he was at least still alive.

Hyuga Makoto had also left a Shadow Clone to look after him. As for his eyes, Hyuga Makoto had no intention of putting them back for the time being.

Who knows whether it might affect the Chakra Ball's effects? I'll deal with it later...

Hyuga Makoto was also considering how to get this fellow a pair of eyes.

He seemed to remember that one of Scorpion's puppets had a Sharingan. He just did not know whether he would encounter it, much less whether it could be used.

Besides, I also need to consider the laboratory and equipment...

Uchiha Itachi had not revealed the truth, and Shisui's death had dealt a severe blow to the Uchiha's morale.

But Konoha did not dare let its guard down. After all, it was impossible to say when the Uchiha might lose control again.

Hyuga Makoto had also remained stationed in Konoha. He used this opportunity to carefully observe the layout of Konoha's barrier with the Tenseigan.

This observation allowed him to settle on a location for the laboratory.

The problem was that secretly digging it out would be troublesome. Besides that, the equipment left him with a headache.

These things have to be bought outside. And experiments are a bottomless pit. The money I have is nowhere near enough. But...

But he had Shisui!

Even without his Mangekyo, Shisui could still help him with many things.

Whether it was digging out the laboratory or taking missions from the Black Market to make money...

"Eh? Makoto!"

Just as he was pondering some details, a little Blondie suddenly poked his head out.

"And Neji and Hinata, too! What are you doing here?"

"Tch, here he comes again..."

When Neji saw Naruto, he turned his face away, while Hinata greeted him very politely.

"Good morning, Naruto-kun."

"It's you, Naruto."

Hyuga Makoto came back to his senses. Seeing Naruto carrying several large bags, he could not help finding it amusing.

"Why did you buy so much again? Aren't you afraid it'll expire? Didn't I tell you to come to me if you couldn't buy something?"

"Tch, I did come looking for you, but you weren't home."

Naruto scratched his ear, then his expression grew excited.

"I heard you went on a mission! What kind of mission was it? Was it dangerous? Exciting? Fun?"

"Ninja missions aren't fun."

Hyuga Makoto rolled his eyes. How could he casually ask about Anbu missions?

"All right, stop asking. You'll know after you graduate..."

As he said this, he suddenly paused, then spoke slowly and thoughtfully.

"Unless someone fails to graduate..."

"Asshole! Who are you talking about?"

All the blond hair on Naruto's head immediately stood on end, but Hyuga Makoto merely shrugged.

"I didn't name anyone. Who knows? Anyway, since we've run into each other, I'll treat you to a bowl of ramen. We still have to train afterward."

"Train?"

Naruto was stunned, but his eyes quickly lit up.

He was very unhappy with Sasuke at the academy, but Sasuke always managed to surpass him in everything.

If he could have a ninja train him...

At that thought, he immediately became somewhat bashful.

"Um... can I train with you?"

"Er..."

Hyuga Makoto blinked, but Naruto quickly spoke up.

"I'll pay for the ramen this time!"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I just got my allowance!"

"You won't regret it?"

"You're so annoying. I absolutely won't regret it!"

"All right, if that's what you want."

Seeing how determined Naruto was, Hyuga Makoto suddenly felt that this fellow was genuinely adorable.

He was already bringing two children along, so bringing one more was no big deal. Besides, helping Naruto would benefit him greatly!

Naruto's face immediately bloomed into a huge smile. Someone could finally guide him in his training.

However, half an hour later...

"You... you..."

Naruto stared at the pile of bowls on the table in disbelief, then looked at the downcast Hinata and the completely unconcerned Hyuga Makoto.

He truly had not expected the two of them to be able to eat so much!

Forget it, forget it. He'll be helping me train anyway, and I just got my allowance...

Naruto glanced tremblingly at his frog wallet and comforted himself.

"Makoto."

Just then, a shinobi in an Anbu uniform suddenly appeared. After giving Naruto a puzzled look, he spoke.

"Hokage-sama wants to see you. Please go there immediately."

"..."

Hyuga Makoto had not even spoken yet, but Naruto's face had already turned green...