Hyuga Makoto: You Really Thought I Was Just Like You?

Hyuga Makoto had always been a man of action.

Now that he had an idea, he naturally got straight to work!

So during this period, he focused on researching the "Tattoo Era."

At the same time, he occasionally investigated the relationship between Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Itachi with Kakashi, while also remembering to train Hinata, Neji, and Naruto.

"What's wrong with you?"

Training with Naruto was making Neji lose his patience.

"It's obviously so simple. How can you still not have learned it after all this time? What an idiot!"

"Tch, I'm just unlucky."

Naruto pursed his lips. He knew the problem lay with him, but he refused to admit defeat.

"I'll definitely succeed! I'm going to be the man who becomes Hokage!"

"You should worry about how to stop being the dead last."

Neji snorted softly, but his gaze still couldn't help drifting toward Hyuga Makoto, who was spacing out nearby.

"Don't drag me down. If you keep me from catching up to Makoto as soon as possible, watch out, or I'll beat you up!"

Neji had truly changed. He no longer talked about whether fate existed or not.

With Hyuga Makoto as an example, he had suddenly realized that perhaps he could control his own fate.

Even with the Caged Bird still in place, he was already freer than before. He absolutely wouldn't allow anyone to block his path!

"Looks like you two are really full of energy..."

Just as the two of them were bickering, Hyuga Makoto's voice drifted over.

"You still have enough energy to argue? Looks like the pressure I've given you isn't enough."

"Gah..."

The moment Hyuga Makoto spoke, Neji, Naruto, and even the obedient Hinata all turned pale.

Their training load was by no means light, and Hyuga Makoto wasn't afraid of letting them get hurt at all!

That guy knew Medical Ninjutsu. Whoever got injured could be healed immediately. He was practically their nightmare...

But they didn't dare talk back!

After all, Hyuga Makoto was the target Neji was chasing, Naruto had volunteered for the training, and Hinata also hoped to earn her father's approval.

No matter how painful it was, they had to endure it!

"Don't make those faces. You're making it seem like I'm abusing you."

Hyuga Makoto swept his gaze to the side, then slowly stood up.

"Besides, your current training volume is far less than what a certain powerful elite jonin went through as a child."

"A powerful elite jonin?"

Hinata asked timidly, while Neji and Naruto were also full of curiosity.

Naruto might not know what an elite jonin meant, but Hinata and Neji certainly did!

"That's right. He was a friend of my team captain, and he was also a dead last when he was young."

Hyuga Makoto dusted off his backside as he spoke. Although he wasn't familiar with Might Guy, that didn't stop him from using Guy as an example.

"But through astonishing perseverance and efforts beyond imagination, he became one of the village's elite jonin. He might even be stronger than my team captain!"

As he said this, Hyuga Makoto turned and walked toward the back of the training ground.

"He wasn't a genius, but he became a genius through hard work. You should all work hard too."

"A genius through hard work?"

Hinata murmured, while Neji remained silent.

Yet something was shining in both their eyes, and Naruto clenched his fists even tighter.

"A genius through hard work? Yosh, I'll definitely become a genius through hard work too!"

"If you want to meet him, I can introduce you."

Hyuga Makoto blinked. He was actually rather eager to see Naruto wearing a green jumpsuit.

"Keep training for now. I'll be back in a little while."

"Makoto..."

But just as he was leaving, Neji couldn't help asking a question.

"When you trained back then, was it even more grueling than ours?"

"Huh?"

Hyuga Makoto froze when he heard that. Looking at the three children's expectant gazes, he suddenly revealed a mischievous grin.

"Sorry, but it really wasn't."

"Huh?"

"Back then, I learned everything in one or two tries. Why would I make things so difficult for myself?"

"..."

"You didn't think I was just like you, did you? No way, right? No way, no way?"

"..."

The three of them fell silent at that moment. Hinata might have been all right, but Neji and Naruto's fists were already itching to strike!

Hyuga Makoto paid them no mind, however, and leisurely walked into the woods behind the training ground.

Hyuga Hiashi was quietly watching the three children train there.

"Clan Head, what brings you here?"

Hyuga Makoto walked to his side and asked curiously.

"Were you worried?"

"With you teaching them, I naturally have nothing to worry about."

Hyuga Hiashi shook his head. He wasn't surprised in the slightest that Hyuga Makoto had discovered him.

"But as their father and uncle, I still wanted to take a look. Please forgive me."

When he mentioned the two children, a smile appeared on his face.

Ever since he had untied some of the knots in his heart, he had gradually begun to place more importance on Neji.

As for Hinata, he had originally been truly disappointed in her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have created a Main Account.

But she was still his daughter, after all. He couldn't truly disregard her completely.

"Besides, I should be thanking you."

Watching the three children throw themselves back into training, he couldn't help sighing in appreciation.

"You've helped Neji and Hinata improve tremendously. Especially Hinata. You've worked hard."

"Hinata was never lacking in ability. She was simply too reserved."

Hyuga Makoto shook his head and chuckled.

"Neji is indeed exceptional. I might recommend him for the Anbu in the future."

"Oh?"

Hyuga Hiashi was stunned by this. After pondering for a moment, he asked quietly, "How many people can you recommend?"

"There's no fixed quota. There's only one requirement."

"What is it?"

"People I approve of."

"Is that so..."

Hyuga Hiashi nodded lightly, his gaze shifting toward Naruto, who was training alongside the other two.

"I understand. Don't let Hokage-sama's trust in you go to waste, Makoto."

"I know, Clan Head. But this time, I'll need your help."

Hyuga Makoto smiled knowingly. After thinking for a moment, he continued.

"I do have a rather presumptuous question, though. I wonder if I could..."

"Hizashi thinks highly of you, and you and I don't need to stand on ceremony."

Before Hyuga Makoto could finish, Hyuga Hiashi shook his head with a smile.

"If you have a question, just ask."

"I've actually been wanting to know..."

Hyuga Makoto lowered his voice, his expression turning somewhat solemn.

"Clan Head, what exactly is your view of the Caged Bird?"

"The Caged Bird..."

Hyuga Hiashi's expression also grew serious. He knew this was a question that couldn't be avoided.

He also knew that Hyuga Makoto would eventually come to ask him about it.

And he himself would have to face this issue soon, because Hanabi was almost three years old...

"The Caged Bird was originally created to protect the Byakugan, but as time passed, this jutsu meant to protect the clan gradually became distorted."

After all, Makoto was someone he had personally promoted, and someone Hizashi valued greatly. Hyuga Hiashi sighed before continuing.

"Hizashi even paid with his life because of it. Unfortunately, what has already happened cannot be changed."

"I think I understand."

Hyuga Makoto nodded when he heard this.

Although Hyuga Hiashi's words were indirect, Makoto understood exactly what he meant.

Besides, even if he didn't say it, Makoto knew that this very man would eventually change the Branch Family system!

However, Hyuga Makoto intended to make a profit from it...

"The tragedies that have already happened truly can't be undone. But what if some regrets could still be remedied?"

"Regrets... can still be remedied?"

Hyuga Hiashi froze, staring at Hyuga Makoto in disbelief.

His mouth opened slightly as if he wanted to say something, but in the next moment, both he and Hyuga Makoto turned to look into the distance.

Several members of the Anbu were rapidly approaching them...