The Years You Spend as a Genin Will Be the Most Unforgettable Decades of Your Life, Won't They?

"Clan Head, how could you agree to something like this?"

After Hiruzen Sarutobi left, the Main Branch elders gathered in the Hyuga Clan's meeting hall.

One of the elders spoke to Hyuga Hiashi with some anger.

"Letting a member of the Branch Family enter the Anbu—does the Clan Head not know what that means?"

"Of course I know."

Hyuga Hiashi had long since guessed that this scene would happen. He spoke expressionlessly.

"But the Third Hokage personally extended the invitation. I couldn't refuse."

"Clan Head, then why not let Makoto refuse himself?"

Another member of the Main Branch could not help asking. The question made Hyuga Hiashi feel somewhat disdainful.

That kid was the one who applied. Would he refuse?

"We've already reached this point. There's no meaning in discussing that now."

Even so, he sighed before speaking solemnly.

"Instead of this, why don't you think about why the Third Hokage would do such a thing?"

His words made everyone fall silent.

Yes, why?

"Clan Head, do you mean that the Third Hokage has some intention toward us..."

The elder seemed to have realized something, but before he could finish, Hyuga Hiashi interrupted him.

"I don't know. But all of you have heard, to some extent, that Anbu have been appearing outside the Uchiha compound, haven't you?"

The Main Branch members looked at one another. There really should not have been rumors about something like this involving the Uchiha.

But the people who told them this information were all members of the clan!

"Besides, gentlemen, don't forget what happened at Konoha's celebration back then."

Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Hyuga Hiashi continued.

"The conflict between the village and the clans needs to be eased. The Uchiha have already received an olive branch, and the Third Hokage has extended one to us as well."

"Are we really going to refuse? Are we inferior to the Uchiha?"

"Don't forget, we support the Hokage..."

"So you really were invited by the Anbu?"

On Konoha's main street, Hyuga Makoto wandered around with Neji.

The Third Hokage had left with the Anbu. Knowing that the clan would certainly be in turmoil, Hyuga Makoto had simply brought Neji out with him.

He was also thinking about buying some colored contact lenses. In his memories, Kakashi had used that sort of thing to cover his Sharingan, and even toyed with Team 7 until they were completely confused.

"Although his Sharingan disappears after he takes it off..."

Even so, he planned to buy one and test its effect.

But while he was thinking, Neji finally could not hold back any longer.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I did, but you didn't believe me."

Hyuga Makoto came back to his senses, tilted his head, and said with a smile.

"Also, starting today, your big brother is a member of the Anbu!"

"Tch..."

Neji gave a soft snort. He still did not know what joining the Anbu meant for a member of the Hyuga Branch Family.

But he was also extremely envious. In his understanding, anyone who could enter the Anbu was incredibly powerful!

"I'll join too someday. Just wait and see."

"Then work hard."

Hyuga Makoto did not say anything else. He was feeling quite pleased with himself.

"Tenzo's Yang Release is pretty effective..."

After leaving the Hyuga Clan, he had activated Tenzo's Yang Release.

Although he had worried that the same problem as the first "template activation" might appear again, the system's description had clearly told him that it would not. Only then had he felt comfortable using it.

As this Yang Release fused with him, he inexplicably felt the pleasure of receiving a massage on the legendary third floor...

His physical qualities had improved considerably, and his Chakra had grown noticeably again!

"However..."

[Name: Hyuga Makoto]

[Age: 13]

[Bloodline: Moon Ōtsutsuki (7%)]

[Dōjutsu: Tenseigan (1%)]

[Chakra Attributes: Yin, Yang]

After glancing at his own panel in his field of vision, Hyuga Makoto could not help pursing his lips.

"Tenzo's Yang Release is good, but it's far inferior to the First Hokage's."

Tenzo had indeed been cultivated using cells from the First Hokage, but it was difficult to imagine how much power had been lost during the process.

At the very least, compared to the First Hokage, his Wood Release was probably the difference between planting trees and destroying the heavens and earth...

"But no matter what, it's very useful to me. And there are many more talents like that whom I can reach through the Anbu."

The Anbu had far too many talented people. Not to mention anyone else, Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi would both be extremely helpful to him.

Besides, only by joining the Anbu could he find a way to obtain more information.

"At the very least, there won't be any shortage of information on Orochimaru..."

Putting everything else aside, Orochimaru had an abundance of technology and ruthless tricks in his hands.

There were some things that Hyuga Makoto wanted as well!

"Sigh, Makoto? And Neji?"

But while he was thinking, a voice suddenly came from the distance.

"Why is it this guy?"

Neji heard the voice as well. When he turned around, he saw a small blond-haired Naruto running toward them.

He knew Naruto, not only because of Naruto's "great reputation," but also because Hyuga Makoto had once dragged them along to eat ramen together.

Although he did not particularly like Naruto, he was still much better than the others.

Bang—

However, just as Naruto reached them, Hyuga Makoto punched him on the head.

"Why are all you brats the same? Can't you even call me big brother?"

"..."

Neji pursed his lips and did not dare make a sound, while Naruto clutched his head and spoke unhappily.

"Ow, ow, ow... You bastard, you're still hitting just as hard!"

"Tch, you're clearly the ungrateful one."

Hyuga Makoto shook his hand indifferently and spoke in a resentful tone.

"Back then, I was the one who took you home late at night."

"Not this again. You went to find Hinata and only took me home while you were at it..."

Naruto immediately retorted, but Hyuga Makoto interrupted him before he could finish.

"Just tell me whether I took you home or not. Besides, if I hadn't happened to pass by back then, you would have been beaten into a pig's head."

"You've got some nerve saying that. You were obviously looking for Hinata, and besides, I..."

"Other than that, whenever you wanted to eat something, wasn't I the one who took you to get it? Whenever you wanted to buy something, wasn't I the one who bought it for you?"

"..."

"So you don't even know to show me some respect? Aren't you ashamed?"

As he said this, Hyuga Makoto sighed softly, speaking with such confidence that it seemed to be entirely Naruto's fault.

But Naruto truly could not take it anymore. None of that was false, but the problem was...

"You've tricked me plenty of times too!"

"Have I?"

"Yes! Last time, when you were fishing in a competition, you made me dive underwater to hook the fish for you, and I nearly got beaten up!"

"Hey, didn't I stop them for you? And didn't I treat you to ramen afterward?"

"And when you wanted to teach some little punks a lesson, you actually used the Transformation Jutsu to turn into me!"

"Wasn't that helping you build a good reputation? Besides, those little punks deserved to be taught a lesson."

Faced with Naruto's righteous indignation, Hyuga Makoto disdainfully scratched his ear.

He admitted that he was not always entirely decent, but he had never treated Naruto unfairly.

At least he had never cheated Naruto out of his allowance...

"You really are a bastard!"

Naruto was so angry that he nearly laughed. What kind of good reputation was that?

"Hey, you've gone too far!"

Those words made Neji, who had remained silent until then, unhappy.

"Don't forget, in the village you..."

"You're not even a ninja in the village yet."

Before Neji could finish, Hyuga Makoto interrupted him with a smile.

"But I'm an official ninja. You seem completely unaware of how serious the situation is."

"What do you mean?"

Naruto froze for a moment and asked curiously, while Hyuga Makoto's smile grew even wider.

"It means that by the time you become a genin, I might already be a Chūnin or even a Jōnin, so..."

"So?"

"You don't want the years you spend as a genin to become the most unforgettable decades of your life, do you?"

"Gah!"

As soon as Hyuga Makoto finished speaking, Neji sucked in a sharp breath.

He had never imagined that his good big brother could be so ruthless!

But Naruto only looked confused, as if he had no idea what was going on.

"Huh? What does that mean?"

"Nothing. You'll understand later."

Hyuga Makoto had no intention of explaining. He only smiled and shrugged.

"Come on. I'll take you two to get something to eat."

With that, he turned and left with Neji, who was looking at Naruto with pity.

But he felt somewhat regretful inside. He had not triggered Naruto's side quest.

Still, he was not in a hurry. What belonged to him would eventually end up in his hands!

Naruto remained baffled. He could not help scratching his head and muttering,

"What exactly does that mean...?"