Do You Want to Win?

"Then Shuji and the others are okay, right?"

After finishing breakfast and roughly learning what had happened, Mikoto cleaned up the trash as she asked Nawaki.

Compared to whether Shuji had done the right thing, Mikoto was more concerned about whether he would be punished because of it.

Besides, what had Shuji done wrong?

Perhaps from Hyuga Shunichi's perspective, Hyuga Shuji was utterly hateful, but from the perspective of Shuji's friends—

All they felt was an overwhelming sense of security.

Especially since Hyuga Shunichi had attacked Hinagiku and the others first.

In Mikoto's eyes, the fact that Shuji had not simply killed Hyuga Shunichi outright showed that he had already been very restrained.

"I don't know. If they hadn't been discovered, they definitely would've been fine. But now that they have been discovered, I don't know."

Nawaki shook his head bitterly at her words.

"They'll definitely be fine. By the way, Nawaki, want to spar?"

Mikoto shook her head with a light smile, then abruptly changed the subject as she stood and asked Nawaki.

Now that it had happened, rather than agonizing over something that was bound to happen, they might as well do something else meaningful.

With Shuji absent today, Mikoto had been meaning to have a proper chat with Nawaki.

"Huh? Sure."

Nawaki nodded and got to his feet, putting some distance between himself and Mikoto.

"Shunichi, I'm really sorry. I was too impulsive yesterday. I shouldn't have treated you like that."

At the Hyuga Clan Compound, in the place where the Hyuga clan usually held its meetings—

The heads and elders of both the Main Family and Branch Family had gathered together.

Shuji, who had originally been standing in the center of the meeting hall with Hiashi, immediately turned when he noticed Hyuga Shunichi and Hyuga Yuichi arriving. Wearing a faintly apologetic smile, he went over to greet Shunichi.

"Huh? Ah! It... it's fine. I... I can understand."

The moment he saw Shuji's face, Hyuga Shunichi's pupils contracted uncontrollably.

And after hearing Shuji's words, his heart sank even further.

Who told him about what happened yesterday?!

Almost instinctively, Shunichi looked back at Hyuga Yuichi behind him.

Yuichi looked equally confused and immediately shook his head, indicating that he did not know what was going on either.

"Hyuga Shuji."

Only after Shunichi's words fell did Hyuga Tokuhiro, seated in the seat of honor, finally call out unhurriedly.

"Clan Head."

Shuji immediately turned to face Hyuga Tokuhiro.

"Stand properly."

Tokuhiro pointed to the empty space beside Hiashi.

"Okay."

Shuji grinned at once and obediently moved to stand beside Hiashi.

Though the time had been brief, Shuji had still managed to leak some information to Hyuga Shunichi in advance.

If Hyuga Shunichi's answer proved unsatisfactory next, then he would have no one to blame but himself.

"This clan meeting has been convened mainly to address two matters. The first is the matter of Branch Family members Hyuga Hinagiku and Hizashi Hyuga being beaten into the hospital by Hyuga Shunichi.

"The second is the matter of Main Family members Hyuga Shuji and Hyuga Hiashi bullying Main Family member Hyuga Shunichi and Branch Family member Hyuga Yuichi."

Seated in the seat of honor, Hyuga Tokuhiro spoke slowly.

"Shunichi, Yuichi, according to Shuji, the two of you attacked Hinagiku and Hizashi without any reason. That was why Shuji and Hiashi went to seek revenge on you. Do you have any objection to that?"

When he finished, Hyuga Tokuhiro looked at Hyuga Shunichi and asked calmly.

As soon as Hyuga Tokuhiro's words fell, Shuji and Hiashi looked at Hyuga Shunichi almost simultaneously, their faces expressionless.

"No... no objections."

Feeling Shuji and Hiashi's gazes, Hyuga Shunichi pressed his lips together and lowered his head.

"If you have any objections, say them."

At that moment, a voice rang out. Hyuga Shunichi's body trembled slightly, and when he looked toward the source, he saw his stern father.

"That's right. Jonin Taichi is right. If you have any objections, say them. Don't feel pressured."

Seeing this, Tokuhiro gave a soft laugh and smiled warmly at Hyuga Shunichi.

In the small forest, Nawaki and Mikoto's spar also came to an end when Mikoto stopped the tip of her blade before Nawaki's throat.

"You're so fast..."

Looking down at the blade tip before him, Nawaki smiled bitterly.

Clang!

With a crisp ring of steel, Mikoto sheathed her sword.

"Nawaki... do you want to win?"

Mikoto pressed her lips together as she looked at Nawaki and asked.

Judging from her father's reaction after she had defeated Shuji last time, she probably would not receive even a word of approval after defeating Nawaki either.

Perhaps her father would make her graduate early and enter the Konoha Military Police Force.

That was not the outcome Mikoto wanted.

"Huh?"

Nawaki froze, looking at Uchiha Mikoto before him in confusion.

"If you want, Nawaki, I can lose to you in the upcoming taijutsu class."

"Why?"

Nawaki looked at Mikoto in puzzlement. No way, no way. Does someone actually like losing?

If Mikoto liked losing, then what was the point of her begging Shuji to lose to her before?

"That's not important. What matters is whether you want to."

Mikoto shook her head lightly. She had no intention of explaining further and merely continued asking Nawaki.

"Ah... if you put it that way... who wouldn't want to win?"

Nawaki pressed his lips together. His gaze drifted unconsciously into the distance, and a faint blush appeared on his face.

"Mm. If you want it, Nawaki, I'll lose to you in the upcoming taijutsu class."

Mikoto immediately smiled and told him.

"But... I have a small request. I don't know if Nawaki can help me."

After saying that, Mikoto changed her tone and suddenly spoke to Nawaki.

"Huh? What?"

Nawaki froze again and looked at Mikoto in surprise, his brows knitting unconsciously.

So... this is a deal?

For no reason, Nawaki felt a little uncomfortable.

If he lost to Mikoto in taijutsu class, Tsunade would definitely scold him harshly.

But Nawaki could accept that.

Compared to that, he hated this sort of transaction more.

"Whether Nawaki is willing to help me or not, I'll still lose to you in future taijutsu classes."

Noticing this, Mikoto keenly sensed the change in Nawaki's emotions and hurriedly added.

Originally, Mikoto had thought that using a loss to Nawaki in taijutsu class as leverage in exchange for his help would not be difficult.

But now, Mikoto suddenly realized that things did not seem to be as simple as she had imagined.