Parents Paving the Way

"C-Can he take part in the clan's internal competition before the Ninja Academy opens?"

After seeing Hyuga Shuji off, Hiashi asked Hyuga Tokuhiro nervously.

"Ah... he should be able to. Lady Tsunade meant that Shuji shouldn't train before the Ninja Academy opens."

Tokuhiro rested his chin on one hand at those words, speaking to Hiashi with a faintly amused smile.

"One month. Awaken the Byakugan!"

With that, Hiashi dashed out of the living room.

If Shuji really entered the competition, then forget Rotation—I might not even have awakened the Byakugan by then.

Ha, I might as well commit seppuku.

Hizashi looked at Hiashi, then at Tokuhiro. He pursed his lips and followed after him.

Wasn't it just awakening the Byakugan at five?

There were still several months before his sixth birthday!

Watching his two children vanish from sight, Tokuhiro could not help but smile.

This was far more effective than giving them a beating.

Leaving Hiashi and Hizashi aside, a small family meeting was being held at Shuji's House today.

"Ninjutsu specialists, taijutsu specialists, genjutsu specialists, sealing ninjas, and medical ninjas. Those are roughly the categories. What kind of ninja do you want to become?"

Hyuga Kiyosada sat in seiza nearby and asked Shuji and Hinagiku.

They would soon be attending the Ninja Academy, so before they went, Kiyosada and Chinatsu wanted their children to gain a basic understanding of what ninjas were.

Although the Hyuga Clan's inheritance practically ensured that every Hyuga clansman was suited to developing in taijutsu.

Kiyosada and Chinatsu did not object to their children exploring fields that interested them.

Sometimes, interest and talent were more important than inheritance.

And as Jonin of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family, Kiyosada and Chinatsu were more than capable of helping their children achieve something in the fields they enjoyed.

"I want to become a medical ninja."

Shuji answered Hyuga Kiyosada without the slightest hesitation.

This had been Shuji's general goal for a long time.

"What about you, Hinagiku?"

Kiyosada nodded at Shuji's words without asking for a reason. He had already explained every type of ninja in detail.

Since Shuji had made his choice so quickly, he must have considered it long ago.

Kiyosada chose to respect Shuji's decision.

"I choose to be a taijutsu specialist."

After pondering for a moment, Hinagiku gave Kiyosada her answer.

In Hinagiku's view, the Hyuga Clan already possessed taijutsu ready for them to practice. There was no need to divide their attention by pursuing other paths.

Or rather, until she had more or less mastered the Gentle Fist, Hinagiku had no intention of learning any other techniques.

"If you want to become a medical ninja, I'll bring you some medical books tomorrow."

Seeing that both children had made their choices, Chinatsu immediately said to Hyuga Shuji.

"There's no problem with wanting to become a medical ninja, but there is one thing. You cannot neglect your Gentle Fist training either. Before graduating from the Ninja Academy, I need you to learn Gentle Fist: One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, Rotation, and the Mystical Palm Technique."

After saying that, Chinatsu continued speaking to Shuji.

Chinatsu did not know whether Shuji could accomplish that, but it did no harm to set the requirements first. What if he managed it?

"Alright. Besides that, I also plan to train the Eight Inner Gates until I can open the Seventh Gate."

Shuji nodded solemnly to Hyuga Chinatsu. Then, as though he had remembered something, he continued.

"Also, I want to complete the nature transformations of Lightning Release and Wind Release, then incorporate them into the Gentle Fist."

"Are you joking with me?"

Chinatsu's brow twitched uncontrollably as she looked at Hyuga Shuji before her.

The demands she had set were already difficult enough to fulfill. What Shuji had described did not sound like something a clear-headed person would say.

Chinatsu had never practiced the Eight Inner Gates, so she had no right to comment on that.

But the last person to incorporate Chakra nature transformation into the Gentle Fist was named Hyuga Tennin.

Do not think that was easy. Lightning Cutter, which merely condensed Lightning Release Chakra in the user's palm, was already considered an S-rank ninjutsu.

At present, the Shinobi World's control over Chakra was still far from what people imagined.

Before Namikaze Minato died, he had not incorporated Chakra nature transformation into the Rasengan. Was it because he did not want to?

Or was it because, as the Rasengan's creator, he had never considered that direction?

"You started joking with me first."

Shuji immediately laughed, sprang to his feet, and dashed toward his room.

"This brat..."

Chinatsu watched Hyuga Shuji's gradually disappearing back and muttered helplessly.

"The day after tomorrow, I'll invite Tsunade to our home. Her Medical Ninjutsu is acknowledged as the best in the entire Shinobi World!"

Helplessly, Chinatsu shouted after Hyuga Shuji.

Since Shuji wanted to become a medical ninja, Chinatsu, as his mother, would naturally do everything in her power to pave the way for him.

Besides, Chinatsu also thought becoming a medical ninja was quite good.

At the very least, in a ninja squad, medical ninjas were often the ones given priority protection.

Combined with the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai, the Byakugan, which made the Hyuga Clan naturally the finest reconnaissance ninjas.

As long as Shuji steadily learned the Gentle Fist step by step, his safety could basically be fully assured.

"Got it!"

Shuji answered without looking back and returned to his room.

These were resources. If he had been a civilian's child, forget inviting Tsunade to visit their home.

He probably would not even know the Chakra Refinement Technique yet.

He would likely be mindlessly doing physical training under his parents' supervision.

So... why hadn't any ninja opened a preschool tutoring class in Konoha?

The thought made Shuji laugh. He did not dwell on it, instead lying on his bed and continuing to accumulate Nen Energy.

"Two months..."

Uchiha Mikoto stood where she had met Shuji that day, silently watching the shimmering lake before her.

Her hands slowly formed seals as Mikoto drew in a deep breath.

The next moment, Mikoto exhaled sharply, spewing scorching flames from her mouth.

Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!

The scorching flames met the cool lake water, producing a great deal of steam.

After a long while, the flames went out. By the mist-shrouded lake, a pair of scarlet eyes flickered in and out of view.

Was I... really that hated?

Mikoto silently turned around and walked slowly yet resolutely toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.

From that day onward, Mikoto never came to this place again.

Sometimes, what truly left a deep impression was not the fondness of a first meeting, but the unwillingness to let go of what one had given.

After waiting for two whole months, Mikoto had received the answer she believed to be correct.