Two Years Ago

Early the next morning, Fuyuki rose at the gentle and considerate call of Hinata. Before the sky outside had even brightened, while the ancestors' coffins still hung high in the void of night, the Hyuga Clan was already ablaze with light, preparing for the morning training.

It began with the standard warm-up run, followed by group sparring to break down and feed moves for the Gentle Fist Technique. The clan elders and powerhouses watched from the sidelines, and once a victor was decided, they would point out the flaws in the clansmen's Gentle Fist and instruct them on how to correct their improper techniques.

Between the Main Branch and the Branch Family of the Hyuga Clan, there was almost no difference in the practice of the Gentle Fist, and they even used the same medicinal baths.

The only difference lay in the fact that the Main Branch members sparred with Jonin-level clansmen!

The true distinction between the Main Branch and the Branch Family lay in the Caged Bird curse seal and the instruction of secret Gentle Fist arts. The elders would absolutely never teach the two secret techniques, Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and Rotation, to the Branch Family, as these two arts could be considered the signature Nintaijutsu of the Main Branch.

Other techniques, such as the Gentle Fist Technique, Tenketsu, and Air Palm, could be taught without the slightest reservation.

As for what happened if a Branch Family member stole the secret techniques?

The attitude of the Main Branch and the elders was one of tacit approval; they would neither punish nor rebuke, nor would they even inquire. They would simply make a note in their hearts, placing the learner on a list for special attention, and provide correct guidance from the sidelines.

The Hyuga Clan was rigid and conservative, always acting according to the house rules set by their ancestors, yet they were capable of innovation. For instance, regarding the theft of secret techniques, the clan leadership adopted a compromise: they would not teach them, but they would not stop the Branch Family members from learning them in secret either.

They acted all coy and secretive, like a bashful maiden, despite being an old spinster clan with a thousand-year legacy.

When the morning training ended, the elders summoned all clansmen under twelve years of age to the Training Ground, having them draw lots to determine groups and begin the monthly martial arts tournament.

In the Ninja World, twelve was considered adulthood. If one encountered problems they could not solve, they were expected to seek answers themselves; the clan elders would no longer provide the meticulous care they once had.

Therefore, this educational tournament did not include anyone over the age of twelve.

The Hyuga Clan was not exactly teeming with people; there were only seven children between the ages of three and twelve. Thus, the tournament required no special arena, and could simply be held at the usual Wooden Dummy training ground.

However, this month's tournament was far more solemn than the last, because for some unknown reason, the Third Hokage of Konohagakure had made an abrupt visit to the Hyuga Clan today. The clan head and all the elders were gathered at the Training Ground to appear alongside the Third Hokage.

Fuyuki glanced at the Third Hokage without any particular emotion. After a standard "Lord Third Hokage," he arrived at the Training Ground, waiting for the Hyuga elder to announce the start of this boring competition.

"Hyuga Fuyuki versus Hyuga Muraryo, the tournament officially begins!"

At the elder's command, the first match commenced.

Hearing the elder's whistle, Muraryo rushed toward Fuyuki without the slightest hesitation, his hands glowing with the Chakra of the Gentle Fist, preparing to strike first and lock down Young Master Fuyuki's ninjutsu.

Fuyuki stepped back, his hands forming seals to condense Chakra and activate his Byakugan.

The Byakugan could be activated as long as one had Chakra, but for a Hyuga clansman who had just awakened it, they still needed to form seals to focus their energy. Simply put, their proficiency with the Byakugan was not yet high enough to toggle it at will.

After activating the Byakugan, blue Chakra emerged on Fuyuki's hands, and he began to trade blows with Muraryo. Neither side held back, for the tournament was meant to showcase the results of their training; if they didn't go all out, how would the elders know how to instruct them?

In a pure taijutsu contest, Muraryo was no match for Fuyuki, who was fighting at full strength with his Byakugan active. Fuyuki's palms grazed Muraryo's chest and arms, and suddenly, the boy exhibited strange symptoms of labored breathing and weak, trembling limbs.

Yet the duel did not stop until Fuyuki kicked Muraryo several meters away, ending the match.

The Gentle Fist Technique's Chakra was somewhat similar to a Chakra Scalpel; as long as it touched or grazed the enemy, it could cause damage to their internal organs and muscles. This was the formidable taijutsu that allowed the Hyuga Clan to stand firm in the Ninja World.

Fuyuki also studied the Gentle Fist, but only the aggressive taijutsu like the Gentle Fist and Air Palm; he only touched upon techniques like Tenketsu and medical assistance without studying them in depth.

The Byakugan was enough for perception, and if he beat his enemy to death, there was no need to use Tenketsu to restrict their Chakra flow.

Furthermore, Fuyuki felt that Tenketsu was not very practical. Against a low-Chakra ninja, two slaps would finish them; against a "Chakraton" ninja, striking until their bones broke was useless, as the opponent's massive Chakra would simply surge through and shatter your Gentle Fist Chakra—you couldn't even hit a Chakraton-level ninja's pressure points.

"A very brilliant Gentle Fist. Hiashi, this child's talent for the Gentle Fist must be quite strong, right?"

Outside the arena, the Third Hokage smiled, puffing on his pipe with a "puff, puff, puff" sound as he spoke to Hiashi beside him.

Hiashi, who was currently trying to fathom the Third's intentions, felt the corner of his mouth twitch as he replied, "My son's talent is merely mediocre; it can hardly be called a gift. I fear I have let Lord Third Hokage see a poor display."

The Hyuga Clan were loyal supporters of the Hokage, but their use of such formulaic responses to the Third's clearly casual small talk felt extremely off.

In truth, this was quite normal; the entire Hyuga Clan was deeply dissatisfied with this aging Ninja Hero!

Two years ago, when Kumogakure sent envoys to Konoha to discuss a peace treaty, the envoys had snuck into the Hyuga compound during the twins' birthday, while the clan's defenses were thin.

The envoy's goal was very clear: the Main Branch living at the heart of the Hyuga compound. The guys from Kumogakure were using the guise of peace talks to steal Konoha's Kekkei Genkai!

Fortunately, that night, Fuyuki had taken Hinata to ask Hiashi about Chakra cultivation, preventing the Kumogakure peace envoy from succeeding. The man was captured on the spot, though he chose to commit suicide with great resolve.

This incident was clearly Kumogakure's fault; anyone with eyes could see that!

But faced with the unreasonable and pestering Kumogakure, the Third Hokage of Konoha, in order to smooth things over, not only made the Hyuga Clan apologize but also made concessions in the peace treaty!

Hiashi could understand the Third; the Third Hokage treated everyone in the village like his own children, and sacrificing some property to stop a war was indeed nothing. But as the party directly involved, the Hyuga Clan was absolutely furious!

It was clearly Kumogakure's idiots who played dirty, so why did our Hyuga Clan have to pay?

The Hyuga Clan were loyal supporters of the Hokage, but not supporters of you, Sarutobi Hiruzen!

Therefore, for the past two years, the Hyuga Clan had essentially never visited Sarutobi Hiruzen in private. The clansmen simply did their jobs, and in their spare time, they would rather slack off than accept missions.

Facing Sarutobi Hiruzen's visit today, although Hiashi was very surprised, he maintained perfect outward etiquette—so perfect it was beyond reproach, yet it carried a palpable sense of distance and estrangement.