The bright room had neither Japanese tatami flooring nor a futon. Instead, it had a proper wool carpet and a massive three-meter-wide bed. You'd never guess that a Japanese-style home could have such modern decor.
Not only would outsiders never guess—it was beyond even Fuyuki, the couple's own son!
When he first opened his eyes and saw a television and a glass-partitioned bathroom, Fuyuki had thought he'd been reborn somewhere in the modern world. His mother in this life had an eye disease that left her pupils completely white.
But after waking from a nap, he found himself surrounded by a bunch of people with cataracts—and wearing Konoha Ninja Forehead Protectors that made his head ache just to look at. He would never forget how much he'd spent on those protectors in 648-yuan top-ups.
"Fuyuki? What are you doing here? Aren't you afraid Father will make you train extra tonight?"
His mother asked in surprise from where she reclined on the big bed, holding Hanabi in her arms.
As a member of the Hyuga Clan, she knew their usual daily schedule. So seeing her son show up during class time left her quite astonished.
"Not feeling it today. I'll work harder tomorrow." Fuyuki's answer was so shameless that his mother nearly choked.
"Come on, let me hold Hanabi!"
Fuyuki went over to his mother and took his drowsy little sister from her swaddling clothes, grinning as he teased the adorable baby.
After all, in the world of Naruto, chakra training wasn't some closely guarded secret. Anyone who wanted to could train, which meant that most people in the ninja world practiced chakra.
Lolis? They didn't exist. Once girls trained in chakra, they could only be called female bodybuilders!
"My adorable little sister."
Fuyuki laid Hanabi on the bed, beaming with happiness as he reached out to poke her cheek.
Hanabi wasn't sleepy anymore. She lifted both hands and kept batting away Fuyuki's fingers, looking quite a bit like she was using the Gentle Fist Technique. Some things really did get passed down through the generations and embedded in your DNA.
After playing for a while, the newborn couldn't fight her instincts any longer. Her eyelids began to droop; she seemed tired from playing and ready for a nap. Fuyuki squeezed Hanabi's soft little hand, then handed her back to their mother. "Hanabi looks sleepy. I'll come play with her again tomorrow."
"You really do love your little sister," his gentle, lovely mother remarked, her meaning unclear.
Since his birth, her son had never shown any particular favoritism. Even toward his parents, he was merely polite and respectful. Only Hinata was close to him, like a normal pair of siblings.
But after his sister was born, Fuyuki began running to her room all the time just to see her.
It even made his mother jealous!
"Hanabi comes first!" Fuyuki declared, sounding a little perverted.
What was wrong with treating Hanabi well? If he didn't spoil her, she might get swept off her feet by Konohamaru—and then he'd have nowhere to go cry about it.
He didn't object to Hinata and Naruto, but he was absolutely opposed to Hanabi marrying Konohamaru!
If Konohamaru dared show up, Fuyuki would kick his head in.
"Master Fuyuki, the Clan Head wishes to speak with you."
Hyuga Natsumi had appeared outside the Clan Head's wife's room at some point. Fuyuki froze. "Isn't Father busy doing the accounts? What does he want with me?"
Apart from their main business as ninjas, the Hyuga Clan had developed plenty of side businesses over the past thousand years. The Clan Head was busy with them every day. Whether it was checking accounts, counting money, or assigning work, everything needed his approval.
"I don't know. The Clan Head didn't tell me anything about that."
With Natsumi leading the way, Fuyuki arrived at the reception room in the Main Branch Courtyard. Hinata, who should have been in class, was sitting obediently to one side. Hyuga Hiashi sat in the seat of honor, his usual blank expression giving nothing away. Once Natsumi had left the room, Hiashi said, "For the next few days, you won't have afternoon classes. Go to the woods behind Kage Rock. Lord Third will teach you a few things."
"Remember to be polite and conduct yourselves properly. Don't bring shame on the Hyuga Clan!"
As he mentioned politeness and proper conduct, Hiashi gave Hinata a deliberate glance. It was obvious that the reminder was meant for her alone. As for Fuyuki? That little brat had no idea what it meant to be afraid. If he didn't leave the Third speechless, Hiashi would thank his ancestors. He wasn't worried about Fuyuki bringing shame on the Hyuga Clan at all.
Fuyuki paused, then replied, "Yes!"
Hinata, who had nearly been glared into a blubbering mess, hurriedly said, "Of course, Father."
"All right, if there's nothing else, go to class!"
Having given his instructions, Hiashi didn't have time to linger with the twins. He still had to go count the money in the accounts office.
"So we're the ones being sent to the woods."
Fuyuki frowned in confusion. As someone who'd overheard the entire conversation, he knew that the Third planned to show his gratitude by privately teaching the Hyuga Clan a few things and offering them some guidance in their training.
But he hadn't expected Hiashi to send them to learn—not Chunin or Special Jonin, but his own children.
Leaving Madara and Hashirama aside, ninja work was all about fine control, especially for Sasuke and Naruto. Having a seasoned Kage Level expert teach you was something any ninja would celebrate with a few tables of wine.
"Hinata, did the Clan Head scold you?"
They'd barely left the reception room when Neji, full of worry, popped out of the bushes and fussed over Hinata like a big brother doting on his little sister.
"Tsk."
Fuyuki clicked his tongue in annoyance. He looked exactly like Hinata, yet this little sister-obsessed creep was always stiff and old-fashioned around him. The moment he saw Hinata, though, he turned into the world's best big brother, afraid she might be upset.
Ugh, sister-obsessed creeps were scary!
At three in the afternoon, following Hiashi's instructions, Fuyuki and Hinata arrived behind Kage Rock early to wait for the Third. Their personal maids, Natsumi and Fei, accompanied the two heirs to guard against anyone with ill intentions.
Fuyuki knew Kage Rock well. He often snuck out of the house to practice the Summoning Technique here. It was also arguably the most scenic spot in Konoha. From the top of Kage Rock, you could see the whole village.
The Third hadn't arrived yet, so Fuyuki took Hinata and the two maids to a stream in the woods, planning to rest there for a while. But the stream, usually deserted, had an unexpected visitor!
The boy had spiky blond hair and six distinctive whisker marks on his cheeks. He looked bored as he fished with a homemade rod. The empty bucket beside him suggested the idiot hadn't even used bait.
The fish in this stream were famously stupid. Stick a toe in the water and one would bite.
But that wasn't the point. The point was—
Tornado Kick to EZ's Head!
Fuyuki leaped into the air and kicked Uzumaki Naruto straight into the fast-flowing stream.
Taken completely by surprise, Naruto tumbled into the water with a loud "Waaah!" and was swept out of sight in an instant.
The sudden attack was over in the blink of an eye. Hinata, Natsumi, and Feifei stared at Fuyuki in astonishment, completely baffled by what he was doing.
"Phew. We can lose the team fight, but the blond has to die!" Fuyuki exhaled after landing.
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