Shadow Guard

Hyuga Hane stood beneath the Hokage Building, looked up, and stepped inside.

In a short span of time, many changes had already taken place here.

Some familiar ninjas had left, and unfamiliar ones had begun working in their stead.

The person sitting in the Hokage office had even changed from a decrepit old man to a young man.

In times of war, everything was kept simple.

Without a succession speech, Namikaze Minato had already taken office and begun his duties as Hokage.

"Lord Hokage, I would like to apply for the Jonin examination!" Hyuga Hane said in a low voice, looking at the sunny young man before him.

"Hyuga Hane, 15 years old, completed 4 S-rank missions, 32 A-rank missions, B-rank..."

Reading through Hyuga Hane's mission record, Namikaze Minato furrowed his brows in thought.

Promotion to Jonin in Konoha required sufficient merit or a mission history to prove one's various capabilities.

However, during wartime, the Jonin examination focused primarily on strength.

The requirements for mission history and merit could be lowered appropriately.

Since Hyuga Hane's record was at an average level, there was no issue with his application for the Jonin examination.

What Namikaze Minato was considering now was something else entirely.

The Third Hokage asked me to appease the Hyuga; should I choose someone from the Branch Family?

He had already heard from the Third Hokage about what had recently happened in the village and had no objections to the decision to appease the Hyuga.

The Branch Family needed to be fully integrated into the village, and the Main Branch had just suffered a major blow; it was the perfect time to win their loyalty. If handled well, it would also be beneficial for stabilizing the village's situation.

And this required him to arrange a suitable position for them.

It could not be too high, nor could it be too low.

It also had to utilize the abilities of the Hyuga Clan...

Hm?

Namikaze Minato's eyes lit up.

Such a position existed, though it was only suitable for the Branch Family.

The Shadow Guard that a newly appointed Hokage was bound to assemble!

The Shadow Guard could communicate directly with the Shadow and stand guard by their side; the selection itself was a sign of trust in those chosen.

Furthermore, every village had the custom of placing candidates for the next Shadow into the Shadow Guard. The Third Hokage had once been a member of the Second Hokage's Shadow Guard, and the Fourth Kazekage had served as a guard for the Third Kazekage.

This position could fully demonstrate the importance placed on the Branch Family.

Minato thought to himself: In that case, I will hold the Shadow Guard selection after the Jonin examination.

However, Namikaze Minato soon frowned.

Shadow Guards were generally very strong, and some were even the next generation of Shadows.

The reason for this was simply that only experts of that caliber could fulfill the role of protecting the Shadow.

Otherwise, if they encountered a powerful enemy, would the Shadow have to protect them instead?

The utility of Hyuga Hane's Byakugan was significant enough to compensate for any lack of raw strength, and given the need to appease the Hyuga Clan, the advisors and the Third would surely agree to his appointment as a guard.

But as for the others... if their strength was insufficient, it would likely be a problem.

Yet, when Minato carefully considered his own combat style, he truly felt that putting powerhouses into his Shadow Guard would be a complete waste.

"As my guards, there is no point if they cannot keep up with me in battle."

Thinking this, Minato had an idea.

"Eh, the Jonin examination?"

At the Ichiraku Ramen stand, Hyuga Miyuki waited for her ramen to be served, looking surprised. "Hane-kun, are you going to officially become a Jonin?"

"Yes," Hyuga Hane, sitting beside her, nodded. "I feel I am ready."

"Is that so? That's wonderful."

Hyuga Miyuki's face carried a hint of envy.

If not for that scroll, how long would it have taken her to possess the strength of a Jonin?

She did not know, but it certainly would not have been fast.

"Then today, it's not just about saying thank you; I also want to wish you success in passing the examination."

Hyuga Miyuki realized what she had said and looked at the owner of Ichiraku with some embarrassment.

Although Ichiraku Ramen was delicious, would it be a bit strange to use it for a celebration?

"It's fine." As Hyuga Miyuki struggled with her thoughts, Hyuga Hane said, "I quite like Ichiraku Ramen myself."

This was a shop personally advertised and highly rated by Naruto; he had already tasted it long ago.

The flavor was indeed excellent.

"Mm."

At this moment, the ramen was ready. Hyuga Miyuki took her portion and nodded gently.

Forget it, she would prepare a proper gift later and wait until Hane passed the assessment.

In any case... there was nothing she could do for now, and she certainly wouldn't defect.

As expected, some of her clansmen had indeed been targeted by the Main Branch.

Although she had avoided surveillance thanks to Hyuga Hane's timely warning, she had also lost the opportunity to take action.

The Fourth Hokage, the Flying Thunder God technique... a troublesome figure.

She did not fear death, but she could not die right now.

As the only person in the Branch Family currently unafraid of the Caged Bird, if she were to die after wiping out the Main Branch, the Branch Family would lose its insurance.

After all, the Third Hokage, Tsunade, and others also possessed control over the Caged Bird seal.

Until the Caged Bird was removed from the Branch Family, she could not trust these people.

With a heavy heart, Hyuga Miyuki turned her grief and indignation into appetite, rapidly polishing off the food before her.

Hyuga Hane watched as the empty bowls piled up in front of Hyuga Miyuki, then looked at the three bowls in front of himself, falling into deep thought.

Does the appetite increase after the Byakugan evolves? That seems impossible, and my own appetite is the same as before.

So, is it innate?

When we went on missions together, we only ate Military Ration Pills, so I hadn't noticed this.

Noticing Hyuga Hane's strange gaze, Hyuga Miyuki paused, her face flushing slightly.

"My father and I both have large appetites; I suppose I inherited it from my grandfather."

"My appetite is actually fine, but my cousin... her appetite is even larger than mine."

Mentioning her cousin, Hyuga Miyuki's expression gradually returned to calm, as if she did not want to say more.

Hyuga Hane considerately refrained from asking, but he already had the answer in his heart.

Her cousin was likely from the Main Branch.

If two children were born to a generation of the Hyuga Clan's Main Branch, one would be branded with the Caged Bird and become a member of the Branch Family.

This was to limit the number of people in the Main Branch.

The other would remain in the Main Branch, and their talent was usually higher.

According to Hyuga Miyuki's account, her lineage had become the Branch Family, while her cousin's lineage was the Main Branch.

However, a Main Branch member who could eat more than Hyuga Miyuki and was close to her in age... it was easy to make the connection.

Thinking this, Hyuga Hane smiled: "To be able to eat is a blessing. It means your physical energy is naturally stronger than an ordinary person's, and your chakra reserves won't be low. For a ninja, that is a very fortunate thing."

Chakra is synthesized from physical energy and spiritual energy in a specific ratio.

If physical energy is strong and spiritual energy can keep up, the amount of chakra will not be low.

Hyuga Miyuki was stunned, then smiled with some surprise: "Hane's way of thinking is truly unique. Most people would find it strange, wouldn't they? A girl eating so much..."

"It's only ten bowls."

Hyuga Hane's gaze drifted to the stack of bowls on the table, "I've seen people who eat more."

"Is it someone from the Akimichi Clan?" Hyuga Miyuki asked, puzzled.

"No." Hyuga Hane shook his head and stood up, walking toward the shop exit, "It's your cousin's daughter."

"..."

Miyuki speechlessly put down the money and followed him in a few strides, "She isn't even married yet, where would she get a daughter?"

Hyuga Hane: "You didn't refute that her daughter would be able to eat more than you."

"I realized that long ago from her appetite. Her lineage has always been like that; their appetites are astonishing. Aside from their figures, they look more like Akimichi than the Akimichi themselves."

Hyuga Miyuki's gaze shifted downward, landing on her own feet, and she couldn't help but murmur: "However, it is truly enviable."

Hyuga Hane's footsteps faltered, but he quickly continued walking with a calm expression, pretending he hadn't heard.

Enviable for what?

If Hinata's mother was like Hinata, then it would indeed be enviable... but you don't seem to be much different yourself.