The Meeting

Under everyone's Byakugan-stare, it would have been a lie to say Hyuga Shinichi felt no pressure. In the end, he couldn't take it anymore and spoke up.

"Um, Clan Head, Elders, are you interested in the Taiji Fist I developed?"

Hyuga Shinichi shamelessly claimed the Taiji Fist, with its long history and culture from his previous life, as his own creation.

No one questioned the truth of what he said. After all, this world had no such martial art, and it bore a striking resemblance to the Gentle Fist. They could only conclude that Hyuga Shinichi was highly perceptive and had come up with another style of fist on his own.

"Oh, it's called the Taiji Fist? That's a nice name. It suits the concept of taiji."

An Elder offered his thoughts. When members of the Hyuga Clan used the Gentle Fist, a taiji diagram of the eight trigrams appeared beneath their feet. As for the taiji in the middle, they could only assume it represented the Yin-Yang Release of this world.

"If the Clan Head and the Elders want the Taiji Fist, I have no problem with that. It's an honor to contribute to the clan."

After speaking, he considered the characteristics of the Taiji Fist and recalled the expressions on the faces of the Hyuga clansmen who had watched him earlier. He had figured it out: the effect of combining the Taiji Fist with the Byakugan and chakra was unimaginable. He also began to ponder how he could get something out of the clan.

"Very good. You're so young, yet you already know you should contribute to the clan. You deserve a reward. Tell me, what would you like?"

Hyuga Nimitsu, seated at the head of the table, and the Elders all wore expressions that said, "You've got a good head on your shoulders, kid." Hyuga Shinichi stopped pretending and told them what he wanted.

"Thank you, Clan Head. It's only right for me to do this. But if you insist on rewarding me, I can't very well refuse. Just give me some Chakra Metal."

Everyone in the meeting room nearly fell out of their chairs at Hyuga Shinichi's words. How could a kid be so shameless as to say something like that?

First he'd said he was doing it for the clan and that it was only right. Then he'd immediately changed his tune and said, "If you insist on rewarding me, I can't very well refuse."

Of course, they hadn't intended to deny Hyuga Shinichi a reward. The important thing was that he wanted Chakra Metal—and said "just give me some," as if it were worthless, while wearing an expression that suggested he was barely willing to accept it.

Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga, standing off to the side, naturally knew their younger cousin well. They exchanged a glance, then could only laugh and rub their foreheads in exasperation.

Hyuga Nimitsu was the first to recover. He had a rough idea of what Hyuga Shinichi wanted the Chakra Metal for, but still asked, "What do you want Chakra Metal for?"

Hyuga Shinichi thought it over, then decided to tell the truth.

"Clan Head, you should have seen me practicing with a sword just now. I want to use the Chakra Metal to make one."

"Mm, I saw. But I think your skill with the fist is greater than your swordsmanship. That sword technique you just used was derived from the Taiji Fist you developed, wasn't it?"

The older, the wiser. Rather than asking why I wanted a sword, he'd compared my skill with the fist to my swordsmanship, as if he wanted me to recognize my own limits.

While watching, they had seen that the Taiji Fist and the Taiji Sword had much in common. In their minds, Hyuga Shinichi had first learned the Taiji Fist through insights gained from the Gentle Fist, then developed the Taiji Sword afterward. They all thought he was more skilled with the fist than with the sword.

Hyuga Shinichi didn't know how to explain. As for the Wind-Riding Sword Technique, he hadn't even managed to develop Windflow Coating properly. For now, he could only coat the blade for a short time before he ran out of stamina.

Even if he brought up the talent he'd shown while practicing swordsmanship at Nawaki's house, that clearly wouldn't convince them. The Hyuga Clan was extremely conservative; its members all used the Gentle Fist. They couldn't let him be the exception and break with the clan's traditions.

He couldn't help thinking that he'd messed things up. What was he supposed to do now?

Standing off to the side, Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga also sensed that the mood had changed. They both worried for Hyuga Shinichi.

Seeing that Hyuga Shinichi had no answer, Hyuga Nimitsu looked toward the Elders. They lowered their heads and pondered for a while before looking up and nodding to him. Hyuga Nimitsu breathed a sigh of relief.

Hyuga Shinichi clearly had his own ideas, and Hyuga Nimitsu didn't want to be the Clan Head who stifled a clan genius. At last, he turned to the Branch House head, who had sat quietly beside them without saying a word throughout the conversation.

He sighed inwardly. The Branch House head was his twin younger brother, Hyuga Nikku. Just because he had been born first, he had become part of the Main House, while his younger brother had become part of the Branch House, forced to serve the Main House all his life. And yet his younger brother was far more talented than he was.

As an older brother, he could sense his younger brother's resentment toward the clan system, but his brother had never resented him. He was still the same familiar younger brother. Now his own two sons had become just like him and his younger brother had been back then. He sighed inwardly again.

"I approve. I don't know what you're thinking, but the clan will support you. Do what you want. I'll have someone prepare the Chakra Metal and deliver it tomorrow."

When Hyuga Shinichi heard Hyuga Nimitsu's words, he didn't understand at first. He looked around at everyone present. When they all nodded to him, he still could hardly believe the clan had agreed to let him focus on swordsmanship.

"Thank you, Clan Head and Elders, for believing in me."

After spending the whole day teaching them every move and principle of the Taiji Fist, everyone in the meeting room left.

Hyuga Shinichi went back to sit beside the lake near the training ground. Even now, it all felt unreal. The clan had acknowledged him, and he'd obtained the Chakra Metal he'd been longing for.

Suddenly, someone appeared, snapping Hyuga Shinichi out of his daze. He recognized the visitor and immediately stood up, greeting him respectfully.

"Greetings, Clan Head."

It was the Branch House head, Hyuga Nikku. He gave a brief nod and looked out at the lake, too. After a long while, he finally spoke.

"Hyuga Shinichi, you earned the clan's approval this time because you belong to the Main House and because of your exceptional talent. Don't waste this opportunity. Do what you want, and don't leave yourself with regrets."

Hyuga Nikku gazed at the moon's reflection on the lake, his eyes full of yearning. The look quickly faded, and his expression returned to normal. He turned to Hyuga Shinichi, gently patted him on the head, then started to leave.

Hyuga Shinichi watched his figure grow more distant, slowly swallowed by the night. He remembered the despondent look on Hyuga Nikku's face as he stared at the moon's reflection.

Wasn't Hyuga Shinichi himself just a fleeting illusion to Hyuga Nikku? From the moment he was born, he had been part of the Branch House and destined to serve the Main House. No matter how hard he worked, how talented he was, or how capable he became, he would still be a member of the Branch House.

"I will, Clan Head! I'll keep working hard so I won't have any regrets. When the time comes, I'll try to help the clan..."

Hyuga Shinichi shouted, and saw Hyuga Nikku turn back to look at him.

The usually stern, wooden expression softened into a gentle smile. He shook his head at Hyuga Shinichi, telling him not to say anything more, then turned and continued into the pitch-black night.

Hyuga Shinichi stood silently by the brightly lit lake.