I'd originally planned to make firearms, but in the end, I changed my mind.
With chakra around, bows and arrows were the most practical choice. They were powerful, too, and could even help train one's chakra.
In a few decades, when people in the Land of Artisans developed Scientific Ninja Tools, I could surpass them. There was no need to waste time.
Chakra was the mainstream in this world.
"Your archery is truly amazing, Clan Head!"
The Third Elder came over, still visibly shocked.
He'd been the closest and had seen everything most clearly.
The first three arrows Shinichi Hyuga had fired were powered by nothing but physical strength. That meant any member of the Hyuga Clan could learn to use them.
Combined with their Byakugan, they could strike from a distance and harass their opponents.
Bows and arrows had a much longer range than weapons like Kunai and Shuriken, which relied only on the user's strength.
And Shinichi Hyuga's archery just now, combined with the Byakugan, had formed a style of its own. He already had the bearing of a master.
He had Usopp's template to thank for that. In a short time, he'd adapted it to the Hyuga Clan's strengths and developed a style of archery suited to them.
That was the foundation for establishing a new way of fighting.
In the future, Hyuga Style archery would become as much a signature of the clan as Uchiha Style throwing techniques, instead of mindlessly charging into close combat.
The clan members on the training ground below activated their Byakugan, trying to find the arrow Shinichi Hyuga had sent into the ground.
Just how deep had it gone?
In the end, they were disappointed. Even with their perception extending dozens of meters underground, they couldn't find it.
It was buried too deep for their Byakugan to reach.
"With power and range like that, it's unbelievable. I want to learn!" exclaimed the men of the Hyuga Clan.
"I think the Clan Head's archery stance is so graceful," said some of the women of the Hyuga Clan.
"It might be a little sneaky, but it'll keep you safe."
"Next survival exercise, we won't have to stupidly throw Shuriken! Bows and arrows are a man's romance!"
"..."
Their eyes shone as they eagerly burned with the desire to learn archery.
Shinichi Hyuga had demonstrated the advantages of bows and arrows.
They waited for his next lesson.
"Hmm!"
Shinichi Hyuga furrowed his brow and grunted. Zephyr's Observation Haki activated, sending an invisible ripple outward from his body.
Everyone felt as though they were being watched. The dust on the ground spread outward in waves, covering the entire Hyuga Clan.
He activated his Byakugan, and the veins around his eyes bulged.
His gaze passed through buildings and people, reaching the entrance to the Hyuga Clan compound.
He raised his bow high, pulled seven arrows from behind him, and nocked them.
He infused the arrows with chakra. The bowstring drew taut, then sent them streaking into the sky like meteors.
Seven fiery streaks flew toward the Hyuga Clan's entrance!
Everyone beneath the training platform watched Shinichi Hyuga, unable to understand why he was shooting arrows in that direction.
"Some brats have come knocking!"
Shinichi Hyuga frowned, annoyed. Someone was causing trouble for the Hyuga Clan even now.
"Clan Head? Your arrows—"
The Third Elder had just started to ask where the arrows had gone when Shinichi Hyuga's figure vanished, leaving only a shadow that slowly faded.
Whoosh~
Shinichi Hyuga used his unique Body Flicker Technique to rush toward the entrance.
Almost at the same moment,
Boom!
A thunderous explosion rang in everyone's ears. It had come from the direction Shinichi Hyuga had gone.
The Third Elder's eyes narrowed. Guessing what had happened, he hurried toward the Hyuga Clan's entrance as well.
Below the platform, the younger members of the Hyuga Clan exchanged glances.
Then they followed the elders.
At the entrance to the Hyuga Clan compound.
Haruko Hyuga's eyes were still misty with tears. She'd been crying moments earlier.
Hiashi Hyuga looked flustered.
He'd come across the little girl Haruko Hyuga on the street, surrounded by three children from the Sanada Clan who were calling her a Byakugan monster.
He'd only driven the children away.
Then he'd brought Haruko Hyuga back with him.
He hadn't expected the Sanada Clan's ninja to be waiting outside the Hyuga Clan compound.
The adults had surrounded Hiashi Hyuga and hurled all kinds of insults at him.
Before long, a crowd had gathered at the entrance to the Hyuga Clan's remote compound.
The Sanada Clan members began spreading rumors.
"Shinichi Hyuga got the Daimyo of the Land of Fire involved in Konoha's internal affairs for his own selfish ends, costing the village five hundred million!"
No one knew where they'd gotten that number, but it sounded completely made up.
Yet some people backed them up, claiming the Hokage had confirmed the story.
Only then did Hiashi Hyuga realize these people had come specifically to provoke them.
In the jostling, someone knocked Haruko Hyuga to the ground, making her cry.
That cry was what alerted Shinichi Hyuga that something was wrong.
Just as Hiashi Hyuga was at a loss for what to do,
seven arrows fell from the sky.
They landed in the crowd.
Then they exploded.
A string of desperate screams followed.
Hiashi Hyuga looked again. All the adults had been turned into corpses.
The three children lay sprawled on the ground, their eyes vacant, their bodies covered in blood.
"Hiashi, you really are an idiot. I told you: if anyone threatens our clan members, kill them without mercy!"
Shinichi Hyuga's face was cold as he scolded Hiashi Hyuga.
Those people had dared to act so brazenly because they thought Hiashi Hyuga was weak.
"Clan Head, killing them was going too far." After a long struggle, Hiashi Hyuga actually dared to argue with Shinichi Hyuga.
Shinichi Hyuga ignored him. He went to Haruko Hyuga, picked her up, and carried her inside.
"Too far? That's ridiculous. When the day comes that your child is killed by their words and actions, you won't think it went too far.
"They're children? When I was their age, I was already on the battlefield!
"Go kneel in the Ancestral Hall!"
Shinichi Hyuga narrowed his eyes, the chill radiating from him growing even stronger. Hiashi Hyuga had still been influenced by the twisted Will of Fire.
During the Second Great Ninja War, the Ninja Academy's curriculum had been shortened to two and a half years.
Back then, Shinichi Hyuga had gone to war at the age of eight.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, had betrayed the original ideals of the First and Second.
The two Hokage had founded the village to protect young saplings and keep children from going to war.
Now the Third, in order to protect the village, had children learn simple Ninjutsu and even Taijutsu, turning them into expendable fodder on the battlefield.
The Hokage's Will had long since been twisted.
How could a leader like that deserve to be called great?
Children who killed people might seem innocent, but their guardians—the people who should have disciplined them—could never be innocent.
Hiashi Hyuga was an idiot for sympathizing with them.
Killing without a weapon was the most terrifying thing of all.
Only then did Hiashi Hyuga realize he'd been wrong, though deep down, he was still conflicted.
The Third Elder and Hizashi Hyuga arrived at the entrance.
Without a word, they took Hiashi Hyuga away.
He'd failed to carry out the order to protect the clan, and he'd even dared to argue back.
Not long after, another group arrived at the entrance to the Hyuga Clan compound.
Shinichi Hyuga's actions had been rather dramatic. The explosion had echoed throughout Konoha.
The Uchiha Clan Police Force!
The Anbu, directly under the Hokage!
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