The Hyuga Brothers

After two more months of training, Nichigetsu felt his current strength had likely reached the level of a genin. However, having never compared himself to others, he needed to find someone to test his abilities against.

"Once Sister Mitsuki returns, it'll be time to start the next phase of training," Nichigetsu muttered to himself. He walked into the kitchen, only to search for a long time without finding anything to eat.

"Huh? Are there not even any instant noodles left?" Nichigetsu scanned the empty pantry and refrigerator, then looked up at the calendar.

"Fine, I might as well go out and collect this month's living expenses. It's not great to keep having them delivered, anyway." Nichigetsu tidied himself up, stepped out of the residence, and headed down the street toward the Hokage's office building.

"Little one, here is your living allowance for this month." The staff member handed Nichigetsu an envelope filled with money.

"Thank you, I'll be going now." Nichigetsu tucked the envelope away, greeted the staff member with a smile, and turned to walk out the door.

A civilian nearby watched Nichigetsu's retreating back and shook his head, saying, "Poor child, having to collect a pension at such a young age. He must be the only one left in his family, right? Damn this war..."

"Is that the Hyuga branch family's cursed seal on his forehead? To be branded with such an ugly mark so young—it will follow him for the rest of his life." At that, everyone cast looks of pity his way.

Nichigetsu heard them, of course. He smiled helplessly, thinking, As expected, I'm collecting my father's pension. If the original Nichigetsu knew his father had passed away, he would surely be heartbroken. As for the Caged Bird seal, I'll just treat it like an ugly green tattoo on my forehead. As a modern person, I've seen plenty of things—mainstream, non-mainstream, whatever—that have a much greater visual impact than this seal.

"I might as well buy some food on the way back." Nichigetsu headed toward the market...

Half an hour later, Nichigetsu walked back with several large bags in one hand and a skewer of dango in the other, chewing away with gusto. With a look of pure enjoyment, he praised, "Mmm! This dango tastes pretty good. No wonder Anko and Itachi like it so much."

Nichigetsu finished the last of the dango in one bite and said while chewing, "Though, Kung Pao Chicken and Fish-Fragrant Eggplant are still more to my taste. Good heavens, why not let me transmigrate into 'Chuuka Ichiban!' for a change?" Naturally, the heavens ignored his eccentric request once again.

Just then, a voice came from behind him.

"Yo! Who do I see? If it isn't that loser, Hyuga Nichigetsu."

Several people stepped forward to block his path, surrounding him with malicious intent. Nichigetsu frowned; his good mood vanished instantly.

"Hasn't this loser been taught enough of a lesson yet? He actually dares to walk the streets!"

"Exactly! When he sees us, he should tuck his tail and roll away!"

"My hands have been itching for a fight lately!"

"Hahahaha..."

Hyuga Nisshin stood before Nichigetsu with his lackeys, his mocking laughter continuous. At twelve years old, Nisshin was more than a head taller than four-year-old Nichigetsu. Nichigetsu glanced at him indifferently. Nisshin was thin, his face appearing somewhat gaunt, and he wore a sinister, cunning smirk. Setting aside the original Nichigetsu, even Zhao Ming, the transmigrator, felt deep disgust upon seeing such a person. The memories of fear and resentment held by the original Nichigetsu made him feel quite uncomfortable, as if he himself truly loathed the person before him. However, the current Nichigetsu was no longer afraid.

This Nisshin is truly a small-time character; he'll never amount to anything more than this in his life. Sigh, am I stuck in some kind of Naruto-style setting? Having a super-taunt-inducing face in my childhood, getting bullied just for walking down the street. Nichigetsu thought, feeling utterly speechless.

"Nichigetsu, I heard you were bedridden for over a month. Did you become a vegetable from lying down so long? Didn't I tell you last time that you weren't allowed to walk on these streets? Did you forget, you idiot?" Nisshin looked at Nichigetsu with disgust and continued his provocation.

"Nisshin, if there's nothing else, can you let me pass?" Nichigetsu looked at him expressionlessly, ignoring the taunts and showing not a shred of fear.

"Sure!" Nisshin's mouth curled upward. He lifted a leg, stepped onto a wooden crate nearby, and pointed to his crotch. "As long as you crawl through here! And remember, from now on, you're only allowed to crawl when you're on the street!"

"Crawl through! Go on, crawl!" the lackeys egged him on.

Crawl through your sister. Is this supposed to be the 'Humiliation of Han Xin's Crotch'? I'm not playing along with that, Nichigetsu cursed internally, turning around to leave without a word.

"Stop right there, brat! Don't run!" The lackeys rushed forward. Nichigetsu watched them with the same blank expression, looking completely unbothered, as if they were insignificant existences. Nisshin was infuriated by the look in Nichigetsu's eyes.

"Beat him! Beat him until he begs for mercy!" Nisshin punched Nichigetsu hard in the face. Nichigetsu hugged his bags and fell to the ground as the group swarmed him, raining down punches and kicks.

Sigh, if you can't bear small burdens, you'll ruin great plans. I'll just treat this as practicing basic chakra defense. Sooner or later, I'll get this back! Nichigetsu suppressed the urge to fight back.

He remembered how Rock Lee and Tenten were blocked at the classroom door by a chunin disguised as an examinee during the Chunin Exams. They looked battered, but they weren't actually injured. This was the method of gathering chakra on the surface of the body to defend against strikes. It was somewhat like the "internal energy protection" in martial arts novels; while it couldn't stop sharp weapons like kunai, it was quite effective against punches, kicks, and blunt objects. Nichigetsu did the same, using chakra to protect the areas being struck. He looked covered in dust, but he hadn't even scraped his skin.

It seems this Nisshin is still a rookie. Is this the level of the main family? At twelve years old, is this all the strength he has? Brother Hiashi, your rival for the head of the house is truly pathetic. Nichigetsu endured the beating while gauging the force of Nisshin's blows.

Seeing that Nichigetsu hadn't made a sound, Nisshin became even more enraged.

"Trash! It seems you didn't learn your lesson last time! Let me give you another taste of the cursed seal's power. A branch family dog should know its place!" Nisshin held one hand in a sword-finger gesture, pointing toward the sky in front of his chest, preparing to activate the Caged Bird seal on Nichigetsu's forehead. A sharp glint flashed in Nichigetsu's eyes. His right hand, hidden beneath the paper bag, had already quietly retrieved six iron shuriken. If Nisshin dared to move, he would take down all six of them in the next second.

"Stop! Nisshin, what do you think you're doing?!" At that moment, a voice reached everyone on the scene. Before the words had faded, a figure had already rushed out and grabbed Nisshin's raised hand. Simultaneously, another figure dashed over, "Slap! Slap!" blocking the kicks and punches to shield Nichigetsu, then helping him up and brushing the dust off his clothes.

The newcomer said coldly to Nisshin, "Nisshin, remember that you are a candidate for the head of the house! Don't disgrace the main family!"

Such speed. Nichigetsu was startled and silently tucked the shuriken away. It seemed someone was standing up for him, so he wouldn't need to expose his strength. Nichigetsu focused on the two men's faces—they looked so familiar. They were twins, looking about fifteen or sixteen, with handsome features, ninja headbands, long black hair, and white kimonos. Their white eyes were fixed coldly on Nisshin.

Neji? No, that's not right... Nichigetsu immediately realized their identities and revealed a subtle, imperceptible smile.

"Hyuga Hiashi, Hyuga Hizashi, what are you two doing here?" Hyuga Nisshin looked at the two who had suddenly intervened, feeling both furious and wary, not daring to act rashly.

The ones who had stopped Nisshin were indeed the brothers Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi; they were twins and looked almost identical.

"Nisshin! Nichigetsu is our younger brother. As a member of the Hyuga main family, how can you bully your own clansman so casually!" Hizashi said indignantly.

"Hmph, this branch family brat was disrespectful to me. Doesn't he deserve to be punished?"

"Nichigetsu is only four years old, and you are twelve! Would he even be able to bully you?! Even if he was disrespectful, couldn't you show some restraint? Nisshin! You know exactly what you were about to do to Nichigetsu! The conflicts of the previous generation are their own business; don't use these low-life tactics on your four-year-old brother!" Hiashi also said sternly, his eyes filled with anger.

"Hmph! Hyuga Hiashi, don't keep lecturing me with that 'older brother' attitude. You aren't the head of the house yet! Let's go!" Nisshin shook off Hiashi's hand and turned to leave with his lackeys.

As Hyuga Nisshin walked away, he clenched his fists and thought to himself, Damn it! Once I become the head of the Hyuga clan, I will be the only main family member, and I'll put the Caged Bird seal on both of you brothers. Hmph! Just you wait!

Watching Nisshin leave, Hiashi and Hizashi turned to look at Nichigetsu, who was also sizing them up. Hizashi patted Nichigetsu's head warmly and asked with concern, "Are you alright, Nichigetsu?"

So this is Neji's father? He really is a peaceful and sentimental man. And this one is Hinata's father? He looks quite rigid and serious; Hinata is going to have a hard time. Nichigetsu mused internally. Although they were twins, their temperaments were quite different; Hiashi was more serious and rarely smiled, while Hizashi was more peaceful and wore a warm smile.

Hizashi and Hiashi were also observing Nichigetsu. They found this little brother quite strange—he didn't cry or make a fuss, just looked at them with great calm. Was he frightened out of his wits? Nichigetsu didn't know what the brothers were thinking and continued to secretly study them.

After a moment, Nichigetsu shook his head and replied, "I'm fine, thank you, Brother Hiashi, Brother Hizashi."

Hizashi looked at Nichigetsu, nodded, and carefully checked him for injuries. Indeed, he was fine, save for a few scrapes, and the dust on his clothes hid any internal injuries. He smiled and said, "Nichigetsu, we're sorry. The main family will certainly discipline Nisshin properly. Let us walk you home."

"Mmm!" Rixin nodded, thinking to himself, Discipline? It's nothing more than a symbolic punishment. In the end, all the resentment that fool Rixin suffers will just be vented on me. Sigh, is this what it feels like to be treated as an ant? Would a human ever care about the suffering of an ant? Humans never believe they've done anything wrong; the only ones at fault could only be the ants.

However, who is truly the ant remains to be seen! After all, an ant might fancy itself a human, and a human wouldn't care what an ant thinks. Sooner or later, I will reclaim all of this! An eye for an eye, twice the repayment! Riyue tightened his grip on the paper bag, relieved that the beating hadn't damaged the items he had bought.

After escorting Riyue home, Hiashi and Hizashi prepared to take their leave. Hizashi took out a small box of ointment and offered it to Riyue. Smiling, Hizashi said, "This is a salve for bruises and injuries; it works very well. Keep it safe, Riyue."

"Mmm. Thank you, Brother Hizashi." Riyue nodded, thinking, The Hyuga family's medicine is incredibly effective. Hinata once gave some to Naruto—should I try to swindle a bit more? With that, Riyue stared longingly at Hiashi, whose skin began to crawl under the boy's intense gaze.

"Brother Hiashi, could you give me some more ointment?" Riyue asked weakly.

"Eh?" Hiashi looked puzzled.

"I'm afraid one box won't be enough for the future," Riyue said with a thick-skinned smile, which only served to tug at the heartstrings of Hiashi and Hizashi.

This child... he was beaten, yet he can still face it so calmly. It clearly wasn't his fault, yet he responds to these malicious acts with a smile? Hiashi couldn't help but sigh. Indeed, facing sorrow with a smile was the most moving thing of all.

That was certainly not what Riyue was thinking. He was merely calculating how to swindle as much medicine as possible while he had the chance, considering it an unexpected perk of being beaten; he was smiling because he felt smug. If the two brothers knew his true thoughts, they would surely be devastated and would certainly demand the medicine back from him.

Hiashi nodded and pulled out a large container of ointment, handing it to Riyue; inside were four smaller boxes. Riyue accepted it with a smile, his heart blooming with joy: This medicine should last me a year or two, haha!