Hyuga Ginka and Hyuga Natsu

"If any Uchiha dares to give me trouble, I'll show him who the strongest clan in the Leaf really is!"

Hyuga Tetsu blurted out in a fit of passion.

He normally would never have said something like that. But when he caught sight of Uchiha Shimizu's handsome face in the distance, resentment welled up inside him, and he didn't want to look weak in front of the girl he liked.

Young love was simple like that. Boys liked to show off their strength through irrational behavior.

"Stop it. What if Shimizu hears you?"

Hyuga Natsu jumped in fright.

She had no idea what had gotten into Hyuga Tetsu. He'd suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, as if he didn't care whether Uchiha Shimizu heard him.

"So what if he does? Xia, you have to trust my strength. I know Shimizu's grades at school. I just haven't shown what I can really do."

"Oh, really?"

As Hyuga Natsu and Hyuga Tetsu were talking, the person they'd been discussing had appeared behind them without their noticing.

"The Uchiha are a naturally evil clan?"

Shimizu asked with interest.

That saying likely originated with the Second, Tobirama Senju, and it had spread widely throughout the Hidden Leaf Village.

"We're from the Hyuga Clan. Don't try to maliciously stir up conflict between our clans."

Hyuga Tetsu's pupils contracted slightly. Uchiha Shimizu was too fast.

He'd moved so quickly that neither Tetsu nor Natsu had noticed him standing behind them.

"Shimizu, Tetsu didn't mean it."

Hyuga Natsu's eyes were pale, and her short green hair fluttered behind her neck in the breeze. She wore the clothes of a servant.

Shimizu glanced at Hyuga Natsu.

In the original story, Hyuga Tetsu and Hyuga Natsu were both bit characters with few appearances.

In the future, Hyuga Natsu would be the second daughter of the Hyuga Clan and Hanabi Hyuga's servant. She belonged to the Branch Family.

Hyuga Tetsu would later become a teammate of Mitaraishi Anko's. He had average talent and graduated late, which was why they ended up together.

Shimizu knew a little more about Natsu. Tetsu was in the class next door, while Natsu was in his class.

"He told me not to maliciously stir up conflict between our clans. That's rich, coming from him."

Shimizu spoke coolly.

He'd lived in this world for years. He'd been part of the Uchiha Clan since he was still an infant in his mother's womb.

People weren't made of wood or stone; how could they be without feelings? Over the years, he'd developed some affection for the Uchiha.

His parents had died when he was only a few months old. Without anyone to care for him, he would've been speedrunning the world of Naruto by dying of hunger or cold.

Uchiha Hazuki had taken good care of him, but he'd heard that she had married. On top of that, Shimizu had been busy figuring out how to train, so they'd kept in touch far less over the past couple of years.

"The Uchiha Clan's reputation is not for others to question. If I hear you say that again, things won't end so peacefully."

Shimizu turned to leave.

"I'm sorry for the trouble, Shimizu. Tetsu and I will visit you another day."

Perhaps because she'd spent so long as a member of the Branch Family and a servant to the Main Family, Hyuga Natsu spoke with great deference and caution.

"Xia, why are you bothering with him?"

Seeing Natsu act so meekly, Hyuga Tetsu felt a nameless fury flare up inside him.

He and Xia were both members of the Branch Family and had grown up together.

In the clan, the Main Family members summoned them and sent them away as they pleased. Now, even outside the clan, they were still acting so meekly.

Did that mean they'd always be lowly members of the Branch Family, no matter where they went?

"Uchiha Shimizu, I know you're strong. If you've got the guts, fight me one-on-one. This has nothing to do with Xia. I'm the one who ran his mouth and caused all this."

Hyuga Tetsu called after Shimizu.

If he could beat Shimizu, who had such good grades at the Ninja Academy, then Xia and even the Main Family would see him in a new light.

"Fine by me."

Shimizu nodded and stopped.

Since Hyuga Tetsu was as stubborn as his name suggested, Shimizu would teach him a lesson.

It was also a good chance to test his training and see how much he'd improved.

Tetsu was just an average student. Even before Shimizu had gotten the Simulator, he'd been one of the better students in his class. Beating Tetsu should be easy.

The two agreed to meet in a small alley.

Shimizu looked at the alley. The last time he'd been here, he'd fought Kurenai Yuhi one-on-one.

Lately, he'd been going out of his way to avoid Kurenai so he wouldn't upset her and ruin his lifelong reputation.

"Byakugan!"

The veins around Hyuga Tetsu's eyes bulged as he activated the Kekkei Genkai unique to the Hyuga Clan: the Byakugan.

"Gentle Fist!"

Hyuga Tetsu's figure flashed as he struck at Shimizu with his palm.

"Just Gentle Fist?"

Shimizu dodged the attack with a quick sidestep.

Eight Trigrams Palm would've been more troublesome, but Tetsu was using only the most basic form of Gentle Fist.

In the Hyuga Clan, members of the Branch Family were barred from learning many of the clan's signature taijutsu techniques.

For example, the Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and Rotation were taught only to the Hyuga Main Family.

During the Chunin Ninja Exams, when Neji used a technique reserved for the Main Family, Hyuga Hiashi had exclaimed that it was impossible. He marveled at Neji's terrifying talent and suspected that Neji carried the blood of Tenin Hyuga.

A technique like that had to be either self-taught by a genius like Neji or learned through formal instruction, as in Hinata's case. No matter how poor her aptitude, as long as she was part of the Main Family, she'd be taught the techniques in due course.

Hyuga Tetsu had average talent and wasn't part of the Main Family, so all he could use was ordinary Gentle Fist.

"Ha!"

When his Gentle Fist struck empty air, Hyuga Tetsu spun around and watched the muscles in Uchiha Shimizu's body for signs of movement, aiming for a weak point.

Bam!

When the smoke cleared, all Hyuga Tetsu had hit was a piece of wood.

"You're already this good at the Substitution Technique?"

Hyuga Tetsu broke out in a cold sweat. There was no exaggeration in Uchiha Shimizu's grades.

He was more than capable of graduating early, while Tetsu still hadn't mastered the Three Basic Techniques. Shimizu was already able to use them in actual combat.

"Give up."

Shimizu stood behind Hyuga Tetsu, the kunai in his hand a mere centimeter from Tetsu's neck.

"Tetsu!"

As a fellow clan member, Hyuga Natsu couldn't possibly miss the one-on-one fight between Hyuga Tetsu and Uchiha Shimizu. She'd been watching quietly from the side the whole time.

Seeing Tetsu lose, she called out in worry.

"I..."

Hyuga Tetsu's eyes were practically bulging. Shimizu could even see the blood vessels surrounding his Byakugan.

"Give up."

In the end, Hyuga Tetsu admitted his defeat, unwilling as he was.

"Looks like the Uchiha really are the strongest clan in the Leaf. Isn't that right, Hyuga Tetsu?"

Shimizu put away his kunai.

"I'm truly sorry, Shimizu."

Hyuga Natsu stepped forward and bowed in apology.

Shimizu waved a hand and said nothing more. He left with his Military Ration Pills.

It was still early. He had to go back and continue training.

Once Uchiha Shimizu had disappeared into the distance, Hyuga Natsu spoke cautiously.

"Tetsu, let's go back."

Hyuga Tetsu said nothing. He straightened his disheveled clothes and left.

Hyuga Natsu pressed her lips together, somewhat displeased.

She'd humbled herself so much for Tetsu, and he still wore that sour expression.

If Tetsu hadn't inexplicably said those provocative things, none of this would've happened.

The two returned to the Hyuga Clan compound in an awkward silence.

"Xia, are you saying Hyuga Tetsu got into a fight with the Uchiha?"

"Yes, Lady Sister."

Hyuga Natsu knelt and lowered her head deeply.

The Main Family mistress she served had a strong need for control. Natsu had to report her whereabouts every day.

Smack!

Hyuga Ginka slapped Hyuga Natsu across the face.

The Hyuga Clan could send chakra into another person's body, so their slaps rang out louder than anyone else's.