"Is that child, Gen, all right? I heard he was injured by someone from the Uchiha Clan."
After the regular meeting ended, Hyuga Hiashi immediately asked.
"He's fine. He only suffered some minor injuries. But the Uchiha really went too far. A grown man actually beat up a child."
Hyuga Kamen was indignant.
"Have you found out what happened?"
Hyuga Kamen then recounted the entire incident to Hyuga Hiashi.
"The Uchiha have gone too far. Clan Head, we have to make them answer for this. The Hyuga Clan won't let others walk all over us."
After hearing Kamen's account, one of the others couldn't help speaking up.
"According to you, in the end, it was also an Uchiha who stopped them and took Gen to the hospital?"
"Yes. Fugaku's eldest son happened to pass by, saw what was happening, and told the Uchiha to stop. He was also the one who took Gen to the hospital."
Hyuga Kamen was still grateful to Uchiha Itachi.
"I see. Fugaku has certainly raised a fine son."
Hyuga Hiashi seemed a little envious.
"That's right. I've heard his eldest son, Itachi, is outstanding at school. He ranks first in his year in every subject. Some say his talent rivals, or even surpasses, Uchiha Shisui's."
Hyuga Kamen went on to praise Uchiha Itachi at length. It was clear he was doing his best to get justice for his grandson.
"Is that so?"
Hyuga Hiashi furrowed his brow. The Hyuga Clan was short on talent, while the Uchiha Clan produced one genius after another. He couldn't help worrying about the Hyuga Clan's future.
Seeing Hyuga Hiashi's expression, Hyuga Kamen knew his efforts were paying off. The matter was already eight-tenths settled.
"All right, I understand. Let's end the meeting here for today."
After thinking for a while, Hyuga Hiashi adjourned the meeting.
Not long afterward, Hyuga Hiashi went to the Hokage's office. No one knew exactly what they discussed.
All that was known was that from then on, people who collected protection money were almost never seen, and the Uchiha who had beaten Gen received the punishment they deserved.
Time flew by, and summer vacation was drawing to a close.
In the small courtyard, an old man and a boy sparred. The boy did most of the training, while the old man served as an intelligent wooden training dummy.
"That was a good move, but you could make it sharper."
Though Hyuga Kamen said that, he was growing more and more astonished.
When he had first started helping Hyuga Gen practice the Gentle Fist, he hadn't thought much of it. But not even two months later, he was already struggling to keep up.
Am I getting old?
Hyuga Kamen was lost in thought. He hadn't expected Hyuga Gen to notice an opening and attack at once.
"Not good!"
In that instant, Hyuga Kamen instinctively released his chakra. Naturally, Hyuga Gen missed and struck empty air.
"Old man, that's cheating! We agreed you'd only use techniques."
Hyuga Gen grumbled in displeasure.
"Whew. Who are you calling an old man? Show some respect. Besides, if you said that to an enemy, do you think they'd agree not to use chakra? There are no rules in war. Learn that, kid."
With that, he sauntered off and went over to Hyuga Hui to have some tea.
Forget it. Hyuga Gen decided not to press the matter. He couldn't exactly embarrass the old man, who was, after all, his grandfather in name.
Hyuga Hui watched the grandfather and grandson with a smile. She found them amusing. When Hyuga Gen came over, she handed him a cup of freshly brewed tea.
"Thanks, Aunt Hui."
Hyuga Gen respected Hyuga Hui. His grandmother had died early, before he was born, so he had never met her. Hyuga Hui had essentially taken on the role of his grandmother.
Sometimes, Hyuga Gen envied Hyuga Kamen. Having such a young, gentle, beautiful woman wait on an old man like him was a complete waste.
That said, the Hyuga Clan really did have strong genes. Almost none of them were unattractive, and their skin was all very fair. The women looked especially young and beautiful, while the men were harder to describe.
It wasn't that they were unattractive. It was just that, with their Byakugan and their naturally stern, rigid demeanor, they always looked expressionless and a little old.
An old bull eating young grass. You're nearly twenty, and she's barely been born. How could you bring yourself to do that?
Hyuga Gen silently looked down on Hyuga Kamen, feeling envious.
"Were you just badmouthing me, kid?"
Hyuga Kamen seemed to sense something and eyed his grandson suspiciously.
"No, absolutely not."
How did he get that right? Hyuga Gen looked at Hyuga Kamen guiltily.
To change the subject, Hyuga Gen quickly asked a few questions about the Gentle Fist. When Hyuga Natsu came looking for him, he left with her.
"Gen has changed so much. I can barely recognize him anymore, but it's a good thing."
Hyuga Hui smiled as she watched the young couple walk away. It wasn't the first time she had said this.
"That's right!"
Hyuga Kamen echoed her with a sigh.
"You've changed a little, too."
"Me? How have I changed?"
Kamen asked in confusion. Hyuga Hui only gave him a gentle smile and didn't answer.
"Changed, huh? Maybe that's a good thing."
Hyuga Kamen seemed to remember something and murmured to himself.
Hyuga Natsu and Hyuga Gen arrived together at the riverbank. The surroundings were lovely, with clear water in the river and fresh air.
Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Konoha undoubtedly had the most advantageous location. It lay in hilly country, with trees and vegetation growing thick and lush.
Compared with Konoha, the other great villages had less favorable terrain. Sunagakure was blanketed in yellow sand, Kumogakure was surrounded by towering mountains, Kirigakure was shrouded in thick fog, and Iwagakure was rugged with jagged rocks.
Thanks to its favorable geography, the Land of Fire was the wealthiest and most powerful nation.
Of course, that was because the Uchiha Clan hadn't been wiped out yet. The Land of Fire's status as the strongest was beyond question, but after the Uchiha Clan Massacre, that was much harder to say.
Hyuga Gen didn't want to say anything about the Uchiha Clan. He didn't particularly care whether they would be wiped out, either. The only one he cared about was Uchiha Izumi.
"Big Brother Gen, you said you'd teach me something new today. What is it?" Hyuga Natsu asked curiously.
"Natsu, do you remember that you've already awakened your Byakugan?"
"I awakened my Byakugan? No way. Mom said most people don't awaken theirs until they're around twelve."
Hyuga Natsu looked puzzled.
Just as he'd thought, she hadn't noticed. Last time, she had awakened her Byakugan for an instant out of anger. Even though it had lasted only a moment, Hyuga Gen had seen it clearly.
Thinking it over, Hyuga Gen decided against teaching her how to awaken her Byakugan. Using it for the first time consumed quite a bit of chakra. Natsu could just barely manage it now, but it was better to let things take their natural course instead of rushing.
"Uh, your aunt is right. Today, I'll teach you how to use the Gentle Fist."
"Haven't I learned that already?"
Hyuga Natsu blinked her big eyes at Hyuga Gen.
"Today's lesson is different. I'll teach you a special technique."
Hyuga Gen looked perfectly calm.
"Watch closely."
With that, Hyuga Gen assumed the opening stance of Taijiquan. After all, when it came to overcoming hardness with softness, how could he leave out Taijiquan?
And so, by the river, the boy taught with great care while the girl learned just as earnestly.
"Oh, right, Big Brother Gen. I almost forgot to tell you something. Zhihui and the others want to thank you in person. They hope you'll have time to visit their home sometime in the next few days," Hyuga Natsu suddenly said.
"Zhihui?"
"Mm, the classmate I told you about last time. Zhihui's been asking for ages. She begged me to make sure you'd visit their home. You're not going to turn her down, are you?"
As she spoke, Hyuga Natsu grabbed Hyuga Gen's arm with both hands, ready to launch her attack.
Seeing her like that, Hyuga Gen could only nod helplessly.
Before you continue