Can the Hyuga Drop Traits?

As a veteran of the Second Shinobi World War, he had a keen instinct for war.

At a time like this, the importance of the Uchiha Clan became even more apparent.

Unlike other shinobi clans, the Uchiha Clan would likely grow stronger the more they fought in war...

After some thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi flipped back to Kiyoshi Uchiha's routine performance evaluation sheet.

Taking out a pen, Hiruzen Sarutobi wrote down the words "priority observation."

Originally, he had wanted to find someone within the Uchiha Clan to serve as a button that could ease relations with the clan.

He planned to have Minato take the person under his wing.

Now, it seemed he could add another candidate.

Kiyoshi Uchiha, who had only recently arrived, would presumably be more receptive to the influence of the Will of Fire than the other Uchiha.

Evening.

Asuma Sarutobi returned home in low spirits.

Whenever he thought about embarrassing himself in front of Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi felt as though the sky had collapsed.

The tough-guy image he had spent so long building was probably completely ruined.

"No, I have to prove myself in front of Kurenai!"

Asuma Sarutobi clenched his fists.

He admitted that his genjutsu was inferior to Kiyoshi's.

He had underestimated Kiyoshi's strength through carelessness. Even without the Sharingan, Kiyoshi's genjutsu was formidable.

Next, he would bring out what he was best at.

Asuma Sarutobi glanced at the fist-blade-shaped ninja tool in his room. It had been forged from half Chakra Metal and half ordinary metal.

He even planned to replace all of it with special Chakra Metal in the future, forging a ninja tool that belonged to him alone.

"Chakra Flow. There's no way I'll lose to you at this."

Asuma Sarutobi thought to himself.

To be safe, he also intended to continue his special training for a while.

When the time came, he would challenge Kiyoshi to a taijutsu duel!

Konoha streets, seven in the evening.

Another autumn rain had fallen last night.

Kiyoshi breathed out a puff of air.

Yesterday had been the final autumn rain. Today marked the arrival of winter.

On both sides of the street, yellowed leaves drifted down in the cold wind.

Some time had passed since he defeated Asuma Sarutobi and obtained a trait.

"I'll take this, and this."

Kiyoshi pointed at the ingredients, and the shop owner immediately packed them for him.

Since he lived alone, Kiyoshi handled everything himself, from buying groceries and cooking to washing clothes and sweeping the floor.

"You're useless. You can't even buy the right dessert."

A scolding voice rang out.

It was accompanied by a crisp slap.

The surrounding passersby turned to look.

Following the sound, Kiyoshi saw Natsu Hyuga, whom he had met once at Training Ground Three.

At that moment, she stood with her head lowered obediently.

Her dark green short hair covered her white eyes, and her body trembled faintly without stopping.

"Yes, Lady Ginka."

Natsu Hyuga respectfully responded to the noblewoman standing before her.

Even beneath her heavy robes, the motion of the noblewoman's raised hand perfectly outlined her graceful figure.

"Bring it back once you buy it. And get a serving of fresh squid sushi too."

Ginka Hyuga gave the order arrogantly.

That sushi restaurant with its unusual flavors had been quite good lately.

Other sushi restaurants simply did not have such new varieties.

When she turned around, the curious bystanders immediately averted their gazes, not daring to meet her eyes.

She was from the main family of the Hyuga Clan.

The Hyuga Clan was one of Konoha's two great Dojutsu clans, and its members had clearly defined statuses.

The main family and the branch family!

There was no need to think about it. The one being beaten was definitely from the branch family.

The passing pedestrians tightened their collars and continued on their way.

This was an internal matter of the Hyuga Clan. It was better to leave quickly.

Kiyoshi, however, continued watching the scene.

"Could the Gentle Fist Technique drop a trait?"

He had long coveted the abilities of the Hyuga Clan.

Take the "Chakra Flow: Fire Release" he had obtained, for example. That ability could be attached to a weapon.

As for attaching it to the body, that was far beyond what Kiyoshi could currently master.

Even jonin could not use it at will. At most, they could only release Chakra from places such as their hands and feet.

Releasing Chakra from other parts of the body was especially difficult.

Moreover, releasing Chakra for long periods of time—maintaining "Chakra Flow" over the body's surface—would place an enormous burden on Chakra points and cause the shinobi pain.

Only the Hyuga Clan could freely release Chakra from every Chakra point across their entire bodies, such as with Gentle Fist techniques like "Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation."

"Squid sushi..."

Natsu Hyuga glanced at the sky. The horizon had already darkened.

Night would arrive soon.

But that sushi restaurant would not be open at night. How was she supposed to explain this to Ginka Hyuga?

"Have you run into a problem, Natsu Hyuga?"

"It's... Kiyoshi."

Only after confirming that Ginka Hyuga had gone far away did Natsu Hyuga raise her eyes to see who was greeting her.

It was Kiyoshi, whom she did not know very well.

"Are you trying to buy squid sushi?"

Kiyoshi asked.

"Mm."

Although she did not know why Kiyoshi Uchiha had come to find her, Natsu Hyuga still nodded.

"Come on. I'll take you there."

Kiyoshi waved and smiled.

"Eh... but that shop should already be closed, shouldn't it?"

Natsu Hyuga sighed, her eyes hiding a trace of melancholy.

Once she returned to the clan, she would probably be scolded again.

Ginka Hyuga hated it most when they made excuses.

"I'm a regular customer there."

Kiyoshi said with a faint smile.

The people at that sushi restaurant probably wished he would visit every day—better yet, return to Kumogakure with them.

"Let's go."

Kiyoshi walked a few steps ahead, signaling for Natsu Hyuga to follow.

Natsu Hyuga froze for a moment before following him.

Whether or not Kiyoshi really was a regular customer as he claimed, she still had to go and see whether the shop was closed.

The two walked together and soon arrived at the sushi restaurant.

The workers inside were preparing to close up. Seeing customers arrive, they were about to go out and tell them to return the next day.

But when they drew closer and saw that it was Kiyoshi, they immediately changed their words and warmly asked Kiyoshi and Natsu Hyuga what they wanted.

Kiyoshi glanced at the person receiving them.

It was not Samui.

It was another person he had seen in the secret room, though he did not know him.

"One serving of squid sushi."

Kiyoshi said.

"You are a regular customer. We'll arrange it immediately."

The receptionist was Yukiyo Yasukawa. He led Kiyoshi and Natsu Hyuga to a private room.

"I prefer somewhere quiet."

As Yukiyo Yasukawa was about to leave, Kiyoshi added.

The unspoken implication was that since he had come here, he did not like being watched.

"Please rest assured. Our shop's soundproofing is guaranteed."

Yukiyo Yasukawa smiled and closed the door, then returned to the secret room to report to Samodo.

"Then leave him alone."

Upon hearing that Kiyoshi had brought a girl inside, Samodo agreed to Kiyoshi's request.

At their age, they were just beginning to understand the opposite sex. Samodo understood Kiyoshi.

This spy outpost had already been exposed before Kiyoshi. Samodo did not want to risk his life by offending him.

At least not here.