Moonlight Sarara 1/2

Afterward, Hayato went to the public archives and the training grounds.

The public archives were enormous, with hundreds of bookshelves packed with all kinds of materials. From this alone, Hayato understood why the Hyuga Clan was one of Konoha's great clans.

The Hyuga Clan's archives were even larger, and the things stored there were far more valuable.

Come to think of it, Konoha had existed for less than a century, while the Hyuga Clan had a legacy spanning a thousand years! The Hyuga came first, then Konoha. The training grounds were on the first basement level.

Besides the usual training equipment, Hatake Kaito pointed at a black wall and said, "This is the newest testing system from the Land of Crafts. Want to try it?"

The Land of Crafts?

"Sure!" Hayato asked, "How do I use it?"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Hatake Kaito formed hand seals and blew a cyclone at the wall.

Afterward, Hatake Kaito pointed at a screen. "Look here."

Several lines of data appeared on the screen, including attack range, power, and so on. At the end was an evaluation: Grade.

Hatake Kaito said, "A graded ninjutsu. Want to give it a try?"

"Sure."

Hayato had no objections. He wanted to test the Thirty-Two Beast Palm Wave he had just acquired today.

Moonlight Sharoro, standing beside him, said, "Try that thin-wire ninjutsu you used today. The really powerful one."

Overheat?

"Fine." Hayato did not know why Sarara was making that request, but he had no objection.

"Overheat!"

The system gave it an A rank.

"It's actually A rank." Moonlight Sharoro's expression turned ugly. Today, she had actually tried to block an A-rank ninjutsu with a wooden sword. If Hatake Kaito had not stepped in, the grass on her grave would probably be three feet tall by this time next year.

On the way home.

Moonlight Sharoro looked dazed.

Hatake Kaito sighed inwardly. Had he been overprotective of Sarara?

Before they had become capable of standing on their own, Hatake Kaito, Moonlight Hayate, and Uzuki Yugao had been both teammates and close friends.

Moonlight Hayate had been frail and sickly since childhood, and becoming a ninja had not been easy for him. Yet during one mission, Moonlight Hayate injured his lungs while saving Hatake Kaito. It was truly one disaster on top of another.

From then on, Moonlight Hayate gradually retreated to the second line.

Moonlight Sharoro was Moonlight Hayate's younger sister, and Hatake Kaito cared for her as if she were his own little sister. With her outstanding talent and Hatake Kaito's protection, Moonlight Sharoro's understanding of ninjas had headed in a troubling direction—she thought everyone was just so-so. Put bluntly, she had gotten full of herself.

However, a ninja was still a ninja. They had to carry out missions and fight enemies to the death. One mistake could mean death.

Perhaps today's setback was not a bad thing for Moonlight Sharoro.

Hatake Kaito asked, "What do you think of Hayato's strength?"

"Very strong."

"Yes, very strong." Hatake Kaito said, "In the Hyuga Clan, there's a child the same age as Hayato who is also called a genius."

Seeing that Sarara did not react much, Hatake Kaito continued, "The taijutsu ninja who fought Hayato in the graduation exam was called Rock Lee. Rock Lee nearly beat Hayato."

"Huh?" Moonlight Sharoro said in surprise. "A taijutsu ninja nearly beat Hayato? Isn't the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist Konoha's strongest taijutsu?"

Hatake Kaito said, "Gentle Fist is merely one of the strongest taijutsu styles. Sarara... this world is vast, just like Jiraiya-sama described in his books. There are always people beyond people, and skies beyond skies. Besides talent and hard work, what determines a person's limits is also their vision. Sarara, don't let a narrow mind blind your sight."

After leaving the ANBU, Hayato went straight to Tokuma's home.

"Aunt Keiko, I'm here."

Keiko Hyuga rushed out of the kitchen like the wind, spatula in hand. "Hayato became a ninja? That's amazing! Where's your forehead protector? Where is it? Let me see!"

Tokuma Hyuga came out of the living room and said, "Mother, you weren't this excited when I graduated from the academy."

Keiko Hyuga said disdainfully, "Did you graduate first in your class?! Are all ninjas the same!"

Tokuma Hyuga looked into the room and blinked. Dad, am I really your son?

Takaya Hyuga leisurely took a sip of tea. You tell me.

Keiko Hyuga said, "I'm going to make a few more dishes. Wait a moment, it'll be quick." Holding up her spatula, she rushed back into the kitchen like a ninja charging into battle.

Takaya Hyuga looked at Hayato with a beaming smile.

With a bad feeling rising in him, Hayato looked at Tokuma.

Tokuma sat as still as an old monk in meditation, staring at the swirling tea leaves in his cup as though they could bloom into flowers.

Hayato gave a dry laugh. "Heh, heh."

Takaya Hyuga lowered his voice. "I know someone who wanted to become a ninja. So he endured, and endured, and then he became a ninja."

That was a joke?

A bad joke, right?

Brrr... so cold!

"Uh... what a coincidence." Hayato said, "I know a piece of candy that went to the Land of Snow. As it walked along, it got colder and colder. In the end—it became rock candy."

Takaya Hyuga froze for a moment. Then his eyes slowly widened, and the corners of his mouth rose. "Hahaha! I'm dying! Hahaha..."

Hayato said, "I'll go see if there's anything I can help with in the kitchen."

Tokuma Hyuga said, "Many hands make light work. I'm coming too."

They left Takaya Hyuga behind, rolling around on the spot and laughing until he was in agony.

Keiko Hyuga's cooking was impeccable. Her tempura, miso soup, and salt-grilled fish were all exceptional.

Takaya Hyuga had finally managed to stop laughing. He now sat upright, eating quietly with his eyes fixed straight ahead. Whenever his gaze happened to drift to Hayato while reaching for food, he immediately covered his mouth, afraid he would burst out laughing and invite Keiko's frying-pan punishment.

His sense of humor was both too low and too strange.

Fortunately, Keiko kept him in check. Takaya Hyuga ultimately did not cause an incident at the dinner table, and they finished dinner without mishap.

After dinner.

After drinking tea for a while, Takaya Hyuga said to Hayato, "Come with me. I have something to give you."

When they reached the study, Takaya Hyuga undid a seal on the bookcase. The bookcase slid aside, revealing an entrance leading underground.

Tokuma Hyuga did not follow them in, remaining behind to guard the study.

"This hidden room..." Hayato felt his eyes sting.

Takaya Hyuga said, "It's a barrier. A barrier capable of counter-surveillance against the Byakugan has been set up here."

There was no need to make a fuss. All of Konoha was covered by a massive barrier. Even ordinary ninja households had barriers against spying, though this was the first time Hayato had encountered one specifically designed against the Byakugan.

"Oh." Hayato nodded. Today, he had just encountered Transparent Escape, which could perfectly evade the Byakugan. Another barrier capable of countering the Byakugan was nothing to be surprised about.

Takaya Hyuga smiled. "You're quite calm about it. Tokuma was depressed for a long time back then."

Many Hyuga clan members overly worshipped and relied on the Byakugan's abilities. Once the Byakugan failed or suffered a setback, they easily went to the other extreme—self-denial.

Hayato mentioned Transparent Escape.

Takaya Hyuga said, "The Moonlight Clan?"

Hayato nodded.

It seemed that Transparent Escape's ability to evade the Byakugan was not top-secret information within the Hyuga Clan.

Takaya Hyuga asked, "Did you fight?"

Hayato said, "I was ambushed and got quite a scare, but I didn't lose. I almost won, actually."

Takaya Hyuga said, "You can win the next time you fight?"

Hayato nodded. "Yes. Transparent Escape can erase one's presence, even their chakra system, but the physical body does not disappear. Its effects on the surrounding environment remain, and if you sense carefully enough, you can notice them. Besides, once someone using Transparent Escape attacks after becoming transparent, their body is immediately revealed. How should I put it? Even an excellent Kekkei Genkai has plenty of weaknesses. The Byakugan is the same."

Takaya Hyuga said approvingly, "It's best that you think that way. The Uchiha Clan pride themselves on the Sharingan being flawless. Heh, if it were truly perfect, they wouldn't have ended up where they are today."

Hayato had no comment on that. After all, not every Uchiha thought that way. Just as many Hyuga clan members believed the Hyuga Clan was Konoha's strongest clan, many Uchiha clan members also believed the Sharingan was invincible.

[PS] Thanks to "A Good Man" for 5 recommendation votes, "Demon King Pterosaur" and "Vigorously Reading" for their recommendation votes, and "Book Friend 0180114448808" for 1 recommendation vote.

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