Dirty

Dirty

Sarutobi Clan Grounds, somewhere in a garden.

Hyuga Yuto leaned back against a stone bench, his eyes tightly shut.

Tsunade extended a hand and gently covered Yuto's eyes. Gentle chakra flowed from her palm into his eyeballs and optic nerves, stimulating cellular repair and regeneration.

Chakra was a violent, immensely powerful energy. Using it to heal the human body was already extraordinarily difficult; treating the delicate and intricate visual system and brain tissue was no easier than embroidering on the tip of a needle. Across the entire shinobi world, fewer than five people were capable of treating such injuries.

Fortunately, Tsunade was one of them. In terms of medical ninjutsu alone, this last remaining bloodline of the Senju Clan was unquestionably the finest.

Who knew how much time passed before the cool sensation suddenly vanished.

Hyuga Yuto opened his eyes. Aside from the needle-prick pain, everything before him had finally become clear again.

"The pain will probably last for a week. Drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep." The blonde Tsunade let out a soft breath.

She loosened her tied-up hair and took a sip of wine—Tsunade had excellent medical ethics, of course. She would never drink while treating a patient.

Hyuga Yuto rubbed his still-tight forehead. After a long silence, he finally bowed solemnly to Tsunade.

"Lady Tsunade, you saved my life as a shinobi. From now on, should you ever have need of me, Hyuga Yuto would not hesitate to die for you!"

"Hey, hey, enough already, little Hyuga brat."

Tsunade bared her teeth without a shred of concern for her image. Anyone else would have looked ridiculous making that face, but she was simply too beautiful, with an exquisite figure to match. Even without controlling her expression, she was more captivating than the moonlight.

"Kid... your name is Hyuga Yuto, right? How old are you?"

"In reply to Lady Tsunade, I'm twelve."

The blonde woman froze slightly, then took a swig of wine.

"Twelve... When many people were your age, they were still troublemakers who had only recently graduated. Yet you've already made a name for yourself through your own efforts... With young successors like you in the Hidden Leaf Village, the Will of Fire will surely be passed on."

"Lady Tsunade, I'm still not strong enough. There is still much I need to learn."

"Kid, when I was your age, I also wanted to master my clan's bloodline limit and restore the Senju's former glory. But now, I only feel that... many times, strength alone cannot give you what you want."

"The strong may not get what they desire, but the weak will surely lose even more."

"That really is... the way a young boy thinks." Tsunade spoke softly. Tilting her head, she looked at Hyuga Yuto before suddenly asking, "Your injury... was it Bird in a Cage?"

Hyuga Yuto lowered his head. After a long while, he stood and placed both hands on the stone railing of the pavilion. The night breeze rustled his bangs, carrying with it a faint trace of lingering bloodlust.

Tsunade could not see the boy's expression, but the sight of his back as he leaned on the railing and gazed into the distance left an unpleasant feeling in her heart.

—Ten years ago, her younger brother, Senju Nawaki, had also been twelve. On his birthday, wearing the crystal necklace she had given him, he had stood at the top of the Hokage Building, leaning on the railing and looking into the distance as he spoke enthusiastically of his youthful dreams... Then, the day after his birthday, he had died in the chaos of war.

The blonde woman took another large gulp of wine. When people were in a bad mood, they wanted to escape. Wine was a good thing, but the Senju Clan's powerful physique became a drawback here: mere alcohol could not make Tsunade lose her senses.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade, you were right." At that moment, Hyuga Yuto's voice drifted over from ahead.

"Perhaps this is a bit like airing my family's dirty laundry... but you are one of the Hidden Leaf Village's Sannin. In my eyes, you are a senior worthy of trust and reliance. I will not hide it from you: the one who activated the Bird in a Cage secret technique was Hinata Shinji."

"Tch." The blonde beauty sneered without restraint.

"The Hyuga clan has fallen this far? They actually told a child about the secret orders concerning something like Bird in a Cage." Tsunade seemed to hold quite a grudge against the Hyuga clan. "When I was little, the Hyuga clan still had several formidable figures. Though they were far inferior to my grandfather and the others, they were still not to be underestimated... But now, heh. Bird in a Cage, Bird in a Cage. It traps the branch family, and it traps the main family too."

"Perhaps." Hyuga Yuto said calmly.

"The instant Bird in a Cage was activated, it hurt so much. For one or two seconds, I thought that if there had been a kunai beside me, that would have been nice. Then I could have driven it into the caster's throat."

Such words were utterly rebellious within the Hyuga clan, yet Tsunade found them perfectly normal.

If a twelve-year-old genius was tortured into wishing he were dead by a curse mark and still thought only of serving the main family, Tsunade would assume he had been kicked stupid by a toad's leg—or that he was simply lying.

"Kid, it's fine to say that in front of me, but once you leave the Sarutobi Clan Grounds, forget how you felt then."

"I said it to Lady Tsunade because I believe you are truly a kind and honorable elder, someone to whom I can entrust everything."

"Heh... You certainly know how to talk. So what about now? Hyuga Yuto, what do you think of the main family now?"

"Now..." Hyuga Yuto lowered his head, his back still turned to Tsunade. He had discovered that long hair really was useful. Even when his heart remained filled with hatred and killing intent, it could conceal his expression and let him focus on controlling his tone. "Now, I don't know what I think either... But what surprises me is that there aren't many negative emotions in my heart. I... Lady Tsunade, I don't know how to put it..."

"Speak freely, kid. There's only you and me here."

"Yes... Lady Tsunade." Hyuga Yuto paused, hesitation appearing in his heart for the first time.

Could I really say that? In front of a woman who had lost the people she loved one after another, could I tear open wounds that had yet to heal just to achieve my own goal? Hyuga Yuto, you really are this filthy...

That hesitation lasted only an instant. In the next moment, Hyuga Yuto suppressed it and, following his memories, spoke the words he had once seen in a manga in his previous life.

"Losing the people you cherish in battle... is not a shinobi's duty."

"Because I live in a shinobi world filled with death and chaos, I want to fight with everything I have to bring an end to this war."

"I love this village and my companions... so I want to protect them."

"Ever since my parents died, this belief has sustained me... So, Lady Tsunade, I want to become Hokage."

"Because the one who protects everyone is the Hokage... This has always been my dream."

Tsunade froze.

Those dusty, sorrowful memories suddenly surged into her mind.

Ten years ago, when she and Kato Dan had pledged themselves to each other, Dan had said the very same words.

This was a secret belonging to her and Kato Dan. Since Dan had died in the Second Shinobi World War, she had been the only person in the entire world who knew those wild yet resolute vows.

For an instant, two figures seemed to appear within twelve-year-old Hyuga Yuto.

The blonde beauty raised her head and lifted the wine flask, but not another drop came out.

Ah... Nawaki, Dan, do you want me to help this boy...?

(End of chapter)