Main Family and Branch Family

Hizashi Hyuga and Neji Hyuga?

The moment he saw their faces, Ryosuke already knew who they were.

The visitor was Hyuga Hiashi's twin younger brother, Hizashi Hyuga, and the current head of the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family.

Standing beside him was his son, Neji Hyuga.

Sure enough, Hyuga Hiashi, who had just gone over to guide Hinata's training, turned around. The expression on his face immediately became wary.

As he strolled forward to meet them, Hyuga Hiashi spoke expressionlessly. "Hizashi, members of the Branch Family are not permitted to enter the Main Family's grounds at will."

Then he looked at Neji beside him. "But Neji has done exceptionally well at the Academy. I have heard about it. First in his class on the entrance exam—you brought honor to our Hyuga family."

"Thank you for your praise, Clan Head Uncle."

Neji politely returned the courtesy in response to the praise.

"Please do not praise him so highly. He was merely fortunate. The others in Neji's class are all quite ordinary; there is no one outstanding enough to compare with him."

Though Hizashi Hyuga spoke humbly of his son, a proud smile remained on his face.

Although Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga looked nearly identical, the things they had experienced and the responsibilities they carried had shaped them into very different people.

Hyuga Hiashi in particular, constantly burdened by worries over clan affairs, clearly looked older than Hizashi Hyuga, despite having been born only minutes apart.

"Uncle Hizashi."

At that moment, Ryosuke and Hinata temporarily ended their training and came over to greet their elders.

Hizashi Hyuga gave them a somewhat cold nod. "Miss Hinata and Ryosuke-sama should be entering the Ninja Academy next year, correct? If you encounter any trouble at school, you may ask Neji for help."

"Then we will be relying on you, Brother Neji." Ryosuke nodded with a smile.

As Hyuga Hiashi's younger brother and the head of the Branch Family, Hizashi Hyuga had naturally met Ryosuke before.

At the Hyuga Clan's annual assembly, all clan members with combat ability or authority were required to attend. As members of the Main Family, the two of them had been fortunate enough to attend despite their young age.

As for Neji... this was Ryosuke's first time meeting him, though not Hinata's.

Before Ryosuke had formally married into the family, Hizashi Hyuga had apparently done something that made Hyuga Hiashi highly wary of the Branch Family.

Other than guards or those summoned, members of the Branch Family were not allowed to enter or leave the Main Family's grounds freely.

So he had not had many chances to meet Neji.

With a stern face, Neji earnestly promised the two elders, "When the time comes, I will take good care of Miss Hinata and Ryosuke-sama."

Ryosuke silently observed the child's grown-up demeanor and confirmed that the words came from Neji's heart rather than being an act.

This was the first consequence of the altered storyline.

By now, Neji should have already received the Caged Bird Seal and understood both his status as a Branch Family member and his duty to protect the Main Family.

But it seemed that because Hizashi Hyuga was still alive, Neji did not yet reject that status.

"Clan Head, I brought Neji here this time because his physical condition has reached the standard for learning the Eight Trigrams Palms. I came to seek your permission," Hizashi Hyuga said to Hyuga Hiashi.

"There will be no need to come in person for such matters in the future."

Hyuga Hiashi nodded, paying little attention to it. "If there is nothing else, leave the Main Family's territory early."

"I understand."

Hizashi Hyuga bowed respectfully in response and left with Neji.

Before leaving, his lowered gaze cast a rather complicated look at Hinata.

Hyuga Hiashi did not notice it, nor did Hinata, but because of his height, Ryosuke saw the scene clearly.

"It seems the relationship between the Main Family and Branch Family is far colder than I imagined."

Only after Hizashi Hyuga had gone far away did Ryosuke speak again.

"Hinata, continue your training."

Hyuga Hiashi first sent Hinata away before replying helplessly, "Who would willingly let their life and fate be firmly controlled by someone else? Besides..."

"Neji's talent is truly excellent. Compared with Hinata, Hizashi believes his son is more suited to become clan head."

Though their positions differed, the two brothers were twins after all.

Compared to the previous generation's Main Family and Branch Family, their relationship had initially been quite good.

Back then, Hizashi often brought Neji to their home for small gatherings.

But after Hizashi once brought Neji to observe him guiding Hinata's training, the familial bond holding them together abruptly shattered.

After seeing Hinata's clumsy movements and weak temperament, Hizashi could not accept that his exceptionally gifted son would lose to Hinata for no reason simply because of his status, or that he might even be constrained by her in the future, so...

"He developed killing intent."

Seeing that Hyuga Hiashi had stopped there without continuing, Ryosuke calmly supplied the words.

"Yes, he developed killing intent—toward his own niece." Hyuga Hiashi's gaze was filled with regret. From that day onward, the two brothers had shared only blood, not family affection.

At times, he wondered whether their relationship would not have turned out this way if Hinata had possessed greater talent and a stronger temperament.

Perhaps Hizashi would have willingly allowed Neji to assist Hinata, and the two children could have controlled the entire Hyuga Clan together as the brothers had in their early years. But unfortunately, Hinata had never met his expectations.

That was why he had always felt somewhat frustrated and disappointed with Hinata.

Looking at his expression, Ryosuke said seriously, "This is not Hinata's fault."

"I know it is not her fault, but as a member of the Main Family and the future clan head of the Hyuga Clan, she cannot lose to someone from the Branch Family. Yet she can only disappoint me again and again."

Hyuga Hiashi shook his head. "Fortunately, I have you now. As Hinata's husband, you will take good care of her in the future and preserve the position of our Main Family line, correct?"

He stared intently at Ryosuke, waiting for his answer.

Under the blazing sun, the Training Ground suddenly held nothing but the sounds of Hinata training.

The two gazed at each other. After a quiet moment, Ryosuke finally replied with a smile, "I will do my best. You know, fate is an unpredictable thing."

"Konoha is not as peaceful as we imagine, and the Ninja World cannot remain at peace forever. If something unexpected happens, I may not have the chance to reach that day."

Having received no promise from him, Hyuga Hiashi shook his head regretfully. "With your temperament and ability, once you grow strong enough to become a ninja, even if only ten people remain alive in Konoha amid the smoke of war, I believe you will be one of them."

Seemingly unwilling to continue discussing the matter, he changed the subject. "But Hizashi mentioned school just now. What do you think about that?"

"For you, attending school seems unnecessary. It would only waste your time."