The Competition Begins (Signed, Please Support with Bookmarks, Readership, Recommendation Tickets, Monthly Tickets, Tips—Anything!)

"School was a great place to socialize. Even if it wasn't for studying, getting to know more people at school and befriending children from other families would benefit the Hyuga Clan's future development."

Ryosuke bluntly refuted Hyuga Hiashi's view. "Besides, although the Hyuga Main Family has the authority to directly grant genin qualifications—allowing someone to take the Chunin Exams without attending school, passing graduation exams, or meeting mission requirements—that would be far too conspicuous."

"It would be practically announcing to everyone in the village, and to the village higher-ups, that you value me, your son-in-law, very highly. That would bring me trouble."

"Before I've grown up and gained enough ability to protect myself, I don't want to draw too much attention from Konoha's higher-ups."

Konoha had initially been a village formed by an alliance of major clans.

But as time passed, many people had abandoned the concept of family and turned their attention toward the village as a collective.

This included, but was not limited to, Konoha's higher-ups such as Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, Ino-Shika-Cho, and others.

Just like the Will of Fire that had always been preached throughout the village, Hashirama Senju, the originator of that selfless spirit, had hoped that every clan in the village would cast aside their selfish family-minded thinking and place the village at the center of their hearts.

And as inheritors of that spirit, they were willing to abandon their families for the sake of the village.

Thus, the groups within the village that still maintained strong clan ideals inevitably faced exclusion. The most prominent example was the aloof and proud Uchiha Clan.

Although the Hyuga Clan had always displayed an attitude of non-contention under Hyuga Hiashi's leadership, their long history and combat strength meant that the higher-ups' wariness toward them had not diminished in the slightest.

Under such circumstances, the emergence of a little genius like him would be far too dangerous.

And if he wanted to hide himself, the simplest thing was not to receive special treatment.

Graduating early like Itachi Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake had done was practically exposing oneself before all of Konoha's higher-ups and increasing the village's attention toward them.

Such an approach might bring them fame and the praise of many people.

But in reality, they gained no real benefits. Instead, they were exploited time and again.

"I understand."

Hyuga Hiashi nodded. He had not considered things thoroughly enough.

But then he recalled the speed at which Ryosuke had mastered the Gentle Fist Style and said helplessly, "Still, with your talent and ability, even if you stay home to train instead of attending school, I may not have much time left to teach you."

"Don't worry. I may learn quickly, but turning what I learn into something truly my own will take quite a while."

Ryosuke smiled and responded, "I only hope that you can seriously fight me once every week. Training alone is dull and rigid. I need to experience real combat."

"Or perhaps you could cover for me so that I can leave the village without anyone noticing and go outside to see real ninja."

"I definitely agree to actual combat, but as for leaving the village, I will never agree to let you go before you possess the strength to truly protect yourself."

At the mention of leaving the village, Hyuga Hiashi, who had always valued Ryosuke and been willing to listen to his opinions, firmly refused. "The Hyuga Clan's appearance is too distinctive. If you leave the village, you could easily be ambushed by spies from enemy villages."

"Your existence is too important to the clan. I hope you understand what I mean."

After saying that, he looked at Ryosuke very seriously.

His attitude was obvious. He would not allow Ryosuke to brush this issue aside as he had before.

"I understand that, but I hope you also understand that a ninja who has never experienced blood is not a real ninja," Ryosuke reminded him helplessly.

He could feel that affection and importance, but he did not want to be protected too well, like some mama's boy.

After pondering for a while, Hyuga Hiashi nodded. "I'll find an opportunity to arrange that."

He knew Ryosuke could not remain in the village forever.

Even members of the Hyuga Main Family could be forcibly dispatched by the village under special circumstances and sent to the battlefield.

"There's one more thing. Since you've chosen to attend school, I have a task for you: guide Hinata in becoming a qualified clan head."

Hyuga Hiashi looked toward Hinata, who was diligently tempering her physique in the distance. "I know you've recently been trying to correct Hinata's personality, and you've already achieved some results."

"Though it's a little embarrassing to say it, in terms of education, I, her father, haven't done as well as you, a four-year-old child. But since you have that intention, I'll entrust this matter entirely to you."

"You want me to encourage Hinata, so I'll praise her from time to time. But I have one requirement: don't let Hinata fall too far behind Neji. Someone from the Main Family must never lose to someone from the Branch Family."

"She is my wife. Of course I'll take good care of her." Ryosuke chuckled and nodded, turning his gaze toward the diligent figure at the edge of the Training Ground as well.

The main branch and the branch family were not important.

The Hyuga Clan were descendants of Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the blood relative of the Sage of Six Paths from ancient times, and were also a branch of the Otsutsuki Clan.

A thousand years ago, Hagoromo Otsutsuki had led some of his descendants to the moon through Space-Time Ninjutsu, where they observed the Ninja World created by his elder brother.

After a thousand years had passed, in the present age, the only group that still called themselves the Otsutsuki Clan was the line on the moon.

The Hagoromo Otsutsuki Clan that had remained on this planet had become today's Hyuga.

The Hyuga Clan's extremely rigid and cruel inheritance system, in which the Branch Family swore to protect the Main Family unto death, had also been passed down from the Otsutsuki Clan.

Strictly speaking, the entire Hyuga Clan currently living on this planet was likewise the "Branch Family" of the lunar line.

And the so-called Caged Bird Seal, the Secret Technique Rotation that only the main branch could practice, and all those Rules requiring Branch Family members to seek the Main Family's permission before learning any high-level clan technique were merely bad customs that the main branch had developed over the past thousand years to protect its own status.

But Ryosuke would not reveal these matters to Hyuga Hiashi, because none of them were important.

All kinds of schemes and calculations were hollow in his eyes. Having come to this world as an outsider, he could see more clearly as an observer and had thoroughly grasped this world's true nature.

Strength was the true keynote of this world. Only one's own power could determine whether one was the Main Family or the Branch Family.

"Father, I think I've rested enough. I hope to learn all of the Hyuga Clan's Secret Techniques as soon as possible, so that I can more easily integrate them into my own fighting style later."

Turning around, Ryosuke looked at Hyuga Hiashi beside him.

Hyuga Hiashi silently nodded, without any thoughts about taking things step by step or biting off more than one could chew.

Five-year-old Neji had already reached the standard for practicing the Eight Trigrams Palms, while eleven-year-old Itachi Uchiha had already become a Chunin. Everyone else was working hard, so Ryosuke should do the same.

Although he had no way to freely display his abilities, Hyuga Hiashi hoped that, in his heart, Ryosuke would always remain the most outstanding genius.