Past Life, Present Life

The brilliant starlight glimmered like chess pieces across the pitch-black board.

The vast night sky seemed boundless.

Or perhaps it did have boundaries; Ryosuke's horizons simply were not broad enough yet to contain the entire starry sky.

Lying on his bed, he gazed up through the enormous skylight.

There was no expression on his face, nor the smile he usually maintained even when he was alone.

In truth, Ryosuke was not someone who liked to smile. Smiling made him feel tired.

Compared to smiling, he preferred this expressionless state. It was the most comfortable state for him.

But an expressionless face could make people feel distant and cold.

Rather than making people feel unfamiliar with him, he preferred them to like him and depend on him. It gave him a slight sense of existing in this world.

This time, I prevented Hizashi Hyuga's death and avoided a loss in the Hyuga Clan's combat strength.

For the period ahead, the original story did not describe much. Other than the Uchiha Clan Massacre, there will be no major events. Most of it will be minor incidents; the major events only truly begin after Naruto graduates.

As he watched the night sky, Ryosuke carefully considered the recent events.

At the end of every day, he would meticulously recall everything he had done that day and review the plans he had made. It was a habit he had maintained since his past life.

Ryosuke's past life had not been ordinary. Compared to most people, his had been rather difficult.

He had been an orphan, abandoned at an orphanage from a young age.

Fortunately, he had matured early and understood clearly that he had already lost to most people at the starting line. He was far below average, so he worked hard enough to complete his education with outstanding grades.

Throughout his studies, he had not spent a single cent. He had even received quite a few scholarships and social grants from various schools.

Thanks to the strong adaptability he had possessed since childhood, Ryosuke had also thrived in society after leaving school. Overall, his past life had begun bitterly and ended sweetly.

Although... before that sweetness had lasted long, an accident had brought him to this world.

But Ryosuke did not curse fate over it.

Which world he lived in was not particularly important to him. The only thing worth being thankful for was that he had not yet married or had children in his past life.

He did not want his own children to suffer the same fate as him and become unwanted orphans.

That was also why Ryosuke had been able to calmly accept everything after arriving in this world, quickly adapt, and plan a new life for himself.

He had always been alone, from the past until now.

I need to rebuild Hinata's confidence. If she is going to become my wife, she cannot be a timid, submissive ornament. The Ninja World is not as peaceful as my former world.

The matter with the Cloud Shinobi delayed the start of my Gentle Fist training for so many days. It has already affected my training progress. I need to remind Father tomorrow.

As for that experience bar in my mind, the first time it reached one hundred percent took three years. This second time, only one year has passed. That means, barring any surprises, it will be completed when I am six.

He sorted through his recent plans one by one. Only after confirming the last matter did Ryosuke slowly rise and close the skylight.

He had designed his room himself. As a member of the Hyuga Main Family, the wealth and manpower at his disposal allowed him to easily build the kind of home he wanted in this world, where the entertainment industry was underdeveloped.

Next came sleep. To welcome a better tomorrow, every rest had to be given wholeheartedly.

"The Gentle Fist is a Secret Technique passed down through the generations of our Hyuga Clan."

"Only by relying on the advantages granted by our bloodline—these eyes of ours—can we bring the Gentle Fist's power to its fullest extent."

"You should already understand its principle clearly. It is a taijutsu that injects one's own chakra into the enemy's body, damaging their chakra pathways, Meridian System, and internal organs."

The light of dawn spilled across the ground. Early that morning, Hyuga Hiashi called Ryosuke and Hinata over to teach them the Gentle Fist Style.

Perhaps because of their conversation yesterday, Hyuga Hiashi no longer regarded Ryosuke merely as a child.

As for Hinata, it was entirely because she too was from the Main Family and was the future clan head.

"Unlike ordinary taijutsu, our taijutsu focuses more on attacking the inside of the human body."

Hyuga Hiashi continued, "The human body is fragile. No matter how powerful a ninja may be, their flesh cannot be trained to the point of indestructibility."

"And compared to the body's outer surface, or even its bones, the five viscera and Meridians within the human body are hundreds of times harder to train..."

He explained earnestly, occasionally demonstrating in person and allowing Ryosuke and Hinata to experience chakra from the Gentle Fist Style invading their bodies, sealing their Tenketsu and cutting off their Meridians.

"Now then, Ryosuke, you may begin attempting to practice the Gentle Fist Style. I will guide your training from the side."

At this point, Hyuga Hiashi paused and shifted his gaze to his biological daughter. "As for Hinata, your physique is not yet sufficient to practice the Gentle Fist Style. Continue your usual training today—temper your body and improve your strength and speed."

"Yes."

Hinata nodded seriously and consciously walked to the side, beginning her usual exercises.

Yet her decisive response and expression made Hyuga Hiashi pause in surprise.

It was only then that he realized his daughter seemed to have become somewhat... different.

Thinking back carefully, she had seemed somewhat... bold ever since they had eaten together last night. She had actually dared to lift her head and face him squarely, unlike before, when she had not even dared to look him in the eye.

"She is working hard to earn your approval, and she is also working hard to learn how to become a clan head."

Sensing Hyuga Hiashi's doubts, Ryosuke explained softly, "If Hinata works hard enough, even if she does not meet the standards in your heart, I hope you can give her some appropriate encouragement and praise."

Confidence was an important part of humanity's ever-changing emotions.

It could allow someone to achieve twice the result with half the effort in anything they did.

That was why Ryosuke had deliberately let Hinata misunderstand yesterday, believing that those results had come from her own courage to try.

He hoped Hinata would become a qualified clan head, rather than a puppet clan head who only obeyed his words.

Turning his gaze back to Ryosuke, Hyuga Hiashi nodded almost imperceptibly. However, he said nothing more and did not ask what had happened.

"Hurry and begin, Ryosuke. That little Uchiha genius already possesses the strength of a Chunin at eleven this year. Although the age gap between you is considerable, I hope that, as one favored by our ancestors, you will not lose to him."

"I will do my best," Ryosuke responded with a smile.

Unless he needed to step into the spotlight and display his abilities as a deterrent, he was accustomed to leaving half of what he meant unsaid.