Gentle Fist Has Limits

The atmosphere in the ancestral hall was exceptionally stifling, the air seeming to solidify. Suigetsu Hyuga and the others kept their eyes fixed on Hyuga Satoru.

After a moment of silence, Hyuga Satoru spoke.

"I wanted to go to the Lineage training grounds too, but most of the people training there are Chunin and Genin. I'm not even a ninja. How could I possibly compete with them? I could only train at home every day."

"I only developed the Magnet Release bloodline ability recently. Before that, I knew very little about bloodline limits. My parents died early, leaving me to live alone, and I didn't have the energy to think about so much."

After saying that, Hyuga Satoru fell silent. In a situation like this, the best approach was to play up his misery while pretending to be foolish. He was a complete nobody in the Lineage anyway. Even if the main Household had information on him, it certainly would not be extensive.

After hearing this, Suigetsu Hyuga exchanged glances with the surrounding elders. Indeed, they had investigated Hyuga Satoru's circumstances long ago. If not for the matter of his dual bloodline limits, he would have been one of the most inconspicuous people in the Lineage, someone whom almost no one noticed.

Suigetsu Hyuga nodded, his voice becoming somewhat gentler. "Since you've awakened a second bloodline limit, no matter what, we won't let you live as you did before. Starting today, your living allowance will be tripled."

"Thank you, Clan Head."

Hyuga Satoru bowed in thanks. This was an unexpected gain.

Then Suigetsu Hyuga's gaze suddenly sharpened, and he changed the subject. "I heard that you have begun to look down on Gentle Fist and even altered its foundational techniques without authorization. Is this true?"

The ancestral hall fell silent once more.

Hyuga Satoru said nothing. There was no need to ask; Iroha had obviously reported him.

"Yes."

A trace of displeasure appeared in Suigetsu Hyuga's eyes as he frowned.

"The reason our Hyuga Lineage has stood firm in the Shinobi World for a thousand years lies in the foundation of Gentle Fist and the Byakugan. The fundamentals of Gentle Fist cannot be altered. Do you understand?"

Hyuga Satoru considered briefly before asking tentatively.

"Clan Head, may I ask something? Gentle Fist has allowed the Hyuga Lineage to stand in the Shinobi World for a thousand years, but over all these years, has Gentle Fist ever changed?"

Suigetsu Hyuga thought for a moment. "Though Gentle Fist evolved after its creation, it eventually became fixed into techniques best suited for our Lineage. It can respond to every possible change, and it has remained so for centuries."

"Clan Head, I learned of the Tailed Beasts from the notes my father left behind. Could Gentle Fist stand against the Tailed Beasts?"

"What are you trying to say?"

Suigetsu Hyuga's brows furrowed slightly.

Hyuga Satoru paused, then spoke softly. "Gentle Fist has limits."

"Enough!"

Suigetsu Hyuga interrupted him in dissatisfaction.

"Our Hyuga Lineage has endured to this day because of the foundation of Gentle Fist and the Byakugan. Don't think that awakening Magnet Release means you can take another path. I'm telling you, compared to Gentle Fist, Magnet Release is worthless!"

The branch-family guard beside Hyuga Satoru trembled as he bowed, his face revealing helplessness and bitterness. A drop of cold sweat slid down from his forehead.

He did not understand why Hyuga Satoru had brought up this subject. The main Household elders were far too sensitive about Gentle Fist.

Hyuga Satoru sighed inwardly.

Leaving aside the fact that Gentle Fist practically had no long-range capabilities, with Vacuum Palm being its only technique of limited range, that alone severely restricted Gentle Fist's potential.

More importantly!

The rigid, fixed cultivation of Gentle Fist had nearly cut off any possibility for Hyuga ninja to develop the Byakugan's other abilities!

A Byakugan bloodline limit capable of seeing through objects for several kilometers had been forcibly turned by the Hyuga into nothing more than a scout's tool.

Gentle Fist might once have been the foundation that allowed the Hyuga to stand firm in the Shinobi World, but now it was the shackle binding the Hyuga Lineage, just like the Caged Bird.

Only by breaking that shackle could the Hyuga tear down the old and rise anew!

Suigetsu Hyuga waved his hand impatiently. "Enough. This matter ends here. You may leave!"

"Yes."

After Hyuga Satoru and the branch-family guard had left, Suigetsu Hyuga looked toward the young man behind him and asked in a low voice.

"Hiashi, what do you think of that Hyuga Satoru?"

Hiashi Hyuga was a descendant Suigetsu Hyuga held in high regard. He had always kept him close and raised him as an heir.

Hiashi considered for a moment before saying, "Since he is the first dual-bloodline ninja in Hyuga history, his future prospects certainly will not be poor. However, his lack of regard for Gentle Fist may become an obstacle on his path."

Suigetsu Hyuga snorted coldly.

"He abandons the study of Gentle Fist and researches such crooked paths instead. His achievements will surely be limited. In the end, he is merely a branch-family member."

Hearing those final words, Hiashi Hyuga opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately fell silent.

Outside the ancestral hall, the branch-family guard wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked anxiously at Hyuga Satoru.

"Satoru! You were far too bold. You actually dared to speak ill of Gentle Fist in front of the Clan Head!"

Hyuga Satoru's eyes flickered.

This was his first contact with the upper ranks of the main Household, and their stubbornness and decay had been laid bare. They clearly knew Gentle Fist could be improved, yet they remained rigid and dogmatic, insisting that the ancestors' methods could not be changed.

Still, this was not without benefits for him.

After today, the Clan Head would probably continue to look down on him. That would instead be beneficial to his development of electromagnetic abilities.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Hyuga Satoru scratched his head and smiled at the branch-family guard.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle. By the way, I still don't know your name."

"Hyuga Hiiragi. Just call me Uncle Hiiragi."

"Alright, Uncle Hiiragi."

As though recalling something, Hyuga Hiiragi looked into the distance, a trace of nostalgia appearing on his face.

"Before your father passed away, he carried out missions with me as well. Though we did not speak much, I could tell that he was a very honest man."

"I have too many daily duties, so aside from distributing your pension, it has been difficult for me to interact with you much. But if you have any questions about training in the future, you can come find me."

"Then thank you, Uncle Hiiragi."

Hyuga Satoru replied with a smile. Hyuga Hiiragi was a Jonin, so even if he did not follow the Gentle Fist system, there should still be things he could learn from him.