This was outright insubordination.
Hyuga Akira scoffed and shot Hyuga Hiashi a contemptuous glance. "Trash."
"You!!" Hyuga Hiashi pointed at him furiously. He hadn't expected this man to be exactly as the clan rumors described, showing not a shred of respect for the Main Family.
Bang! A violent impact rang out. The ground beneath Tsunade's feet shattered, and green chakra erupted from her body.
This time, even Hyuga Akira found it difficult to breathe.
"This isn't your Hyuga Clan," Tsunade said coldly.
"My apologies, Lady Tsunade," Hyuga Hiashi apologized respectfully.
There really wasn't a single fault to find with his etiquette.
Hizashi Hyuga also followed Hyuga Hiashi's lead, stepping back behind him.
Hyuga Akira took a step back, distancing himself from the brothers.
He looked as though he wanted nothing to do with them.
Tsunade's expression was grim. She had known she shouldn't accept this team-leading assignment.
She had originally thought members of the Hyuga Clan would be easy to lead. She glanced at the utterly indifferent Hyuga Akira.
She hadn't expected the Hyuga Clan to produce a troublemaker.
He gave her a headache.
"I don't care how you do things in the Hyuga Clan. Right now, you're my subordinates!"
Under Tsunade's intimidation...
Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga pressed their lips together, not daring to say anything more.
Hyuga Akira sucked in a breath. "Such terrifying power from a jonin."
This brat wasn't afraid of her at all.
The corner of Tsunade's eye twitched. She glared fiercely at Hyuga Akira, who whistled and looked away.
Tsunade then took out a scroll and displayed it before the three of them. "I've accepted a C-rank mission to eliminate some bandits. This is also a chance for you to learn to work as a team."
To put it bluntly, her job as their team leader this time was babysitting.
It didn't mean she was truly acknowledging the three as her students. Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi had both graduated two years ago, yet they still hadn't left the village on a mission.
As the Main Family's precious child, Hiashi was naturally well protected.
After two years of training, the Hyuga Clan also wanted to give their next clan head some experience. To prevent any accidents...
Tsunade had been chosen.
As for Hizashi Hyuga, he had already completed quite a few missions and was a qualified genin. His duty this time was to protect Hyuga Hiashi.
Hyuga Akira, meanwhile, had only graduated this year. He was supposed to be assigned to a genin squad, but the Hyuga Clan had forcibly placed him in this new squad instead.
He had joined as an expendable guard. If the two encountered danger, Hyuga Akira would have to risk his life to escort them both back.
Hyuga Akira grinned at Hyuga Hiashi, revealing gleaming white teeth.
He would teach Hyuga Hiashi that sometimes, teammates were the most dangerous of all.
"Does anyone have any objections? If not, we'll leave right away," Tsunade said, looking at the three of them.
Hyuga Akira raised his eyebrows. He hadn't known they would be heading straight out on a mission. That old bastard Hyuga Dema hadn't told him a thing.
He glanced at Hizashi Hyuga and Hyuga Hiashi. Neither looked surprised at all.
Apparently, he was the only one who hadn't known.
Noticing Hyuga Akira's reaction, Tsunade said sternly, "A Shinobi must always be ready for battle. With a careless attitude, you won't even know how you died."
"But if you aren't fully prepared, we can wait here for you."
This time, neither Hiashi nor Hizashi said anything. They agreed with Tsunade.
"You're all surprisingly nice," Hyuga Akira said with a smile.
The three of them clearly weren't trying to force him.
"I always keep the Shinobi handbook in mind. I'm ready to fight at any time." Hyuga Akira patted the ninja tool pouch at his waist.
Of course, it was just for show. Everything he owned was in his inventory, where items could stack up to ninety-nine.
Tsunade nodded in satisfaction. "Then let's go."
At the gate, Tsunade submitted the mission paperwork to the two guards, and their squad was allowed straight through.
Shinobi needed a mission report to leave the village. This was to prevent Shinobi from defecting and spies from slipping away.
The two Shinobi weren't the only ones guarding the gate. Quite a few Anbu were concealed nearby as well.
Hyuga Akira glanced over the two Shinobi guarding the main gate.
He didn't recognize either of them.
As expected of the two great gate guardians whom even Madara Uchiha would fear in the future.
Hyuga Akira chuckled quietly.
The other three gave him puzzled looks, unsure what he was laughing about.
The squad quickly left the village and began moving through the woods.
Chakra really was useful. It could directly enhance the human body's physical capabilities.
Hyuga Akira brought up the rear, leaping from branch to branch.
The roars of beasts and calls of birds rang continuously through the forest, masking the sounds of their movements.
None of the squad members knew one another very well, so there wasn't much to talk about.
Hyuga Akira, meanwhile, was considering the power known as chakra.
Chakra had a powerful range of functions. It could enhance physical capabilities, increase defense, transform into elements, and even affect space and take solid form.
His game panel only described chakra as data, but its actual applications hadn't manifested there.
What had manifested were his ninjutsu and innate abilities.
Technical abilities such as Throwing Technique and Trap Setting hadn't manifested as skills.
He had to study and practice those diligently himself.
Abilities that did manifest as skills, however, could be improved by directly spending experience points.
The amount of experience required varied with the skill's difficulty.
For example...
[Substitution Technique (lv5)]
Skills could be expanded for more details. Once expanded, it became...
[Substitution Technique (lv5) Experience (0/500) Trait (none)]
Every skill would gain a trait upon reaching its maximum level.
Similar skills could even be fused together later on.
For now, though, he didn't meet the conditions.
Before joining the closed beta, he had known the game's guides inside out.
For instance, there was the Byakugan's advancement into the Tenseigan.
The requirements were a max-level [Byakugan] and the item [Ōtsutsuki chakra]. Together, they could produce a [Tenseigan].
The problem was that [Ōtsutsuki chakra] only dropped from farming members of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
But the ones on the planet were all beyond his ability to take on, such as the Sage of Six Paths in the Pure Land and the hidden boss, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
Going after them would mean throwing his life away.
The nearest remaining ones were on the moon. The sealed Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was out of the question, leaving only the Ōtsutsuki Clan on the moon.
The problem was that he had no way to get to the moon.
The Byakugan really has no future. I'd better find a way to farm Uchiha for Sharingan drops instead.
Cursing inwardly, Hyuga Akira looked up to see Hizashi Hyuga slowing slightly until he gradually drew level with him.
He glanced sideways at Hizashi Hyuga.
"What? Need something?"
He had no interest in a Byakugan branded with the Caged Bird Seal. All he would get was a [Byakugan (damaged)].
Chapter 3: Open Strife and Hidden Schemes
Hizashi Hyuga noticed the disdain in Hyuga Akira's eyes, but merely frowned.
"Hyuga Akira, I know you hold some resentment toward the Main Family, but the Branch Family's duty is to protect the Main Family, while the Main Family leads the Hyuga Clan."
Hyuga Akira rolled his eyes so hard he nearly rolled out a second pair of Byakugan, offering Hizashi Hyuga two pairs of rolled eyes.
"Why the hell should I care?"
The Hyuga Clan's responsibilities had nothing whatsoever to do with him.
Hizashi Hyuga ignored Hyuga Akira's words and said sternly, "The Main Family bears the burden of the entire Hyuga Clan. Can't you show a little understanding?"
Hyuga Akira said earnestly, "In that case, let me shoulder that responsibility. Tell your brother to make me part of the Main Family, and he can join the Branch Family."
Hizashi Hyuga's expression darkened. "That joke isn't funny at all."
Hyuga Akira scoffed. "You started joking first."
He raised his hand, and a shuriken from his inventory appeared in it. He hurled it straight at Hizashi Hyuga.
Startled, Hizashi Hyuga immediately stopped and dodged.
Hyuga Akira had already accelerated, swiftly pulling away.
"Fucking shameless." Hyuga Akira caught up with Hyuga Hiashi and cursed without making any attempt to hide it.
Hyuga Hiashi turned a sharp gaze on him, but he smiled back, looking eager to have a go.
Tsunade suddenly stopped on a branch, forcing Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Akira to stop as well.
Hizashi Hyuga landed behind Hyuga Hiashi with a grim expression.
Tsunade's expression was equally grim as she glared at Hyuga Akira. "You actually attacked a teammate without permission."
Hyuga Akira spread his hands indifferently. "He was talking shit. I helped him clear his head."
All three stared at Hyuga Akira. As far as they could tell, he had been the only one swearing this whole time.
Hizashi Hyuga said sternly, "I only wanted you to understand your duties."
Hyuga Akira didn't even glance at him, looking only at Hyuga Hiashi. "If you want me to be your dog like your little brother, keep dreaming."
Did he really think Akira didn't know Hyuga Hiashi had signaled Hizashi Hyuga to play peacemaker?
To get him to willingly become a dog.
What a joke.
Hyuga Hiashi's expression was ugly. His hands had even begun forming the ram seal, the opening hand sign for activating the Caged Bird Seal.
Hyuga Akira saw it, and so did Tsunade.
"Enough!!"
Tsunade slammed a fist into the trunk beside her. Bang! The tree's entire middle section shattered, and its upper half crashed to the ground.
She rubbed her brow. She should never have accepted this mission.
Looking at the three, poised to clash, she said sternly, "I don't care what grudges you have. Right now, we're a team. Until this mission is complete, every one of you will behave... or else."
Tsunade rotated her fist, looking threateningly at all three of them.
Faced with Tsunade's threat, Hyuga Hiashi naturally didn't dare continue using the Caged Bird Seal. Hyuga Akira saluted Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, rest assured. I promise I won't clash with them in front of you."
Before you continue