"Right, hasn't Samui returned yet?"
Kōya Yasugawa shook his head and replied:
"She took Atsui out. It will probably be a while longer."
"Alright, tell her not to be so late next time."
Samato frowned slightly.
They were closing in half an hour. Samui was probably cutting it close again just to let Atsui adapt more to life in Konoha.
...
Not long after Kōya Yasugawa left, Kiyoshi felt the gaze of scrutiny continuously weakening.
He didn't like being spied on.
Last time, no one spied because Samui was present, this time, Samui was not.
"Thank you for the trouble, Kiyoshi-kun."
Natsu Hyūga sat down. Her slender fingers lightly lifted her drooping dark green short hair as she patiently waited for the fresh squid sushi.
To ensure the squid was fresh, the shop had to kill and prepare it on the spot, so they had to wait a while.
Kiyoshi sat down as well, raising his eyes to observe the minor supporting character who was just a flash in the pan in the original work.
"Natsu Hyūga-kun, I heard the Hyūga clan has a Main House and Branch House system, is that right?"
Kiyoshi brought up the topic.
The Hyūga clan is divided into the Main House and the Branch House. Those from the Main House do not have the [Caged Bird Seal] implanted, but those from the Branch House must have it implanted.
Once this seal is planted, the life and death of everyone in the Branch House are at the whim of the Main House, which can activate the seal at any time to cause a Branch member's death.
It could be said that anyone reincarnated into the Hyūga Branch House is stuck for life.
Natsu Hyūga paused slightly, then nodded:
"Yes."
Her voice was calm, almost without fluctuation. The movement of her dark green short hair revealed her forehead, tied with a ribbon.
This matter was not really a secret, many people in the village knew about it.
But what difference did knowing make?
No one could change it.
Thinking this, Natsu Hyūga only hoped the squid sushi would be made quickly. Afterward, she still needed to buy other desserts.
If she returned early, perhaps she wouldn't be scolded.
"I see."
Kiyoshi nodded.
The entire Naruto world, while seemingly having an anti-fate main theme, ultimately has a core of utter [Destiny].
The hero's son is still a hero, the savior's son is still a savior, and thus, the scapegoat's son is still... a scapegoat.
Just like Naruto often spoke of effort and upholding his ninja way, believing neither in heaven nor fate.
But Naruto was actually one of the biggest beneficiaries of fatalism, and he never realized this.
Until Neji's dying words.
The boomerang Naruto threw during the Chunin Exams struck him hard at that moment.
Even when Naruto was in power as the Seventh Hokage, the Hyūga clan's [Caged Bird Seal] system still existed.
"Then, Natsu Hyūga-kun, would you like to spar in Taijutsu with me?"
"...Me?"
Natsu Hyūga was startled.
She remembered Kiyoshi's class performance was quite excellent, he had reached the top ranks soon after arriving.
His talent was far, far better than hers.
"I've always been very curious about [Gentle Fist]. A little sparring shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Kiyoshi smiled.
The real reason, of course, was to see if he could drop a Trait. Besides, you should pick the soft persimmons to squeeze.
Natsu Hyūga's strength could only be described as quite ordinary.
Kiyoshi wasn't familiar with the other Hyūga clan members.
Moreover, the end of the term was approaching, and there wasn't enough time to wait for the next round of matches to encounter another Hyūga clan member.
He planned to apply for early graduation next month.
Continuing to stay at the Ninja Academy wouldn't lead to much growth, and all the E-rank Jutsu that could be taught had been covered.
In the first few years, the focus was on building foundations. Later, they tested one of the [Three-Body Technique] each semester, followed by a final assessment upon graduation.
There was no need for Kiyoshi to stay there, he would gain more Ninjutsu by going on missions.
"This... okay, but it's a bit cramped here. Let's go outside in a bit."
Natsu Hyūga looked around.
If Kiyoshi hadn't been a regular customer, she wouldn't have been able to buy the squid sushi today. Leaving now would be ungrateful.
Hearing Natsu Hyūga's answer, Kiyoshi also waited patiently.
About ten minutes later, Kōya Yasugawa brought over a gift box, which contained the squid sushi.
The two went out and found an empty lot.
Perhaps because she had to return soon, Natsu Hyūga walked very fast.
The evening air was bitterly cold. Kiyoshi and Natsu Hyūga stood in the center of the empty lot.
"Then... I'll start."
Natsu Hyūga wanted to finish quickly.
Kiyoshi nodded.
The next moment, veins bulged at the corners of Natsu Hyūga's eyes as chakra condensed into the meridian system within her eyes.
"So much chakra, and also..."
The piercing vision of the [Byakugan] allowed Natsu Hyūga to clearly see the meridian system inside Kiyoshi's body.
And the faint current radiating just beneath his skin.
Natsu Hyūga's pure white eyes stared at Kiyoshi, his internal organs completely visible.
"He can actually restrain lightning beneath his skin to train his body?"
Natsu Hyūga was astonished internally.
She instantly realized this must be a special kind of Ninja Body Technique.
Kiyoshi's control over Lightning Release chakra was actually this good.
In the Ninja Academy, she had never seen anyone train their body the way Kiyoshi did.
You must know that lightning is extremely dangerous!
Even a slight carelessness could scorch the skin, or even burn the meridian system that carries chakra.
Natsu Hyūga recalled a Taijutsu eccentric, Might Guy.
Even someone who loves Taijutsu as much as Guy uses very traditional methods.
Kiyoshi's approach truly opened Natsu Hyūga's eyes.
Ordinarily, the Hyūga clan rarely activates the [Byakugan] to peer at others, as it is considered extremely impolite—even provocative.
If not for the spar with Kiyoshi, Natsu Hyūga believed she would never have known this.
"Don't get distracted in a fight."
Chakra was refined at Kiyoshi's feet, and he suddenly dashed forward.
Natsu Hyūga quickly adopted the stance of [Gentle Fist], preparing to counter Kiyoshi's attack.
All members of the Hyūga clan primarily use [Gentle Fist], with Ninjutsu and Genjutsu being rarely utilized.
Even the use of ninja tools is uncommon.
Therefore, they undergo systematic training in [Gentle Fist] very early on.
Bang!
Natsu Hyūga blocked Kiyoshi's straight punch with her arm. Before she could catch her breath, Kiyoshi followed up with an elbow strike.
Natsu Hyūga immediately pulled back to create distance. Chakra erupted from the chakra points on her fingertips, forming a small circle of chakra threads.
As she continuously waved her hands, it looked like a translucent membrane.
Kiyoshi narrowed his eyes slightly. Looking at his opponent giving it her all, he felt a bit relieved.
Natsu Hyūga was essentially limited to passive defense.
The [Gentle Fist] she used was merely the most basic version.
It was indeed best to pick the soft persimmon to squeeze.
He just wondered if she would drop a Trait.
If the opponent were using [Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms] or [Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven], Kiyoshi would have a much harder time dealing with them.
Unfortunately, Natsu Hyūga was from the Branch House, not only was her talent average, but she couldn't even learn those advanced clan [Gentle Fist] secret techniques.
These secret techniques must either be self-mastered by a genius, or one would never learn them in their lifetime.
***
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