Mamoru arrived at the dojo entrance and slapped the doorframe with a "thud," breaking the heavy atmosphere inside. "Yo! Old man, there's no need to be so harsh, is there?"
His move immediately drew the attention of everyone inside.
Hiashi's sharp gaze swept over. "Who are you?"
"Uchiha Mamoru." Mamoru announced his name.
"Uchiha?" Hiashi's eyes shifted slightly. "I see... you're one of those two survivors."
"'Uchiha, Uchiha'..." Mamoru tilted his head and suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"Why does everyone keep bringing up Uchiha? Is being an Uchiha really that big of a deal?"
For the first time, a subtle change appeared on Hiashi's face as he narrowed his eyes. "What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying..." Mamoru met his gaze and said word for word, "The capacity of you great clans is nothing more than..."
"Mamoru! Stop!" Kurenai hurriedly interrupted.
"Let him finish." Hiashi said, raising a hand to stop Kurenai, his eyes like torches locked onto Mamoru.
"As you wish." Mamoru pulled a provocative smile. "Using a single ruler to measure every tree, and then chopping all those that don't fit the specifications into firewood, is this how you great clans maintain your so-called 'glory'? It's... sickeningly efficient."
As he spoke, he deliberately held out his palm and made an exaggerated gagging face with his tongue out.
"This is a Hyuga clan matter." Hiashi raised his wooden sword and slammed it heavily onto the floor, creating a dull thud. "It's not for an outsider like you to criticize."
"Clan matter?" Mamoru sneered. "Forcing the expectations and responsibilities of the clan onto your daughter's life and calling it a 'clan matter'? That's something only scum would do."
"How rude— Waah!"
Just as Hanabi beside him spoke up, Mamoru's gaze sharpened.
With a "snap," Hanabi was instantly pulled by a powerful gravitational force and pinned firmly to the floor, unable to move an inch.
"Don't butt in." Mamoru said flatly.
He looked directly at Hiashi and said clearly, "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're Hinata's father, you damn old geezer."
With a whistling sound, the wooden sword in its scabbard instantly tore through the air, swinging toward Mamoru's cheek. However, the scabbard abruptly stopped just a finger's breadth from his cheek, as if stuck in a mire, unable to get any closer no matter what.
"Hiashi-sama!" Kurenai hurriedly took a step forward.
"Father, please don't..." Hinata also rushed in, her face full of panic.
"The Hyuga hospitality..."
Mamoru had his left hand in his pocket and his right hand held up with two fingers in front of his chest.
His lips curled into a playful smile. "...is truly unique."
"This is...?"
Hiashi kept increasing the force, but he only felt a sense of nothingness, with no physical feedback.
He had originally only wanted to give this loud-mouthed kid a small lesson to make him understand his place and back off. Now it seemed the boy was not just a mediocre person who only knew how to talk.
"This?"
Mamoru said easily, without breaking a sweat, "Infinity, a Space-Time Ninjutsu I created myself."
"Oh, right."
As if suddenly remembering something, he punched his right fist into his left palm and added nonchalantly, "This technique seems to be the nemesis of all Taijutsu. Of course, that includes your Hyuga Gentle Fist."
"Boastful talk." Hiashi snorted and lowered his wooden sword.
"Believe it or not." Mamoru shrugged indifferently.
He released all the techniques he had applied, and Hanabi on the floor suddenly felt her body lighten.
"How dare you speak so rudely to father!"
As soon as Hanabi was free, she immediately stood up, the veins around her eyes bulging.
Byakugan!
Her small figure rushed swiftly toward Mamoru, assuming the starting stance of the Gentle Fist and attacking with sharp palm strikes.
"Hanabi, don't!" Hinata shouted to stop her.
Mamoru remained where he was, unmoved, letting Hanabi's palm strikes fall around him like raindrops. Those palm strikes that seemed to hit were actually all blocked by 'Infinity' at the last moment, failing to truly touch his body.
"Haven't I made myself clear enough?" Mamoru sighed. "The Gentle Fist doesn't work on me. Why don't you save your strength?"
"Shut up!" Hanabi's attacks grew more frantic, and her breathing became increasingly labored.
Hiashi silently activated his Byakugan. In his field of vision, he could clearly see a Chakra barrier constantly expanding and contracting around the boy's body.
"Huff, huff, huff..."
Hanabi finally ran out of strength and stepped back, leaning on her knees and panting heavily, her small face flushed red from exertion and anger.
"First time I've seen someone exhaust themselves to exhaustion."
"Alright, that's enough from you!" Kurenai quickly stepped forward.
If she didn't stop him now, who knew what other shocking things he would say?
"Hiashi-sama, this boy is outspoken and lacks manners. Please don't take it to heart given his young age. I will give him a proper talking-to later."
Although Kurenai felt Mamoru's words were very satisfying, as the Jonin-in-charge of Team 8, she had to step in to smooth things over.
"..."
Hiashi remained silent, not responding immediately.
Kurenai pulled Mamoru and quickly exited the dojo.
Hinata bowed slightly to her father and turned to follow them out.
Hiashi glanced in the direction they left, then withdrew his gaze, his eyes deep as if lost in thought.
After walking some distance from the dojo, Kurenai finally sighed helplessly, "I really shouldn't have brought you along."
"That old geezer is really annoying. Without me, could you have handled him alone?" Mamoru was dismissive.
"So I should thank you then?" Kurenai retorted crossly.
"No need for thanks. We're on the same side, aren't we?" Mamoru waved his hand as if being magnanimous.
"I've realized your skin is unusually thick." Kurenai couldn't help but laugh.
"Thanks for the compliment." Mamoru accepted shamelessly.
"And thanks for giving me the chance to show off my Talk no Jutsu."
"Talk no Jutsu?" Kurenai was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant.
She covered her forehead, caught between laughter and tears. "You really are..."
"Um..."
Hinata, who had been following silently behind, spoke up softly.
"Hmm?" Mamoru turned his head, his gaze falling on the girl behind him.
"Thank you, Mamoru-kun." Hinata looked up at him sincerely.
"Nothing to thank me for." Mamoru shrugged and pointed his thumb at himself. "I look out for the people in Team 8."
If he hadn't considered that Hinata would have nowhere to go, if he got really annoyed, he would have leveled the Hyuga Main Family with a full-power Blue.