Chapter 2: Two Things
"Father."
Footsteps echoed from within the house. Hyuga Hiashi, his expression stern and composed, stepped into the courtyard. Walking beside him was little Hinata, her head lowered shyly, clinging to her father's sleeve.
"I heard from Hinata… you had something you wanted to discuss with me?"
Standing still in the courtyard, Ryosuke met Hiashi's gaze with a calm, unreadable expression. A faint glimmer of approval flickered in Hiashi's eyes.
He was quite pleased with this son-in-law. Ryosuke's character and talent as a ninja were impressive, but more importantly, he possessed something rare—his blood had returned to the Hyuga clan's ancestral lineage. That alone was enough for Hiashi to disregard certain long-standing clan traditions.
"Yes, Father. There are two things, mainly."
With a gentle tone and a respectful smile, Ryosuke began, "The first is about my training. I've nearly mastered the body's meridian system and its various acupuncture points. Physically, I believe I've reached the level required to begin practicing the Gentle Fist."
"Oh?"
Hiashi raised a brow, mildly surprised. Still, he didn't ask any unnecessary questions. Instead, he stepped forward, his sandals brushing against the stone floor as he moved to stand directly in front of Ryosuke.
"Then I'll test you myself," he said calmly. "Attack me with everything you've got. Use whatever method you wish. As long as you can demonstrate that your foundation is solid enough for the Gentle Fist, you'll pass."
Even among noble clans, being born into a prestigious family didn't guarantee the ability to wield chakra. Without the proper mental and physical development, a child couldn't draw out chakra effectively, much less learn advanced techniques.
Typically, Hyuga children began chakra training around the age of six. After about a year of basic conditioning, they would start learning the Gentle Fist. That timeline aligned with the general age requirement for entering the Ninja Academy.
Of course, there were prodigies—like his younger brother Hizashi's son, Neji, or the Uchiha clan's Itachi—who began training as early as five.
But Ryosuke was different.
He was only four years old, yet he was the first Hyuga in generations to show signs of ancestral bloodline awakening. A genius like that defied conventional timelines.
Standing across from his father-in-law, Ryosuke placed his hands behind his back and asked thoughtfully, "Are you sure I can use any method I want, Father?"
Hiashi nodded, already beginning to respond, "Yes, wh—"
Before he could finish, Ryosuke vanished.
In that brief instant of distraction—when Hiashi began to speak—Ryosuke's leg muscles surged with power, propelling him forward in a sudden blur of motion. In a heartbeat, he was standing right in front of Hiashi, his palm glowing with chakra and cutting through the air.
Whoosh—
A sharp gust of wind trailed behind the strike, and thanks to Ryosuke's slightly taller frame for his age, the palm landed perfectly at Hiashi's abdomen.
And yet, the calm, almost cheerful smile on Ryosuke's face never changed.
A direct frontal attack?
Hiashi narrowed his eyes.
It was clever—he'd used a verbal feint and then launched a surprise attack. But in Hiashi's eyes, the strike was too straightforward. He had already predicted the angle of attack. Perhaps a bit disappointing, but understandable. After all, Ryosuke was still just a child.
Then—
Hiashi's expression shifted subtly.
The moment his hand reached up to block the incoming strike, he felt… nothing.
No impact… a clone?!
Not good!
It all happened in a flash.
Before Hiashi could even turn to defend, a sharp pain pierced the Taizhui point on his back.
Bang!
A heavy, muffled thud echoed through the yard.
A powerful force slammed into his back, sending him flying like a cannonball. He passed through the fading image of Ryosuke's clone and crashed into a thick tree at the edge of the courtyard.
Boom!
The massive trunk snapped with a thunderous crack, splintering as it toppled to the ground. Dust exploded into the air, billowing across the courtyard like a thick mist.
And at the spot where Hiashi had originally been standing, Ryosuke calmly withdrew his hand, a gentle smile lingering on his face.
At some point, his Byakugan had already activated, those enviable eyes glowing faintly.
"Father!"
The sudden clash left Hinata, who had been watching nearby, completely stunned. After a moment, she snapped out of it and shouted nervously.
Just as she was about to run over, Ryosuke raised a hand to stop her.
"Don't worry. I know my limits," he said reassuringly.
He remained where he was, scanning the clearing through his activated Byakugan. In the midst of the dust cloud, he saw Hiashi slowly rising to his feet—unharmed.
"Knowing your limits, huh? I could barely feel any restraint in that last attack."
A faintly amused voice echoed through the dust.
Hiashi emerged with his hands behind his back, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His eyes held unmistakable admiration.
"You used my ignorance of your mastery of the Clone Technique to set a trap... Not bad at all. Excellent combat awareness."
"Knowing my limits doesn't mean I'll hold back completely," Ryosuke replied softly. "Besides, I knew you wouldn't go down from that. You're the head of the Hyuga clan, after all."
As he spoke, he examined Hiashi's condition through his Byakugan.
Though his father-in-law's white robes were now dust-stained from the impact, his body showed no sign of internal damage from Ryosuke's palm strike.
Anime and manga exaggerate a lot, Ryosuke mused silently. In reality, the physical toughness of people in this world is on a completely different level.
If that strike had landed on a full-grown adult in his previous life, they'd have been knocked unconscious. But here, even an unguarded blow to a vital point hadn't done more than cause a stumble.
"It may have been a bit rude, but I'm satisfied," Hiashi said, clearly pleased. "You've shown more than enough potential. You acted like a proper ninja in combat."
Hearing this, Ryosuke's gentle demeanor didn't change, but there was a trace of satisfaction in his gaze.
"In terms of physical development, you're definitely ready to learn the Gentle Fist. But remember—Gentle Fist isn't just about coating your palms with chakra and striking acupoints."
Hiashi straightened up, brushing the dust from his clothes. His tone turned formal and resolute.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll personally train you in all of the Hyuga clan's techniques... including those passed down only within the main branch."
Though Ryosuke's attack showed he had picked up bits of the style through observation or self-study, there was still a long road ahead. A child, no matter how gifted, was still just beginning their journey.
"I'll study diligently," Ryosuke replied with sincerity. "But that brings me to the second reason I asked you here."
He paused. The smile that had lingered on his face up until now gradually faded, and his voice dropped slightly.
"You already know... my eyes are different from the rest of the Hyuga clan—even yours."
At his words, the faint smile on Hiashi's face disappeared as well. He raised a hand in caution, motioning for silence. In the next moment, his own Byakugan activated as he scanned the surrounding area.
"Don't worry," Ryosuke said. "I already swept the perimeter. No one's nearby—not aboveground, not underground. No sensing techniques, either."
Even so, Hiashi conducted a full check himself before finally relaxing.
"It's always better to be cautious," he said seriously.
He knew very well—Ryosuke's Byakugan was fundamentally different from the rest of the clan's. Stronger, clearer, and more precise. Perhaps due to his bloodline reverting to an ancestral state, his strength surpassed that of any Hyuga in living memory.
The clan's records were fragmented in parts, but the general history remained intact.
Everything about Ryosuke—his appearance, his power—mirrored the legendary ancestor from Hyuga lore. His existence was a secret, and only Hiashi and the Hyuga clan's Grand Elder were aware of it.
To the outside world, Ryosuke was simply a promising youth chosen to be Hinata's future husband. A talented boy with excellent potential.
Because geniuses only matter if they survive to grow.
Unlike the prideful Uchiha, the Hyuga were discreet. Their caution was what made them the second most populous and stable clan in Konoha, second only to the Sarutobi.
Ryosuke studied Hiashi's expression with amusement.
I really did get lucky, he thought. Reborn into a clan whose way of doing things aligns perfectly with mine.
If he had been reborn into the Uchiha, he never would've revealed his powers. They would've feared him... and probably tried to eliminate him.
Konoha was not a simple place.
"The second reason I wanted to speak with you," Ryosuke said finally, "is because I heard a delegation from the Hidden Cloud Village recently arrived in Konoha... is that true?"
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