The setting sun sank heavily toward the western horizon. As the last rays of light spilled down, the meticulously pruned pine and cypress trees in the courtyard cast silent, gnarled silhouettes in the elongated shadows. The air was filled with the lazy scent of an ending day and the calm of the approaching night, mixed with the faint, earthy smell of plants and the distant aroma of cooking smoke.
Deep within the estate, a spacious training room with polished tatami mats lay open. One row of verandas was open, letting in the last of the day's light, casting long, blurry strips of light where tiny motes of dust could be seen floating in the air.
"Haa!"
A crisp shout broke the silence. Hinata Hyūga's figure moved in the dim light, her hands almost a blur. Neji Hyūga weaved through the blur of her palms, his movements simple and precise. His Byakugan shimmered with an all-seeing light, catching every gap and flaw in Hinata's actions.
The next moment, Hinata let out a low cry and thrust both palms forward. However, Neji simply moved slightly to the side, his left hand reaching out precisely and gently deflecting her.
Clap!
Hinata felt a resilient but irresistible force from her wrist. Her body was involuntarily thrown off course, and she stumbled, falling toward the veranda. Just a second before she was about to hit the edge, she forcefully regained her balance and subconsciously turned to look at her "father" standing in the distance.
Hiashi Hyūga stood there like a silent sculpture. The setting sun's afterglow only illuminated half of his body, the other half hidden in deep shadow, seemingly exuding an unspeakable solemnity and distance. Seeing that there was no expression on his face, Hinata's heart tightened slightly, expecting the usual reproach or disappointment, but at the same time, she held a tiny glimmer of hope.
"You've improved quickly."
Hiashi Hyūga spoke slowly, his voice low and calm. "You've basically mastered the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms. While you're still not an expert, it's a huge improvement from before."
A strong sense of satisfaction instantly surged into Hinata's heart. Her cheeks, wet with sweat, turned a light pink from excitement. "Y-Yes..." she nodded vigorously, her voice trembling slightly. "Yes, Father! I'll keep working hard!"
Standing to the side, Neji Hyūga looked at the undisguised joy on Hinata's face, his eyes becoming complex and profound. He could indeed feel Hinata's progress. Although her Gentle Fist techniques were still clumsy and far from refined, she still seemed hesitant and lacking in resolve, as if she didn't have the will to fight at all.
However, compared to the timid and hesitant main branch heiress she used to be, the current Hinata Hyūga seemed like a completely different person. Her eyes were no longer shifty and held a hint of determination, and her movements were no longer hesitant but had a certain sharpness to them. She no longer fell after being countered, but would grit her teeth and try to find the next opportunity to attack.
Is it because of the encouragement from Hiashi Hyūga?
Neji's gaze swept over the face of "Hiashi Hyūga," which still showed no emotion. Could mere encouragement and affirmation bring about such a huge change in Hinata Hyūga? Or did Hinata Hyūga have a resilience deep within her that he had never noticed?
An inexplicable frustration and sense of loss filled Neji's heart. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his chaotic thoughts, and bowed slightly toward "Hiashi Hyūga."
"Lord Hiashi, it's getting late. I'll end my training for today. I'll take my leave." With that, he turned and walked toward the training room door without looking at Hinata.
"P-Please wait, Brother Neji."
Just as Neji's hand was about to touch the door, Hinata's hesitant voice came from behind him. Neji's footsteps paused, but he didn't turn back. Hinata hurried to his side, her face still flushed with excitement and covered in sweat.
She hesitated for a moment, then finally handed over a square lunchbox wrapped in white cloth. "Brother Neji..." Hinata said with a hint of cautious flattery. "This, this is a bento I made myself. Would you like to..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear. She held the lunchbox in both hands, her eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness.
The training room was silent. Neji stood there, his back to Hinata. His tall figure looked stiff and cold in the dim light. He could feel the expectant gaze behind him, like needles pricking his back.
A bento made by the main branch heiress herself...
This seemingly kind gesture, in Neji's eyes, was only a biting irony and a source of sorrow. He was no longer the innocent and naive Neji Hyūga he used to be. This seemingly caring act, meant to bridge the gap between siblings, seemed so pale, weak, and even fake in the face of the uncrossable chasm between the main and side branches.
He could never forget his father's death, or the curse mark on his forehead, which symbolized humiliation and bondage.
After a long time, Neji slowly turned around. His gaze fell on the lunchbox in Hinata's hands. His Byakugan was calm.
"No need," his voice was low and clear, with a coldness that kept people at a distance. "I cannot accept the kindness of the main branch heiress."
The smile on Hinata's face instantly froze. The hand holding the lunchbox trembled slightly, and her expression was replaced by a deep sense of dejection. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she just lowered her eyes weakly.
Neji no longer looked at her. He turned, opened the door, and his figure disappeared into the corridor outside.
Squeak.
The sound of the door closing was particularly clear in her ears.
Hinata Hyūga remained in the same spot. Hiashi Hyūga stood in the shadows, watching everything silently. There was no expression on his face, only a hint of a complex emotion in the depths of his eyes.
He slowly stood up, walked behind Hinata, and his tall figure cast a shadow over her in the dim light. He didn't say anything, but reached out his broad hand and gently patted Hinata's head.
This action made Hinata's body tremble slightly. She looked up, her pure Byakugan still misty with unshed tears. She looked at her "father" with a hint of confusion and grievance.
"Go change your clothes," Hiashi Hyūga's voice was low. "Dinner is ready."
His tone was calm, which temporarily calmed Hinata's chaotic emotions.
"...Yes, Father." Hinata's voice was a little nasal. She sniffled hard, bowed slightly to Hiashi Hyūga, and then turned and left the training room.
Hiashi Hyūga watched as Hinata disappeared from his sight. The imperceptible gentleness on his face vanished, replaced by a deep tranquility. He didn't stay, but turned and walked deeper into the estate, passing through deep, winding corridors, avoiding the occasional servant, and finally arrived at his room.
Hiashi Hyūga walked to a seemingly ordinary wall on the inner side of the room. He quickly and precisely pressed a few inconspicuous indentations on the wall with the five fingers of his right hand and formed a hand sign with his left.
Click... click... hum...
With the faint sound of a mechanism turning and a seal being released, a seamless secret door on the wall silently slid inward, revealing a narrow stone staircase that extended downward into a bottomless darkness.
Hiashi Hyūga didn't hesitate. He stepped into the darkness, and the secret door silently closed behind him, blocking out the last bit of light. The passage was pitch black. He walked down the stairs, his footsteps echoing hollowly in the silent passage.
At the end of the passage was a thick stone door. Hiashi Hyūga made another hand sign and injected chakra into the seal on the door. The stone door silently opened inward. Behind the door was a small, secret room. The light was dim, with only a few lamps providing illumination. The air was even colder and wetter, filled with an unsettling, deathly silence.
The moment Hiashi Hyūga stepped into the secret room, a figure suddenly lunged out from the shadows! However, just as the figure was about to touch Hiashi Hyūga, its movements instantly froze. Its body remained in a lunging posture, but it couldn't move forward an inch.
Hiashi Hyūga stood there, his face completely calm, his eyes showing no change whatsoever. He calmly looked at the figure that was frozen in place. It was, without a doubt, the real Hiashi Hyūga.
However, the current Hiashi Hyūga looked different from his previous haggard and gaunt state. Compared to the other man, aside from his slightly paler complexion, he was completely identical.
"Don't waste your energy," Hiashi Hyūga said with a frown, looking at the face twisted with anger. "I told you, with that person's power, you can't kill me."
"If you want to leave this secret room tonight, you'd better behave."
Over the years, he had become more and more adept at impersonating Hiashi Hyūga, even replicating his habits. The only difference between him and the real Hiashi Hyūga was his attitude toward Hinata. Compared to the real Hiashi Hyūga's harshness, he focused on encouragement and affirmation. This was one of the few kind things he did now, and one of the few things he was willing to do.
But there was one thing he could never do. Hiashi's wife was still alive and wanted to have a child. He had been able to get away with excuses before, but he couldn't keep making excuses forever.
Fortunately...
"It seems the gift I gave you last time was very useful to you?"
A hoarse, laughing voice entered his ears. Hiashi Hyūga looked in the direction of the voice, and a dark figure gradually emerged from the shadows.
"Long time no see," Hiashi Hyūga said, bowing slightly, his attitude respectful. "Lord 'Shadow'."
"Your gift has indeed solved a lot of trouble for me. I am truly grateful."
Seeing the figure that emerged from the shadows, the real Hiashi Hyūga, who was still frozen in place, had a look of rage and hatred on his face.
That damned guy again!!
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