There was no other way. The Hyūga clan's Main Family system and hierarchy were even stricter than Konoha's civil service system. As the eldest son of the clan head, Hyūga Hiashi could only accept it.
"Yes. Also, Hiashi, bring the scroll here. Let me take a look." Hyūga Sekijō was also curious about this scroll from the number one strongest shinobi.
"Yes, Father." Hyūga Hiashi handed the scroll to Hyūga Sekijō. Sekijō unrolled it and glanced at the name. "Tai Chi Quan."
From the name, it seemed to be a taijutsu style. Then, it began explaining the essence of Tai Chi Quan, concepts like Yin and Yang. Sekijō suddenly felt he was touching upon something profound.
He continued reading. First were the core thirteen postures, hard within soft, soft within hard, strength and energy interconnected, ceaselessly generating. Although the movements were simple, every move, every stance contained deep principles.
Then came the simplified twenty one postures, weeding through the old to bring forth the new, the fist having its method, used for actual combat. Sekijō mentally visualized the movements, discovering they were an incredibly good fit for their Hyūga family.
Looking further, the advanced fifty six postures of Tai Chi Quan, the fist techniques were numerous and complex, but their power was considerable, attack and defense integrated, flawless. However, one must first master the initial thirteen core postures.
Sekijō was enthralled. He took out a blank scroll and began copying it. Hiashi was shocked in his heart. This scroll could actually make his father value it so highly.
Roughly two hours later, Sekijō held the handwritten copy as if it were a priceless treasure, carefully folding it. Then he returned the original scroll to Hiashi.
"My son, remember what I tell you next. This set of Tai Chi Quan can be called the pinnacle work of taijutsu. It is something that can serve as the Hyūga clan's foundational fist technique. It even shares similarities with our Gentle Fist technique and the Sixty Four Trigrams Palms."
"But this taijutsu is on a much higher level than our clan's Gentle Fist, Sixty Four Trigrams Palms, and even the Eight Trigrams Revolving Heaven."
"You, did your teacher say anything else?" Sekijō inquired now.
"The teacher said this was developed based on our fighting style and physical constitution," Hiashi said.
Sekijō's eyes lit up. In other words, Ryun had tailored it based on Hiashi's way of fighting. That meant this taijutsu was a gift for their family.
"Hiashi, from now on, you must regard your teacher, Ryun, the same way you regard me. With this taijutsu combined with chakra, our Hyūga clan's strength will increase at least threefold." Sekijō said seriously.
"In the future, the core thirteen postures of Tai Chi Quan are only to be available to the clan head's sons. The fifty six postures and the twenty one postures will be available to the Main Family. The twenty one postures will be available to the Branch Family. Understood?" Sekijō said sternly.
He also had personal motives. The core thirteen postures were the most important and could only be kept for his own sons. The other fist techniques could be given to the clansmen.
Hiashi was silent, then said, "Father, I believe we should still consult the teacher before making a decision. After all, this taijutsu was bestowed by him."
Sekijō was silent, finally nodding. "Yes, you are right. Tomorrow, you go and ask. No, this weekend, the two of us will visit him in person."
This matter concerned the family's great undertaking. Sekijō did not dare to be careless. Hiashi nodded. "Then tomorrow at school, I will inform the teacher."
"Good. Hiashi, I will teach you to practice this Tai Chi Quan." Sekijō smiled slightly, looked at his son, and nodded.
He had gotten carried away for a moment and almost forgotten that this fist technique was passed by Ryun to his son, not given to the Hyūga clan. To pass it on, he needed to ask the person himself.
His son, after just one day, already had this awareness, this composure. Following Ryun was indeed the correct path.
"Yes, Father." Hiashi was somewhat excited. Just then, Hyūga Hizashi returned home. Sekijō looked at Hizashi, a complex light flashing in his eyes.
He also felt sorry for his son. As the clan head, he actually could not protect his own son, watching him be branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
After careful consideration, Sekijō spoke. "Hizashi."
Hizashi looked up, saw Sekijō, and was about to call out "Fa..." then his eyes darkened. "Clan Head, do you have instructions?"
Sekijō's heart ached. Damn Main and Branch Family system. His heart sank, looking at Hizashi, feeling uncomfortable.
But now, those old fogies in the Main Family were stubborn and inflexible, insisting that the ancestral laws cannot be changed, and the clan head should lead by example in upholding the rules.
"Hizashi, come with Hiashi. There is a set of fist techniques. You will learn it together too." Sekijō's eyes held a trace of guilt.
Hiashi looked at his younger brother and said, "Second Brother."
Hizashi's expression softened slightly. Although he had been branded with the Caged Bird and became a member of the Branch Family, his elder brother often visited him, taught him some taijutsu, and shared some family anecdotes.
So the relationship between the two brothers was good. Hizashi said, "Elder Brother."
Hiashi smiled and nodded. "This taijutsu was bestowed by the Hokage-sama. You are my brother. You are qualified to practice the complete taijutsu."
Sekijō also nodded, looking at Hizashi. Hizashi's heart shook. A fist technique bestowed by the Hokage-sama. Finally, he nodded. "Thank you, Clan Head. Thank you, Elder Brother."
Sekijō's heart ached again. He knew Hizashi resented him in his heart. Finally, he led the two to a secret room in the Hyūga compound.
Indeed, some people hold high positions but are constrained, held back by so-called family rules, pushed to the forefront by the elders.
In the secret room, after Sekijō performed the core thirteen postures once, he felt his whole body warm, a kind of energy flowing everywhere inside.
His palms produced wind, his fists had power. Hizashi concentrated hard, continuously memorizing Sekijō's movements and oral instructions, feeling excitement rise in his heart.
His talent was exceptionally high. He could see many things Hiashi could not. The more he watched, the more astonished he became. The more he watched, the more excited he grew. At this moment, his eyes suddenly twitched strangely, but he was so immersed in the Tai Chi Quan he did not notice it.
After Sekijō finished the entire set of Tai Chi Quan, Hizashi finally snapped back to attention. "Hiashi, Hizashi, how was it? How much did you remember?"
Hiashi was silent, then said, "Five moves."
Hizashi's heart stirred. He said calmly, "Four moves."
In reality, Hizashi had already memorized all the moves and oral instructions of the core thirteen postures. But seeing his elder brother's serious expression, he did not want to discourage him.
Sekijō, however, nodded. "Good. I will perform it once more. You two, study hard, practice hard." After saying this, he performed the set again. Then, he stuffed the copied Tai Chi Quan scroll into Hizashi's hands.
"Hizashi, this is the copied version. After you learn it, burn it. You must not pass it to other clansmen, understand?" Sekijō said seriously.
Hizashi nodded. "Thank you, Clan Head." Sekijō opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent. Then he borrowed the original scroll from Hiashi to make another copy for himself.
Hiashi naturally did not refuse. Afterward, he and his brother studied the Tai Chi Quan together using the copied version.
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The first twitch of the Byakugan, tsk tsk, now you know why Hizashi's talent is said to be high, right?
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