At the entrance of the Hyuga estate...
Two servants rushed excitedly into the courtyard.
"Quick! Inform the clan leader, Lord Ye Liang has arrived!"
A group of nearby people turned their eyes toward Ye Liang, who suddenly blushed slightly and looked rather bashful.
What in the world is going on here!
Have these two gone mad?!
...
Today seemed to be one of the Hyuga family's regular clan gatherings. On his way here, Ye Liang had encountered many members of the Hyuga main house attending the banquet. When he originally reached the gate, he'd been somewhat hesitant about entering.
After all, what did this family genealogy gathering have to do with him? But before Ye Liang could even approach the door properly, the gatekeeper had already shouted loudly and run inside.
Unbelievable!
"If you don't understand the situation, just play it cool for now!"
Ye Liang suddenly recalled what Tori Futodi Hengkui-Ski had said.
International friends never make international jokes, and Ye Liang believed his words completely. Thus, he crossed his arms over his chest with an air of aloofness and approached a nearby Hyuga clansman.
"Brother, may I ask who you are?"
This Hyuga man looked rather dull-witted.
"I'm Ye Liang! Don't you remember me? We were in the same class back at the Ninja Academy!"
"Oh right, it's you, Ye Liang!" The man suddenly realized.
As if we were ever classmates!
I'm almost thirty years old! Who's your classmate!
The Hyuga man's heart was basically galloping with wild horses.
Of course he knew Ye Liang was lying.
Ye Liang looked about twenty, while this man was already in his early thirties...
"So brother, are you here for something special? Today is our Hyuga family gathering after all?" The clansman asked again. Seeing his odd expression, Ye Liang naturally understood his meaning.
But what else could he do?
It was Hiashi Hyuga himself who had invited him to attend this meeting, and Ye Liang was equally confused.
"Let's go together."
"Seriously? Together?"
Still puzzled, but since Ye Liang didn't explain further, he didn't press any further. Besides, he'd heard those two servants shouting earlier.
Seemed like Ye Liang had indeed been specially invited.
Previous family gatherings sometimes invited special guests too—like certain future sons-in-law joining the Hyuga family through marriage. Judging by Ye Liang's youth and handsome appearance, that might be why he was here.
"So you're another pretty boy trying to marry into our Hyuga family. No wonder."
Though thinking this, he still kept it to himself.
Just then,
Hiashi Hyuga followed closely by servants hurriedly walked out from the compound gate.
"Lord Ye Liang, you've finally come!"
His voice arrived before he did!
Hiashi Hyuga was a mighty man, so naturally his voice was loud too.
The very same Hyuga clansman who'd just been talking casually with Ye Liang was instantly shocked!
A mere prospective son-in-law actually being addressed as "Honored Brother" by the clan head!
Who exactly is this person?!
Could he possibly be the legendary Longwang (Dragon King)?
He stared at Ye Liang in astonishment. Little did he know that Ye Liang's face showed obvious embarrassment as he faced Hiashi.
"Haha, dear elder brother, you're finally here! I've missed you so much!"
With one "dear elder brother," everyone's gazes once again focused on them.
Dear elder brother?!
Hiashi was momentarily stunned, but without giving it more thought, he immediately went forward and gave Ye Liang an enthusiastic bear hug.
"Go ahead, older brother. The elders are already waiting for you inside."
"Clan elders?" Ye Liang asked with surprise.
"That's right. Since you're a long-lost relative of our Hyuga clan, naturally we must welcome you back into the Hyuga family."
Why?!
What the hell is going on?!
What exactly did I say that day after getting drunk?!
It felt like a bolt out of the blue—as if ten thousand camels had galloped across his heart!
"R-Right… Big Brother, then let's hurry and get this reunion done." He followed Hiashi Hyuga into the side courtyard awkwardly, leaving behind the clansman he'd just spoken with.
"Isn't that the Dragon King's son-in-law? How did he become a long-lost relative all of a sudden?" At the gate, many watching clan members were shocked by what they'd just seen.
Inside the side courtyard.
Ye Liang was led by Hiashi Hyuga into a room full of elderly people.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Ye Liang," he greeted the elders with discomfort. But these old folks were all high-ranking elders in the clan—proud and dignified—and none of them so much as acknowledged him.
With no better option, Ye Liang just grabbed a nearby seat and sat down.
Ahem! Things are finally starting to make sense.
Ye Liang began piecing things together.
It seemed like he'd claimed to be related to the Hyuga during a drunken conversation days ago. But was Hiashi actually an idiot? How could he believe such a thing when Ye Liang didn't even have the Byakugan?!
Damn it!
"What reason did I even use back then?!"
Ye Liang scratched his head again, still drawing a complete blank on the details of that night.
Before long, more and more participants arrived for the genealogy gathering. The man Ye Liang had earlier spoken to gave him a glance and took the seat right beside him, apparently intending to strike up a conversation.
"Brother Ye Liang, my name is Hyuga Huomen. I'm part of the village reconnaissance unit. Please take care of me!"
"Yeah," Ye Liang simply nodded.
This guy probably came over because he was shocked that the clan leader himself had personally welcomed Ye Liang. Therefore, he was here trying to talk.
Seeing that Huomen appeared rather straightforward, Ye Liang decided to try and fish some clues out of him.
"Brother Huomen, do you know what this genealogy meeting is about? This is my first time attending, so I'm not too familiar with the process."
Hearing this, Huomen was first taken aback, then answered with some surprise, "Wait, Brother Ye Liang—you're the guest of honor today, aren't you? You don't know?"
Guest of honor?
"What? Since when did I become the guest of honor!"
Ye Liang mentally facepalmed, his expression stiffening at once.
Huomen blinked in confusion.
Seeing Ye Liang truly looked puzzled—not faking it—he continued explaining: "Originally, I was told today was about welcoming back a lost member of the main family line. But given how Elder Hiashi treated you outside, you must be that missing person. Didn't you know?"
"You think I know something? If I did, I'd be haunted by ghosts!" Ye Liang replied helplessly.
At that moment, Hiashi stepped forward carrying the family register.
"Everyone, now that we're all gathered, let us begin!" He hung the genealogy scroll onto the wall behind him and addressed the crowd.
"We have received incredible joyous news today!
"Everyone, take a look!"
He spread out a piece of paper covered in ghostly scribbles on the wall next to the family register. It was a fresh drawing, clearly made not long ago.
"What's so special about this?" The Hyugas cast puzzled glances toward it.
But!
The moment their eyes landed on the drawing, they couldn't look away anymore!
[Core Technique of the Gentle Fist!]
"Even though the writing's awful, it hits the core of the Gentle Fist perfectly!"
"Holy crap! Who among our elders came up with all this? With just this single drawing, the younger generation of our Hyuga clan could level up tenfold!"
"Was this given by that distant relative trying to reclaim his heritage with our clan?"
Everyone began commenting excitedly, one after another. Even the usually tight-lipped elders became enchanted!
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