Hyuga Masayuki looked at Hyuga Arin, who stood there with a completely expressionless face.
There wasn't the slightest trace of remorse on him, which made Masayuki frown.
He turned to Hyuga Hiashi and said, "Since you're pleading for him, the punishment can be reduced—but it cannot be waived. Three days of confinement."
"Father—" Hyuga Hiashi still tried to speak up for Hyuga Arin.
But Hyuga Masayuki had already made his decision.
"Enough. You may withdraw."
Two Hyuga clan members took Hyuga Arin away, escorting him toward the Hyuga clan's prison.
The prison was located in the rear compound.
Along the way, many people saw them—but this time, it wasn't one in front and one behind. Instead, each guard seized one of Hyuga Arin's arms, unmistakably treating him like a criminal.
This was also meant as a warning to the other branch family members.
The Hyuga clan's prison was an underground dungeon.
From the outside, it was just a small building. Once the door was opened, stairs led downward.
Inside the dungeon, torches were mounted along the walls at fixed intervals. Between every two torches stood an iron door, airtight and oppressive.
Who would've thought this place was prepared for their own people?
More precisely—prepared for the branch family.
Still, public defiance like Hyuga Arin's was rare. The entire dungeon held very few prisoners.
The two guards unlocked one of the iron doors and shoved Hyuga Arin inside.
Without a word, they shut the door. As it closed, the last sliver of light vanished completely.
In the darkness, Hyuga Arin opened his eyes.
"One plays the bad cop, the other the good cop."
He was utterly disdainful.
Hyuga Hiashi thought he could subdue him this way—pure wishful thinking.
"Byakugan."
Activating it, Hyuga Arin swept the area. Seeing no surveillance mechanisms, he finally took something out of his inventory.
A desk lamp.
"Good thing I prepared in advance."
Although this was his first time being locked up, he had long known about the Hyuga clan's methods of punishment. The dungeon was infamous.
Many branch family members loathed it to the core.
He turned on the lamp.
Bright light instantly illuminated the cell. The dungeon wasn't large, square on all sides, with only a small ventilation duct.
There was a chair inside. Judging from the chains fastened beside it, one didn't need to think hard to know what it was for.
He took out several strips of dried meat from his inventory and put them into his mouth.
For others, this place was torture.
For him—it wasn't necessarily so.
He had plenty of items stored away. Staying here for years wouldn't be a problem.
"Three days later, I'll still be a fine man. Just need to watch one thing."
Can't gain weight during these three days.
He immediately started training inside the cell.
In any case, he might not even be here for three full days.
…
The next day.
Konoha's princess, Tsunade, paid a visit to the Hyuga clan.
Inside the council chamber.
This time, only Hyuga Masayuki and Tsunade were present. Between them sat a wooden table with two cups of tea.
Behind Tsunade, the sliding doors were open, revealing a verdant lakeside view.
"Jonin Tsunade," Hyuga Masayuki asked directly, "are you satisfied with my son?"
He had intended to establish a master-disciple relationship between Hyuga Hiashi and Tsunade.
However, Hyuga Hiashi wasn't assigned to her through the Ninja Academy, so it couldn't formally be called that.
At best, they were superior and subordinate.
That was also why the Hokage had agreed to let the three Hyuga members be led by Tsunade.
Tsunade frowned slightly.
"Your son's ability is acceptable, but he's too impulsive. However, that's not why I'm here today."
Hyuga Masayuki calmly set down his teacup.
"Then what brings Lady Tsunade here?"
"Hyuga Arin," Tsunade said bluntly. "To prepare for future missions, I intend to personally train Hyuga Arin."
Hyuga Masayuki's brows creased slightly.
He hadn't expected Tsunade to come specifically for Hyuga Arin.
And her reason was entirely legitimate—team leaders were allowed to train their subordinates.
"Then does Jonin Tsunade also intend to train my two sons?" Hyuga Masayuki smoothly shifted the topic.
Although the Third Hokage's position was now stable, that stability had come at great cost.
Over time, the Hokage's authority had been reduced, while the power of the great clans had increased.
Just like now—Hyuga Masayuki had no intention of handing Hyuga Arin over, and Tsunade had no real way to force the issue.
This wasn't the era of the First or Second Hokage anymore.
But Tsunade's identity was also significant.
Hyuga Masayuki didn't want to offend her, yet he couldn't simply let go either.
Tsunade merely frowned, then spoke calmly.
"What I intend to teach Hyuga Arin is medical ninTechnique. If Hiashi and Hizashi are interested, they may train together with him."
That put Hyuga Masayuki in a difficult position.
Originally, he'd hoped Tsunade would train his two sons. Tsunade had been taught by Hiruzen Sarutobi and even the Second Hokage—if she trained his sons, their growth would be rapid.
But he had no desire for his sons to become medics.
At this point, Tsunade hadn't yet formally introduced the concept of medical ninja, and many ninja looked down on medical ninTechnique.
Tsunade's stance made it clear—she wanted to get Hyuga Arin out, without offering much in return.
Which also meant her relationship with Hyuga Arin wasn't particularly deep.
Yet Hyuga Masayuki still didn't want to reject her outright.
As for Hyuga Arin—he didn't want to release him either. It had only been a day; the punishment hadn't sunk in yet. It still wasn't enough for Hiashi to fully subdue him.
Silence filled the room.
Tsunade gently sipped her tea, the green liquid reflecting her face.
There was no coercion, no bargaining—just Hyuga Masayuki weighing his options.
Agreeing wouldn't necessarily build a closer relationship with Tsunade.
Refusing, however, would definitely offend her.
Tsunade herself looked completely indifferent.
"I want to know why," Hyuga Masayuki asked directly. "Why him?"
Why would Tsunade speak up for a mere branch family member?
They had no apparent connection. Even this team assignment had been the result of his deal with the Hokage.
Tsunade set her teacup down and spoke softly.
"Hyuga Arin is my subordinate."
Hyuga Masayuki could tell she didn't want to elaborate.
With a helpless sigh, he finally said, "Very well."
In the end, he still didn't want to become enemies with Tsunade.
…
"Eight hundred ninety-one."
"Eight hundred ninety-two."
"Eight hundred ninety-three."
Hyuga Arin was doing handstand push-ups, his entire body balanced on one hand, rising and falling repeatedly.
Sweat dripped from his face, pooling on the ground like a small stream.
Suddenly, faint footsteps echoed.
Hyuga Arin immediately stopped, stepped forward, and swiftly stored the trash and desk lamp on the table back into his inventory.
The cell plunged into total darkness.
He didn't want to expose these things.
The inventory was his greatest trump card.
Click.
The sound of a lock turning echoed. Hyuga Arin looked toward the door as a sliver of light shone in.
Fortunately, he hadn't been in complete darkness the whole time—light didn't bother him.
"Hyuga Arin, your confinement is over," a familiar voice came from outside.
The corner of Hyuga Arin's mouth curled upward as he stepped out.
Hyuga Hiashi stood at the entrance, his face conflicted. Upon seeing Hyuga Arin emerge, he quickly put on a serious expression.
He extended his hand.
"We're on the same team after all. I hope we can work well together from now on."