Hyuga Tetsu,
This person was a branch family ninja of the same generation as Shinji Hyuga, but one year older.
He had brown hair tied in a neat ponytail and a serious face,making him look like a very meticulous person.
Previously, Shinji Hyuga hadn't had much interaction with the other party, only bumping into each other a few times during missions with the border reconnaissance teams. At that time, the other was a member of the Ninth Reconnaissance Team.
Perhaps they had chatted briefly during shift breaks.
ButShinji Hyuga, who was busy practicing the Byakugan Invisibility Technique back then, couldn't quite remember what Hyuga Tetsu had said to him.
"Don't remember?"
"We talked about this last year when the Eighth and Ninth Squads were on patrol duty together."
At this moment, Hyuga Tetsu looked at Shinji Hyuga, his brows slightly furrowed, speaking in the tone of an older brother one year his senior:
"Back then,I asked you what you were really thinking?"
"Why can't you just be normal?"
"You've always clung to that strange approach,never caring what others think, always doing things your own way and believing you're right."
"But what was the result?"
"You awakened your Byakugan early by taking shortcuts but neglected training your clan's secret techniques.Your failure in the Chunin Exams is the price you pay for your own mistakes!"
Hearing these words, Shinji Hyuga's expression remained unmoved, and he simply replied:
"Oh."
"You—"
Receiving this perfunctory reply, Hyuga Tetsu's temple twitched slightly, and he was on the verge of exploding.
Shinji Hyugacut him off first: "Is there anything else?"
Hyuga Tetsu took a deep breath, suppressing the rising displeasure in his heart, and with a stern face brought up another matter, questioning:
"I heard you turned down Elder Takahiro's appointment."
Shinji Hyugagave him a strange look, then calmly nodded: "That's right."
Hyuga Tetsu was even more infuriated by Shinji Hyuga's indifferent attitude.
He clenched his fist,his face darkening as he looked at Shinji Hyuga and reprimanded:
"What exactly are you thinking?"
"You,Shinji Hyuga, have neither talent nor strength. You are only fortunate that your parents saved an elder of the main family, which is why you have this opportunity and the privilege to act so recklessly as a member of the branch family!"
"Do you know what a valuable opportunity you just turned down?"
"Do you know that Elder Takahiro has been waiting for this day to repay your parents'kindness?"
"Do you know how many people in the branch family envy you?"
Shinji Hyuga smiled,
"What is there to envy?Envying that I can kneel and kowtow to people every day?"
Hyuga Tetsu's face turned ashen, his lips pressed together, and he let out an exasperated laugh.
Pointing atShinji Hyuga, he asked:
"Shinji Hyuga!"
"Are you still clinging to your self-righteous and unrealistic ninja dream?"
"But even if you disregard the ridicule of outsiders and the reputation of the Hyuga clan!"
"Why don't you think about Natsu?"
"What did Natsu do wrong to deserve being stuck with a good-for-nothing like you?!"
"Starting as a servant,being trained and entrusted with important responsibilities, eventually becoming a steward of the main family... Shinji Hyuga, both you and I should understand that this is the highest path available to you in this life!"
"And this is the only thing about you that makes you worthy of Natsu!"
"But now,but now... you've thrown this opportunity away with your own hands!"
Hyuga Tetsu stared at Shinji Hyuga with a look of utter disappointment, his eyes bloodshot and filled with regret, frustration, and, above all, a burning rage.
The anger of someone who wished he could take the other's place.
Shinji Hyuga understood clearly.
He tilted his head,looked at Hyuga Tetsu with an amused expression, and asked:
"You like Natsu,don't you?"
Upon hearing this, Hyuga Tetsu's body trembled. The anger on his face vanished as quickly as snow melting under the warm sun, replaced by a blush as red as scorched earth in the summer heat.
He pursed his lips,his whole body trembling for a moment.
Immediately,his face darkened. He lowered his head, stiffly reached out, and grabbed Shinji Hyuga's arm, saying in a muffled voice:
"Come with me!"
"Go apologize to Elder Takahiro and ask him to rescind the order.You can continue working in the clan."
"I...I will help you become the steward of the Hyuga main family, and even... even the head steward in charge of all the Hyuga clan's affairs."
Hyuga Tetsu was still just a fourteen-year-old boy, unable to keep secrets, and had even made such a twisted promise to Shinji Hyuga in a moment of impulse.
However,
Shinji Hyugashook his head, calmly withdrawing his arm.
Hyuga Tetsu raised his head in disbelief,glaring at Shinji Hyuga with a dark expression.
"You...I've already conceded so much, and you still want to..."
As he spoke,a hint of panic flashed across his face again.
"I understand,I can still—"
"Enough, Tetsu." Shinji Hyuga interrupted him, turning sideways so he could see behind him.
At this time,
on the second-floor corridor of the apartment building,a wooden door marked with the number 205 opened.
A young girl stood smiling in the doorway.She wore a pristine white sundress, her long hair was tied up, and her skin was so fair it seemed to glow. Bathed in the incandescent light from the corridor ceiling, she resembled a translucent porcelain doll.
She looked at the two of them with her head slightly tilted,like a virtuous wife, her face bearing a gentle smile that no one could find fault with.
It was Hyuga Natsu.
"Natsu..." Hyuga Tetsu looked at the girl's figure, all the words in his throat stuck at this moment. In the end, he could only raise his head helplessly and look at Shinji Hyuga with a pleading, almost comical expression.
It was as if he was pleading withShinji Hyuga to grant his request.
As if being so humble that he had to sell his soul to the devil just to find a legitimate reason to appear before the young girl.
But Shinji Hyuga was not the devil.
He looked at Hyuga Tetsu with a calm expression,so calm it was almost indifferent, but a dark, inexplicable light gradually flickered in his eyes.
Then,
he suddenly asked:
"Tetsu,is the Ninth Squad's transfer order for tomorrow?"
"Yes, that's why I came to find you as soon as I heard about it—" Hyuga Tetsu nodded subconsciously, but then paused, his expression slightly embarrassed, and raised his hand as if to cover it up.
"No,don't misunderstand, what I mean is..."
Shinji Hyuga frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Is the destination the Kusano Coast?"
Kusano Coast,
located on the eastern side of the Land of Fire,connecting to the Land of Waves, was one of the main routes leading to the eastern coastal front of the Land of Fire at this time.
Hyuga Tetsu stood frozen in place, his expression seeming to say, "How did you know?", but he forcibly swallowed the words that were about to escape his lips.
There were confidentiality clauses for ninja missions,especially during wartime. Although Hyuga Tetsu's mission wasn't the most critical, it was still important.
He couldn't tellShinji Hyuga.
However, from Hyuga Tetsu's changing expression, Shinji Hyuga had already guessed the answer.
Team 9,to which Hyuga Tetsu belonged, was led by a Jonin from the Hyuga clan. They had just returned to the village from the battlefield in the Land of Rain two weeks prior and, as was customary, should rest in the village for a month.
However,Shinji Hyuga had seen them while passing by the training ground.
The members of Team 9 who were replenishing their ninja tools had obviously received an urgent mission to depart.There weren't many missions at the moment that specifically required Hyuga clan members to leave.
Inferring from this,
the young master of the main family,Hyuga Genkou, should be leaving the village for the Kirigakure battlefield tomorrow.
Seeing that Shinji Hyuga had suddenly fallen silent and started to drift into thought, Hyuga Tetsu gritted his teeth and spoke again forcefully:
"In short,I don't have much time to talk to you about this. Shinji Hyuga, you must come with me to see Elder Takahiro right now."
"Tetsu."
Shinji Hyuga'scalm voice snapped him out of his reverie. His expression shifted slightly, as if he had made a decision, and he interrupted with unusual calm.
"What?"
"I will not give Natsu to you."
Hyuga Tetsu's eyes widened suddenly. "What... what are you saying?"
"I will become a Chunin,a Jonin, and an Elite Jonin."
"Then,"
"I will become Hokage."
Shinji Hyuga, with a look of certainty, calmness, and even indifference, suddenly declared:
"You're right,I am going to pursue this absurd ninja dream—"
"Until death."
Hearing such a nonsensical reply,
looking atShinji Hyuga so calm and focused,
for some reason,Hyuga Tetsu suddenly felt a dryness in his mouth.
Yet,strangely, he also felt a sense of relief, as if he had been granted a pardon.
"You...you're simply..."
"Crazy."