Chapter 1: Battle Between Geniuses
The early spring wind was still a bit cold, but the sunlight felt warm on the body, dispersing the chill in the breeze.
On the Hokage Rock, the statues of the previous Hokage looked solemn. The low shrubs at the edge of the rock were sprouting thin green buds, and occasionally a few sparrows would land on the statues' shoulders, chirping away and adding a bit of Life Qi to the cold stone.
Atop the massive Second Hokage's statue, Hyuga Tatsumi, dressed in a white kimono, stood with his hands behind his back, looking solemnly at the white-haired boy on the Sandaime's statue.
"Kakashi, this is already our 49th encounter. Before this, it was a 24:24 tie. Are you prepared? It's time to decide the winner."
"Bring it on! For the Hatake name, I won't lose!" Kakashi's expression was grave. The other boy was a Genius of equal fame, seemingly his destined rival. Even after exhausting all his efforts, he couldn't pull ahead, but today he had a reason he must win.
Both held the conviction of certain victory. They straightened and crossed their right index and middle fingers while curling the other three fingers, forming the Seal of Confrontation.
At this moment, even the wind stopped its clamor, as if waiting for the two peerless geniuses to determine who was superior.
Swish!
The two moved in unison, their fingers flying to form a series of afterimages, neither willing to fall behind.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Two streams of water poured down from the Hokage Rock, rushing into the distance with immense force.
"Those two brats! Daring to pee on the Hokage Rock—they'll be struck by divine retribution!"
A loud shout interrupted the two geniuses' competition. A Ninja wearing a green vest rushed over, determined to catch these two rascals who showed no respect for Hokage-sama.
"Haha, I told you there's a bonus for 'releasing water' while standing on the Second Hokage's head. Kakashi, you lost! I peed further than you!"
Hyuga Tatsumi laughed heartily with his hands on his hips, his 'little elephant' swinging back and forth in the air, splashing a few drops of water onto the top of the Second Hokage's statue.
"Idiot, run! We're finished if we get caught." Kakashi rolled his eyes, leaped behind the Hokage Rock, and ran toward the depths of the dense forest.
"Hey, wait for me!" Hyuga Tatsumi also hurriedly pulled up his pants and fled, not forgetting to turn back and make a face at the pursuing Ninja.
"Haha, those are the children of the Hyuga and Hatake families, aren't they? Peeing on the Hokage Rock—they certainly are lively."
In the Hokage Building, Jiraiya, who had just returned from the border, watched the scene outside the window and laughed loudly, completely disregarding the feelings of Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him.
"Two little Devil Heads, causing chaos all day long." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled helplessly. As the Hokage, he naturally wouldn't hold a grudge against two little kids.
"It's quite rare for the Hyuga Clan's family culture to raise such a lively child." Tsunade marveled as she watched the spot where the white kimono had disappeared.
"Yes, and he's a child of the Branch House."
"Eh? Why didn't I see the Caged Bird Seal?"
"His family situation is a bit special, but it will probably happen soon. This child's talent is outstanding, not inferior to the Hatake kid. It's a bit of a pity." Hiruzen Sarutobi showed a look of regret. It was truly a shame for such great talent to be bound by the Caged Bird Seal, but even the Hokage could not interfere in the internal affairs of the Hyuga Clan.
"Sakumo Hatake has boasted about his kid more than once. Can this child really be compared to Kakashi?" Orochimaru didn't care about the rest; he preferred geniuses because he was one himself.
"If they weren't the same kind of people, how could they play together?" Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and said, "Alright, let's stop talking about them and discuss the war in the Land of Rain. Hanzou won't be easy to deal with..."
On the other side, after shaking off their pursuer, Hyuga Tatsumi met up with Kakashi by the river. Upon seeing Kakashi, he wore a mischievous grin and held out his hand. "Hand it over, loser."
"Dammit!"
Kakashi was sulking. If he hadn't been startled into a twitch by that Ninja, how could he have lost?
A bet is a bet, and a Genius of the Hatake Clan wouldn't go back on his word. He resignedly pulled out a deluxe edition manga and handed it to Hyuga Tatsumi, looking as reluctant as if he were handing over a priceless treasure.
Hyuga Tatsumi flipped through the manga and said with a face full of disdain, "Tsk tsk, it's actually an adult one. Kakashi, you should be careful about watching this at such a young age, or you might end up with impotence."
Was it legal to sell this kind of thing to kids, or did Kakashi steal it from his old man?
So, was Kakashi's perversion hereditary?
"Then why are you still reading it with such interest?" Kakashi said, looking gloomy.
"I'm reading it with a critical eye."
Hyuga Tatsumi tucked the deluxe edition manga into his robe and put his arm around Kakashi's shoulder. "Don't look so miserable. Come on, I'll treat you to some Three-Color Dango."
The two Genius boys walked toward the Village with their arms around each other's shoulders, their shadows stretched very long by the setting sun.
I wish to buy osmanthus and carry wine, but in the end, it's not like the travels of youth.
Having the chance to be a youth again, how could one not be a little wild?
In the evening, at the Hyuga Clan estate, Hyuga Tatsumi returned just in time for dinner after a day of fun.
"Have you done your lessons for today?"
The devil's whisper quietly sounded. Hyuga Tatsumi felt as if he had been hit by an immobilization spell, standing still and obediently waiting for a lecture.
Looking at his filthy son, Hyuga Yo had a splitting headache. How could the strict family culture of the Hyuga Clan produce such a creature?
"From now on, you're not allowed out until your lessons are finished." His eyes caught a glimpse of the manga peeking out from Hyuga Tatsumi's robe, and he scolded with a stern face, "Take it out."
"Yes."
Hyuga Tatsumi's whole body stiffened. He slowly pulled out the manga and handed it over, hanging his head submissively to wait for the scolding.
Hyuga Yo's eyelid twitched after flipping through a few pages. Fury rushed to his head, and veins bulged on his face; anyone who didn't know better would think he had activated his Byakugan.
"Get out and practice the Gentle Fist ten times. No dinner for you tonight."
"Got it~"
Hyuga Tatsumi dejectedly shuffled into the ancient courtyard, took his stance, and began practicing the ancient martial art.
His small body erupted with great energy, his movements fluid and natural with a strange beauty. Hyuga Yo's angry expression softened as he tucked the manga book into his own pocket, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Tatsumi's Gentle Fist has improved again. He really is a Genius!"
A beautiful girl with long deep purple hair walked out of the house carrying some pastries and spoke with admiration. She turned to Hyuga Yo, who had put on a stern face again, and said, "Brother, it's truly a pity to carve the Caged Bird Seal on someone with such talent. Let Tatsumi inherit the position of Main House Elder for our branch."
"Yue, don't mention this again. The position of Main House Elder belongs to your line." Hyuga Yo touched the Head Protector on his forehead and said in a low voice, "From the moment I was branded with the Caged Bird Seal, the fate of my line was already sealed."
"But I don't have any descendants. Tatsumi is the only Blood of our branch."
"Your marriage won't be delayed forever. Father is already looking for a candidate for you within the clan." Hyuga Yo said seriously, "Escapism won't solve the problem. The position of Main House Elder needs your Blood to carry it on."
"But the one who should have been branded with the Caged Bird Seal was originally me, you..."
"Yue!" Hyuga Yo interrupted her and said solemnly, "The Caged Bird Seal was my own choice."
"Brother..."
"Tomorrow, I will take Tatsumi to have the Caged Bird Seal carved. Think it over; continuing the Blood is your responsibility." Hyuga Yo glanced at Hyuga Tatsumi, who was still throwing punches, his eyes filled with regret and pain, but he still steeled his heart and went back inside.
Let him, as the older brother, endure this kind of pain alone!
Hyuga Yue stared blankly at his back and murmured, "Brother, I won't let Tatsumi be bound by the Caged Bird Seal."
She called out to the boy in the courtyard who was still practicing his punches, "Tatsumi, take a break. Eat something before you continue."
"Okay, Sister Yue."
Hyuga Tatsumi responded and took a deep breath before striking the wooden post in front of him with his palm. The post didn't budge an inch, but he nodded with satisfaction.
A light breeze blew past, and the wooden post shook slightly before splitting in half from the middle, sawdust from the inside spilling all over the ground.
Hyuga Yue raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "Your Gentle Fist has already reached this level?!"
"I am the number one Hyuga Genius, after all!" Hyuga Tatsumi chuckled, showing no humility at all.
This wasn't arrogance. Since his Transmigration into this Naruto world, he hadn't dared to slack off, fearing that if his strength wasn't enough, he might accidentally kick the bucket one day.
Anyone who has seen Naruto knows that this world is extremely dangerous, with clan massacres happening at the drop of a hat.
The 'Big brother-in-law' finally managed to redeem himself at the very end, only to die anyway, and even the two world-saving protagonists couldn't avoid losing their hands. How could he dare to be careless?
Perhaps due to his hard work, or perhaps because of the stacking effect of his Soul Transmigration, he awakened his Byakugan at the age of three, and his Byakugan was somewhat special.
The moment he opened his eyes, he saw his own fate—or rather, the fate of the original host.
Hyuga Tatsumi died in the Third Great Ninja War, and even his eyes were gouged out by the enemy.
That Byakugan belonging to Ao of the Hidden Mist Village was his!
Dammit!