Hyuga Kamon lifted his head blankly, looking at the empty Training Ground.
The afterglow of the setting sun stretched his shadow very long.
He suddenly remembered a long time ago, when Aokawa, Ryosuke, and he were still hanging out together.
Aokawa would often propose some strange and bizarre ideas.
"Why must the Pressure Point Technique use the palm?"
"Isn't the arm okay? Aren't Chakra Needles okay?"
"Why must we be in close quarters to attack?"
"Wouldn't it be safer to strike Chakra out, or even shoot it with a bow and arrow?"
Back then, how did he answer?
He seemed to have turned red in the face, loudly scolding Aokawa.
"You're talking nonsense!"
"The rules of the Main House are like this! Gentle Fist is like this!"
"You are being disrespectful to our ancestors!"
Thinking about it now.
He was the most ridiculous fool.
A massive wave of shame and regret flooded his heart.
Thud.
Hyuga Kamon knelt heavily on the ground, his fists smashing hard into the cracked earth.
Blood flowed down his knuckles, yet he couldn't feel the slightest bit of pain.
Something in his heart had completely shattered.
After an unknown amount of time, a series of footsteps from far to near interrupted Hyuga Kamon's contemplation.
He looked up and saw several familiar Branch House Ninjas walking together, their faces carrying the exhaustion of training and a hint of relief.
"Kamon? Why are you sitting here?"
One of them recognized him and spoke in surprise.
Hyuga Kamon opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Could he tell them that the Gentle Fist he was so proud of had been evaluated as 'Dead Fist,' and he was powerless to refute it?
He scrambled up from the ground, patted the dust off himself, and forced a smile that looked worse than crying.
"It's nothing, just... a bit tired."
The Branch House Ninjas exchanged looks; they all saw something was wrong, but they didn't ask further.
"By the way, have you heard?"
One of them changed the subject, speaking mysteriously.
"I heard the Second Elder's grandson is coming to our Front Lines Main Camp!"
"The Second Elder's grandson? Hyuga Zetsu?"
Another person immediately chimed in, his tone carrying a bit of complexity.
"What is he coming here for? Isn't the fighting on the Front Lines almost over?"
"What else could he be doing?"
The one who spoke first curled his lip, lowering his voice with a hint of disdain.
"Gilding his reputation!"
"I heard he caused some trouble in the Village, so the Second Elder sent him to the Front Lines to lay low and pad his resume."
"Anyway, now that the main Kumogakure forces have been driven back by Aokawa-sama and the others, the remaining patrol missions aren't dangerous. Isn't he just picking up credit for free?"
These words resonated with the others, and they all began to discuss in low voices, their words filled with dissatisfaction toward this Main House privilege.
Hyuga Kamon stood to the side, listening silently.
"Gilding," "privilege," "free credit"... these words were like needles stabbing into his heart.
Although he believed the Gentle Fist was supreme, he had never had any good feelings toward the Main House.
Especially these so-called young masters.
Hyuga Kamon huddled in place, the voices of the Branch House Ninjas sounding as if they were coming from another world, drifting in and out.
"Alright, stop talking."
"It's not good if someone hears."
Seeing that Hyuga Kamon was not in a good state, they tactfully stopped their conversation, patted his shoulder, and left together.
The Training Ground returned to silence once more.
Hyuga Kamon looked up, his eyes empty as he watched the departing figures.
The Main House... Hyuga Zetsu... a Main House young master he had never met, but whose name was like thunder to his ears.
The biological grandson of Second Elder Hyuga Ieyasu.
A true favored son of heaven.
Did he come to the Front Lines to protect Konoha too?
No.
It was for gilding.
It was to easily seize a portion of the military merits that they, the Branch House Ninjas, had exchanged their blood and lives for, turning it into a brilliant stroke on his own resume.
How ironic!
Hyuga Kamon laughed self-deprecatingly, his laughter dry.
What exactly had he been defending all this time?
The so-called orthodoxy of the Gentle Fist?
Or the ridiculous dignity of the Main House?
He stood up from the ground, the dust on his body feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds... The next day.
The atmosphere at the Konoha Main Camp became somewhat strange.
A group escorted by Hyuga Ninjas arrived at the camp gates with great fanfare.
At the head was a fair-faced youth whose eyes held a hint of arrogance; it was the Second Elder's grandson, Hyuga Zetsu.
He wore spotless, luxurious Ninja attire, appearing completely out of place in the travel-worn environment.
"This is the Front Lines Main Camp?"
Hyuga Zetsu fanned his hand in front of his nose, as if the air were filled with some unpleasant odor.
"It's truly worn out and wretched."
A Hyuga guard behind him immediately stepped forward flatteringly.
"Young Master Zetsu, you must be exhausted from your journey. I have already arranged the best Barracks in advance."
Hyuga Zetsu waved his hand impatiently.
"Go call the person in charge here."
Soon, Suzuki Shinji, who was responsible for the camp's daily affairs, came jogging over.
"You must be Lord Hyuga Zetsu? I am Suzuki Shinji, welcome to the camp."
Suzuki Shinji kept his posture very low, well aware of this young master's background.
Hyuga Zetsu didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, speaking directly.
"Arrange a mission for me."
"Just pick some safe and respectable patrol missions."
"Don't bother me with those dirty and tiring jobs."
The smile on Suzuki Shinji's face froze.
Safe and respectable?
This is the front line! Where is there an absolutely safe mission?
But he didn't dare to object, only saying with difficulty.
"Lord Zetsu, the recent patrol missions are quite routine, it's just..."
"Just what?"
Hyuga Zetsu frowned, his tone already carrying a hint of displeasure.
"It's just that manpower is a bit tight..."
Suzuki Shinji wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Aokawa-sama's team was temporarily reassigned by Minato-sama the day before yesterday to perform an S-rank reconnaissance mission."
He intended to explain that the lack of top-tier combat power had increased the pressure on the defensive line.
However, the name "Aokawa" caused Hyuga Zetsu's face to instantly darken.
"Aokawa?"
He sneered, his voice full of contempt.
"A piece of trash from the Branch House is worthy of being called 'Lord'?"
"I heard he's been quite popular lately."
"Very well."
The corners of Hyuga Zetsu's mouth curled into a playful arc.
"Since there's not enough manpower, then call all those idle Branch House members over to me."
"This Young Master will lead the team personally and let them see what a true Hyuga is!"
Hyuga Zetsu only glanced at the mission scroll Suzuki Shinji handed over before impatiently throwing it back.
"East Zone 3 Patrol?"
"You want me to do such a boring mission that even a Genin wouldn't want to go on?"
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