Chapter 10
The main family estate of the Hyūga clan.
Hinata Hyūga was brought home—not to comfort, but to the changing room by a maid. She silently changed into her black training gi and headed to the cold dojo.
In the washitsu on the opposite side of the corridor.
Hyūga Kamon knelt to one side, reporting to the current clan head, Hyūga Hiashi.
"Lord Clan Head, Lady Hinata was bullied by several civilian children today. Later, she was rescued by the so-called demon fox child, Uzumaki Naruto, from the village rumors…"
Hiashi knelt at the center, holding a cup of hot tea and gently blowing on it.
He was still unaware that Hiruzen Sarutobi had quietly decided to ease restrictions on Naruto.
In his understanding, Konoha's major clans maintained the same stance toward the Nine-Tails jinchūriki: aware of the truth, but keeping their distance.
Privately associating with or trying to win over the jinchūriki could arouse suspicion from the higher-ups that the clan sought forbidden power—bringing unnecessary trouble.
Hiashi took a sip of tea and replied calmly: "Kamon, keep a closer watch from now on. Make sure Hinata stays far away from that Uzumaki Naruto."
"Yes, sir."
Hiashi waved his hand, dismissing Kamon.
He hadn't even asked how Naruto saved her, nor shown the slightest concern for whether "that child" was hurt.
More irritating to him right now was something else.
"As the main family heir, she gets bullied by civilian kids and doesn't even fight back?"
Hiashi closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Too weak.
Her personality was far too soft.
Could someone like that truly bear the future burden of the Hyūga clan?
Perhaps… he should train another child while she was still young.
The thought passed in an instant. No matter what, Hinata was currently the main heir. He had to fulfill his duty as father.
Inside the dojo.
Hinata, now in her black training uniform, had already been practicing alone for half an hour.
Sweat dampened her forehead.
The sliding door opened. Hiashi, having finished his other duties, stepped inside.
No unnecessary greetings.
"Attack me."
Hiashi stood motionless, hands naturally at his sides, tone indifferent.
"Yes… Father."
Hinata bit her lip, assumed the Gentle Fist opening stance, summoned her courage, and charged.
Pa! Pa! Pa!
Childish palm strikes echoed in the empty room.
She attacked with all her strength, aiming for vital points each time—but every strike sank like a stone into the sea.
Hiashi merely sidestepped, raised a hand, or deflected with effortless grace.
The absolute gap in skill was an insurmountable mountain.
After dozens of exchanges.
Hiashi's clothing hadn't even been disturbed.
He looked at his daughter's disheveled state and shook his head slightly, disappointment deepening in his eyes.
In a few days, Hinata would turn three.
By Hyūga tradition, that was also the day branch family children received the Caged Bird seal.
Hiashi thought of his twin brother, Hyūga Hizashi.
Their strength had been nearly equal; Hizashi was born just fifteen minutes later. Hiashi became main heir, Hizashi branch family head.
Hizashi's son—Neji Hyūga, one year older than Hinata.
Despite the small age gap, that boy had already mastered the fundamentals of Gentle Fist with exceptional talent and unyielding resolve.
A child like that might truly be the best hope to lead the Hyūga to glory.
Unfortunately, he was branch family.
The cruel twist of fate brought a faint bitterness to Hiashi's heart.
"Rest for now."
Hiashi spoke softly, breaking the silence.
Hinata exhaled in relief, stepped aside respectfully, and stood with her head bowed.
"In a few days, during the family celebration, a boy one year older than you will come as your sparring partner." Hiashi looked at his daughter. "Hyūga Neji from the branch family."
"Neji… nii-san?" Hinata raised her head in confusion, whispering the unfamiliar name.
"You'll get to know him soon enough." Hiashi offered no further explanation, only a pointed remark: "Though he is branch family, his mastery of Gentle Fist far surpasses yours. As main heir, you should feel ashamed."
Hearing her father's reprimand, Hinata lowered her head in shame, fingers twisting together nervously.
She stammered for a long moment before something surfaced in her mind—the image of the blond boy in the snow that morning, full of pride and energy.
"F-Father…"
Hinata gathered her courage and asked softly: "Our Hyūga Gentle Fist… is it something only we can do? Could… someone else possibly have the same kind of taijutsu?"
Hiashi's brows furrowed. He answered decisively: "Impossible. Gentle Fist relies on the Byakugan to see chakra pathways and tenketsu. Without the Byakugan, outsiders can only mimic the movements superficially—useless posturing."
"But…"
Hinata remembered Naruto's demonstration, how proudly he'd said it was taught by his Fox Sage.
"But today… when Naruto-kun saved me, the moves he used… they really looked like Gentle Fist."
"Hmph." Hiashi snorted disdainfully. "Village children probably heard of the Hyūga's reputation and made clumsy imitations. Pay it no mind."
"No… that's not it!"
For once, the usually obedient Hinata found courage to contradict him.
She didn't want her father to dismiss Naruto-kun's pride so easily.
"I… I want to show Father!" Hinata lifted her head, a rare stubborn glint in her pure white eyes. "I remember some of the moves!"
Hiashi glanced at her in mild surprise, then nodded. "Then demonstrate."
Hinata took a deep breath and stepped back to the center.
She began with the standard Hyūga Gentle Fist opening stance.
Hiashi didn't take it seriously, standing casually as before, ready to deflect effortlessly.
Hinata moved.
At first, it was familiar Gentle Fist—Hiashi evaded without effort.
But then her footwork changed. Steps grew erratic; postures diverged from standard Gentle Fist.
Was her talent simply lacking? After such short training, was she already too tired to maintain proper form?
Hinata paid no mind. After a few exchanges, she recalled Naruto gliding across the snow.
Her left foot didn't land at the usual Gentle Fist point—instead her body spun like a top, drawing a half-circle close to the ground.
The straight palm strike softened, following Hiashi's block and pushing sideways.
Though she only imitated seven-tenths of the style, the movements still raw, the logic was completely different from Gentle Fist.
This was "using softness to overcome hardness, borrowing force to counter."
"Hm?"
Hiashi's blocking arm met empty air. The push disrupted his balance slightly—he swayed, then instantly stabilized, but his foot involuntarily slid back half a step.
Gentle Fist focused on internal strikes via Byakugan—fundamentally not highly complex in technique.
But Hinata's move emphasized "flow" and redirection.
How could a three-year-old with no formal training invent this?
"Father… I-I'm sorry!" Seeing him silent, Hinata panicked, thinking she'd done wrong, and bowed deeply in apology.
Hiashi snapped back, complex emotions swirling as he looked at his daughter.
Impossible.
The dojo fell deathly quiet.
For the first time, genuine seriousness appeared in Hiashi's eyes.
"That technique… was really used by Uzumaki Naruto?" he asked gravely.
This was no "clumsy imitation."
The subtlety of the footwork and redirection surpassed basic Gentle Fist—it was a pure taijutsu principle, independent of the Byakugan.
Hinata flinched at his serious tone but nodded timidly. "Y-Yes… Naruto-kun showed me today… I only remembered a little…"
Hiashi gazed at his anxious daughter, sinking into deep thought.
The jinchūriki…
The child the village treated as a monster…
Had somehow mastered a taijutsu so refined it astonished even the Hyūga?
Who taught him?
The style felt somehow rooted in the same origin as Gentle Fist—yet nothing like it appeared in clan records.
He needed to speak with Hiruzen Sarutobi and learn more about Uzumaki Naruto. This couldn't be ignored.
But requesting information on the Nine-Tails jinchūriki would be difficult.
Slide—
The dojo door opened.
Hyūga Natsuki entered with lowered head.
"Lord Clan Head, the Third Hokage has arrived at the compound. The elders are receiving him and request your presence shortly for discussion."
--------------------------
Support us on patreon (+Gain access to 100 chapters in advance)
patreon.com/inkshield