A Young Hyuga's Step to Revenge

After spending the previous afternoon immersed in the vast collection of materials Takumi had provided—books on strength training, ninja techniques, and historical texts—Hikari had taken a long sleep to ensure that all the new information properly settled into his long-term memory.

It was a practice he understood well from his past life. Rather than staying up all night reading, as some might have expected from someone newly transmigrated, he prioritized rest.

He needed to be in peak condition for the upcoming confrontation and the official start of his training.

That was why he had slept in, just as he had done in his previous life when faced with important tasks ahead.

The day before, he had also dismissed the Side Branch servants, instructing them not to interrupt him with mundane tasks like dressing, washing up, cleaning, or making his bed.

Though initially hesitant, they complied. That was why, this morning, his breakfast had been left outside his door with only a brief notification.

It wasn't out of disdain for tradition or any belief that their service was beneath him. Rather, he simply preferred uninterrupted focus.

Constant external distractions disrupted his ability to enter a 'flow state' while studying. And in this world, just as in his past life, knowledge was power.

After tidying up the scattered books and scrolls in his room, organizing them neatly in his small study area, he proceeded with his morning routine.

He washed his face, then examined himself in the large, ornate mirror that towered over his current small frame.

As he touched his youthful face, an odd sensation stirred within him—one that came from being in this new, unfamiliar body.

His reflection was distinct from that of a typical Hyuga. His hair was short and messy, an uncommon trait among his kin, but even more unusual was its color—a deep, dark blue rather than the traditional black. It was a rare trait within the clan, though not entirely unheard of.

Without his white eyes and traditional Hyuga attire, he could easily be mistaken for an outsider. His sharp, harmonious facial features, already noticeable despite his young age, hinted that he would grow into an attractive man. This, too, was an inheritance from his parents.

Dressed in blue-themed robes and a haori fitting for a Hyuga, he quickly stepped outside his room, heading toward the estate's exit.

The Fifth Elder's estate, spanning four acres, stood as a proud reflection of the Hyuga's deep-rooted traditions.

Located in the inner circle of the clan compound, it was home to the Fifth Elder's lineage and designed with both grandeur and functionality in mind.

The living quarters were spacious, allowing each Main Branch member and their attendants the privacy they required.

Though Takumi and Hikari were the only Main Branch members currently residing here, the estate remained active with servants maintaining the unused rooms to the highest standards.

A key part of the estate was its dojo, an expansive indoor training hall, and its adjacent outdoor grounds, where the Hyuga honed their signature fighting techniques among the trees.

At the heart of the estate lay the Elder's office, doubling as both a personal workspace and the central hub for the clan's commercial and administrative dealings.

Staffed by skilled Side Branch members, the office oversaw various enterprises managed by the Fifth Elder's lineage.

While this was the main base of operations, additional offices were scattered throughout Konoha to manage business dealings across multiple locations.

The estate also housed a dedicated armory, traditional bathhouses separated between the Main and Side Branches, and extensive storage facilities near the kitchen, ensuring the estate remained self-sufficient.

As Hikari exited the Main Hall, he took in the sight of the grand corridor leading toward the estate's gate.

The pathway was meticulously maintained, lined with flourishing gardens and carefully pruned trees. Every detail of the surroundings emphasized the Hyuga's dedication to elegance and structure.

Beyond the estate, the Hyuga compound was arranged with meticulous order. At its core lay the Patriarch's grand estate, the largest structure in the clan.

Encircling it were the nine Elder estates, forming a protective ring around the seat of power.

This arrangement was more than just symbolic—it reinforced the authority of the Main Branch leadership and their role in guiding the clan's future.

The Patriarch's estate served as both a residence and a strategic center. It was here that the highest-ranking elders gathered for crucial discussions that shaped the Hyuga's direction.

In addition to housing the ruling family, it contained various administrative offices responsible for overseeing the clan's broader interests.

Hikari, however, was not heading toward the Patriarch's domain. Nor was he making his way toward the populous outer areas where the Side Branch resided.

Instead, he took a less-traveled path known only to Main Branch members, weaving between enclosed walkways and open courtyards that connected the nine Elder estates.

His destination: the Seventh Elder's estate.

The route was neither long nor complex, so he required no guidance or detours. Along the way, he passed numerous Hyuga, both from the Main and Side Branches.

The distinction between them was obvious. Main Branch members openly displayed their unmarked foreheads with pride, while Side Branch members adhered to the unspoken rule of keeping their seals covered at all times.

For a three-year-old to be walking alone in this area was highly unusual. The Side Branch members he passed by paid him no heed, offering neither acknowledgment nor insult.

They were only required to formally greet Main Branch members who directly governed them—typically elders and their immediate descendants.

As a mere child, Hikari did not fall into that category, though they would never openly show him disrespect.

What they said about him in private, however, was another matter entirely.

The Main Branch members, on the other hand, were far less restrained. Cold stares, sneers, and murmured gossip accompanied his every step.

He caught snippets of their conversations, heard the hushed voices discussing him with thinly veiled disdain.

Some went further. Their whispered remarks turned to open insults, aimed directly at him. For a three-year-old to be subjected to such treatment was cruel, but Hikari was unmoved. He had long expected this level of animosity.

Then there was Hiroto. At five years old, he was the closest in age to Hikari among the Main Branch, and he made that fact known through his actions.

Unlike the older members, who resorted to words, Hiroto preferred a more physical approach.

He disguised his bullying as 'sparring,' leveraging his two years of formal training to easily overpower Hikari. What began as minor scuffles escalated into something far worse.

Three days before Hikari's transmigration, the harassment had reached a breaking point. Returning from the cemetery after honoring his parents, Hikari had crossed paths with Hiroto and his entourage.

That day, Hiroto's taunts had crossed a line—he had insulted Hikari's deceased parents.

For the first time, Hikari had responded.

The act of standing up for himself had enraged Hiroto, who had responded with violence, beating Hikari without restraint.

The physical pain had been nothing compared to the deep sense of betrayal and isolation that followed.

That moment had been a turning point. The emotions of that day had created the conditions for Hikari's transmigration, leading to the emergence of his new consciousness.

The memory of that pain lingered. And now, as he approached the Seventh Elder's estate, his mind was clear.

Hiroto would pay.