Chapter 16: Wishes Fulfilled

Late at night, in the Sarutobi clan compound.

Behind the banquet hall is a sealed room protected by sealing techniques. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in a wide chair, dissatisfied, as he banged on the table,

"You two! One spends all day loafing around wanting to be a writer, the other mysteriously tinkers with God knows what, acting like a ghost. You're both almost thirty, can't you let me have some peace of mind... Where's Tsunade? I haven't seen her in ages!"

"No idea, old man," Jiraiya leaned against the wall, hands behind his head, grinning frivolously, "Maybe she's out gambling? Don't worry, once she loses all her money, she'll hide out here. She always loses, ha ha ha..."

Orochimaru's lips curved slightly. He stood with his arms crossed, his attitude much more respectful than Jiraiya's, but it was clear neither of them took this scolding as the Hokage's reprimand. At most, it was a sensei's "loving chastisement" for his students.

At this moment, Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade weren't merely superior and subordinates, or sensei and students. They were more like a family.

"You brats..." Hiruzen's beard quivered as he glared at them, "As the Sannin, you shouldn't just think of yourselves. You need to think more about the village. If you could take on and teach some Uchiha and Hyuga children, they would contribute more in future wars..."

He earnestly spoke at length about it, but in the end, neither Jiraiya nor Orochimaru showed any intention of changing their minds.

Hiruzen sighed, feeling a rare sense of "my sons are grown but they're useless."

'Forget it... I'll think and find another way. There are always more methods...'

As Hiruzen pondered, there was a sudden crash against the wall.

Smoke and dust rose, and with brute force, the seal was easily broken.

A blonde woman kicked aside the rubble, blowing her fist,

"Old man, got any more sake?"

Hiruzen's brow twitched violently, feeling uncharacteristically bewildered. How did he raise these three? He should have taught them to respect their sensei, but now they all acted like rebellious teens...

"Old man, bring the sake!" Tsunade grinned, putting her hands around Hiruzen's neck, "Got some good news, you'll be happy to hear."

Hiruzen's eyes lit up, "Tsunade, you..."

"Yep, that's right." Tsunade patted her chest, causing a noticeable ripple, "I'm going to take on an apprentice."

"Who?"

"Who else? Out of everyone tonight, only that kid from the branch family is worthy."

"Yuto Hyuga, huh." Hiruzen exhaled in relief, praising, "Excellent choice, Tsunade. He's not only talented but also capable of seeing things from a higher perspective... What his Byakugan can perceive isn't limited to just the Hyuga clan."

Orochimaru was a bit surprised, and Jiraiya, unable to contain himself, asked directly, "Huh? Weren't you against taking on apprentices? Before returning to the village, the three of us agreed to stand united, no matter how much the old man persuaded us... Ouch!"

Tsunade reached out and twisted Jiraiya's arm fiercely and huffed,

"I suddenly changed my mind. This village, my grandfather's legacy, should nurture talented youth. Left with the Hyuga, even gems turn to stones."

As she spoke, she subconsciously reached into her bosom, clutching a crystal necklace.

'Nawaki, Dan... Today, I saw your shadows in a young Hyuga boy.'

'He, like you, wants to be Hokage and protect this village... I miss you so much that I can't help but aid him, temporarily returning to Konoha to become his sensei.'

'I hope, I won't regret this... right?'

...

When Yuto returned home, it was already midnight.

As soon as he entered the house, he collapsed onto the bed.

Fatigue and pain overwhelmed him instantly, and he felt his head spinning, ready to pass out at any moment.

The activation of the Caged Bird Seal was extremely harmful to the recipient. Although Tsunade had done her utmost to heal him, Yuto still needed some time to recuperate.

"Shinosuke, Meiko, Naoto..." Yuto murmured, his expression void of emotion.

At this moment, he felt no waves in his heart.

Ever since his parents died when he was three, he viewed the entire Hyuga clan as enemies. He wore a thick mask every second he was within the clan grounds, always performing and scheming.

Between enemies, killing and harming each other was normal; there was no such thing as betrayal.

The main family could brand him with the Caged Bird Seal, Shinosuke Hyuga could activate it without a care, and Naoto Hyuga could restrain him from behind, letting him suffer in pain.

Naturally, Yuto could strike back, even more harshly and decisively.

Harming each other was the "job" of enemies.

Feeling drowsy, the branch family boy placed a shortened senbon in his mouth and drifted off to sleep.

After an unknown amount of time, he was awakened by a faint tapping sound.

"...Who is it?"

"Yuto Hyuga, the clan leader wants to see you."

"...Alright." Yuto washed his face, removed the short needle from his mouth that prevented him from sleep-talking, and opened the door. He followed the Hyuga clan member who had come to relay the message towards the deeper parts of the compound.

The night was thick. Yuto glanced at the position of the moon, knowing it wasn't yet dawn; he had slept for no more than three hours.

Only one room in Hiashi Hyuga's residence was lit. Yuto was led inside and knelt on one knee before Hiashi.

"Yuto-kun, stand up," Hiashi said gently, "Tomorrow, two hours after the sun fully rises, a servant from the Senju clan will bring an invitation. As a courtesy, I will prepare a reply."

Under the gaze of the Byakugan, Yuto's chakra remained perfectly calm.

What composure. No wonder Lady Tsunade favors him, Hiashi thought. He continued, "After exchanging the letters, you will become Tsunade-sama's apprentice... You performed well at tonight's banquet."

Yuto exhaled softly. It seemed Nawaki Senju and Dan Kato held significant places in Tsunade's heart.

Through risk and calculation, Yuto finally got his wish, altering the storyline for the first time — he became Tsunade's second apprentice after Shizune.

"Yuto-kun," Hiashi looked at the boy's forehead protector, "The Hyuga have the distinction between the main and branch families, but the clan's heart is not divided. Whether main or branch, we all inherit the Byakugan. There are no closer relatives in this world. Remember that..."

"Clan leader, I understand," the branch family boy responded sincerely, bowing deeply, "Every little bit, I'll never forget."

(End of Chapter)