Chapter 46: The Biggest Sufferer of the Hyuga Clan

Time goes back to one day ago.

[Hyuga Clan Grounds]

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Inside the training room, Hinata had a serious expression, her small face stern. The chakra pathways around her eyes bulged as she concentrated intently.

One palm after another struck toward Neji.

Neji's expression was extremely grave. Facing Hinata's Gentle Fist, he responded move for move while looking for opportunities to counterattack.

Both sides seemed evenly matched.

With the final palm strike, Hinata caught a fleeting flaw in Neji's defense.

Seizing the moment when he failed to retreat in time, she directly struck his chest with a palm.

At the same time, as Hinata's strike landed, Neji also managed to land a palm strike on Hinata's shoulder.

Bang!

Bang!

Both of them were forced backward. However, since Hinata was hit on the shoulder, she managed to stabilize herself after a few steps.

Neji, on the other hand, after retreating several steps, directly sat down on the ground. This time, the astonishment in his eyes was replaced with unwillingness.

Because of their different statuses, Hinata could attack without hesitation, but Neji had to remain cautious at all times. He not only had to defend against Hinata's attacks but also had to ensure that he didn't actually harm her. His attacks could only target inconsequential areas like her arms or shoulders.

In the past, even with this restriction, he could still suppress Hinata. But now, it was as if she had become a different person. His current combat style was gradually putting him at a disadvantage.

This was the nature of Byakugan and Gentle Fist combat—whoever could land a Gentle Fist strike that sent chakra into the opponent's critical points would determine the outcome of the fight.

And since he could only aim for the arms and shoulders, he naturally ended up on the losing side.

"Thank you for the match, Neji nii-san."

After stabilizing herself, Hinata stood up straight and gave a small bow to Neji, who had fallen against the wall. Then, as she raised her head, she looked toward Hyuga Hiashi, who had been watching from the side.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Hyuga Hiashi applauded, his eyes filled with pride and satisfaction.

The Hinata of today was already a qualified successor of the main family.

Click!

The smile on Hiashi's face froze for a moment. He suddenly thought, 'If Hinata truly becomes a capable heir to the main branch, then what about Hanabi?'

However, he quickly regained his composure. Hanabi was only half a year old; there was still time. He could think about it later.

"Neji, you've been slacking off a bit lately."

Glancing at the unwilling expression on Neji's face, Hiashi waved his hand, "Withdraw for now, and remember to train well."

"Yes, Lord Hiashi," Clenching his teeth, Neji left the training room. However, instead of heading home, he walked directly toward the main family's training ground, as if familiar with the path.

Hinata looked at her father with some confusion. She had noticed that her training sessions had been unusually short these past few days.

Each time she was only halfway through, Hiashi would end the session and send Neji away early.

Hinata didn't quite understand why, but she didn't ask. If her father did something, there must be a reason for it.

But in truth, Hiashi himself wasn't sure why he was doing this. Perhaps he was just trying to make up for some of his guilt.

Hiashi looked at Hinata, and in his mind, he recalled the intelligence he had just received about Aoba from the day before.

It was about the boy visiting the Senju ancestral home in the morning and his scheduled meeting with those two little girls.

Hiashi thought that this might be a good opportunity to connect with Tsunade.

Although the Hyuga Clan always followed the rule of siding with the winner and never taking a stance prematurely, Tsunade's position as the rightful heir of Konoha meant that forming ties with her was politically safe.

There was no harm in doing so.

"Hinata, as long as your training results today satisfy me, I will let you go out early tomorrow."

Hiashi also wanted to see how Hinata would react when she learned about Aoba and his other female companions.

Would she distance herself from him? Or would she drive away the other girls around him?

"Really, Father?", Hinata's bright silver eyes widened, staring at Hiashi without blinking. The excitement in her gaze was practically overflowing.

Seeing his daughter like this, Hiashi sighed inwardly.

He forced a smile, "Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you?"

"Thank you, Father!"

Hinata wanted to rush into Hiashi's arms but then remembered how much he valued etiquette. So, just as she was about to reach him, she stopped herself.

She folded her hands neatly in front of her stomach and bowed formally.

This sudden change in behavior made Hiashi's expression even more rigid.

He had already bent forward and opened his arms, prepared to hug his daughter, but Hinata suddenly stopped.

Awkwardly, he pretended he had simply intended to fix her hair and calmly tidied her bangs.

"Ahem!"

After clearing his throat, he said, "Well then, let's begin the training."

"Yes!"

Even Hinata's voice sounded livelier.

Hiashi could only endure his internal struggle as he continued to teach Hinata the Gentle Fist techniques exclusive to the main family.

And so—

The Gentle Fist techniques that Neji had to risk great danger to secretly learn were now being taught openly to Hinata without reservation by Hiashi himself.

Not just Hinata, but all the members of the main family could easily learn them.

It was like something that was previously unattainable. Something that Neji could hardly even touch, was now being freely handed out to others like a cloth ball being kicked around.

Neji might become the biggest sufferer in the Hyuga Clan.

———

If you asked who in Konoha was the most well-connected and had the widest network of relationships,

Other than the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, it would likely be the owner of Tenten's ninja tool shop.

As the largest ninja tool store in the Land of Fire, it practically monopolized the entire ninja tool market in Konoha. Any ninja would have dealt with them at some point.

Because of this, the shop had an extensive information network.

With so many ninjas coming and going, it was like an intelligence hub, just like the gossiping old ladies at the village entrance.

If something happened in the village in the morning, by the afternoon, people at the shop would know all the details. Down to the color of someone's underwear.

As for whose underwear, well, no one really cared.

It was just like the ridiculous little story Tenten had shared at the shop a while ago. No one cared whether it was true or not.

And so, just yesterday, while Tenten was moving a box of kunai, she overheard two ninjas chatting.

The conversation was about a silver-haired boy who had been two-timing, leading to a fight between two girls in the street that morning.

Without needing to think much, Tenten automatically imagined Aoba, along with Ino and Sakura.

———

Which led to the scene this morning.

Aoba looked at the timid silver-eyed girl in front of him, while behind her, three sharp gazes pierced into his back.

"Aoba-kun… Am I interrupting something?"

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