Chapter 16: Rock Lee

Chapter 16: Rock Lee

Hyuga Neji stared at Ryosuke. This was only the second time he'd seen this so-called lucky guy.

The first time was when he had accompanied his father to the clan's training ground to request permission from the clan head to practice Gentle Fist .

And now here he was again. But no matter when or where they met, this guy—aside from his good looks—never gave Neji any sense of threat or pressure.

There were no rumors about Ryosuke's strength within the village or even among the clan.

Yet the name Hyuga Ryosuke wasn't unfamiliar. Many in the Hyuga clan, Neji included, knew the story: Ryosuke, a talented orphan, had been taken in by the clan leader. With no sons of his own and only two daughters, the patriarch had made Ryosuke his future son-in-law.

This move elevated Ryosuke from a branch family orphan to a member of the main family—without ever having to bear the Caged Bird Seal.

A twist of fate.

But up to now, Ryosuke hadn't shown any of the so-called exceptional talent that was said to justify his rise. He hadn't earned any acclaim either. In Neji's eyes, he was simply... mediocre.

And to be honest, Neji was jealous.

If only... he thought, If only Father wasn't the younger brother of the clan leader. If our blood ties were weaker...

Maybe I would be the one standing next to Lady Hinata.

Hyuga Neji had always believed that only true geniuses—like himself—deserved the right to lead the clan.

But Ryosuke? He was just another branch family member who got lucky.

A branch family member like him.

---

"N-Neji-san, you can just introduce the noteworthy people," Hinata spoke softly, clearly trying to steer the topic away from the Uchiha situation. "I... I'll work hard on that myself."

Ryosuke could feel the barely concealed hostility in Neji's gaze, but he didn't care. With a relaxed smile, he jumped in to change the subject for Hinata's sake.

Neji's emotions were too obvious. Without Hiashi or Hizashi around to keep him in check, his jealousy leaked through in every word and glance.

His eyes practically shouted, I'm jealous of you.

Ryosuke had long noticed something about this world: the children here matured early. They were emotionally and mentally sharper than kids in his previous life.

But that didn't mean they were smarter.

Their precociousness was more a product of their environment than true maturity.

To the people of this world, this behavior was normal. Only outsiders—like Ryosuke—could see the difference.

Unless someone acted with the foresight and calm of an adult like Ryosuke did in front of someone like Hiashi, they weren't really impressive.

---

Neji shook his head and turned to Hinata, his voice calm but condescending.

"There's no one else worth noting. Most of the other clan kids are mediocre."

Ryosuke raised an eyebrow. "What about civilians?"

Neji glanced at him, then turned back to Hinata and replied, "There's one civilian student worth mentioning—her name is Tenten."

"She's not from a ninja family, but her family's been in business for generations. They're a well-known merchant clan in the Land of Fire. They control over 80% of the ninja tool market in Konoha."

"If we befriend her, it could bring the Hyuga clan a lot of advantages when it comes to weapons and supplies."

"Oh... that does make sense."

Hinata nodded, though her mind clearly wasn't focused. Since the Uchiha topic came up, she'd been uneasy.

Tugging gently on Ryosuke's hand, she whispered, "Ryosuke, it's about time we head back."

Sensing her discomfort, Ryosuke gave her a warm smile and ruffled her hair. "You go ahead. I've got something to check out."

Then he turned to Souji and Hoshisai, who stood silently behind him. "You two, go with Hinata. Make sure she gets back safely."

"B-But…"

Hinata hesitated, clearly reluctant.

She knew something others didn't—even Souji and Hoshisai probably didn't realize this. Her father had assigned them not just to protect her, but to secretly guard Ryosuke.

She was just the cover.

"It's okay," Ryosuke said gently, giving her hand a squeeze. "I'll be back soon. Just be a good girl for now, alright?"

Without giving her a chance to argue, he waved and turned away, heading toward the training grounds.

Just moments ago, he'd spotted someone interesting—someone worth investing in early.

Rock Lee.

---

As Ryosuke disappeared into the crowd, Neji turned to Hinata, who looked distant and withdrawn.

"Lady Hinata," he offered, "It's time for me to return as well. I can walk with you if—"

"No."

A cold voice cut him off.

Hinata's gaze remained on the direction Ryosuke had gone, her expression frosty. It was as if invisible walls had suddenly risen around her, shutting everyone else out.

Without another word, she turned and walked away.

Neji stood stunned.

He had never seen Hinata like that. For a moment, he felt as though he was standing in front of Hyuga Hiashi himself—judged, dismissed, and left behind.

That cold indifference...

It wasn't scorn, but something heavier.

Alienation.

Neji frowned. Oddly, he didn't feel angry. Instead, a strange sense of respect bloomed in his chest.

This is the main family, he thought, The one I swore to protect... and maybe, someday, become a part of.

---

Meanwhile, Ryosuke stepped deeper into the vast central training grounds.

The ninja academy was massive—larger than the Hyuga clan's private facilities. It took up nearly a tenth of Konoha Village's total area, absorbing the full power of the village's educational resources.

The grounds were split into two major sections: the peripheral and the central zones.

Where they'd been earlier was the outer area, a higher vantage point perfect for observing the field below. Teachers often used it to oversee student training.

The central area, however, was divided into eleven specialized training zones.

Forests, streams, cliffs, waterfalls—each terrain provided different kinds of combat challenges.

Ryosuke made his way to the Third Training Ground—a flat, open plain.

No obstacles. No hiding.

Perfect for head-on duels.

And sure enough, Rock Lee was here, locked in a sparring match with a student from the Inuzuka clan.

How did Ryosuke know he was from the Inuzuka?

Well, he was fighting alongside a dog.

Not all ninja with dogs were Inuzuka, but their style was hard to miss.

As Ryosuke watched, the Inuzuka boy used clones and substitution techniques to wear Lee down, all while trying to talk sense into him.

"Lee, your weaknesses are too obvious," the boy said sincerely. "You can't use the Three Body Technique. You're vulnerable to genjutsu. You're not cut out to be a ninja."

"Even if you spend time learning basic jutsu, your natural talent will still lag behind. It's dangerous to go on like this. What if you face enemies from other villages?"

He wasn't mocking him.

There was no disdain in his tone—only honest concern.

But the fight was one-sided. Rock Lee chased after clone after clone, only to be evaded by substitution techniques. It was like a cat playing with a mouse.

Still, Lee never gave up.

"I will succeed!" he shouted with fierce determination.

No matter how many times he missed or got tricked, he kept attacking.

To him, hard work would overcome all odds.

Was he stubborn? Maybe.

But his will was unshakable.

Among the watching students, there were murmurs and sighs.

They respected his spirit—his refusal to quit.

But in the world of ninja, courage alone wasn't enough.

Without the right tools or talents, that kind of bravery could get you killed.

And that, perhaps, was the tragedy of Rock Lee.

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