Year 57 of the Hidden Leaf, July 23rd.
In the Hyuga Clan Compound.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Inside the training hall of the clan leader's residence, the sound of sharp yet heavy impacts echoed continuously.
Two children—a boy and a girl—were locked in a fierce taijutsu sparring match.
The rapid sounds came from their hands clashing against each other.
Hinata and Neji Hyuga, both with bulging veins at their temples, had their hands moving at lightning speed, fingers glowing with a blue aura as they struck at each other's chakra points.
Every strike was either blocked or forced to stop mid-attack due to a discovered opening, causing the attacker to switch to defense.
The continuous clashes of chakra created gusts of wind that roared throughout the hall.
A battle like this required unwavering concentration. Even a moment of carelessness could lead to total defeat.
Sure enough, after dozens of exchanges, a crisp thud brought the match to an end.
Smack!
Neji's eyes widened in shock as he felt Hinata's fingertip press against his body, injecting chakra into his system with precision and force.
In an instant, the chakra flowing through Neji's hands vanished.
Then, a relentless barrage of attacks rained down on him. Each strike sent chakra into his body, not only sealing his chakra flow but also causing immense pain.
Yet, Neji gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out in agony.
Once the combo ended, Hinata withdrew her hands, the veins at her temples receding. She looked down at the now-seated Neji and softly said, "Thank you for the match, Neji-nii-san."
Watching from nearby, Hiashi Hyuga couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
But as soon as Hinata turned away, his expression returned to its usual sternness. Without emotion, he addressed Neji, "Neji, go get treated."
"Yes, Lord Hiashi."
Neji lowered his head, hiding the unwillingness and resentment in his heart. Standing up, he gave a slight bow to Hinata and said, "Thank you for the match, Lady Hinata."
Then, he turned and left.
Hinata, oblivious to the emotions hidden in Neji's eyes, turned to her father with excitement. "Father, may I take Hanabi out to play?"
"Go ahead," Hiashi nodded.
"Thank you, Father!"
With a small smile, Hinata ran out of the hall, taking her three-year-old sister Hanabi by the hand as they left the compound to find Kenjiro.
It had been exactly three years since she started training with Kenjiro.
Her growth over these three years was evident—not only in her ability to defeat Neji but also in Hiashi's attitude toward her.
This wasn't the first time she had bested Neji.
Since the beginning of the year, she had won every match against him.
And by the second half of the year, her victories had become utterly one-sided.
The Gentle Fist technique required not only the Byakugan but also precise chakra control.
And in terms of chakra control, among her peers, only Kenjiro surpassed her.
Even Sakura Haruno, despite having a rare purple-tier talent, couldn't match Hinata's level of chakra control due to her relentless training in Gentle Fist.
Defeating the cousin she once feared had transformed Hinata completely—she was now full of confidence.
Seeing her progress, both Hiashi and the Hyuga elders unanimously decided that Hinata would be the clan's future leader.
Because of this, many elders had started urging Hiashi to mark Hanabi with the Caged Bird Seal.
However, Hiashi used the excuse of his late wife's wishes, saying he wanted Hanabi to have a happy childhood and would wait until she was twelve before making a decision.
At the same time, he no longer opposed Hinata's interactions with Kenjiro, even though he noticed the subtle changes in their relationship.
He even allowed Hinata to take Hanabi out to meet Kenjiro.
No one knew what Hiashi was truly planning.
It seemed as if he was playing a long game—one that might free both his daughters from the Caged Bird Seal.
Kenjiro, of course, had no clue.
He simply thought that Hinata and Hanabi were allowed out because Hinata had proven herself as the rightful heir.
The possibility that Hinata's solidified position might cause Hanabi to be marked with the Caged Bird Seal sooner never even crossed his mind.
Even if it had, he wouldn't have cared.
The Caged Bird Seal was just another type of curse mark.
Compared to Orochimaru's Earth and Heaven Cursed Seals, it was far less advanced.
Even if the Hyuga Clan had no method to remove it, once Kenjiro mastered Yin-Yang Release, he could erase it with ease.
If Hanabi were ever marked, it would only be a temporary setback.
After all, even by the end of Shippuden, she still hadn't graduated from the academy.
Her Byakugan's purity had no bearing on her future.
-----------------
Knock, knock, knock!
"Onii-chan, I'm here to play! Open the door!"
A series of knocks and a childish voice called out, echoing into Kenjiro's ears.
Opening the door, he saw two figures—one tall, one short—standing outside.
Before he could react, the smaller one leaped forward, hugging his waist tightly. "Onii-chan, let's go play!"
Three-year-old Hanabi, dressed in a tailor-made pink kimono, had already developed the habit of wearing traditional attire.
Her short black hair barely covered her ears, with bangs parted neatly in the middle.
Her round, chubby cheeks were so adorable that they practically begged to be pinched.
And Kenjiro didn't resist the urge.
Gently squeezing her cheeks, he smiled. "Alright, what do you want to do today, Hanabi?"
In Kenjiro's eyes, bubbles of different colors floated around Hanabi's body:
[Princess of the Byakugan (Gold)]
[Bloodline Limit: Byakugan (Purple)]
[Otsutsuki Bloodline (Blue)]
[Jonin Potential (Blue)]
[Chakra Control (Blue)]
Compared to commoners and ordinary clan children, Hanabi's potential was outstanding.
The only thing she lacked compared to Hinata was the golden-tier Princess of the Byakugan talent.
In 'The Last' movie, her Byakugan was stolen by Toneri Otsutsuki and evolved into the Tenseigan in mere days. This proved that her Byakugan's purity was incredibly high.
She was only one step away from being on the same level as Hinata.
Everything else was identical—Hanabi was essentially a slightly weaker version of her sister.
Just like Hinata, she had the potential to defy fate.
And to Kenjiro, this adorable and talented little sister-in-law was incredibly precious.
"I want dango! And I wanna ride on your shoulders!"
Hanabi stretched her arms, trying to climb onto Kenjiro.
"Alright, today, Hanabi's the boss."
Kenjiro ruffled her hair, crouched down, and let her sit on his shoulders.
Holding her tiny hands, he turned to Hinata, who was smiling at them, and said, "Hinata, close the door."
"Okay."
After shutting the door, Kenjiro took the Hyuga sisters to the bustling shopping district.
Since Hinata's mother passed away, their duo had gradually become a trio.
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