Chapter 1: Hyuga Hian
The 12th Year of Konoha.
"Everyone, I've just received confirmed news. The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama-sama, is nearing the end of his life due to countless hidden wounds accumulated over years of battle."
In the grand hall of the Hyuga Clan's main family, the Hyuga Clan Leader, Hyuga Mokuhira, looked solemnly at the six elders present.
"If Lord Hashirama passes away, the other four great nations might engage in war."
Hyuga Mokuhira spoke seriously to the elders.
"Mokuhira, no need to worry. The Senju Clan invited us to join Konoha back then, and now that Lord Hashirama is encountering issues, no matter what happens, the Senju Clan will bear the burden first. We simply need to watch and wait."
The Great Elder of the Hyuga Clan spoke calmly.
"The Great Elder is right. Mokuhira, there's no need for excessive worry. Regardless of whether Konoha continues to exist or falls, the Hyuga Clan has endured for a thousand years and will not be destroyed by us."
The Second Elder agreed with the Great Elder, smiling as he spoke to Hyuga Mokuhira.
"Of course, I understand, Elders. However, the consequences of Lord Hashirama's passing will be significant. No matter what, the Hyuga Clan must prepare and minimize casualties among our people."
Hyuga Mokuhira spoke seriously to the elders.
"Alright, we'll have the branch families prepare war supplies and arrange evacuation routes as well."
The Great Elder thought for a moment and then responded to Hyuga Mokuhira.
"Good, this puts my mind at ease."
Seeing the Great Elder agree to make preparations, Hyuga Mokuhira smiled at him.
"You! Still too young. This is something you could have decided on your own."
The Great Elder shook his head gently as he looked at the cheerful Hyuga Mokuhira.
Although already in his twenties, Hyuga Mokuhira scratched his head in embarrassment upon hearing the Great Elder's words.
"I'm still too young. When faced with this situation, I feel uneasy. That's why I seek advice from the Elders. After all, before my father passed, he told me never to act rashly and always consult the Elders for well-rounded strategies."
Hyuga Mokuhira smiled at the Great Elder as he spoke.
"Your father wanted you to seek our opinions, but that doesn't mean you should ask about everything. As the Hyuga Clan Leader, there are things you should decide on your own. Doing so establishes your authority and helps our people follow you more firmly."
The Great Elder patted Hyuga Mokuhira on the shoulder and smiled.
Although Hyuga Mokuhira lacked talent as a ninja, his diligence was something the Great Elder had observed.
"Clan Leader, is there anything else? If not, I'll head home. My grandson, Hyuga Hian, is at home, and I feel uneasy leaving him alone."
As the Great Elder and Clan Leader continued chatting, the Third Elder, Hyuga Seimu, suddenly spoke.
"Apologies, Third Elder. Please head home. Brother Mokugen only has that one son, so I appreciate you taking care of him."
Hyuga Mokuhira scratched his head apologetically as he spoke to the Third Elder.
"It's fine, Clan Leader. It's a small matter. You and the Great Elder continue your discussion. I'll take my leave."
The Third Elder, Hyuga Seimu, stood up, greeted the other Elders, and left.
Just as Hyuga Seimu reached his home's entrance, he shouted loudly:
"Akari, Akari! Where is Hian? Where is Hian?"
As Hyuga Seimu continued to call out, a teenage girl emerged from the nursery, holding a one-to-two-year-old child in her arms.
"Father, Hian is here. Please lower your voice, or you'll make him cry."
The girl, Hyuga Mokuka, spoke softly while holding the child.
"Oh, my dear grandson isn't asleep yet. Come, let grandpa hold you."
Hyuga Seimu ran over, smiling as he reached for the child.
Seeing the old man in front of him, the toddler turned his head away.
"Haha! This little one is mad at me."
The Third Elder, Hyuga Seimu, laughed heartily while gently touching the child's head.
Hearing Seimu's laughter, the child buried his face into the girl's arms and rolled his eyes.
His grandfather was extremely fond of him, but unfortunately, his loud voice and habit of tickling him with his beard were too much to bear.
Yes, this child was actually Chen An, a transmigrator. But now, he was known as Hyuga Hian.
By generation, Chen An was in the same lineage as Hyuga Hiashi, Hinata's father.
Before transmigrating to the Naruto world, Chen An was an ordinary person in society.
One day, he encountered a beautiful young woman walking absentmindedly towards a speeding vehicle.
Seeing she hadn't noticed the danger, he rushed forward and pushed her away. But in doing so, he was hit by the vehicle himself.
In an instant, Chen An lost consciousness and fell into a deep coma.
When he woke up again, he had soul-traveled to the Naruto world and was now the grandson of the Hyuga Clan's Third Elder.
His father was the Third Elder's eldest son, Hyuga Mokugen, while his mother was from the Senju Clan.
Their marriage was a political alliance. The Senju Clan orchestrated it secretly to support Hashirama's rise to Hokage.
A close relative of Hashirama was married into the Hyuga Clan as part of the deal, and the Hyuga Clan agreed to back Hashirama as the First Hokage.
Sadly, a few months ago, his parents were mysteriously killed during a mission.
Chen An strongly suspected Uchiha Madara was responsible, seeking revenge against the Hyuga Clan for supporting Hashirama.
Despite the tragedy, he wasn't too heartbroken. As a transmigrator, he simply accepted the classic trope of having deceased parents.
Still, he secretly vowed that once he could train, he would investigate his parents' deaths and seek revenge.
For now, as a child of the Hyuga main family, he wasn't even allowed to walk around freely. His grandfather had arranged for his branch family aunt, Hyuga Mokuka, to take care of him.
Chen An lived a noble life—meals were prepared, clothes provided.
All he wanted now was to grow up quickly and start practicing chakra, hoping to become a powerful ninja.