Chapter 41: A Sour Father and a Hyuga's Test
Hiraoka closed the file, a slow smile spreading across his face. He looked directly at Inoichi. "Leaking Chunin Exam intelligence is a serious offense, Inoichi-san. Aren't you worried I'll misuse this?"
Inoichi's gaze flickered almost imperceptibly towards his daughter, who was beaming at Hiraoka. It had been her idea to share the dossier, and he had eventually capitulated to her pleading. "I'm not worried," he stated, his voice firm with a confidence he didn't entirely feel.
Hiraoka chuckled, understanding the unspoken dynamic. A genuine warmth spread through him. She did this for me.
The anticipated "inquisition" turned into a surprisingly cordial dinner. Hiraoka, with his easy charm and quick wit, proved to be a masterful conversationalist. He skillfully steered the talk, and sake flowed freely. Before long, a thoroughly inebriated Inoichi was slinging an arm around Hiraoka's shoulders.
"Listen here, my boy!" Inoichi slurred, his face flushed. "You're a good man! The best! Let's... let's become sworn brothers! You, me, and Ino! The three of us! A sworn bond in the peach garden!"
Hiraoka nearly choked on his drink. Become sworn siblings with my girlfriend and her father? The mental gymnastics of the resulting family tree—calling Inoichi 'Big Bro' while dating his 'sworn sister' Ino—was a logistical and romantic nightmare of epic proportions.
Thinking fast, Hiraoka launched into an elaborate, sake-fueled monologue about the sanctity of the father-daughter bond, artfully steering the conversation away from the peach garden pact until Inoichi passed out at the table.
As Hiraoka made his exit, a bleary-eyed Inoichi staggered to the door. "Farewell, brother!" he called out, waving unsteadily. "Take good care of my... my daughter for me!"
"Don't you worry about a thing, brother!" Hiraoka called back with a wave, making a swift retreat before the man could propose anything else.
Back home, Hiraoka splashed cold water on his face, the bizarre evening finally catching up to him. "One down," he muttered to his reflection. "One extremely strange, but successful, father-in-law meeting."
He let out a long breath. "Now for the hard one. Hinata's side."
The Hyuga compound was a different world altogether—austere, traditional, and radiating a quiet, formidable pressure. The next morning, Hinata was waiting for him at the gate, her shy smile a small spot of warmth in the imposing entrance.
"Hiraoka-kun," she whispered, leading him inside.
They found Hyuga Hiashi kneeling in a sparse, formal room. He did not invite Hiraoka to sit, his posture rigid and his expression unreadable.
"Kamikawa Hiraoka," Hiashi began, his voice as cold and smooth as polished stone. "I have only one reason for summoning you here."
"And what is that?" Hiraoka replied, his tone respectful but unwavering.
"Defeat Hyuga Neji."
A small gasp escaped Hinata. Hiraoka simply raised an eyebrow. "That's all?"
"That is all," Hiashi confirmed.
"If it's that simple, then let's not waste time. Bring him out," Hiraoka said, a flicker of his usual confidence returning.
Hiashi stood and led them to a spacious training hall. Inside, Hyuga Neji was practicing his Gentle Fist forms, his movements fluid and precise. He paused as they entered, his Byakugan-less eyes briefly scanning Hiraoka with detached curiosity.
"Neji," Hiashi stated. "Your opponent is Kamikawa Hiraoka. You are to fight him with the intent to win. Understood?"
Neji bowed slightly. "Understood." His gaze turned to Hiraoka, now sharp and analytical.
The two boys faced each other in the center of the hall. Hiraoka offered a casual, almost lazy smile.
"Hyuga Neji," he said, his voice echoing lightly in the silent room. "I'll give you three minutes. You should use every second of it to show me your absolute best."
Neji's eyes narrowed, his composure cracking for a fraction of a second. "Arrogance," he spat.
Even Hiashi, watching from the sidelines, felt the claim was preposterous.
But Hiraoka was already moving. His hands flew through a set of seals. "Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
A thick, white fog erupted from nowhere, swallowing the training hall and reducing visibility to near zero.
A contemptuous snort came from within the mist. "A futile effort. The Byakugan sees through all obstructions."
"Don't be so sure," Hiraoka's voice replied, seeming to come from everywhere at once.
Then, a blur of motion. Hiraoka materialized from the fog directly in front of Neji, a kunai in his hand. Neji's Byakugan flared to life, the veins around his eyes bulging as he tracked the movement. He deflected the strike, his palm aimed precisely at Hiraoka's chakra points.
But Hiraoka was already gone, vanishing back into the mist as quickly as he had appeared. The real test had begun.
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What do you guys think of Boruto? I think it's OverHated.
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