As things stood, Hyuga Yuu no longer harbored fantasies of suddenly awakening the Tenseigan like in fanfiction, breaking free from the Caged Bird Seal, launching a coup, rewriting the Hyuga Clan's twisted system, marrying Tsunade, and ascending the Hokage's throne.
After thirteen years spent within the Hyuga Clan, reality had long since forced him to face the truth.
To be honest, life within the Hyuga Clan was not without its advantages.
Aside from the humiliating obligation of serving the Main Family like a slave, bowing deeply and kneeling to kowtow, the benefits provided by the clan were beyond reproach.
Food and housing were fully covered. The orphan subsidy issued by the village, the secondary subsidy provided by the clan, and the additional allowance personally granted by the Elders were never delayed, not even once. Upon reaching adulthood, branch members were allotted housing, and marriages were arranged on their behalf.
Excluding ninjutsu scrolls, ninja tools, and instruction from high ranking shinobi, which were prohibitively expensive and difficult to obtain, the clan had meticulously arranged the lives of Hyuga Branch Family members from birth until death.
This was the true reason the distorted system dividing the Main Family and the Branch Family had endured for so long.
The Hyuga Clan was genuinely wealthy, and they were willing to spend money.
Under such circumstances, even if resentment existed within the Branch Family, it rarely surfaced openly. It was scattered, muted, and suppressed within individuals and across generations.
But understanding did not mean acceptance.
Hyuga Yuu had never possessed the habit of kneeling, bowing ninety degrees, or shouting "Sumimasen." Even when forced to adapt to local customs, he accepted only superficial etiquette.
Therefore, despite knowing full well that he lacked the talent to be a proper ninja, he still needed to become a Chunin.
He was willing to risk his life to do so.
Anything was better than a future defined by dependency and kneeling.
Yet at this moment, standing before this genius girl from the Branch Family and facing the sincerity in her unwavering promise, Hyuga Yuu fell silent.
Hyuga Natsu was the wife arranged for him by the clan.
She was his fiancée.
He had planned for many things, but he had never anticipated this outcome.
In the future, Hyuga Natsu would survive both the Pain invasion and the Fourth Great Ninja War by serving as Hyuga Hanabi's personal attendant. Now, however, she was choosing to join the guard unit of the Main Family's young master, Genko, and step onto the battlefield of the Third Great Ninja War alongside him.
"What's wrong, Yuu kun. You look pale."
"It's nothing." Hyuga Yuu took a slow breath, lifted his head, and offered his fiancée a faint smile.
"Yuu kun sounds strange. Just call me Lion."
"Lion?" Hyuga Natsu laughed softly.
"If I call you that, I feel like I would just end up giggling."
Hyuga Yuu spoke suddenly. "I will protect you."
Hyuga Natsu froze. She looked up at him, her long eyelashes fluttering as a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
"What did you say?"
"Let's go, Natsu," Hyuga Yuu said. "Please take me to see Young Master Genko."
#
Half an hour later, in the reception room of the Main Family residence, Hyuga Yuu met the unfortunate young master whose Byakugan would one day be stolen by Ao of Kirigakure.
Hyuga Genko appeared to be around eighteen years old. He wore a white kimono and bore the unmistakable features of the Hyuga Clan. Black hair, pale eyes, and sharp, well defined features. He resembled an older version of Hyuga Neji, except his smooth forehead bore no protector.
"You are Hyuga Yuu?"
Hyuga Genko held a printed resume in his hand, comparing it to the youth sitting stiffly before him.
"I have heard of you. Your grades at the Ninja Academy were rather unbalanced."
"Yes." Hyuga Yuu nodded.
"Academically, I scored full marks in mathematics, chemistry, and physics, and zero in all other subjects. In ninja fundamentals, aside from full marks in basic kenjutsu and barely passing grades in ninja tool throwing, taijutsu, and the Three Basic Techniques, I failed everything else."
Hyuga Genko flipped through the document.
"Why were your grades so uneven?"
"Because I trained in taijutsu with Might Guy and his father, and studied the foundations of medical ninjutsu at Konoha Hospital."
Hyuga Genko frowned slightly.
"Why study Strong Fist with them. Is the Gentle Fist taught by the clan not superior to such styles?"
"I practiced both." Hyuga Yuu replied without hesitation. "But Strong Fist is more effective for building physical fundamentals, which helps accelerate the activation of the Byakugan."
Hyuga Genko's expression softened.
During one's academy years, two types of students left lasting impressions. The geniuses at the top, and the hopeless failures at the bottom.
A dropout from Konoha's most prestigious clan was even more memorable.
Hyuga Genko was well aware of Hyuga Yuu's lack of natural talent. His chakra reserves were sparse, barely meeting the minimum requirement for a standard ninja.
Activating the Byakugan demanded far more chakra than most techniques.
Realizing that Hyuga Yuu's strange behavior at the academy had all been aimed at overcoming this limitation, Hyuga Genko gave a small nod.
No one in the clan had expected Hyuga Yuu to activate the Byakugan within three years of graduation. Yet during last year's Chunin Exams, he had done so early and even reached the final stage.
Even if he had lost badly to Uchiha Obito.
"So," Hyuga Genko continued, "what medical ninjutsu can you perform?"
"D rank Chakra Healing Technique, Chakra Needlework. C rank Skin Suturing Technique. B rank Removal of Minute Ailments Technique."
"Not bad." Hyuga Genko smiled faintly.
"With your limited talent, activating the Byakugan and mastering this many medical techniques proves your diligence. You are unsuited to reconnaissance, but well suited to be a medical ninja."
After a moment's thought, he made his decision.
"I will report this to the Main House. From now on, your training will focus on medical ninjutsu. When deployment orders are issued, you will be assigned to the rear camp to study under senior medical shinobi."
He closed the folder and looked at the youth before him.
"Do you have any objections?"
"Yes."
Hyuga Yuu raised his head, his expression solemn.
"Hm?"
"I request to move with the team as a member of your guard unit."
Hyuga Genko's expression darkened. He slapped the folder onto the table.
"I already told you. You are not qualified to be a reconnaissance ninja."
Hyuga Yuu straightened his back. Beneath his long bangs, his pale eyes shone with resolve.
"I can."