Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Foolish Deer
Under the table, Hiashi Hyuga's hand clenched tightly.
Three days ago, a certain captain from the ANBU suddenly appeared in the Hyuga clan's territory and left him a message, "One of the Sannin will reopen their dojo and select suitable individuals from the Hyuga and Uchiha clans as disciples. In three days, bring four promising young Hyuga under fourteen years old to the Sarutobi clan's grounds."
Only the heavens knew how excited Hiashi was upon hearing this.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, being over fifty years old, was soon approaching the end of his prime as a shinobi. Unlike the Uzumaki or Senju clans who possessed strong vitality, his energy would decline, and he would eventually have to relinquish the position of Hokage.
Currently, the highest contenders for the Fourth Hokage in Konoha were Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade of the Sannin.
Being chosen as a disciple by one of the Sannin meant that the bloodline of either the Uchiha or Hyuga would enter the core of Konoha's shinobi hierarchy. This meant that, with proper maneuvering, members of both clans could potentially sit on the Hokage's seat in the future!
Although one of Jiraiya's disciples, Minato Namikaze, had a Uchiha student, no one in Konoha saw Minato as a serious candidate for the next Hokage. He was too young, and despite his strength, he lacked his own base of support. In this sense, Obito Uchiha was merely an "add-on" and wasn't regarded as a legitimate part of the shinobi lineage.
Yet, before Hiashi could ponder further, the ANBU captain added, "The following isn't an order, but a personal request from the Hokage. He said the information Yuto Hyuga desperately brought back was very useful. Give the young man a chance and bring him along."
After saying this, the ANBU captain left, leaving Hiashi in a whirlwind of thoughts, '…What? The Hokage wants me to bring Yuto? Why would the shinobi hierarchy consider someone from the branch family? How could the leader of the village have a caged bird above him? Is this the Hokage's dissatisfaction with our clan's branch system? But the founding rules of the village dictate non-interference in clan affairs...'
He thought a lot but couldn't decipher it. Though he felt a strong urge to summon Yuto for questioning, he refrained out of respect for the Third Hokage.
Now, at the banquet, Hiashi Hyuga and Fugaku Uchiha exchanged glances briefly before quickly averting their eyes.
——No matter what, this opportunity must be seized by my Hyuga (Uchiha) clan!
"Alright!" Jiraiya enthusiastically supported his teacher, "As shinobi, why waste time with formalities? If there's no excitement, we might as well take a bath in the hot springs!"
Tsunade snorted at this, glaring at Jiraiya, knowing he was likely to "gather material" during such an activity.
Orochimaru remained silent but smiled, clearly indicating he was going along with the flow.
Jiraiya, unfazed by Tsunade's glare, laughed heartily, "Come on, young men and women, where's your spirit? No need for drawing lots or picking names. If there's someone you've got a grudge against, just go for it! No rules—if you want to take on seven at once, go ahead!"
Yuto's mind whirred. He realized this banquet was organized for the Sannin to select their disciples. Having the Hokage's direct lineage take in members of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans carried significant political implications. In Konoha, being part of the shinobi hierarchy's core meant being in the running for the Hokage's nomination!
He wondered why the original story didn't mention new disciples for the Sannin. Was it abandoned, or was it his presence that led to this banquet...
Contemplating these things, Yuto didn't stand up first but instead sipped his tea quietly.
"I'll go first!" Shuto Uchiha suddenly exclaimed.
True to his moniker "Quick Blade," Shuto Uchiha was aggressive and fiery.
He bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sannin, and his clan leader, then stepped forward, shouting, "Hyuga folks! Will you come at me one by one or all at once?"
Yuto clearly saw Fugaku's slight grimace.
A fool, no doubt about it, Yuto thought with a hidden smirk.
While the Hyuga clan's rules were stricter and less flamboyant than the Uchiha, the patience of young shinobi was ultimately limited. Shinosuke Hyuga first bowed formally, then approached Shuto Uchiha,
"Uchiha Shuto, I, Shinosuke Hyuga, will be your opponent."
The space inside the house was insufficient, so the two moved to the courtyard. Those inside, possessing either hereditary dojutsu or being Kage-level shinobi, could clearly observe every detail of the spar.
Without further ado, the young men began their battle.
A fireball the size of a carriage marked Shuto's initial attack.
The fool's Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique forced Shinosuke to dodge, after which Shuto drew his blade, combining it with a Body Flicker Technique, charging with lightning speed.
Bang!
A hemispherical chakra shield exploded in the courtyard, deflecting the fierce blade.
—Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven!
Yuto squinted, veins around his eyes bulging as he activated his Byakugan.
Revolving Heaven was a secret technique of the main family, a powerful "absolute defense" against all physical attacks. Typically, branch family members weren't taught this and had to steal and master it on their own. Observing it up close was a rare opportunity Yuto wouldn't miss.
While he was busy absorbing every detail, the battle in the courtyard grew increasingly intense.
Shuto's eyes glowed red, with two tomoe spinning wildly in each. His blade, fast as lightning and crackling with electricity, indicated the use of Lightning Style.
Shinosuke wasn't to be outdone either. After using Revolving Heaven once to counter the combined fireball and sword strike, he relied on solid Gentle Fist techniques and the all-seeing Byakugan to dodge and counterattack.
The fierce clash lasted less than five minutes, with Shuto narrowly defeating Shinosuke.
In terms of "dynamic vision," the Sharingan indeed surpassed the Byakugan.
With the back of his blade against Shinosuke's neck, Shuto smirked, "You're strong, but not my match… under these eyes, you are the caged bird."
Fugaku Uchiha's face turned dark as coal.
He regretted bringing his nephew along... 'Does your mouth come with Lightning Style? Do you have to deliver such shocking remarks?'
Calling the Hyuga's branch family "caged birds" and not congratulating Tsunade on her family's prosperity?
Shinosuke Hyuga was furious, his Byakugan nearly turning red, but with the Hokage and both clan leaders present, he could only grit his teeth and approach Shuto to form the "Seal of Reconciliation."
(End of Chapter)
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