[Heaven Rewards Diligence]
Those four brilliant words flashed across the screen.
Chakra Refinement Technique (E): Level 10 (MAX) [Breakthrough Available]
Ninjutsu – Clone Technique (E): Level 3 (219/300)
Ninjutsu – Transformation Technique (E): Level 8 (799/800)
Ninjutsu – Substitution Technique (E): Level 10 (MAX) [Breakthrough Available]
Taijutsu – Hyuga Gentle Fist (C): Level 4 (2200/2400)
Dōjutsu – Byakugan (A): Level 2 (2000/3200)
Available Free EXP: [ ]
Soaked in sweat, Hyuga Yuzuru stared at the system panel. Despite the progress shown, his thoughts remained tangled and conflicted. Gasping for breath, he collapsed onto the ground without the slightest concern for appearances.
As he worked to recover his strength, he tilted his head back and gazed at the starlit sky. A flood of emotions washed over him.
"Time really does fly…"
The memory of his transmigration still felt fresh, as if it had happened only yesterday. Yet in the blink of an eye, four long years had passed. He had already been branded with the Caged Bird Seal, and had endured life within the family he had come to resent.
Now, he had grown used to living as Hyuga Hiashi's nephew, used to the name Hyuga Yuzuru, used to this new life. But there was one thing he could never get used to—the cursed mark carved into his forehead.
Just thinking about the blue-green seal that made his stomach churn with revulsion caused Yuzuru's gaze to turn even colder.
Others might believe that being born into the branch family and accepting the Caged Bird Seal was inevitable, just part of their so-called destiny—something to resign yourself to.
But not Yuzuru.
"Humans are born free."
Why should their lives be held hostage by the whims of others? Why should their birth dictate whether they live like slaves beneath the main family?
A family like that, was it even worthy of being called one?
His eyes once again drifted back to the floating system panel.
Fortunately, he wasn't completely without hope. The greatest asset he had brought with him when he transmigrated, the Heaven Rewards Diligence System—was his one true chance to break free from fate.
It wasn't a cheat that created something from nothing. But it did mean that, even as a branch family member, he could grow to rival or surpass even the most gifted prodigies.
As long as he trained diligently, his skills would accumulate EXP. Once the EXP reached its threshold, the skill would level up. This allowed him to bypass the bottlenecks that most shinobi encountered. With enough effort, he could master taijutsu and ninjutsu even without a teacher.
And that wasn't all—after maxing out a skill, he could use Free EXP to break through its limits! Though he hadn't tested this feature yet, the system's description was clear: even a basic Fireball Jutsu could, with enough breakthroughs, evolve into a devastating technique like Falling Stars of Flame.
Granted, that would be the least efficient path.
Free EXP came from two main sources—one-time bonuses awarded when a skill reached max level, and through training or actual combat.
Victory in a battle granted Free EXP based on difficulty. Even in defeat, he could earn a lesser amount based on performance.
And during harsh training sessions, whether with taijutsu or ninjutsu, he could accumulate Free EXP according to how hard he pushed himself.
For now, most of Yuzuru's Free EXP came from endless, grueling training.
After pushing himself to the brink each day, he typically earned between a few dozen to over a hundred points.
Still, the largest chunks came from maxing out skills. Even an E-rank jutsu granted a hefty 2,000 points upon reaching Level 10.
"Too bad... even though Chakra Refinement is already maxed, this four-year-old body has limits. The chakra I can produce each day is still small."
"And that limited chakra slows down my Byakugan training. If I spend Free EXP to push it further, the chakra drain would be massive. I wouldn't be able to use it long enough to gain real proficiency. Maxing out the Byakugan is already hard enough. Turning it into the Tenseigan afterward... I can't even begin to guess how much EXP that would take."
"Not to mention, I need to keep saving up Free EXP for something else..."
Yuzuru rubbed the space between his brows and exhaled, trying to ease the tension in his mind.
Compared to awakening the Tenseigan, there was something far more urgent.
He wasn't saving up all this EXP to play the underdog and win some last-minute miracle fight.
No—he had one goal: to break the Caged Bird Seal.
Right now, the only hope he had lay in sealing techniques.
But as a branch family member, gaining access to advanced fuinjutsu was nearly impossible. Studying it? Even harder. The main family had no reason to share the key to the leash they'd placed around the branch family's necks.
So, Yuzuru could only take the long road. Even a low-level sealing jutsu would be a start. With enough skill upgrades and EXP breakthroughs, he might eventually gain the insight needed to uncover the mechanism behind the Caged Bird Seal—and destroy it.
And if fuinjutsu failed...
He'd have no choice but to consider more radical options, like reincarnation-based jutsu. But techniques like Reanimation or Living Corpse Reincarnation—Orochimaru's creation—were far more dangerous and complex than seals.
And if the seal was bound to the soul itself... even those might not work.
"Better to take it step by step," he muttered, "Besides… maybe tomorrow, Uchiha Itachi will surprise me."
His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of urgent footsteps behind him.
Instinctively, Yuzuru stood up and grabbed his black-rimmed glasses from the ground.
"Yuzuru-sama! Lady Hyuga is in labor, and Lord Hizashi has returned!" a maid called out joyfully.
"I see," Yuzuru replied, a little surprised—not by the news that his mother was giving birth to a younger brother named Neji, but by his father's sudden return.
The Third Shinobi World War was still raging. Konoha's situation was precarious, facing pressure from Iwagakure, Kirigakure, Kumogakure... practically every enemy had chosen this moment to pounce. Though they fought each other in chaos, their true aim remained focused on crushing Konoha.
It wouldn't be long now until the war reached Konoha's gates. The famous Battle of Kikyo Pass was just around the corner.
So for a Hyuga clan elite like Hizashi to make it home… that was no small feat.
When Yuzuru reached the room, he saw his father—dusty, travel-worn, with a few bloodstains still clinging to his clothes.
"Father," Yuzuru said with a warm smile, walking up beside him.
Hizashi's expression softened the moment he saw his son. "Yuzuru, you've grown taller again."
"And Father looks a bit thinner," Yuzuru replied, his tone teasing but affectionate.
They looked at each other in silence for a moment—father and son, reunited after so long.
"Both mother and child are safe. It's a boy! Congratulations, Lord Hizashi!" came the voice of a medical-nin from inside.
Hizashi's smile grew even gentler, though he didn't go in right away. He simply stood there, listening to the newborn's strong cries with a radiant expression. "That's good."
"Aren't you going in, Yuzuru?"
Yuzuru stood quietly at his father's side, his expression calm—as if the newborn inside had nothing to do with him.
He had long black hair that draped casually past his cheeks. His features were delicate yet handsome, having inherited the best of both his parents' appearances—flawless, except for one glaring flaw.
The blue-green Caged Bird Seal nestled in the center of his forehead.
At just four years old, Yuzuru barely reached his father's thigh. Behind his black-rimmed glasses, his pale white eyes held a quiet steadiness.
Hearing his father's question, he only smiled gently. "I'll go in once he's asleep."
Hizashi ruffled his hair gently and said, "You should take the day off today. Don't train so late. Spend time with your mother."
"Mm." Yuzuru nodded without argument. Then, after glancing around, he suddenly asked, "Did the clan head not come?"
"Lord Hiashi… has his hands full. The situation on the front lines is very tense."
The light in Hizashi's eyes dimmed slightly as he said it.
Yuzuru just smiled. "Are you leaving tomorrow?"
"I'm heading back in just a bit. Things at the front aren't looking good."
Hizashi had never sugarcoated things for Yuzuru. He knew this sharp child could guess the truth whether he heard it or not.
"Oh," Yuzuru murmured, then asked again, "Is the clan head going?"
"Of course he is," Hizashi replied, before reaching out to pat his son's head again. "Yuzuru…"
Yuzuru fell silent, his smile still calm. He adjusted his glasses and said lightly, "I was just asking."
"You know what you're doing," Hizashi said with a sigh. His good mood from Neji's birth was slightly dampened. He glanced longingly through the wall with his Byakugan to see his sleeping wife and newborn son—then turned to leave.
His clothes were still stained with blood. In his condition, he wasn't fit to hold a newborn child or embrace a woman who had just given birth.
"Stay safe," Yuzuru said softly.
Hizashi paused for a moment—then laughed. "Of course. I still need to watch you and Neji grow up."
His footsteps faded into the distance.
Yuzuru stood alone in the wooden corridor for a long time before turning and entering the room.
His mother, utterly exhausted, had fallen asleep. Neji—oblivious to the world—had quieted down under the care of the medical-nin.
Newborns were usually not much to look at, and Neji was no exception. Yuzuru chuckled at the sight. If only he had a camera—showing this ugly photo to Neji when he was older would've been hilarious.
He quietly sat by the bed. With a fruit knife, he peeled an apple and carved it into little bunny shapes, placing them carefully onto a plate. Then he followed the medical-nin out of the room.
"Is something wrong?" the woman asked tiredly, wiping sweat from her brow.
Yuzuru simply said, "Just wanted to walk you out. It's late, and you had to rush here from the hospital. Thank you."
"It's fine. I used to handle deliveries like this all the time," she said, waving it off. "Lately… well, the hospital's been overwhelmed."
She didn't want to burden this child with the harsh reality—that the war had filled Konoha's medical wards to the brim.
Yuzuru gave a few more polite words before escorting her out of the Hyuga estate. He seemed far too composed and mature for a boy of only four.
When he returned, the maids were already taking good care of his mother and brother. Even for a branch family, the Hyuga still provided help with newborns.
He simply pushed Neji's cradle gently and watched his little brother sleep, then gave his mother a quiet farewell and returned to his room.
After a brief bath in a wooden tub prepared by the servants, and drying his hair, he finally fell into a deep, heavy sleep.
The next morning, Hyuga Yuzuru quietly left the house alone.
He was going to meet someone.
A boy his own age.
Uchiha Itachi.
************************
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!