He'd spent all afternoon grinding mobs, and the rest of the day picking up loot.
Hyuga Akira finally let out a breath as he checked his backpack, which now held multiple 99-stacks of kunai.
What a grind...
"And I still didn't get them all," he muttered.
There were plenty he'd thrown that he couldn't find again. In the end, he only recovered the ones still visible across the mountain.
And throughout that entire clean-up process,
The Hyuga brothers and Tsunade didn't lift a single finger to help.
What great teammates they are.
Only once he finished picking everything up did the group begin the journey back to Konoha.
There was no need to rush now. Missions had a time-sensitive start, but once complete, returning could be at leisure.
Under the shade of the trees…
Tsunade and Akira walked at the front.
Tsunade cast a sidelong glance at him, voice low so the brothers behind couldn't hear.
"This time, when we return, your clan won't let you off easily."
"I won't be hiding anything, either."
Her tone was quiet, but firm.
This mission had been the result of a deal between the Hyuga clan and the Hokage. Tsunade had no authority to interfere in Hyuga internal affairs, not as a jonin, anyway.
And because the Hyuga were involved, she was obligated to report everything without omission. The real judgment of the mission's outcome would come from the clan.
Right now, the Hyuga were far from the docile clan they'd become in the future. They were locked in a cold war with the Uchiha for the title of "strongest ninja clan," and they held no small amount of power in Konoha.
Even if that power mainly targeted the Branch Family.
"Not like they can kill me," Akira replied with a grin. "Or disable me either."
Killing or disabling fellow shinobi? Against Konoha regulations.
That was the condition for the Hyuga's acceptance into the village, set by the First Hokage himself.
No matter what, as long as the person was an active-duty shinobi, the clan couldn't lay a finger on them. Of course… if something "accidental" happened outside the village, well…
Akira would gladly take the EXP.
Tsunade fell silent.
This kid… is he not afraid of death?
She'd never met anyone like him before, unapologetic, fearless, utterly unbound.
It reminded her of someone famous.
Uchiha Madara.
In all the stories, Madara was exactly this kind of wild card. And now… was Konoha about to birth a "Hyuga Madara"?
What kind of sick joke was this?
"The Caged Bird Seal… even the Sealing Corps couldn't crack it," Tsunade muttered.
As the Hokage's granddaughter, she didn't hold much actual power, but she knew plenty of secrets. One infamous "king of scapegoats" had tried to decode the seal in secret, only to fail, and the clan eventually caught wind of it, forcing the project to shut down.
Without breaking the Caged Bird Seal, no matter how strong Akira became, the Hyuga could still control him.
"Is that so?" Akira replied calmly, gaze drifting toward the distant mountains.
Tsunade followed his eyes.
She had no idea what he was looking at.
Or what he saw.
=========
Back in Konoha.
Tsunade headed off to submit the mission report.
Akira walked toward the Hyuga compound with Hiashi and Hizashi.
Like the Uchiha, the Hyuga all lived in a shared clan district, though it had a strict hierarchy.
The Main House lived in the finest homes. The Branch Family's residences were sorted based on merit and rank.
As they approached the gates, Hiashi suddenly stopped.
He looked at Akira, hesitated a moment, and said, "You handled yourself poorly on this mission."
Akira's eyes dropped to the bandaged wound on Hiashi's hand. He grinned. "What, coming to settle accounts now?"
Hiashi took a deep breath. "I'm not so petty. But your behavior can't be hidden. Not from the clan."
Even if he said nothing, Hizashi and Tsunade certainly wouldn't cover for him.
The fact that Akira had even been allowed to leave the village had the clan's full attention. Nothing would be swept under the rug.
"So what?" Akira snorted. "You think I'm scared?"
Hiashi's gaze grew serious. "Hyuga Akira… if one day I defeat you, I want you to submit. And if that day comes, I promise I'll protect you."
He knew very well, Akira was meant to be his whetstone. A rival his father had deliberately placed to sharpen him.
If he let Akira be crushed now, he'd only disappoint his father.
So this was his way of salvaging the situation.
In the Hyuga clan, the Branch Family served the Main House. Rebellion wasn't just disobedience, it was treason.
That was the law.
Akira stared at him with a mocking smile.
Branch Family members didn't even have access to real jutsu, only Gentle Fist and Byakugan.
Advanced techniques like Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms or Rotation?
Main House only.
In theory, if things stayed the way they were, Akira could never surpass Hiashi.
In theory.
Akira tilted his head.
"…What if you never beat me?"
That's impossible, was Hiashi's first instinct.
But something about the glint in Akira's eye made him bite his tongue.
"…Then I'll grant you freedom," Hiashi said quietly. "I'll make sure no one ever uses the Caged Bird Seal on you again."
Akira laughed, twice.
Then shoved Hiashi aside and walked past him.
What a generous offer.
At the gates, two young Hyuga guards spotted Akira returning.
"You're back, Akira!"
"Hey, Grass-root Bro, Supply Bro. Just finished a mission," Akira greeted them with a sunny smile.
It was softer than the one he gave Hiashi, less menacing, more genuine.
The two men in their twenties scratched their heads awkwardly.
"Are we… really that old?" one mumbled.
Hyuga Kusane chuckled. "Can't believe how fast time flies. You're already a ninja, Akira."
They wanted to chat more, but when they saw Hiashi approaching, they immediately dropped to one knee.
"Greetings, Young lord."
Akira's expression cooled slightly. "I'll be heading in."
He didn't spare another glance as he opened the gate and entered.
Kusane and Torimono looked uneasy, as if they wanted to explain something on Akira's behalf.
But Hiashi and Hizashi ignored them and followed inside.
The two guards watched the trio disappear and let out a long sigh.
Hyuga Torimono subconsciously touched the Caged Bird Seal etched beneath his forehead protector.
Those faint green markings drew a line that split the entire clan in two.
Back in his own room, a small but cozy one-bedroom inherited from his deceased jonin parents, Akira sat cross-legged on a cushion.
He was waiting.
"Six levels to go…" he murmured softly.
<><>---------------------------------------
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
Add to Collection!
🚨 TL/N 💥
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
💥> Naruto: Mind Control (Highly Recommended)
💥> Bleach: Sephiroth Template
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed