Chapter no.98 Pride, Prophecy, and the Red Letter (Patreon)

Naruto flickered away, the air snapping shut where he'd been. The three men stood in the quiet that followed, each exhaling a slow breath.

Kakashi adjusted his hitai-ate, his voice flat. "That could have gone better."

"No thanks to you," Hiruzen said, turning on Jiraiya with a glare that burned hotter than his pipe embers.

Jiraiya spread his hands. "What did I even do, sensei?"

"You told a boy who just had his life upended to stop asking questions and just move on," Kakashi cut in, tone cold. "That's not wisdom. That's cruelty. You are lucky Naruto is more forgiving than most. If he weren't, you might have just driven him out of the village."

"I was trying to make him stronger!" Jiraiya snapped. "The past is dead weight. Carry it too long and it'll drag you under."

Hiruzen stepped forward, his voice hard. "You talk about moving on as if you have ever done it yourself. You still haven't let go of Orochimaru."

Jiraiya's expression twisted. "Oh, don't you start with that."

"You hold onto that wound like a badge, Jiraiya. You've spent years letting it shape you, and now you expect Naruto to just… toss his grief aside like it's nothing? Hypocrisy doesn't suit you."

The toad sage's eyes narrowed into slits. "Careful, old man. I wasn't the one who saw Orochimaru's evil and let him walk away. Don't lecture me about not moving on when you couldn't do what had to be done."

Kakashi's gaze flicked between them, but he stayed silent.

Hiruzen's jaw tightened. "I made that choice, and I've lived with the cost. But I also made another choice. I didn't tell Naruto about Minato because I wanted you to have the courtesy. I wanted you, his godfather, to be the one to give him that truth."

"Big deal," Jiraiya shot back, voice rising. "The world told him anyway! The whole damn shinobi world knew before he did!"

Hiruzen's voice dropped, but it lost none of its weight. "And that's the point. I gave you the chance to be more than the wandering fool who drops in and out of his life. You had years, Jiraiya. Years. And you did nothing."

Jiraiya's fists clenched at his sides. "You think it's that simple? That I could just show up, tell him everything, and that would fix it? I stayed away because I didn't want to chain him to my life. I wanted him to grow without carrying my baggage."

"And instead," Hiruzen said, "he's carrying his pain alone."

The two men locked eyes, the air between them thick with old history and unspoken regrets.

Finally, Jiraiya broke the silence. "Fine. I'll talk to him. But I'm doing it my way."

"You had better," Hiruzen said. "Because next time, I won't stand between you and the boy's anger."

Kakashi exhaled quietly. "Glad we're all on the same page," he murmured, though the tension in the room said otherwise.

"Alright. Enough of the side topics. Let us talk about your mission report."

Kakashi inclined his head slightly. "I apologize, Hokage-sama. Multiple factors caused the mission to spiral out of control. I made the call to prioritize the safety of my team and certain… other objectives, instead of pushing to complete the mission as originally planned."

"And that decision left us with a situation that will not be cleaned up anytime soon. After speaking with Hinata Hyūga, I am convinced Orochimaru's hand is somewhere in this mess."

Both Jiraiya and Kakashi went still at the name.

"Explain," Jiraiya said, his tone losing its usual casual weight.

Hiruzen outlined what Hinata had seen through her Byakugan during the encounter. The exact moment Guren underwent a curse mark transformation. He then revealed that Naruto's bingo book contained entries so unusual that even Kakashi had been unaware of them. When those details were combined with the account of Guren's battle against Naruto, every clue began to converge on a single, unmistakable suspect: the snake sannin himself, Orochimaru.

Jiraiya blew out a long breath through his nose. "Alright. I will check with my spy network immediately. If Orochimaru has moved, someone will have seen the ripples. I will also dig into this Guren. She is too well-trained to be a random nobody."

"Good," Hiruzen said. "Because there is another storm coming. The Chūnin Exams this year will have participation from every major village."

"I expected some noise after Naruto's heritage became known, but this feels like… more than noise."

Hiruzen gave a bitter smile. "It is more. The Chūnin Exams are the perfect trap. They give our enemies a legitimate stage where Naruto can be targeted. If he dies there, they can shrug and call it part of the trials. No political fallout. No retaliation. Just another genin casualty."

Jiraiya scowled. "Then the answer is simple. Keep the brat out of the exams."

"No," Hiruzen replied, his voice firm. "The Fire Daimyō himself has demanded to see Naruto's performance. Denying him would cause more trouble than it solves."

Jiraiya opened his mouth, but Kakashi spoke over him. "I think Naruto will manage. He forced me to take him seriously in a spar."

Jiraiya's eyes went wide. "You? You are telling me you had to actually put effort into fighting him?"

"It was not effort," Kakashi said evenly. "It was the difference between humoring a student and realizing the student could kill me if I kept doing that."

Hiruzen's brow rose slightly. He had seen this written in Kurenai's mission reports, but hearing it from Kakashi directly gave the claim more weight.

An elite jōnin, forced to treat a genin as an actual opponent? The only others in living memory who had done that were Itachi Uchiha and Minato Namikaze.

Hiruzen hid his thoughts behind a neutral face, but inside he was already planning. Naruto would be tested before the exams began.

"Still," Hiruzen said, "Naruto is not the only concern. Many of the notable genin this year are clan heirs. I expect some will be reluctant to throw their children into what may become a political bloodbath."

"Will they even allow it?"

"I do not know," Hiruzen admitted. "But I do know we cannot run the exams as if nothing has changed."

"So you do have a plan," Jiraiya pressed.

"I will delay the start by one month," Hiruzen said. "That will give all participants time to prepare for what will likely be the most dangerous exams in decades."

Both Jiraiya and Kakashi gave small nods. It was not a perfect solution, but it was workable.

"Now," Hiruzen continued, turning his gaze to Kakashi, "let us address something else. A matter I am relieved to finally have answers to."

Kakashi inclined his head again. "Lordran."

For the next several minutes, Kakashi explained everything Naruto had told him during the Wave mission. Every detail about the strange place, every skill, every hint of where his power had grown.

When Kakashi finished, Jiraiya said nothing. His expression was unusually unreadable.

Hiruzen, however, sat back in his chair and stared at the ceiling for a long moment. The old man finally put his head in his hands. "All of this paranoia… all of this fear… and it could have been avoided if I had just asked the boy directly."

"At least now we know Naruto is not some mastermind hiding behind a mask," Kakashi said.

The corner of Hiruzen's mouth twitched. "Small mercies."

Kakashi's tone shifted, sharper. "And what happened to Danzō?"

Hiruzen let out a weary sigh before addressing them. He wasted no time in relaying the events surrounding Danzō, and the decision to brand him a traitor to Konoha.

Jiraiya's face darkened. "That is not good. Not only do we have Orochimaru's schemes to deal with, but now Danzō is out there carrying years' worth of Konoha's secrets. He knows things about this village that could cripple us if he decides to sell them to the wrong hands."

"Exactly," Hiruzen replied. "We must secure Konoha from both the inside and the outside."

Kakashi leaned forward slightly. "And how do you plan on doing that? If we pull shinobi back from the borders to strengthen internal defenses, the other villages will simply use the opportunity to expand their territories. We would be trading one risk for another."

"That is why we need a deterrent," Hiruzen said. His eyes were sharp now, calculating. "A name powerful enough to make the other villages, Orochimaru, and even Danzō be cautious."

"Who did you have in mind?"

"You are going to find Tsunade," Hiruzen said without hesitation. "Pull every resource you can. She is to return to Konoha immediately. If she refuses, you are authorized to use force."

Jiraiya frowned. "Is that really the best option? Forcing her back could make her dig her heels in even more."

"The primary goal is to bring her back peacefully," Hiruzen clarified. "Using force is to be a last resort, nothing more."

Jiraiya folded his arms. "Alright, but what reason am I supposed to give her? Tsunade does not exactly come running when Konoha calls."

Hiruzen turned to Kakashi. "Team 7 has recently acquired the Second Hokage's sword. Naruto wishes to gift it to Sasuke Uchiha."

Kakashi gave a slow nod, understanding where this might be going. Jiraiya's expression shifted into an amused smirk.

"I see it now," Jiraiya said with a chuckle. "You are planning to use a little… bait."

"Precisely," Hiruzen confirmed. "You will give Tsunade a letter proposing a gambling challenge. The stakes will be a couple of million ryō. If she wins, she takes the money. If she loses, Naruto keeps the Second Hokage's sword. While she is here, I will do my best to convince her to remain in the village for a time. With both you and Tsunade present in Konoha, alongside most of our elite jōnin, we will have a powerful deterrent against any enemy considering action."

Kakashi exhaled through his nose, one hand rubbing at the back of his head. "Naruto gambling with the Legendary Sucker… something tells me that will not be as straightforward as it sounds. In fact, I think that meeting might end up being more trouble than either of you expect."

"Be that as it may," Hiruzen said, "that is the plan. Now, I believe we have discussed enough for the moment. Kakashi, Jiraiya, I suggest you both take some time to prepare for what lies ahead. I, meanwhile, have other matters to attend to preferably ones that will not give me more headaches."

Kakashi inclined his head. "Understood."

Jiraiya smirked faintly. "Well, about that, I might have to give you a different kind of headache. I just received some information from the toad sage. It is something you will definitely want to hear."

Hiruzen let out a long, tired breath. Without another word, he formed a hand seal, and a shadowy black barrier rose up around the three of them.

Jiraiya wasted no time once the barrier shimmered into place. "Sensei, do you remember what I told you before about the Child of Prophecy?"

Hiruzen gave a single, silent nod.

"Well," Jiraiya went on, his expression turning grim, "the elder toad says that future is… fading. It might still come to pass, but right now there are two other prophecies that take priority."

Kakashi and Hiruzen both straightened slightly, their attention sharpening.

"The first," Jiraiya said, "is a vision of the future where a dragon is attacking Konoha."

That made both men stiffen. Jiraiya let the pause hang for a heartbeat before continuing.

"And the second…" He cleared his throat, his voice dropping lower. "The second is something the elder called the Prophecy of the Three Entities."

He glanced between the two of them, then began to repeat the words exactly as the toad sage had spoken them.

When the Darksign burns three times,
And the thrones of the old lie empty and cold,
They shall rise.

The First shall wear the face of a Dragon.
Born from chaos, raised in calamity.
They will know too much, feel too deeply,
And be called monster by those who fear the truth.
Do not lie to the Dragon.
For it sees through all things.

The Second shall wear the chains of the Giants.
Silent, crowned in rust and old echoes.
They will walk the paths of the dead,
And the earth will remember every step.
Do not fight the Giant.
For it has already endured more than war.

The Third shall fall on hollow wings,
An Angel whose tears burn instead of fall.
Where they go, sorrow will burn cities,
And love will leave only ash.
Do not fear the Angel.
For their grief is older than gods.

Three shall rise.
Not born, but forged.
Not chosen, but burdened.
They will pass through fire, through shadow, through loss.
And they will not turn back.

And in their wake, two worlds shall tremble.
One will try to forget.
The other will relive it again and again.
Three times shall the veil between them shake.
And all that was left behind
Shall walk forward once more.

And at the end of all things, when the stars grow quiet—
You, Dragon.
You, Giant.
You, Angel.

Will you not meet again at the ramen stand at the end of the universe?

Kakashi stared at him blankly. Hiruzen just blinked. The two of them exchanged a glance, then turned back to Jiraiya as if to confirm they had heard correctly.

"That," Hiruzen said slowly, rubbing his temples, "is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in years."

"I know," Jiraiya said, shrugging with a grimace. "Let's ignore the three entities part for now. I have no idea what to make of it. How in the hell is there a ramen stand at the end of the universe? Is it literal? Is it some kind of metaphor? I honestly do not want to know right now."

Hiruzen let out a long breath. "Fine. The dragon attacking Konoha is the bigger priority. The question is, what do we do about it?"

"We treat it like a bijū attack," Jiraiya said at once. "Plan defenses the same way we would if one of the tailed beasts was coming straight for us. That gives us a framework to work from."

"That would require months of preparation," Hiruzen pointed out. "Do you have any idea when this attack might happen?"

"No. Maybe it will not happen at all. The elder toad was clear that the future is always shifting. This could be one of those visions that fades away before it ever comes true."

Kakashi spoke up. "If we want to prevent it, we need to figure out exactly who or what this dragon is supposed to be."

"Agreed," Hiruzen said. "It is possible the dragon is Orochimaru. Snakes eventually strive to become dragons in certain myths, and Orochimaru would absolutely use that kind of transformation as a weapon against Konoha."

Kakashi made a thoughtful sound.

"There is also the possibility it comes from Lordran," Jiraiya said.

That made Kakashi and Hiruzen both pause. Kakashi's mind went back to his own report about Naruto claiming to be a half-dragon.

"We need to talk to Naruto before we start making assumptions," Kakashi said firmly.

"I agree," Hiruzen said, "but we should still consider the Lordran possibility. Could this be a boss summon from that world? If so, why would Naruto release it? Did it get out of control? Was another summoner from Lordran involved? There are too many unknowns here to settle on a single answer."

"I hear you," Jiraiya said, "but if we tell Naruto about this prophecy, will he stop going to Lordran?"

Kakashi shook his head. "No. That place means too much to him. He would not give it up based on a possibility. And as you said yourself, the future can change."

Jiraiya opened his mouth to respond, but Hiruzen raised a hand. "I know you are worried, Jiraiya. I am too. But let us not leap to conclusions. Lordran is one possible origin, but it is not the only one. What we can do right now is prepare. Prepare and hope that we can survive whatever storm is coming."

Jiraiya gave a slow nod. "Alright. I will do some digging. I need a few hours of research before I speak to Naruto about any of this. When I do, I want to meet him with an open mind."

"I will come with you," Kakashi said.

"Oh? Looks like you are interested in my research after all."

"No," Kakashi replied. "I am interested in relaxing at the hot springs. Now that we are back in Konoha, Naruto cannot get into anything insane."

Hiruzen chuckled quietly. "Knowing him, he is probably just eating ramen right now."

If only that were true.

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Naruto sat cross-legged in the Hyūga clan's guest house, his eyes following Hanabi as she carefully demonstrated something with an ornate, carved bottle.

"In the Hyūga clan," Hanabi began with the tone of someone reciting a well-learned lesson, "it is customary to always use the right hand when offering anything, while the left hand supports the elbow or forearm. Like this."

She held the small bottle with her right hand and gently supported her right elbow with her left hand, presenting it to him. "This is a snuff bottle. You then sniff it."

Naruto tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "And what's inside?"

"Powdered tobacco," Hanabi replied matter-of-factly. "You take a light whiff. If you don't like it, you pretend to sniff and then return it with your right hand. It's part of proper etiquette."

Naruto grinned. "Alright, let's give it a try." He leaned forward and brought the bottle to his nose.

The smell hit him instantly. It was dry, sharp, and earthy, with a faint smoky undertone that burned slightly in his nostrils. It was strong enough to make his eyes water.

He coughed, pulling the bottle away. "Phew! That's… something," he said, passing it to Oscar with exaggerated care. "Your turn, buddy."

Oscar took a sniff and immediately sneezed, his crystals vibrating faintly from the force.

"Yeah, I think I like sniffing my own stuff better," Naruto chuckled, reaching into his pouch. He pulled out a small green blossom and sniffed it himself before offering it to Hanabi with the proper right-hand etiquette.

Hanabi accepted it politely. "Thank you." She brought it close, inhaled lightly, and then jerked back almost instantly. Her eyes widened as she felt the chakra in her body surge and flow faster, an invigorating rush spreading through her limbs. The sensation was startlingly refreshing—almost addictive.

"You are full of surprises, Uzumaki-san," she said, returning the blossom. "And… I didn't get the chance earlier, but thank you for healing my mother. It has always been my wish to really know her."

Naruto's smile softened. "I know that feeling." Without thinking, he reached over and placed a hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair.

Hanabi flushed, her eyes darting away. "I… I like it. Please, don't stop."

Naruto was about to reply when the door slid open.

Like lightning, Hanabi smacked his hand away and sat up straight, her posture shifting instantly from that of a little girl to the composed elegance of a Hyūga princess.

Hinata stepped into the room, leading several servants carrying trays of food and drinks. "Sorry for the wait," she said warmly.

"No worries," Naruto replied. "Hanabi here was just showing me how much of a princess she is." He gave the younger girl a big thumbs-up, his grin wide and unguarded.

Hanabi's face went red as she lowered her gaze, mortified by how Naruto had phrased it.

Hinata chuckled softly, moving to pour a drink. "Naruto-kun, try this. It is a traditional beverage of the Hyūga clan."

Naruto accepted the cup and took a cautious sip. The liquid was cool and slightly sour, with a strange but pleasant sweetness and just a hint of natural fizz. "That's… interesting. Refreshing, actually. What is it?"

"It is the fermented milk of a mare," Hinata said with a calm smile.

Naruto froze mid-swallow. "Right… okay." He quickly offered some to Oscar, who sniffed it, made a faint grinding noise of displeasure, and looked away.

Hinata tilted her head. "I thought Oscar ate only metal."

"Oh, he can technically eat anything or nothing," Naruto explained. "He's made entirely of crystallized soul, so what he eats is really up to him. He just prefers inorganic stuff to organic."

Hanabi shot her sister a look, silently asking if she should even try to make sense of that statement.

Hinata just gave a small, serene nod and whispered, "Just go along with it. Trying to understand Naruto is its own kind of headache."

Hanabi nodded slowly in agreement just as Naruto reached into his pouch and pulled out a long sword.

Several servants instinctively stepped back, but Oscar's crystal eyes gleamed. He thumped his chest with both hands, clearly eager to sink his teeth into the blade.

"Should I call the guards?" one of the servants whispered, glancing nervously at the crystal creature gnawing on the blade.

"No, no," Hinata said quickly, holding up a hand. "It's not dangerous."

They all watched as Oscar continued to crunch through the sword, the sound oddly sharp yet somehow muffled. It was, Naruto thought, probably one of the weirder things anyone in the Hyūga compound had ever seen.

"Okay," Naruto said between bites of a dumpling, "I've been wondering about something for a while. How do you guys have any privacy in this clan when everyone's got eyes that can see through walls?"

"Naruto-kun, the Hyūga compound is built from a special type of tree. It is cultivated with chakra over many years. The saturation of chakra in the wood makes it very difficult for the Byakugan to see through, which gives us privacy."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "Huh. That's actually smart." He popped another dumpling into his mouth and blinked in pleasant surprise at the flavor.

"Like it?" Hanabi asked, her voice mild but with a slight edge at Naruto's lack of proper table etiquette clearly noted. Still, the man had given her something she thought she could never repay, so a little lapse in manners didn't bother her enough to comment further.

"Of course. It's amazing," Naruto said honestly.

Hanabi smirked faintly. "Well, it was Hinata who made it."

Naruto turned to Hinata, who blushed and quickly waved her hands. "Oh, I had help from the servants."

"She did everything herself," one of the servants chimed in, bowing slightly. "We only brought out the food."

Several of the other servants tried not to smile, though there was a clear glint of mischief in their eyes. Even the Hyūga household staff seemed determined to make sure Naruto saw Hinata in the best light possible.

"Well, in that case," Naruto said with a grin, "I guess I'll just have to finish all of this."

"You do not have to," Hinata protested gently, glancing at the large spread. "That much food could feed five people—maybe two Akimichi."

Naruto cracked his knuckles. "Guess I'll just have to eat like two Akimichi, then."

He began eating with the speed and determination of a storm tearing through the countryside. Hinata pressed her lips together to hold back laughter, though her eyes danced with amusement. Out of the corner of her vision, she saw Hanabi and the servants giving her discreet thumbs-up.

She flushed crimson at all the silent encouragement.

The cheerful, warm atmosphere shattered when the door slid open.

An elderly man stepped inside. His face was long and narrow, with sharp cheekbones and a firm jawline. Faint wrinkles framed his mouth and eyes, and his thin, angled eyebrows gave him a perpetually stern expression. His pale, pupil-less eyes—so very Hyūga—were cold and unwavering. Long, straight, dark brown hair, neatly slicked back, reached past his shoulders. He wore a brown robe over a cream-colored shirt, simple but traditional. His posture was perfectly upright, every movement precise and disciplined.

"G-Grandfather," Hinata and Hanabi said in unison, immediately rising to their feet.

The servants bowed low to the man, Haruhiko Hyūga, the former clan head and now the head elder.

"Where is your father?" Haruhiko asked, his tone calm but carrying the weight of command.

Hinata and Hanabi glanced at each other. Their father was with their mother, whose condition he had sworn them to keep secret. The hesitation in their eyes was enough to betray their uncertainty, but neither spoke.

Haruhiko's attention was pulled from Hinata and Hanabi when the sound of loud, unapologetic chewing filled the room. His pale eyes settled on Naruto, who was hunched over the table, devouring dumplings and rice like a starving wolf.

"What pig-like behavior. Do you not understand that you are in the home of the Hyūga clan, boy? Even commoners eat with more dignity."

Hinata froze, her teacup halfway to her lips. Hanabi's fingers tightened slightly around her chopsticks. The servants lowered their gazes but exchanged uneasy glances.

Naruto didn't stop chewing. He looked up at Haruhiko with his mouth still full and said, "I don't want to hear anything from some old guy who dyes his hair."

Several servants nearly coughed in shock. Hanabi's jaw dropped slightly.

Haruhiko's eyebrows twitched upward, the barest sign of surprise. Very few people in Konoha would speak to him like that. Fewer still would live to do it twice.

"You have a sharp tongue for someone so unrefined," Haruhiko said coldly. His gaze lingered on Naruto's vivid red hair. "Red hair and no manners. You must be an Uzumaki."

"Sure am," Naruto replied with a casual grin, leaning back in his seat as if the man's words were a compliment.

Haruhiko's tone dropped into a low, disdainful growl. "A clan of mongrel barbarians. You are the perfect embodiment of that pathetic, dead clan. Loud, crude, and without restraint. A wild dog in the company of wolves."

Hinata went pale, her teacup trembling slightly in her hands. She had heard her grandfather speak ill of other clans before. He was a man who saw the Hyūga as the pinnacle of shinobi power, with every other family as lesser stock, but she hadn't expected him to be this blunt, this venomous, to Naruto's face.

Her mind flashed back to the time Naruto nearly killed Kiba for insulting his master. What will he do now that his entire clan has been insulted?

To her surprise, Naruto didn't rise to his feet or even speak right away. He simply started eating faster.

Bite after bite, plate after plate, his hands moved like a blur. The room went quiet as everyone watched in a kind of stunned fascination.

Within minutes, the last dumpling was gone. Naruto wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, stood slowly, and walked toward Haruhiko with deliberate steps.

He stopped a pace away, tilting his head. "You know, for a clan that claims to be so strong, you've got your head shoved so far up your own ass you probably think the sun shines there."

Haruhiko's nostrils flared. His voice was low, sharp. "We Hyūga are the strongest clan in Konoha. Our bloodline is pure. Our techniques are flawless. Our eyes are unmatched in this world. Compared to us, your kind are little more than—"

Naruto interrupted with a long, loud burp directly into Haruhiko's face. The sound echoed in the silent room. A crumb from his last bite flew out and landed on the elder's cheek.

"Sorry," Naruto said, utterly unrepentant. "I thought you'd have dodged that with your all-seeing eyes."

Haruhiko's composure cracked. His pale eyes narrowed into slits. "You insolent little whelp. You are courting death."

He stepped forward and lashed out with a sudden, precise palm strike. A perfect Gentle Fist technique meant not to kill, but to send a sharp message by disrupting Naruto's chakra flow.

The blow landed squarely against Naruto's chest… and nothing happened. The magic and physical resistance in his body absorbed the strike completely. To Haruhiko, it was like hitting a stone wall wrapped in steel.

"What trickery is this?"

But instead of answering, Naruto's lips began to curl. Slowly at first… then wider… and wider still, until his mouth stretched in an almost unnatural arc.

Every person in the room froze.

The grin was too big, too sharp, too wrong. His teeth were bared in their entirety, the corners of his mouth reaching almost to his eyes. Deep lines creased his cheeks from the force of it. His eyes squinted shut, but somehow the closed lids made it worse, as if all that feral energy had nowhere else to go but into the grin. His eyebrows lifted just enough to give the expression a wild, unrestrained edge filled with excitement, aggression, and a promise of something dangerous.

Even without the Byakugan, everyone felt it. The weight of Naruto's chakra slammed into the room like a sudden pressure wave, thick and suffocating.

Before anyone could move, Naruto's body snapped into motion.

His right arm swung up in a brutal, perfect hook that connected squarely with Haruhiko's nose.

The elder's body lifted off the floor and flew backward, smashing clean through the paper door panels. Wood splintered. Paper tore. He tumbled across the hallway and came to rest against the far wall.

The room was dead silent except for the soft patter of torn paper drifting to the floor.

The servants' eyes were wide, mouths hanging open. Hanabi's chopsticks slipped from her hand and clattered onto the table.

Hinata was the first to find her voice. "Naruto-kun!"

Naruto turned toward her, still smiling, though the grin had faded into something far less manic. "What? I'm just defending myself. He attacked me first, remember?"

From beyond the wrecked doorway, Haruhiko's furious voice roared back. He was on his feet, one hand clutching his face. Blood ran from his nose, and when he spat, several teeth hit the floor.

"Guards!" Haruhiko bellowed. "Arrest this bastard!"

The air outside the room shifted as a dozen Hyūga chūnin appeared in formation, their white eyes all locked on Naruto.

Naruto stepped toward the ruined doorway, cracking his knuckles one by one. "Sorry about the mess," he said lightly over his shoulder.

Hinata exhaled slowly and shook her head.

"Sister," Hanabi whispered urgently, "aren't you going to calm him down before he takes this too far?"

Hinata's gaze never left Naruto's back. Her voice was calm but laced with steel. "I don't think I have the right to say anything… not after Grandfather said those stupid things. He decided to throw words like weapons. Now he's learned the price."

Hanabi's jaw dropped. "So you're saying—"

"I'm saying," Hinata interrupted, "that he won his stupid prize."

Outside, the sound of a fight erupted. Hanabi turned her head just in time to see Naruto moving among the chūnin like a blur.

One fell with a kick to the chest that launched him backward into two others. Another crumpled from a palm strike to the shoulder, delivered so fast the man didn't even have time to activate his Byakugan. Naruto pivoted, swept another's legs out from under him, and spun to backhand a fourth across the courtyard.

Hanabi could only stare. "He's making a dozen Hyūga chūnin look like… like training dummies."

The servants watched in stunned silence. And in the center of it all, Naruto moved like a storm, every strike precise, every step filled with the same predatory energy as that first, impossible grin.

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The room was quiet except for the faint clink of porcelain. Hiashi sat at Tsubaki's bedside, holding a steaming bowl of congee. A simple dish of soft rice, a light broth, no strong seasonings. It was something she had always enjoyed, and something he had prepared himself this time.

He raised a spoonful but hesitated before offering it to her, his gaze a little too focused on the bowl.

"What are you so nervous about?" Tsubaki asked, her voice warm and teasing. "Aren't you even a little excited to be feeding me?"

Hiashi's ears warmed. He cleared his throat, a rare blush rising to his cheeks. Without a word, he carefully brought the spoon to her lips.

She accepted the bite and closed her eyes as she chewed, savoring the simple flavor. When she swallowed, her lips curved into a small smile. "Ah… you really appreciate food after not eating it for years."

Hiashi watched her closely, almost afraid to blink. "How do you feel?" he asked, his voice lower than usual, as though speaking too loudly might break the fragile moment.

"I feel… brand new," she said softly. "That boy is a miraculous healer."

Hiashi's jaw tightened slightly, though his eyes softened. "Yes," he agreed after a pause.

She tilted her head, noticing the shift in his tone. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," he said quickly, looking down at the bowl again. "You should just eat. I don't want to burden you with my problems so soon."

Tsubaki chuckled quietly. "Wow… my Hiashi has toughened up. Or maybe just gotten better at hiding things." She reached out and took his free hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

He looked up at her then, startled by how steady her gaze was.

"Didn't we promise," she said, "that you wouldn't have to carry the burden alone, as long as I'm with you?"

His lips parted slightly, but no words came.

"In that coma," she continued, her thumb brushing over his knuckles, "I listened to you. More than you think. You spoke to me when you thought I couldn't hear. I know your worries. I know your fears. I am here, Hiashi. I've always been here."

He exhaled slowly, his shoulders slumping in a way they never did in public. Still, he didn't give her every secret, but he told her enough.

He told her how he had killed the man who put her in the coma, a man from Kumogakure who had been nothing more than a pawn in a bigger political scheme. He explained how Kumo had tried to use that man's life to force Konoha into a war, using Hiashi's own body as the bargaining chip. He spoke of how his brother had sacrificed himself in Hiashi's place.

His voice wavered when he spoke of Hinata and how his fears and grief had turned him into someone too harsh, too cold with their daughter.

When he finished, he kept his eyes on the floor, bracing himself. He expected her to be angry. To tell him what a fool he'd been. To shout, to demand why he hadn't done better.

Instead, she set the bowl aside, leaned forward, and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "that you had to go through all of that alone."

The words broke through his composure like nothing else could. His arms came up, pulling her close.

And for the first time in years, Hiashi let himself be weak; not as the leader of the Hyūga clan, not as the stoic protector of tradition, but as a man, a husband, with the one person he trusted to see past all the masks.

They stayed like that for a long while, his head bowed, her fingers tracing slow, soothing circles along his back. In that quiet, he realized something—he didn't have to carry it all anymore.

The quiet between Hiashi and Tsubaki was broken by the sound of rushing footsteps outside their door.

"Lord Hiashi," the man said breathlessly, "the head elder… and your guest, Naruto Uzumaki… have started a fight."

Hiashi closed his eyes briefly, exhaling through his nose. His expression made it clear he had no desire to leave his wife's side.

Tsubaki reached forward, placing a gentle hand on his. She leaned in, brushing her lips against his cheek. "Go," she said softly. "Be the leader of the Hyūga."

His gaze softened. "Thank you."

She smiled faintly and returned to her congee as he rose, adjusting his robes. With a final glance toward her, Hiashi flickered away in an instant.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

When Hiashi reached the guest wing, he stopped dead.

The hallway was a battlefield.

Half a dozen Hyūga chūnin lay sprawled on the floor, some groaning in pain, others completely unconscious. A cracked wall showed the imprint of a body, and fresh dents marked the wooden pillars. Splinters and tatters of paper panels littered the ground, crunching under Hiashi's sandals as he stepped forward.

A muffled thud and a grunt of effort echoed from the courtyard. Hiashi followed the sound, moving quickly.

He emerged just in time to see his father, Haruhiko Hyūga, twist to the side to avoid an axe kick from Naruto Uzumaki. The boy landed in a crouch, his armor clinking faintly as he went for a lunge.

"Palm Rotation!" Haruhiko barked, his voice sharp as steel.

A dome of spinning chakra exploded around the old man, repelling the air with a violent whine.

Naruto grinned like a predator. A swirling sphere of compressed chakra bloomed in his palm, the Rasengan shrieking to life. Without hesitation, he drove it forward into the barrier.

The sound was like grinding stone on stone. Rasengan screeched against the spinning shield, sparks and wind whipping in every direction. The impact burst outward in a wave of force, blasting both fighters apart and kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

Hiashi's voice cut through it all like a blade.

"Stop."

The command wasn't loud, but it carried enough authority to root both men in place mid-step.

The dust settled. Haruhiko's face twisted into a deep snarl as he pointed an accusing finger. "Hiashi! Have this boy arrested immediately for attacking a Hyūga elder!"

Hiashi's gaze swept over his father. Blood trailed down from a clearly broken nose. Bruises darkened both palms. The signs were obvious that Naruto had made certain the old man would remember this encounter.

Naruto casually lifted the visor of his helmet, revealing an infuriatingly calm smirk. "Oh, so the great Hyūga clan is going to arrest me for defending myself from a crazy old man who swung at me first? That's rich."

Haruhiko's nostrils flared. "Defending yourself? You burped. In. My. Face. Who in their right mind does such a thing?!"

Naruto widened his eyes in mock surprise. "Oh, my bad. I thought I was just living up to my reputation as a barbaric Uzumaki. But I guess the refined Hyūga can't handle a little wind." He gave an exaggerated shrug. "Guess not. Boo hoo."

A vein pulsed at Haruhiko's temple. "Insolent brat—"

"Touchy, touchy," Naruto interrupted, grin widening.

Hiashi exhaled slowly and pinched the bridge of his nose. The truth was already obvious. His father had insulted the Uzumaki clan. Naruto had needled him until he snapped. And now Naruto had played the fight just close enough to self-defense that no one could fairly punish him without making the Hyūga look worse.

You're sharper than you look, boy, Hiashi thought grimly.

Haruhiko's voice rose. "Clan leader, deliver justice! Restore the honor of the Hyūga name before the entire household witnesses this farce!"

Naruto leaned forward slightly, still smirking. "What justice? Every single person here saw the old man throw the first hit. You should be glad I didn't grab one of my swords and make this quick."

From behind Hiashi came an unexpected voice. "He's right."

It was Hinata.

Her pale eyes were narrowed in uncharacteristic defiance. "You insulted my guest's honour and acted unbecoming of both an elder and a Hyūga."

"You ingrate child," Haruhiko snapped, his tone like a whip.

Hiashi's hand rose instantly. "Enough." His voice was calm, but every syllable held the weight of command. "Father, not only did you insult my guest, you insulted the son of Minato Namikaze."

Haruhiko's jaw tightened. A flicker of realization crossed his face, but pride anchored his feet.

Hiashi turned to Naruto. "And you, Naruto-kun… took this far beyond where it needed to go. If you had come to me first, I would have ensured you received justice."

"Maybe. But I figured handling it myself would be faster."

Hiashi's eyes moved between them. "Neither of you is willing to back down, I see. Then tell me, how do you propose we settle this?"

"Why don't we just finish what we started? One-on-one. Here. Now."

Haruhiko scoffed. "Gladly. I will demonstrate the superiority of the Byakugan to this loud-mouthed child."

Hiashi's shoulders sank ever so slightly. He had hoped to return to his wife and their quiet meal. Instead, he was now standing between the unyielding pride of his father and the relentless stubbornness of Naruto Uzumaki.

A few minutes later, Hiashi was standing in the center of the Hyūga main hall, silently wondering how his day had taken such a sharp turn for the worse.

The great chamber was filled to capacity. The majority of the main family members sat in dignified rows, while the branch family stood respectfully along the sides. The faint murmurs of conversation filled the air, but the atmosphere was charged with anticipation.

Hiashi knew exactly why.

His father had demanded this match be held in front of the clan. The elder's pride had clearly been stung beyond repair, and there would be no quiet, private resolution. No, Haruhiko wanted the entire Hyūga household to see him put Naruto Uzumaki in his place.

Hiashi, however, wasn't convinced that was how things were going to play out.

"Naruto," Hiashi said quietly, leaning slightly toward the boy, "we can still make this a private match if you'd prefer. No one would object if I—"

"Nope." Naruto's grin was wide and shameless. "This just means I get to kick the old man's butt in front of everyone. Why would I waste that?"

Hiashi closed his eyes for a brief moment, inhaling through his nose. "Of course," he muttered.

He glanced toward the crowd. Hinata was seated near the front, holding Oscar in her lap. Both were cheering Naruto on in their own way—Oscar with excited thumps against her arm, and Hinata with an encouraging smile.

Hanabi, on the other hand, was sitting stiffly beside her sister, wide-eyed and pale. This was clearly a new kind of spectacle for the young girl, one she had never expected to witness inside the Hyūga hall.

Hiashi stepped forward, raising his hand to call for silence.

"This will be a simple spar of honor," he announced. "The moment one combatant is incapacitated, or yields, the match will end."

"Good," Haruhiko said from across the mat. "I will show you that your armor merely caught me off guard. The Gentle Fist will break through it."

"That's funny, because the last time you tried Gentle Fist on me, you hit reinforced metal and probably bruised your hands. But hey, if you want to try again, be my guest."

Then, without warning, Naruto reached up and began unclasping his armor. Piece by piece, metal plates hit the mat with dull thuds. First the pauldrons, then the breastplate, then the greaves. Soon he was standing there in nothing but a simple, unadorned loincloth.

The effect on the hall was instantaneous.

The crowd went dead silent because the full view of Naruto's bare, battle-hardened body was now on display in the very center of the Hyūga clan's most formal chamber.

Every muscle was defined, from the ridges of his abdomen to the powerful lines in his legs. The tension in his stance made them flex and shift with every small movement, as if his entire frame was built for motion and violence. A faint sheen of sweat caught the lantern light, accentuating the carved lines of his torso.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Naruto casually rolled his shoulders, his biceps bunching. "Oh, I am giving you an advantage," he said with a smirk. "Wouldn't want to be accused of elderly abuse."

The insult was pointed and blatant, but the room's focus was split.

From the front rows, several main family women sat straighter than before, their gazes fixed on the mat. A few had the tact to hide their interest behind half-lidded eyes or delicate fans, but the way their pupils tracked his movements gave them away. Others didn't even bother pretending; their eyes swept over him from head to toe with open appraisal.

In the side rows, some branch family kunoichi whispered to each other behind raised hands. A faint giggle slipped out from one corner, quickly muffled when an older matron shot them a glare. Still, their eyes flicked back to Naruto again and again.

There were blushes scattered throughout the hall—subtle on some, impossible to miss on others. Even the typically impassive faces of the Hyūga couldn't fully mask a small but noticeable shift in the air.

The men's reaction was a sharp contrast. Arms folded, jaws tight, a few shifted uncomfortably in their seats. More than one pair of pale eyes narrowed, glaring at Naruto as if they could will him into being less noticeable. A handful exchanged looks that were almost challenging, as though trying to silently say we could look like that if we trained differently.

Naruto, utterly unconcerned, made it worse. He deliberately shifted into a half-turn, flexing one arm and twisting slightly so the muscles in his back rippled under the skin.

Hanabi's face went crimson almost immediately. She snapped her gaze away, her hands tightening in her lap. She was too young to admit it, but the sheer confidence with which Naruto moved was… distracting.

Hinata, for her part, kept her expression carefully neutral, but a small frown tugged at the corner of her lips. She had long since grown accustomed to seeing Naruto's body, but now he was flaunting it in front of the entire clan. Worse, the way so many women were looking at him made her stomach twist in a way she didn't care to examine.

In the front, Haruhiko's face darkened to an even deeper shade of red—though whether from anger or the realization that Naruto had just stolen the room's attention was unclear.

Naruto flashed a wide, knowing grin at him, the very picture of someone who knew exactly how much of a scene he was making.

"What an undignified display," Haruhiko said coldly. "A fool's bravado. You think you can survive the shinobi world with nothing but arrogance?"

"I don't think you're one to talk about arrogance, old man."

Without further explanation, Naruto reached into his storage pouch and pulled out a short bow and a quiver of arrows from his inventory.

Hiashi blinked. "What exactly are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm only going to use archery and shadow clones to beat him," Naruto said casually, stringing the bow. "Seems like a good challenge."

Gasps rippled through the hall. Whispered voices filled the air.

"Is he… mocking the elder?"

"Archery? Against the Gentle Fist?"

"He's looking down on the entire Hyūga style."

Hiashi's gaze slid to his father. Haruhiko's face had gone an alarming shade of red. For a moment, Hiashi was genuinely concerned about the man's blood pressure.

Whether Naruto truly intended to use only archery, or was simply playing a mental game, Hiashi couldn't yet tell. But the effect was undeniable. It was needling Haruhiko to the point of distraction.

"Confident you'll win, are you?" Haruhiko asked, grinding his teeth.

"Pretty much. Want me to give myself another disadvantage just to make it fair?"

A muscle twitched in Haruhiko's jaw. He looked ready to lunge right then, but instead he straightened, his voice dropping lower. "How about we make this interesting?"

Naruto tilted his head. "Go on."

"A bet," Haruhiko said. "The loser fulfills the winner's wish—whatever it may be."

Naruto's grin grew. "I'm listening. What's your wish?"

Haruhiko didn't hesitate. "As I am destined to win, I want you betrothed to Hanabi Hyūga."

The hall went silent.

Every head turned toward the young girl, who sat frozen, eyes wide, her face flushed crimson.

Hinata's eyes narrowed dangerously.

Hiashi's stomach sank.

His father, despite the obvious animosity, was no fool. Haruhiko was a political fox. A man who saw every situation as an opportunity to shift the balance of power. In his mind, securing someone like Naruto was not about personal preference. It was about influence, leverage, and power within Konoha's complex political web.

Hiashi knew why Hanabi had been chosen. She was young, far easier to mold, and Haruhiko had always favored her over Hinata. To him, this was the perfect chance to bind the Uzumaki boy to the Hyūga clan through a pliable bride, ensuring both control and prestige.

Naruto, however, didn't look remotely angry. If anything, he seemed almost amused. He stepped forward slightly, his expression calm.

"Okay," Naruto said casually, "I'll accept this bet… under one condition."

A ripple of murmurs ran through the hall. Some gasped openly. Hinata's pale eyes widened for a fraction of a second, but she inhaled deeply, schooling her expression and silently trusting Naruto's judgment.

"Name it," Haruhiko said with a grin, as if victory was already in his grasp.

"When I win this… I will claim your Byakugan as my prize."

The reaction was instantaneous.

Haruhiko froze for a heartbeat, his expression hardening before twisting into open outrage. To a Hyūga, the Byakugan was more than an ability—it was the embodiment of their bloodline, their pride, and their superiority.

"You—" Haruhiko's voice caught for a moment, as if the words were lodged between fury and disbelief. "You dare?"

Naruto tilted his head, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Oh, I'm sorry. I guess it's fine for you to gamble with my autonomy, but I can't put something equally valuable on the table? Seems fair."

The murmurs in the hall grew sharper. Branch family members exchanged wary looks. Main family members sat rigid, waiting for Hiashi's call.

"Hajime!" Hiashi barked, cutting off the escalating tension before it spiraled beyond repair.

Haruhiko lunged first, closing the gap in an instant. His palm slammed toward Naruto's chest with precise, lethal intent, only for the blow to pass straight through a flickering afterimage.

Naruto reappeared several meters to the side, shortbow already in hand. The string twanged, and an arrow shot toward Haruhiko.

The elder's reflexes were sharp. He caught the arrow with a snap of his wrist and, without breaking stride, flung it back at Naruto like a javelin.

Naruto's eyes tracked it instantly. He calculated the path and saw the trap. If he dodged, Haruhiko would already be angling to strike from his blind spot.

Instead, Naruto fired another arrow, intercepting the one that had been thrown at him. The collision bent the returning arrow's trajectory midair, sending it curving sharply toward Haruhiko's flank.

The elder pivoted, leaping back with controlled precision to avoid it, just in time for Naruto's next arrow to come screaming toward his chest.

Haruhiko caught this one too. But as his fingers closed around the shaft, the storage seal etched along the wood flared. The arrow popped open with a burst of chakra, revealing a flashbang.

The detonation of light flooded the hall in a blinding burst.

Several spectators hissed and shielded their eyes. Haruhiko was forced to close his Byakugan against the searing white.

When his vision cleared, his eyes widened. He was surrounded.

A dozen Naruto shadow clones stood in a ring around him, bows drawn, arrows nocked. The strings sang as they released in perfect unison.

Haruhiko's body shifted into instinctive defense. Chakra poured from every tenketsu, forming a shimmering field before his entire frame spun into motion.

"Gentle Fist: Palm Rotation!"

The floor beneath him shuddered from the force of the spin. Arrows shattered against the swirling dome of chakra, fragments scattering across the mat. The rotation created a solid barrier, shredding the barrage into harmless splinters that clattered to the ground.

The moment the spin stopped, Haruhiko surged forward, determined to end it before Naruto could regroup. But he did not see the faint flicker from one of the arrowheads lying among the debris until it was too late.

A storage seal popped open, and a Naruto clone sprang out mid-spin, already twisting into a downward kick. The blow landed squarely on the side of Haruhiko's head, snapping it to the side before the clone burst into smoke from a retaliatory palm strike.

Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly from the referee's position. That is strange… he actually landed a hit.

He raised one hand and snapped his fingers.

Every clone still standing around him took in a deep breath in unison.

Many in the Hyūga crowd could see it clearly with their Byakugan, the second heart sending a pulse of energy to his clones. The air shifted.

Haruhiko's pale eyes sharpened as he shouted, his voice cutting through the tense hall. "You dishonorable brat! You said you would only use archery!"

Naruto smirked without breaking his stance. "I am. I never said anything about my clones having to use the same weapons I do."

Before the elder could respond, a dozen black-speckled fireballs erupted from the clones' hands. They spiraled into the air and merged mid-flight into a single tidal wave of flame, the heat rolling forward like a living beast. The sheer force of it tore into the wooden floor, burning and splintering it with every inch it advanced.

"Gentle Fist: Palm Rotation!"

Haruhiko's chakra flared to its maximum as he spun, a sphere of translucent blue energy erupting around him. The rotating dome met the wall of fire head-on, the collision sending shockwaves through the hall.

The audience squinted against the blast, heat washing over them despite the distance. The roar of flames against the chakra shield was deafening, and for a moment it seemed the fire might push through entirely.

Haruhiko's teeth clenched. He could feel the weight of the attack. Naruto's flames did not just burn, they carried a staggering effect, a constant push that threatened to break his stability. Every rotation required more focus, more energy to keep from faltering.

It was impressive that the elder still held the technique for so long.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the fire subsided. Haruhiko slowed his spin and stopped, his chest heaving. His hands were visibly blistered, red and angry with first-degree burns. He exhaled in harsh bursts, trying to steady himself.

Naruto was already drawing another arrow. The string hummed as he released, the projectile cutting through the air. Haruhiko tilted his head just enough for it to whistle past his cheek.

The crowd began to murmur, but their voices turned into gasps when Naruto casually extended a hand and stopped the arrow midair.

The arrow hovered, suspended as though held by telekinesis.

The Hyūga clan members shifted uncomfortably. Even with the Byakugan, they could not understand what they were seeing. There was no visible chakra thread, no puppet-style connection, no trick of wires. Just raw, invisible force.

Haruhiko took a step toward Naruto, but then stiffened as if sensing something behind him. His eyes darted back, and there it was, the arrow he thought had missed now hanging in his blind spot.

Naruto's smile widened. So the Byakugan really does have a blind spot.

A snap of his fingers sent another barrage of fireballs hurtling toward the elder from every angle while he used telekinesis to embed the arrow into the ceiling.

This time, Haruhiko did not spin into Palm Rotation. He dropped low, his hands curling into a spear-like formation.

"Gentle Fist: Devil's Lance!"

Chakra erupted from his fingertips in focused, lethal points. He stepped forward and thrust with his right hand. The concentrated chakra blade sliced into the incoming fireball, splitting the roaring mass clean in two. The flames parted and rolled past him, the crowd shielding their faces from the heat.

Gasps and low exclamations spread across the room. Few in the clan had ever seen the elder use that technique.

Haruhiko flowed immediately into another stance, his body shifting with deliberate precision. His hands moved in sweeping arcs, releasing bursts of compressed air from his palms.

"Gentle Fist: Air Palm Guanyin Bodhisattva!"

The attack came in a flurry. Invisible shockwaves blasted from his hands like cannon fire, each one cracking against the air with a sharp pop. Clones winked out of existence one after another, each air palm detonating them before they could close in.

Naruto twisted, ducked, and dodged between blasts, feeling the compressed air whip past his skin with enough force to sting.

Haruhiko exhaled deeply, his hands coming together in a precise, almost reverent seal. Blue chakra flared once more, this time shaping into massive, roaring lion heads that enveloped his fists.

"Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists!"

The lions' jaws gaped wide, their shapes rippling with raw power. The chakra shrouds radiated a suffocating presence, and every Hyūga in the room knew exactly what would happen if those lions touched Naruto's chakra network. They would drain it dry in seconds.

The elder advanced, each step measured, the lions snapping as if eager to tear into their prey.

Naruto's muscles tensed. He could feel the chakra weight pressing toward him with every step. He reached inward, channeling his own chakra into his legs, arms, and core, feeling his body coil like a drawn bowstring.

The room held its breath. The next exchange would decide everything.

The entire hall fell silent, many Hyūga leaning in with Byakugan active. Even so, a few of the younger branch members found the motion between the two blurring into streaks.

Haruhiko's lead lion lashed out in a quick probing strike. The air popped around its jaws as it snapped toward Naruto's face.

Naruto batted the strike aside with his forearm, feeling the tug of chakra against his skin, and shot a quick jab toward Haruhiko's jawline.

The elder did not block. His torso rolled with the motion, the lion on his other hand whipping up in a tight arc toward Naruto's sternum. Naruto shifted his right shoulder just enough for the lion's fangs to skim past him, then countered with a short, compact right hook aimed for Haruhiko's temple.

The elder caught the punch on the reinforced chakra of his lion, its jaws clamping around Naruto's fist for a fraction of a second before he shoved it aside and stepped inward to collapse Naruto's striking space.

The red-haired knight jammed his left shoulder forward, knocking Haruhiko slightly off line, and snapped an uppercut from his hip toward the elder's chin. Haruhiko's lions crossed in front of his face, absorbing the blow before they whipped outward in a circular spin. One lion came low for Naruto's ribs, the other high toward his temple.

Naruto dropped his elbow to block the low strike on bone, then hammered a straight right into Haruhiko's guard. The impact rippled through the chakra shell of the lion but did not break it. Haruhiko absorbed the blow with a rolling movement and sent his rear lion spearing forward toward Naruto's diaphragm.

Naruto's left hand shot down to catch the lion's jaws on his wrist. He twisted into a liver punch, driving his knuckles in deep. Haruhiko's breath caught for an instant, but his feet never stopped circling. He spun around Naruto's flank, his lions sweeping in looping arcs, snapping from angles that were nearly impossible to read.

The elder's hands became a blur, the lions flickering like white-blue fire. Palm strikes and lion swipes came in an unending chain.

Naruto turtled into a tight boxing shell, chin tucked, forearms catching each impact with a dull thump of chakra on muscle. He rolled under another strike and let an overhand right fly toward Haruhiko's head.

The elder caught the punch with both lions, twisting Naruto's wrist and redirecting the force before slamming a lion swipe toward the side of his neck. Naruto tilted his head just enough for the edge of the lion's fang to graze his shoulder, the chakra sting sending a pulse through his muscles.

The lions surged forward again, forcing Naruto into a retreat. Haruhiko's stance dropped into a low crouch, one lion extended like a spear, the other drawn back and coiled. His footwork became unpredictable, circles and sidesteps and sudden spins, never allowing Naruto a straight target.

Naruto answered with pure pressure. He stepped in with a triple jab, the punches aimed to draw Haruhiko's lions high into a block. Then he dipped low into a shovel hook toward the ribs. The elder caught the hook on a lion's elbow joint and spun, his foot sweeping out.

Naruto hopped over the sweep, pivoting to keep his lead foot outside Haruhiko's stance. Haruhiko's lions flared in the same instant, their chakra jaws snapping wildly, forcing Naruto to shift his guard constantly.

The air cracked each time their blows connected, and several Hyūga in the crowd gasped, their Byakugan struggling to keep up with the sheer speed of the exchanges. To the untrained eye, it looked like bursts of light colliding in midair.

Naruto slipped under a lion swipe and buried a left hook into Haruhiko's ribs, feeling the resistance of the chakra before it gave slightly. The other lion lunged for his arm, its fangs brushing his skin and pulling a faint thread of chakra before he yanked free.

Both fighters stepped back, their stances set, eyes locked.

In the crowd, even seasoned Hyūga branch members were muttering. They could follow the movements, but the pace was faster than most duels they had ever seen. Every clash between boxing's straight, brutal lines and Gentle Fist's circular, flowing traps sent ripples through the room.

And neither man showed any sign of giving in.

Haruhiko's stance shifted.

Eight Trigrams… Sixty-Four Palms!

Naruto barely saw the first strike.

The elder closed the distance in less than a heartbeat, his body turning with the circular footwork of the Gentle Fist. The first two palms hammered into Naruto's chest.

"Two palms!"

The air cracked as the chakra burst forced Naruto back half a step.

"Four palms!"

Two more strikes landed in rapid succession, each blow finding the exact location of a tenketsu, forcing a stutter in Naruto's chakra flow.

"Eight palms!"

The speed doubled. Haruhiko's body spun around Naruto, each pivot tightening the circle, every step perfectly placed. His palms slammed into Naruto's ribs, shoulders, hips, and spine with bone-rattling precision.

By the time the elder called "Sixteen palms!", the remaining floorboards beneath their feet were splintering from the sheer pressure of their footwork. The final thirty-two palms came like a storm.

Naruto's body shuddered under the final series, the elder's last step driving him back with enough force to leave a deep heel mark in the wood.

The final strike connected with Naruto's chest.

Sixty-four tenketsu sealed in less than a third of a second.

The crowd gasped in unison. Even veteran Hyūga had trouble following the exact chain of movements. To most, it looked like Haruhiko had simply blurred forward, and Naruto had been overwhelmed before he could blink.

Naruto hit the floor on one knee, coughing up specks of blood. For most shinobi, that would have been the end, as the chakra flow halted and muscles refused to respond.

But Naruto was an Uzumaki. That bottomless reservoir of stamina kept the pain from rooting too deep. He spat to the side, his lips curling into a grin.

"You're going to have to hit me a lot harder than that, old man."

Haruhiko's eyes narrowed as Naruto jumbled back and slammed his Drake-Slaying Greatbow on the floor with a heavy thunk.

He nocked an arrow, chakra lacing the shaft, and loosed. The projectile screamed through the air faster than sound. Haruhiko's eyes widened slightly before he pushed off the ground, flipping into the air.

The arrow was already embedded into the ceiling.

A storage seal popped open and a shadow clone dropped from above, landing directly behind Haruhiko in midair, precisely in the Byakugan's blind spot.

The clone's fist came down in a poise breaker, smashing into the back of Haruhiko's skull and driving him into the floor hard enough to crack it.

Gasps and shouts echoed through the hall.

Naruto walked forward, grabbed the elder by the hair, and yanked his head up. Blood ran from Haruhiko's head injury.

"H… how did you do that last move?"

"Oh, you mean the Byakugan's blind spot?" Naruto asked. "You hide it well, but in our spar there were moments that gave it away. I tested a few angles, narrowed it down, and now I know exactly where it is. A tiny spot at the back of the neck, above the first thoracic vertebra. Now…" He leaned in, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "Imagine if I'd hit you with a Rasengan instead… or one of my swords."

Haruhiko's jaw clenched. He closed his eyes. "I concede my loss."

The Hyūga elders and members stared in stunned silence. They knew what that meant. If this had been a real battle, Haruhiko would be dead, his eyes torn from his skull before he even realized it.

The pride of the Hyūga's unassailable vision cracked in that moment. Whispers rippled through both the main and branch families. Even some of the senior members shifted uncomfortably. The idea that a non-Hyūga had not only found the blind spot but exploited it in a duel against the head elder… it was unthinkable.

Naruto's hand twitched forward, ready to claim the elder's eyes, when Hiashi stepped in.

"I think this is enough, Naruto-kun."

Naruto's gaze shifted toward him, still holding Haruhiko by the hair. "Really? Wasn't this our bet?"

"Indeed it was," Hiashi said. "But if you take the eyes of my father, it will ignite a political firestorm that could harm Hinata and Hanabi. I am asking you, as head of this clan and as a father, to reconsider."

"So… would you have stepped in if I had lost, and the old man forced me into a political marriage with Hanabi?"

"Of course," Hiashi replied without hesitation. "This fight began with wrongs from our side. As head of the Hyūga, I apologize."

And then he bowed.

Gasps rippled through the hall again. The head of the Hyūga clan, bowing to an outsider—and not just any outsider, but the son of Minato Namikaze—was a sight no one thought they would live to see.

Naruto glanced toward Hinata. She mouthed silently: Let it go.

"Fine," Naruto said, releasing Haruhiko's hair. "I'll let it slide this time. But only because it would make Hinata sad. And… you're giving me a jutsu as compensation. After all I've done, I don't think that's too much to ask."

Hiashi raised an eyebrow but gave a small nod. "If the request is reasonable, it will be granted." He motioned for the medics to take Haruhiko away. The once-proud elder looked small now, his reputation shattered before the eyes of the entire clan.

The main house whispered nervously. The branch house exchanged glances, some with poorly concealed satisfaction. To them, seeing the untouchable elder humbled was nothing short of historic. The hierarchy that had always felt unshakable now seemed… mortal.

Neji stood at the far edge of the hall, silent while the murmurs of the clan swirled around him like a restless wind. His pale eyes were fixed on Naruto's back, the figure of the boy who had just done what no Hyūga dared. A dozen thoughts collided in his mind as pride, disbelief, frustration, and something he could not yet name. His fingers curled slowly into fists, the knuckles whitening.

In the quiet of his own thoughts, he breathed the words more than spoke them, barely audible even to himself.

"…Was this truly your fate… or have you been defying it all along?"

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Naruto and Oscar let out matching yawns as they finally trudged back to their apartment, the last traces of the Hyūga estate fading into memory.

What greeted them at their doorstep was… a small mountain of boxes. Some were plain, the kind used for deliveries, while others were neatly wrapped in bright paper and tied with decorative ribbons. The colors ranged from soft pastels to bold reds and golds, as if the entire village had suddenly decided to compete in a gift-giving contest.

Oscar tilted his head and gave a questioning chirp, his gaze drifting to the mailbox. It was so crammed with letters that a few envelopes were threatening to spill out onto the street.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Guess the villagers have switched up their attitude now that they know who my dad is," he said casually.

Oscar answered with a halfhearted chirp that somehow managed to sound skeptical.

"Yeah, I'm not sure how I feel about it either."

Still, he bent down and began stacking the gifts neatly against the wall, not bothering to open them just yet. The day had been long enough. The political mess with the Third Hokage, the spar at the Hyūga estate, and all the staring eyes of the civilians and ninja. It was behind him for now. Tonight was not for dealing with politics or favors. Tonight was for sleep.

With the last box set aside, Naruto unlocked the door and stepped inside. His eyes swept the room, and his mouth twitched into a small smile. The apartment was spotless. Thanks, Ayame-neechan, he murmured to himself, imagining her bustling around the place while he had been away. Always looking out for me.

He shut the door with a soft click, then picked Oscar up and, without warning, tossed the little lizard like a ball onto the couch. Oscar bounced lightly against a cushion and immediately sprawled out, letting out a slow, content chirp.

Naruto dropped down beside him with a heavy sigh, leaning back until his shoulders sank into the couch. He let his long red hair spill freely over the armrest, the loose strands swaying slightly as he tilted his head back. His eyes fluttered shut, and for the first time all day, he let his guard down completely.

The faint tick-tock of the clock filled the room, steady and calming. Naruto's breathing slowed to match its rhythm. His hand found Oscar's head, rubbing slow, lazy circles until the creature's eyelids drooped shut.

Their peace was broken by the sudden, unmistakable sound of a toilet flushing.

Oscar immediately sprang to alert, his little claws tapping against the couch cushion as his tail curled tightly. Naruto reached over and gently patted him down. "Easy, buddy. Pretty sure that's not an intruder."

The bathroom door opened, and out stepped Jiraiya, adjusting his pants with a lazy yawn.

"Take a while before you go in there," Jiraiya said casually, waving a hand toward the bathroom. "I, uh… had a lot of cheese at the hot springs today."

Naruto slowly turned his head and gave him a deadpan look, the kind reserved for crimes against plumbing. He then leaned back against the couch again, exhaling. "Dude… I'm really tired, and I don't think I have the energy for another emotionally charged conversation tonight."

Jiraiya hummed thoughtfully, scratching at his chin. "Well then, looks like our talk will have to wait. Besides, I'm going to be leaving soon."

Naruto's eyes snapped open. "What? Leaving?"

"Yeah," Jiraiya replied, as if it were nothing serious. "I need to go track down Tsunade Senju and bring her back to Konoha."

"She's one of the Legendary Sannin like you, right? Why do you need to get her?"

"She's the current head of the Senju clan," Jiraiya explained, "and the Sword of the Second Hokage belongs to her. If you want your teammate to have that sword, you'll need to talk to her about it yourself. That's part of why I'm going."

Naruto groaned and rubbed at his temple. "When are you leaving?"

"I don't know. Probably tomorrow," Jiraiya answered.

Naruto thought for a moment, then said, "Then I want to have our talk in the morning. After breakfast. I make a really good omelette."

Jiraiya smirked. "Sounds like a deal. So, where am I sleeping?"

"Probably the couch," Naruto said, pushing himself up and heading toward his linen closet. He came back with a pillow tucked under one arm and a folded blanket in the other.

Jiraiya sat quietly, his eyes wandering from Oscar to the small balcony garden outside. His expression softened. "You've got a green thumb, brat."

Naruto glanced over his shoulder. "Yeah, Pervy Sage. The Third Hokage gave me that cherry blossom plant for my fourth birthday. Ever since then, whenever I saw a pretty flower, I'd take it and plant it in my garden."

Jiraiya leaned back against the armrest, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "You know, I've heard Princess Tsunade talk about how her grandfather was an amazing gardener in his free time. Maybe you could expand your garden using your Wood Release."

Naruto's lips curved into a small smile. "Hmm, and I could get some plants from Lordran. They'd look amazing here."

"Like what?"

Naruto glanced around for something to draw on. "Got any paper?"

Jiraiya handed over a small, worn notebook.

"This is your research diary."

"Sure is," Jiraiya said without a hint of shame.

Naruto flipped to the latest page and frowned. "There's a new entry…" He raised an eyebrow at the older man.

"I know you want me to stop writing about my… personal habits," Jiraiya said defensively, "but it's hard, okay?"

Naruto groaned and shook his head. "I'll yell at you about this in the morning." He pulled out a pencil and began sketching. The strokes were quick but deliberate, lines taking shape into the silhouette of a glowing blossom.

"There's this flower," Naruto said softly, "that glows with its own light. It's from the Darkroot Garden. It's so pretty, like the moon trapped in petals."

Jiraiya leaned over to get a better look, his eyes lighting with interest. "Wow… I'd love to see that in person."

Naruto grinned, the quiet warmth of the moment pushing away the last remnants of the Hyūga chaos.

The conversation drifted on as Jiraiya began telling him about the rare flowers of Mount Myōboku. Naruto listened, head tilted against the couch cushion, the slow tick of the clock marking a rare and peaceful evening.

A few minutes later, Naruto stretched his arms and let out a long yawn. "Okay… this has been fun, Pervy Sage, but I think I just want to sleep before my brain explodes."

Jiraiya nodded, though his eyes followed Naruto as he casually tossed a rolled-up scroll onto the table. The movement caught his attention, and his brow furrowed when he recognized the symbol on the seal. "Hold up. Is that… the Hyūga clan emblem?"

Naruto glanced at it, shrugging. "Oh, that? Yeah, it's just a jutsu I got from the Hyūga after I beat up an old man."

"What? You got into a fight with an elder?"

Naruto stifled another yawn, scratching the back of his neck. "Mhm."

Jiraiya's voice sharpened. "And they just… gave you a technique afterward?"

Naruto shuffled toward his bedroom door. "Pretty much."

"Brat!" Jiraiya's voice followed him. "What the hell do you mean 'pretty much'? How does beating up an old man turn into a reward?"

Naruto gave a half-smile over his shoulder. "Guess you had to be there." He opened the door to his room and slipped inside before Jiraiya could press further.

"Oi! Naruto!" Jiraiya called, but the boy had already closed the door behind him with a soft click.

Inside, Naruto let out a quiet chuckle, Oscar chirping in agreement from his perch on his shoulder.

Naruto dropped Oscar gently onto the mattress, and the little creature immediately padded in a circle before curling into a neat, round ball near the center of the bed.

Naruto sat on the edge of the bed, toes curling against the soft rug as he slowly leaned back into the mattress. His hair spilled across the pillow in long red strands, and he let out a satisfied sigh as the day's weight began to melt from his body.

As he shifted to get comfortable, his hand slid beneath his pillow and his fingers brushed against something unfamiliar. Frowning slightly, he pulled it out. It was a letter sealed in deep crimson wax.

Naruto held it up, eyes narrowing at the emblem stamped into the wax. "A red letter…"

His gaze lingered on it. The letter from the Hawk. The man who claimed to have been a friend of his parents… the one who said he had been protecting Naruto from the shadows all this time.

For a moment, Naruto debated opening it. But the tension in his shoulders reminded him of how tired he was. "Not tonight," he muttered.

He tossed the letter into his inventory space with a flick of his wrist, letting it vanish from sight.

Rolling onto his side, Naruto pulled the blanket over himself and reached out to rest a hand on Oscar's back. The little creature gave a soft, contented trill, pressing against Naruto's palm.

"We've got a lot to do tomorrow."

Oscar lifted his head just enough to give a sharp, warning hiss sound that carried a clear message: either sleep now or I'm sinking my teeth into you.

Naruto chuckled softly at the threat, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, alright… I get it."

He let his eyes fall shut, the last of his tension slipping away. As the quiet of the night wrapped around them, his thoughts drifted toward Lordran: toward the faces he had not seen in a while, the battles he had yet to fight, and the way everyone there would react to the new him.

That image lingered in his mind, vivid and bright, as the pull of sleep finally claimed him.

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Author Note:
And with that, this chapter is done. I am about ready to pass out, but before I do, let's have a nice long Q&A session and break everything down.

1 – Why did I have Hiruzen delay the Chūnin Exams by one month?

This was a decision I knew I wanted to make very early in the planning stage.

In canon, the Chūnin Exams are not just some flashy ninja tournament to show off the new generation. They are, for all intents and purposes, a "contained war" where younger and maturing genin are intentionally exposed to the same kind of chaos, high-stakes danger, and unpredictable situations that they will face in their careers. It is meant to test their adaptability and their ability to work under extreme pressure.

Now, the way things have shaped up in this fanfic, these Exams are basically going to be a mini Fourth Shinobi War. Not just Konoha and Suna participating, but all major villages. This creates a huge escalation compared to canon.

That escalation also leads to a problem: Team 7 and Team 8 can handle it because they are either slightly stronger than their canon versions (like Kiba and Shino) or much, much stronger (like Team 7 and Hinata). Neji and Rock Lee could also survive in this version due to their skill sets and growth.

But what about Team 10? And what about Tenten?
If I stick to the canon timing, those characters would be hopelessly outmatched in this environment. I could have easily removed them from the Exams or written them out of the arc entirely, but that felt like a waste of their potential. They deserve to be involved and to grow, even in a story where the stakes are higher.

By having Hiruzen delay the Exams, I create space for these characters to train, get stronger, and be viable participants. At the same time, it lets me show more of Konoha's political and leadership side, which is something canon did not focus on enough. It also ties into Tsunade's return to the village—another political and emotional beat I want to hit.

So in short, it was a practical choice for pacing, character development, and world-building, all at the same time.

2 – Why did I have Naruto fight Hinata's grandfather?

This one is simpler: this is still an action story.

As much as I enjoy writing dialogue, political maneuvering, and character moments, too much talking without a burst of action can slow the story down. So I decided to throw in a fight—but a fight that also serves a narrative purpose.

Haruhiko is the perfect character for this because he's a Hyūga elder with an inflated ego, old-fashioned values, and a tendency to look down on outsiders. The clash between him and Naruto is not just physical, it is ideological. Haruhiko represents the old Hyūga pride and arrogance, and Naruto… well, Naruto is Naruto. He challenges that pride, pokes at it, and refuses to bow to it.

It gave me a chance to show off more Hyūga Gentle Fist techniques than canon ever did. I expanded the style to make it far more dangerous and versatile, pulling from real martial arts influences while keeping it consistent with the nature of the Gentle Fist. I wanted the fight to feel like a high-level battle between two very different skill sets: the precision and control of the Gentle Fist versus Naruto's brute adaptability, creativity, and layered strategies.

One of my favorite parts of writing Naruto in this story is giving him moments of cleverness that are still completely in character for him. In this fight, he was not just throwing punches; he was calculating, baiting, and exploiting weaknesses. The Byakugan blind spot reveal was one of those moments I've been excited to write for a while.

And of course, the fight was also about showing that Naruto's intelligence is a weapon just as sharp as his swords or his Rasengan.

Now, here is a question for you all: what Hyūga technique should I give Naruto as a result of this fight? I have a few ideas, but I want to hear what you think first.

3 – What is the Red Letter and the prophecy?

Some of you have probably know this already, but for those who have not, here is the breakdown.

The Red Letters are part of Danzo's long-term plan to manipulate Naruto. His goal was to drip-feed Naruto key pieces of information—like the Uzumaki clan journal written by Tobirama—and use those as a hook to gain Naruto's trust. Along with this, he promised Naruto the name of his mother and a picture of her, dangling them as emotional bait.

The problem for Danzo is that Hiruzen has already branded him a traitor, cutting his influence drastically. On top of that, Naruto has already learned far more than Danzo expected, which throws the whole plan off balance.

Danzo is still a dangerous player in this story, but his hand has been forced earlier than planned. Let's just say the next time he makes a move, it will be more desperate and possibly more dangerous.

Also, remember that Danzo wanted to give Naruto a Wind Style jutsu as a way to "test his character." That part of the plan is still in motion, which means Naruto will be getting a new Wind Style technique soon.
So I will ask you: which Wind Style technique do you want to see? It can be from canon or something you create yourself.

Final Thoughts

That's all for now. If you have more questions, drop them in the comments and I will make sure to answer.

As always, I appreciate every single one of you for reading, commenting, and coming along for this journey. You all make this a lot of fun to write, and your feedback genuinely shapes where the story goes.

— Adam