However, Haruto Hyuga, the 7-year-old brother of Hiroto Hyuga and the third youngest member of the entire Main Branch after Hikari and Hiruto themselves, as well as another grandson of the Seventh Elder, didn't give Hikari a moment to react before he swung his fist in extreme anger as soon as he rushed to the scene from the Seventh Estate in front of him.
Haruto rushed over upon seeing his younger brother lying defeated on the ground. As he launched his attack, he also hurled insults at Hikari, seemingly undeterred by the sight of Hikari's activated Byakugan.
Caught off guard by Haruto's sudden aggression, Hikari was forced to halt the activation of the Cursed Seal command he had been using on the other branch members who were still writhing in pain on the ground, saliva dripping from their mouths. Inadvertently, Haruto's intervention potentially saved quite a lot of their brain cells from more severe damage.
'Damn, is this what four years of training amounts to compared to just two?', Hikari thought, a hint of desperation creeping into his mind as he narrowly evaded Haruto's aggressive onslaught.
Despite his ability to still successfully see and even predict Haruto's moves with his Byakugan, Hikari found his body frustratingly unable to keep pace, the four-year age gap between them translating into a significant disadvantage in terms of physical capabilities,
'Fortunately, his rage is clouding his judgment; otherwise, that first punch might have been the end of me even without him having the Byakugan or the Gentle Fist techniques...', Hikari acknowledged.
As the initial wave of Haruto's anger began to subside slightly, his attacks became more calculated and harder for Hikari to evade. Hikari realized that even if he managed to keep dodging, it was only a matter of time before he either made a mistake or exhausted his chakra and physical stamina, given the clear disparities between them.
Haruto's superior training and physical prowess allowed him to adapt quickly. He narrowed the space between them with swift, targeted strikes designed to corner Hikari and limit his mobility.
Haruto skillfully mixed feints and direct attacks, aiming to deplete Hikari's stamina and force errors. Meanwhile, Hikari's attempts to counter were hampered by his need to constantly evade, making it difficult to launch an effective offensive.
However, struggling to keep up, Hikari was suddenly taken by surprise when a kick finally landed squarely on his stomach, causing him to instinctively curl up and lean forward.
Then the immediate threat of another kick aimed at his head filled him with dread, 'This could really mess up my entire skull... No, it could be even worse than that. He doesn't look like he would stop after just that one kick... So, this could even be the complete end for me...',
'No! I can't let it end like this. I'm meant to live a life full of control and power this time around... I can't die here...', Hikari thought in a panic, his life seemingly flashing before his eyes in a moment of despair reminiscent of that comatose state he had experienced before.
As Haruto's foot inched ever closer to his face, Hikari's extreme unwillingness to accept his fate, combined with fear and a desperate attempt to mobilize every last bit of his body's potential for evasion, triggered an extraordinary response within him. Suddenly, a powerful burst of chakra surged through Hikari's body.
Typically, the body and mind impose limits on the amount of chakra one can produce at a time, a safeguard against the fatal risks of chakra depletion. To surpass these limits and access greater chakra reserves, a shinobi must reach a state of 'resolve,' a breakthrough that allows for controlled expansion of one's chakra potential from that point in life onward.
Miraculously, Hikari found himself achieving this state of resolve in the face of imminent danger. At merely 3 years old, he managed something that many civilian genin and even clan heirs at the age of attending the ninja academy struggle to accomplish.
And in that critical moment, the newfound surge of chakra coursing through his pathways gave Hikari the speed and agility he needed to evade the impending kick.
Capitalizing on this newfound momentum and opportunity, his Byakugan quickly locked onto a vulnerability in Haruto's stance—his balance resting entirely on one leg.
With precision, Hikari then delivered a powerful kick to Haruto's supporting leg, throwing him off balance. Swiftly, like a predator, Hikari moved behind Haruto, securing him in a guillotine choke hold right away.
Whispering with a menacing tone, Hikari taunted, "So, you'll share the same fate as your pathetic brother Hiroto, choked out by my hand. And let this be a warning—there will be many more blackouts like this for you and your stupid brother in the future. Be prepared.",
"Now, goodbye, sleep well, you insignificant canon fodder trash. If only you had awakened your Byakugan like me at this 'old' of age, then perhaps things could have been different",
"But you're no genius like me, far from it, in fact. You're just another unimportant ant-like existence.", These chilling words were the last thing Haruto heard as his consciousness faded. His attempts to breathe became futile, and his throat produced all kinds of painful and indistinguishable sounds, mirroring the distress his brother had experienced moments prior.
After tossing Haruto's unconscious body aside next, Hikari quickly rose back to his feet, his breath heavy, however, this time. The exertion from activating his 'resolve' and engaging in back-to-back confrontations with two opponents older than his mere 3 years, in succession, had pushed him to the brink of his limits.
'Lucky thing for me, this waste is far from what one might call a 'genius,' to put it politely... Failing to awaken the Byakugan by the age of 7, especially without the Cursed Seal to inhibit dojutsu potential, and despite having access to the inherent bloodline advantages accumulated through the Main Branch's genetic evolution over generations, can only be seen as very underwhelming at best...',
'But still... Both victories were mainly due to the element of surprise. Had they not underestimated me or been aware of my entire potential capabilities, the outcome would have been my defeat with full certainty.',
'It's clear I need to become stronger quickly to ensure future victories, now that they're aware of what I'm capable of at this stage...', Hikari reflected, his gaze still calm, sharp, and analytical now.
It was not like Hikari didn't prepare for hypothetically facing the seven-year-old brother in question this time around. He had also strategically considered that possibility too. Or else, he would've obviously waited to train with Takumi for some time before doing this.
However, aware of the unique connection between spiritual energy and brain function in this world, Hikari, who had effectively fused two souls, knew that he possessed enhanced cognitive abilities.
This fusion likely improved his memory, focus, intelligence, and even most notably- the enhanced motor and chakra control - the most pivotal elements for awakening the 'resolve'.
Hikari yesterday hypothesized that this advanced level of innate chakra and motor function control, alongside his Byakugan, would increase his likelihood of achieving this breakthrough under pressure, almost giving him something akin to an 'artificial' help. This would allow him to leapfrog many other shinobi, and he was willing to test this theory in this battle if necessary.
And as events unfolded just now, Hikari's calculated risk paid off. Not only did he exact his revenge, but he also managed to awaken his 'resolve' much earlier than most could dream of, all under the watchful eyes of the clan.
It was a very good 'reward' for this kind of 'risk' percentage, making the overall risk-to-return ratio for this kind of 'chess move' quite profitable.
This achievement was very 'timely' for him now, with the Elder Council meeting that would determine his fate happening tomorrow. Awakening both the Byakugan and 'Resolve' at three years old was 'quite something' in his opinion.
That level of talent increased the likelihood of them not only giving up on dealing with him nearly entirely forever but also probably cultivating him instead and giving him many resources back.
"My grandsons!!!",
However, just as Hikari was about to sigh in relief and turn back, a loud yell echoed from the depths of the Hyuga clan compound from the other side, growing louder and more resonant as it approached his position. A figure soon emerged, old yet exuding quickness and power.