(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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Inside the tea room of the prestigious Hyuga clan, Colt and the Hyuga patriarch Hiashi faced each other formally, kneeling in the traditional way around the small table.
Hiashi fiddled with an ornate tea set, an obvious sign of his clan's wealth.
Colt surveyed the quaint tea room, every antique piece speaking of the Hyuga's storied history and riches. A room like this would be far beyond Colt's means to afford.
"Try this," Hiashi pushed a cup of tea towards Colt, prompting him to taste it.
Colt took a sip, then shook his head.
"It's delicious, but my palate isn't refined enough to appreciate its nuances." He didn't know much about appraising fine teas - to him, drinking tea was just a simple pastime, not an art to be mastered.
The lazy Shikamaru would probably be better at this sort of thing.
Hiashi was surprised by Colt's honest appraisal, briefly thrown off balance by the boy's frank manner.
"Well, honesty is a virtue at least," Hiashi muttered to himself, and his eyes twitched slightly. 'Why am I praising this stinky kid?'
He wondered why he had boasted about such an uncultured youth.
Quickly recomposing himself, Hiashi straightened his posture, radiating the imperious aura befitting the head of Konoha's largest clan. His presence alone demanded respect from even the highest of Jonins.
But it had no effect on the unruffled Colt.
This reminded Colt of how casually he addressed the Hokage Hiruzen - what weight did this so-called "patriarch" truly carry in front of him?
Seeing Colt so unfazed, a glint of admiration showed in Hiashi's eyes as he spoke in a deep, authoritative voice:
"Kamiyo Colt, your father Kamiyo Shin was a Jonin of Konoha who once guarded the honorable Hokage himself."
"Your mother Kamiyo Meiko was a medical Jonin who briefly studied under the Sannin, Tsunade-sama."
With just those few lines, the prestigious lineage of Colt's parents was firmly established.
Hiashi continued:
"Your pedigree is impeccable as far as Konoha is concerned, especially since your father died upholding his duty to protect the Hokage, leaving behind a noble legacy."
"However," Hiashi's voice took on a stern tone, "You should never have turned your ambitions towards my daughter, Hinata."
Colt remained unruffled, looking at Hiashi with frank interest as he replied, "So what? Hinata and I care deeply for each other."
It reminded him of the urban romantic dramas from his previous life - he the penniless youth, Hinata the cloistered noble daughter, and Hiashi the disapproving patriarchal father-in-law.
Hiashi seemed irritated by Colt's indifferent, almost mocking attitude towards the gravitas of his objections.
"Do you understand what the Hyuga clan represents?" Hiashi's chakra flared as his notorious temper began to show.
"Thirty-six elite Jonins, sixty special Jonins, hundreds of Chunins - this is the mighty heritage you insult with your presumption!"
His white Byakugan eyes bored into Colt as he continued, voice rising, "Even if you are some kind of prodigy, you are no match for an entire ninja clan, least of all the Hyuga!"
Leaning forward, Hiashi's presence seemed to swell with ancient power as he declared.
"Hinata is the eldest daughter of this clan's main branch. Her bloodline will NEVER be allowed to mingle outside our family!"
"It would be wise for you to let go of these ambitions while you still can, boy… Before you find out just how few 'people' you truly know..."
Colt considered Hiashi's heated words, seemingly to weigh the true purpose behind this meeting.
However, the patriarch was still sorely underestimating him.
Colt's relaxed kneeling posture instantly straightened, his black eyes sharpening to obsidian focus.
In a tone as hard as the steel of Kaminari, he retorted, "Father-in-law, no...Hyuga Patriarch. If what you say is truly as absolute as you claim, then why did your brother Hizashi still die following the Hokage's orders a decade ago?"
The words plunged like a senbon straight into Hiashi's heart, further injuring the forever-open wound of his brother's sacrifice.
All because of the Hiruzen's foolish compromise for the sake of peace after the Hyuga affair...
"How dare you?!" Hiashi exploded, his chakra roaring out in a furious torrent.
His Byakugan blazed with unbridled killing intent...
'Tsk'
Only to be instantly snuffed out as Colt's own chakra detonated in a vastly greater shockwave.
The antique tea table cracked apart from the force, and Hiashi's vaunted power was ruthlessly suppressed.
"Patriarch!" Four Hyuga branch guards, all special Jonin, rushed in weapons bared.
But red light was already blazing in Colt's eyes as his Sharingan locked them in a hellish illusion.
[Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!]
To the elite guards, it was as if thick iron spikes had punched through their bodies, the phantom agony lancing into their very souls. They collapsed, limbs convulsing uncontrollably as their minds were sealed in torment.
A single ruthless technique, and four special Jonin were incapacitated.
"You...!" Hiashi's face drained of color, realizing in that instant what those crimson eyes meant.
The Sharingan! The fabled dojutsu of the nearly extinct Uchiha clan!
Colt slowly rose to his feet, coldly brushing dust from his clothes as he stared at the shaken patriarch.
"Hyuga clan leader, to most ninjas, your clan may very well be an insurmountable obstacle," he said in a voice as merciless as his strikes.
"But to the truly strong? A great clan is just one small obstacle to be overcome."
He looked straight through the fallen elder, made small before true power.
"I understand your concerns. But mark my words - with me on their side, neither Hinata nor Hanabi will ever be branded with your cursed Caged Bird Seal."
With that final promise, Colt turned and strode from the room, leaving Hiashi to gape in shocked silence at the walking maelstrom he had so badly misjudged.
'This...kid...!'
At the gate, Colt found Hinata anxiously waiting with Hanabi by her side. Hiashi had kept them from the tea room to prevent Hinata from interrupting.
So, when Colt reappeared, Hinata rushed to greet him, worry written across her face.
"Colt! Did...did my father mistreat you?"
"Of course not," Colt lied easily, ruffling Hinata's hair to settle her nerves. "Your father was quite hospitable."
"But I felt your chakra flaring..." Hinata said, unable to mask her concern.
"Just your father testing the strength of his future son-in-law," Colt said with a wink.
Turning his gaze to the small girl peeking out from behind her sister, Colt smiled warmly.
"And this must be Hanabi - so cute! You'll definitely grow into a beauty."
Hanabi shyly hid behind Hinata, afraid of this strange powerful man who made her already anxious sister so flustered.
Colt chuckled at the adorable display.
"Well, it's getting late. Time for me to head home and rest up."
He gave Hinata a reassuring look. "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."
Looking at his distant back, Hanabi finally came out from behind her sister.
She had never seen her weak sister look so anxious; what kind of magic does this Colt have?
"Sister," Hanabi tugged at Hinata's sleeve, her pure white Byakugan eyes shining extraordinarily.
"Tell me more about this person."