"Look at you, you've gotten so much stronger. I knew this would be a good opportunity for you, and it seems you didn't waste it one bit," Hikari's father said, his voice filled with pride and warmth.
"I'm sure there's lots you want to tell us. Let's sit first," her mother added, guiding Hikari towards a seating area. The joy of having their daughter back was palpable.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Daniel stood before Tsunade, giving his detailed report about the mission. He recounted their encounters and revealed that there was more to this case than they had initially thought.
"Child trafficking... At this level, no less. What could be their motive?" Tsunade muttered, her eyes narrowing in thought.
"I'll leave this to you for now. Keep reporting everything you find. And regarding your team, I will approve your decision," Tsunade said, her tone decisive. She dismissed Daniel, leaning back in her chair.
"Has he really piqued your interest that much, my lady?" Shizune asked after Daniel had left, curiosity evident in her voice.
"Well, he did study under the Third Hokage, and now not only does he have students of his own, but they are also all from the Hyuga clan," Tsunade remarked, a hint of admiration in her voice.
"I admit he has achieved a great deal, but regarding the students he took in, aren't they all below average compared to others of their generation?" Shizune questioned.
Tsunade smiled slightly. "Is that what you think?" she replied, her eyes twinkling with a knowing look.
As the morning sun rose, Daichi sat in his room, feeling conflicted. Since he had awakened the Byakugan, he had to follow his clan's customs, and the curse seal was placed on him. After working so hard to awaken and master the Byakugan, as well as learn all those other techniques and rise as a shinobi, he felt a deep sense of injustice. Was this how he was to be treated in return?
His thoughts churned with a mixture of pride in his accomplishments and frustration at the constraints placed upon him by his clan's traditions. Yet, within he understood why the clan was doing this.
"Forget it. Let's head out," Daichi muttered to himself, pushing aside his conflicted feelings. He quickly put on his clothes, determined to join his team and focus on what truly mattered.
Two days later, stepping into the morning light, Daichi made his way to the training grounds. As he arrived, he was greeted by the familiar sight of Hikari, already warming up. She glanced up and smiled at him. "You're early today," she remarked.
Daichi returned her smile, "Yeah, figured I'd get a head start," he replied. The weight of his previous thoughts seemed to lighten in her presence.
Hikari nodded, her smile widening. "Ryuu hasn't even arrived yet. Looks like you're setting a new standard," she teased lightly, her tone warm and encouraging.
Daichi chuckled, the sound mingling with the crisp morning air. "I guess someone has to keep him on his toes," he said, his spirits lifting as conversed with her more.
"Huh? Did I miss something? How come I'm the last one here?" Ryuu remarked, surprise evident in his voice as he realized he had arrived late. After their short vacation, this was their first formal meeting as a team.
"Looks like you're slacking. Have you gotten used to your vacation already?" Hikari teased him, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Nonsense! There's no way I'd be late. Daichi must've had nothing to do, that's all," Ryuu retorted, blushing slightly.
"Anyway, I heard you were at the clan's main building yesterday. Did something happen?" Ryuu asked, curious. Daichi turned and looked at Hikari.
"What! You really went there? No way," he remarked, astonishment in his voice.
"It was nothing, really. My father shared a little about the techniques we now use, and the clan head was interested, that's all. In fact, we were all requested to go there today for a formal display," Hikari explained, dropping a bombshell that shocked the rest of them.
"Wha!" Ryuu and Daichi exclaimed in unison. "How did that happen?" Daichi asked, bewildered.
"Well," Hikari began, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead, "my father was impressed by my techniques and bragged about it to his friends, which led to me—well, us—catching the attention of the clan head. I was then invited to do a little demonstration since our use of the Byakugan is completely different from the norm. After my display, the clan head said he'd like for us to formally show our abilities by sparring with the top of our peers."
"I think they want to display and maybe even learn from our techniques," she added thoughtfully.
Ryuu nodded, his expression serious. "It does seem plausible, but still..." he remarked, trailing off.
"Daniel did tell us that these are our techniques now and what we do with our knowledge is up to us, but..." Daichi said, his voice filled with uncertainty.
The trio pondered for a brief moment, weighing their options. Finally, Ryuu spoke up, his voice resolute. "Well, it's not like we'll lose something by doing this. If our techniques can help advance our clan, I think we should go for it."
Hikari and Daichi nodded in agreement, their determination solidifying. With their minds made up, they waited for Daniel to arrive.
'Puff!' Smoke erupted amidst them, and as it dissipated, Daniel appeared with his usual confident grin. "Yo!" he greeted, his voice lively.
"I heard the news. Looks like things will be interesting in Konoha as of late. It's a shame I won't be here to see that," Daniel said with a grin, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Huh, are you going somewhere?" Hikari asked, her brow furrowed in curiosity.
"Yeah, but only for a little while. I'll leave my shadow clone to handle things here for me," Daniel replied, his tone reassuring.
"Is this related to those kidnappings?" Ryuu inquired, his expression serious.
"Sort of. Anyway, don't feel conflicted about sharing those techniques. I developed them for you, so do with them as you see fit," Daniel said, easing their worries with a warm smile. "By the way, I've already recommended you all for the chunin exams a week from now, so you better get prepared after you finish your clan duties," he added with a wink before puffing away.
As the smoke cleared, the trio felt a mixture of relief and excitement. Their minds were at ease regarding the sharing of their techniques, and the prospect of participating in the chunin exams filled them with anticipation.
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