Even though Hiashi Hyuga was more interested in fostering a relationship between Hanabi and Uchiha Akira, he could clearly see that Akira seemed to have a stronger interest in Hinata. Naturally, he understood how to proceed from here.
Hinata, who had always been more of a quiet presence within the Hyuga household, found herself at a loss for words. Her father had always placed his hopes on Hanabi, leaving Hinata with little say in matters. Now, hearing Akira invite her out, she found herself unsure of how to respond. She felt torn between agreeing and declining, and could only glance at her father, silently seeking his guidance.
"Hinata, if you have the time, why don't you accompany Akira around the village tomorrow?" Hiashi said with a gentle smile.
"Yes, Father," Hinata replied softly, unable to refuse once her father had spoken.
"Great, I'll come by tomorrow morning to pick you up," Akira said, smiling as he saw Hinata agree.
Not to mention the influence from his previous life as a fan, Akira naturally preferred Hinata. Even setting that aside, Hinata was the epitome of a shy, adorable girl. After all, what man doesn't have a soft spot for a shy, cute girl?
"Alright," Hinata whispered, her face flushed with embarrassment. This was probably her first time going out with another boy, and she was too shy even to meet Akira's gaze.
By this point, the dinner had already served its purpose. Although Akira was more interested in Hinata than Hanabi, it was all the same to Hiashi. Both were his daughters, and with Akira showing interest in one of them, Hiashi began to see Akira more and more favorably, like a father-in-law growing fonder of his potential son-in-law.
After Hanabi and Hinata were sent off to discuss preparations for tomorrow's outing, Hiashi invited Akira to stay for some tea and a chat.
"Tea sounds good. I'd like that," Akira responded with a smile, accepting the invitation.
"Oh? You enjoy tea as well?" Hiashi asked, slightly surprised. He thought it was rare for someone so young to appreciate tea, expecting that most would prefer juices or other flavored drinks.
"Yes, I enjoy it a lot," Akira nodded.
Indeed, for Akira, tea was one of the few things in this world that still carried the essence of his previous life. In China, tea culture has a long and rich history, with tea being a significant part of the Silk Road trade.
"It seems, Akira, that you and the Hyuga Clan have a natural affinity. After all, it seems that we Hyuga are the only ones in Konoha who truly appreciate tea," Hiashi said with a chuckle, pouring Akira a cup of tea.
"Honestly, if I hadn't been born into the Uchiha Clan, the Hyuga Clan would be my favorite," Akira said sincerely after taking a sip of the tea.
"Oh?" Hiashi's eyes brightened at Akira's words.
That was quite the compliment, and coming from someone like Akira, it held real weight. If it had been anyone else, Hiashi might have dismissed it as mere flattery. But he knew Akira well enough to know that he wasn't one to offer empty praise.
"What is it that you like about the Hyuga Clan?" Hiashi asked, curious, as he refilled Akira's cup.
"The Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist, the Eight Trigrams—all of it. I find it all fascinating," Akira responded candidly.
And he meant it. The Gentle Fist and Eight Trigrams were filled with elements of Chinese culture. In Chinese martial arts, concepts like Taiji (Tai Chi), acupressure points, and the Eight Trigrams are integral parts of the tradition. If there was any clan in the Shinobi World that most embodied Chinese culture, it was definitely the Hyuga Clan. As someone who had transmigrated from China, it was only natural for Akira to feel a connection to the Hyuga Clan.
And let's not forget, what kind of women do Chinese men tend to prefer? Fiery and bold? Maybe, but deep down, they often favor gentle, elegant women—traits perfectly embodied by Hinata. If Akira were in any other situation, he might have kept these preferences to himself. After all, he was the head of the Anbu, and many saw him as a future Hokage. Publicly expressing such personal feelings could lead to complications with other clans. But now that he was practically courting Hinata, these thoughts were safe to share.
Hiashi's opinion of Akira only grew with this conversation, and the two enjoyed a pleasant chat over tea before Akira finally took his leave.
As Akira left the Hyuga Clan's compound, he walked through the streets of Konoha, humming a cheerful tune.
If someone were to ask Akira which clan in Konoha he liked the most, his answer would definitely be the Hyuga Clan. And if asked which squad he liked the most, there was no question—it would be Might Guy's team.
Both Might Guy and Rock Lee were inspired by the legendary martial artist Bruce Lee, especially with Rock Lee's Drunken Fist technique—a clear nod to Chinese culture. Then there was Neji Hyuga, a master of the Gentle Fist and Eight Trigrams, and Tenten, whose preference for wearing a qipao (Chinese dress) spoke volumes.
Might Guy's team was filled with characters who exuded Chinese cultural vibes, and Akira felt a natural affinity for them.
As he strolled down the streets of Konoha, whistling with his hands in his pockets, he couldn't help but notice the curious glances from the villagers. After all, with his pair of dragon horns, Akira stood out like a firefly in the dark—impossible to ignore unless you were blind.
Among those who noticed were quite a few young women, ranging from ten years old to those in their twenties. They couldn't help but sneak glances at him. With his handsome face, the Uchiha Clan's prestigious attire, and the unique dragon horns, Akira was like a male version of a catgirl or bunny girl—exuding a strange but captivating charm. For many, just watching someone so striking was enough to lift their spirits.
After leaving the Hyuga Clan, and with many admiring gazes following him, Akira headed straight to the Hokage Tower.
The Hokage Tower, where the Anbu worked as security, was practically Akira's second home, so no one stopped him as he made his way directly to the Hokage's office.
"You seem to be in a good mood," Fugaku, who was busy with paperwork, set down his pen and looked up at Akira with a knowing smile.
"Why, should I be in a bad mood?" Akira shot back, raising an eyebrow.
"I heard you were forced to go to the Hyuga Clan," Fugaku said, emphasizing the word "forced" with a teasing tone. He was clearly poking fun at how reluctant Akira had been earlier, only for him to return humming a tune.
The situation seemed like a classic case of someone protesting too much, only to find themselves genuinely enjoying the experience.
Akira couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. Initially, he had resisted because Hiashi wanted to introduce his younger daughter, Hanabi, to him. But after he had expressed interest in Hinata instead, his mood had indeed improved.
However, rather than explaining this, Akira changed the subject. "So, what was so important that you needed to call me here, Hokage-sama?"
"Yes, there is something crucial," Fugaku said, his tone becoming more serious. "It's about the Akatsuki organization."
"Oh? It seems Itachi has been in contact with you over the past seven years," Akira noted, not surprised by this development. After all, Itachi had infiltrated the Akatsuki not just for his own reasons but primarily for the sake of Konoha. When Akira had lost contact, it was only natural that Itachi would continue to relay information to Fugaku.
"The Akatsuki's ultimate goal is a plan called the 'Eye of the Moon'," Fugaku began to explain. "In the early stages, the Akatsuki focused on amassing wealth by acting as mercenaries. This was to prepare for the future phases of their plan. The second phase involves capturing the nine tailed beasts."
"And the third phase? The final goal is the Eye of the Moon plan, although we still don't fully understand what it entails."
"But the fact that the Akatsuki, already so powerful, especially with a leader who possesses the Rinnegan, needs the power of the nine tailed beasts to carry out this plan... it shows just how terrifying the Eye of the Moon project must be."
************announcement**************
Remember, you're reading this knowing it's a Chinese fanfiction. If you don't like it, feel free to check out my other fanfiction, Naruto: I Traveled with a Max Level Account, which is more realistic and enjoyable to read—personally, I prefer it. This is the last bit of 'Chinese nonsense' you're going to hate, and there's one more thing you're likely to dislike before chapter 219, as that's how much I've translated. I can't change the fact that the main character was reincarnated as a Chinese person in his previous life, which I know some of you may not like. Since I am nearly at chapter 220, I don't have the energy or time to go back and edit it so he's reincarnated as a Japanese or English person. I have to stick with what I originally wrote.
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 201 at patreon.com/Emik01.
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