"If any Uchiha dares to mess with me, I'll show them who the real top clan of Konoha is!"
Hyuga Tokuma blurted out impulsively.
Normally, he wouldn't have said such a thing, but seeing Uchiha Shimizu's handsome face filled his heart with dissatisfaction. He refused to appear weak in front of someone he admired.
Such is the simplicity of a young man's naive love—using impulsive acts to flaunt strength.
"Stop it! What if Shimizu hears you?"
Hyuga Natsu gasped in shock.
She couldn't understand what had come over Tokuma, yelling so recklessly. Was he not afraid of Uchiha Shimizu overhearing?
"So what if he does? Natsu, you have to believe in my strength. I know Shimizu does well in school, but that's only because I haven't shown my true abilities yet."
"Oh, really?"
As Natsu and Tokuma conversed, the very person they were discussing had already appeared behind them without their noticing!
"Are the Uchiha inherently evil as a clan?"
Shimizu asked with an amused tone.
This idea originated from the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and had become widely circulated in Konoha.
"We are from the Hyuga clan, so I suggest you don't deliberately provoke conflicts between our clans."
Tokuma's pupils contracted; Shimizu's speed was astonishing.
Standing behind them, he was so fast that neither Tokuma nor Natsu had noticed his presence.
"Shimizu, Tokuma didn't mean it," Natsu said hurriedly.
Her snow-white eyes and short green hair swayed behind her neck in the breeze. She wore the humble attire of a servant.
Shimizu glanced briefly at Natsu.
In the original work, both Hyuga Tokuma and Hyuga Natsu were minor characters with few appearances.
Natsu would later become a servant of the Hyuga clan's main branch, specifically serving Hanabi Hyuga. She was part of the branch family.
Tokuma, on the other hand, would eventually become Mitarashi Anko's teammate, but with mediocre talent, he graduated late and joined a team afterward.
Shimizu knew Natsu better because they were in the same class, whereas Tokuma was from a different one.
"But he just told me not to provoke conflict between the two clans. Quite ironic," Shimizu said calmly.
Having lived in this world for years, from the moment he was still in his mother's womb, Shimizu had developed some attachment to the Uchiha clan.
When his parents died, Shimizu was only a few months old. Without someone to care for him, he would have starved or frozen to death.
Uchiha Hazuki had taken care of him extensively, but she had since married, and Shimizu, busy with his training, had seen less of her in recent years.
"The Uchiha's reputation cannot be questioned. If I hear this kind of talk again, the consequences won't be as simple as today."
Shimizu turned to leave.
"Sorry for the trouble, Shimizu. I'll visit with Tokuma to apologize another day."
Perhaps due to her long-term status as a branch family member and servant, Natsu's words were always humble and cautious.
"Natsu, why do you even bother with this guy?"
Tokuma's anger flared as he watched Natsu's submissive behavior.
Both he and Natsu were from the branch family and had grown up together.
Within the clan, they were often ordered around by the main branch. To see such humility outside as well infuriated him.
What did that make them? Forever submissive branch members, no matter where they were?
"Uchiha Shimizu, I know you're strong. How about we settle this one-on-one? This has nothing to do with Natsu—it's my own fault for speaking out of turn."
Tokuma called out to stop Shimizu.
If he could defeat Shimizu, who excelled at the academy, both Natsu and the main family would surely see him in a new light.
"Very well," Shimizu replied with a nod, stopping in his tracks.
Since Tokuma was as stubborn as his name suggested, Shimizu decided to teach him a lesson.
It was a good opportunity to test his own progress from recent training.
Tokuma, an average student, was no match for Shimizu, even before he had gained his system. Defeating him would be effortless.
The two agreed to meet in a secluded alley.
Shimizu recognized this spot—it was the same place where he had sparred with Kurenai Yuhi not long ago.
Lately, he'd been deliberately avoiding Kurenai to prevent unnecessary complications that could ruin his reputation.
"Byakugan!"
Tokuma activated his clan's unique kekkei genkai, veins bulging near his eyes.
"Gentle Fist!"
Tokuma's figure darted forward, striking at Shimizu with a palm thrust.
"Just the Gentle Fist?"
Shimizu dodged the attack with ease.
If it had been the Eight Trigrams technique, it might've been troublesome, but Tokuma was only using the most basic form of the Gentle Fist.
As a branch member with average talent, Tokuma lacked access to the Hyuga clan's more advanced techniques, such as the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms or the Rotation.
Only main family members were taught these, though exceptional geniuses like Neji Hyuga could master them on their own.
Tokuma was far from such a genius.
"Hah!"
After his initial strike missed, Tokuma pivoted, aiming for Shimizu's weak points by analyzing his muscle movements.
Poof!
A cloud of smoke dispersed, revealing that Tokuma had struck a mere log.
"Your Substitution Jutsu is incredibly proficient," Tokuma said, breaking into a cold sweat. Shimizu's academic record clearly wasn't exaggerated.
His skills were advanced enough for early graduation, while Tokuma still struggled with basic techniques.
"Do you surrender?"
Shimizu's voice came from behind, a kunai resting just a centimeter from Tokuma's neck.
"Tokuma!"
Watching from the sidelines, Natsu cried out in worry.
Defeated and humiliated, Tokuma clenched his teeth before reluctantly admitting, "I surrender."
"It seems the Uchiha truly are the strongest clan in Konoha, wouldn't you agree, Hyuga Tokuma?"
Shimizu sheathed his kunai and walked away.
"My sincerest apologies, Shimizu," Natsu said, bowing deeply.
Shimizu waved her off without a word, heading back to continue his training.
Once Shimizu was gone, Natsu cautiously approached Tokuma.
"Let's go home," she suggested.
Tokuma said nothing, straightening his disheveled clothes before walking away.
Natsu bit her lip in frustration.
She had humbled herself for Tokuma's sake, yet he still wore such an ungrateful expression.
If Tokuma hadn't spouted those reckless words, none of this would've happened.
The two returned to the Hyuga compound in awkward silence.
"Did you say Tokuma fought an Uchiha?"
"Yes, my lady."
Natsu knelt and bowed her head deeply.
The head of the main family she served had a strong sense of control and demanded daily reports on her activities.
Slap!
A sharp smack landed across Natsu's face, amplified by chakra-infused force unique to the Hyuga clan.
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