The head of the Hyuga clan's main family, a stern-looking middle-aged man clad in a dark kimono, arrived at the scene. Beside him was a shy little girl with short blue-black hair, holding tightly to his hand as she hesitated in the crowd.
That must be Hinata. She's adorable, Kirito thought. And that man must be her father—Hiashi or Hizashi?
Thanks to his enhanced eyesight, Kirito, standing near the front, had no trouble recognizing the timid Hinata. A moment later, another man with similar features to Hiashi stepped forward from the branch family. From their conversation, Kirito deduced that this man was Hizashi, Neji's father. Not far behind, a young Neji stood with long black hair, his serious demeanor already a reflection of his father.
Neji's expression softened when his gaze fell on Hinata. Even as a child, you're still drawn to her, aren't you? Kirito mused. The power of a cute loli can heal hearts… but will it be enough for you to smile in the future?
Neji's presence triggered memories of the tragic incident from the original series—the kidnapping of Hinata. Kirito recalled how the Cloud Village envoy attempted to abduct Hinata, only to be killed by Hiashi. The fallout led to Hizashi sacrificing his life to protect the clan, an event that filled Neji with resentment and despair until Naruto's intervention years later.
At least Hizashi is still alive for now. The kidnapping hasn't happened yet.
As the main family began ushering people into the compound, Kirito turned to the orphanage director.
"Dean, I don't plan to accept the Caged Bird Seal," Kirito declared calmly.
The director's face darkened. "Are you joking? Do you know the consequences of refusing the seal as a branch family member?"
"I can imagine," Kirito replied, "but I still won't accept it."
"Are you out of your mind?!" the director snapped. She grabbed Kirito's arm, attempting to drag him toward the compound, but he didn't budge. Her surprise was evident as she struggled against his unyielding strength.
A nearby guard from the main family noticed the commotion and approached. "What's going on here?"
"It's nothing—" the director began, but Kirito interrupted her.
"I refuse the seal. If someone wants to impose it, they'll have to defeat me first."
The guard raised an eyebrow at Kirito's bold statement. To him, this was just another overconfident child, emboldened by being a bully in the orphanage. Without hesitation, the guard lunged, his fingers poised to strike Kirito's shoulder and temporarily disable his arm.
The attack was swift, too fast for even the director to react. But Kirito sidestepped with a slight tilt of his body, avoiding the blow.
"Not bad," the guard muttered, launching another attack. This time, his fingers moved like raindrops, aiming for Kirito's body in rapid succession. Kirito swayed like a sailboat caught in a storm, dodging every strike with fluid movements.
The guard's astonishment grew. It was inconceivable for a three-year-old to evade such a flurry of attacks. The director, equally shocked, wondered how Kirito, who had never left the orphanage, could possess such agility.
The surrounding Hyuga clan members began to take notice, their curious gazes fixed on Kirito. Embarrassed by his repeated failures, the guard activated his Byakugan, chakra surging into his palms.
"Eight Trigrams, Four Palms!" he shouted, his speed doubling as he aimed precise strikes at Kirito's chakra points.
This time, Kirito didn't dodge. With calm precision, he intercepted each strike, deflecting the guard's palms with his own. Despite his smaller hands, his movements were controlled and decisive.
The crowd gasped in unison. Even the director was stunned. The speed and precision of the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist were legendary, and yet a child was countering it with ease.
"Enough!" The guard, humiliated, prepared to launch another attack, but a voice from the main family interrupted him.
"What's going on here?" Hiashi Hyuga approached, followed by the other members of the main family.
The director quickly explained the situation. Hiashi's stern gaze landed on Kirito, who remained calm despite the tension.
"You are talented," an elder of the Hyuga clan acknowledged, "but tradition cannot be broken. Hizashi, show him the futility of resistance."
Hizashi sighed as he stepped forward. "Kid, even if you're talented, you cannot escape your destiny. As a member of the branch family, the Caged Bird Seal is inevitable."
Activating his Byakugan, Hizashi positioned himself for a decisive strike. With his sharp eyes, he could clearly see Kirito's abundant chakra and strong meridians. He recognized the boy's extraordinary potential—perhaps even greater than Neji's. But in the Hyuga clan, talent was no shield against fate.
"Eight Trigrams, Sixty-Four Palms!" Hizashi called out, determined to end the confrontation swiftly. His strikes landed with rapid precision, targeting Kirito's chakra points.
The crowd collectively winced, expecting Kirito to collapse under the overwhelming assault. Even the director turned away, unable to watch. Some branch family members covered their children's eyes to shield them from the harsh reality of Hyuga tradition.
Kirito's body slammed into the courtyard wall with a resounding crash, leaving a gap in the stone.
"Well done, Hizashi," the elder praised, satisfied with the decisive outcome.
Hiashi glanced back at Hinata, who clung tightly to his leg, trembling at the sight of such violence. The young girl's kind and timid nature made it difficult for her to witness such punishment, especially against someone her age.
But Hizashi's attention remained fixed on the rubble where Kirito had landed.
Amid the broken bricks and dust, Kirito pushed himself up, using one hand to steady himself. His kimono was torn, his skin dotted with faint red marks, and veins bulged slightly around his eyes.
Ignoring the astonished stares of the crowd, Kirito activated his Byakugan, scanning his body. So these are the chakra points targeted by the Gentle Fist.
Despite the pain, Kirito's lips curled into a faint smile. Now, let's see if tradition can really stop me.
(End of Chapter 5)