Chapter 43 (C43)
Seven days later, Kai heard the news that the new deputy head of the Dark Division was only fifteen years old.
"So..." Asuma paused, his hand holding the food in his chopsticks, "that's your reason for treating us to dinner?"
He also said that ever since he started leading the team, Kai had been complaining every day that he had three kids to raise and that they would eat his father out of house and home. How could he suddenly be so generous in treating everyone?
"Isn't it something to celebrate that our child got promoted?" Kai was very excited, tears streaming down his face. "Fifteen years old! She's the youngest vice-captain in Konoha's history." He was proud that Konoha's new generation had such a dazzling talent, and he was also genuinely proud of Kana.
“Shouldn’t the Hyuga be celebrating?” Kurenai said. “What’s it to you?”
Kai laughed heartily, "That's Neji's older sister, so she's practically my child too." He treated his students like his own children, and by extension, he felt a paternal affection for their older sister.
"Does the Hyuga clan know that you're taking advantage of other people's children by falsely claiming them as your own?" Ebisu retorted.
“However…” Genma Shiranui recalled the unexpected cooperative mission from last time, “She was indeed very strong.” She should be considered the strongest of this generation in Konoha, “It’s just a pity…”
Kai's teacup slammed heavily onto the table, interrupting Genma's words, "Even after the family split up, she still became a strong person through her own efforts."
Even though the branch family has no right of inheritance, even though the main family treats the branch family harshly, even though the branch family has to obey the main family, he believes that as long as he works hard, he can always change something, he is sure he can change something.
"Kai," Asma said, knowing he was taking it seriously.
Hinata's secret is a venomous snake shrouded in thick fog; most people only hear its hissing sound before feeling nauseous and cold.
But Asma, who was closer to the center of power, once caught a glimpse of those cruel, beastly eyes—a chilling, life-snatching temperature. The feeling didn't come suddenly, but rather like a drop of ice water slowly sliding down the spine, silent and still, yet making the hairs on one's body stand on end—an inescapable despair.
"You didn't mention what you just said to Neji, did you?"
Kai shook his head. This was something he had always regretted: Neji never talked to him about his troubles, pain, or dreams.
Asma breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't mention the division of the family in front of that child, and don't tell him that he can change his fate through hard work—if you don't want him to hate you."
The test for promotion to head of the Anbu was to kill an S-rank rogue ninja in a one-on-one fight. With such talent, it's no wonder the old man regretted that she was only a branch family member.
But helplessness is the norm in life. Asuma slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, feeling the mockery of fate. "The one who hates her the most right now for not being from the main family is probably the one who turned her into the Hyuga main family of the branch family."
The hatred of the main family, mixed with regret, jealousy, and resentment, may later be compounded by the addition of Neji.
Having spent two years together, Kai believed he understood Neji better than most people in the village.
Although Neji appears cold, he is actually a very sentimental person. When carrying out missions, he will take the initiative to occupy the most dangerous positions. During the first Chunin Exams, he gave up his promotion qualification to save his comrades. He will defend Rock Lee when others ridicule him. You should judge a person by their actions, not just what they say.
Moreover, it does not suffer from the common problems that some child prodigies have.
They readily admit their mistakes (although this is rare), reflect on them, and apologize.
Very humble, Kai was shocked that Neji, who graduated first in his class from the Ninja Academy, never considered himself a genius. After thinking it over, he could only attribute it to his sister's abnormally high talent, which caused the benchmark for the child to be raised too high.
Moreover, she has a very good personality.
Some people might disagree with this, but Kay genuinely believes it.
Neji rarely gets angry.
Excluding the time I was hypnotized, there was only one time I was truly angry.
The drunken ninja looked into his eyes and said sarcastically, "Even Hyuga Kana from the branch family is just a watchdog for the main family."
That was a speed that even he couldn't react to.
The seal "Zi-Mao-Yin" was formed, and the water dragon bullet roared out.
It cannot be denied that geniuses have privileges. The Water Dragon Bullet, which should have required 44 seals, was launched by a genin with only 3 seals. People's admiration and yearning for genius have outweighed their criticism of his impulsive and violent behavior.
Kana went so far as to say that Neji was taught by her, and that he should fight back if he was bullied, which was also her instruction. She added that anyone who was dissatisfied with her teaching methods was welcome to "discuss" with her.
Although Kai did not entirely agree with Neji's approach, he also felt that using such humiliating language to describe a ninja who had devoted himself to Konoha deserved to be punished.
Even dragons have scales that cannot withstand attacks; a person's weaknesses are not necessarily flaws.
Looking at Neji's stubborn eyes that refused to admit his mistake, Kai finally gave up the idea of making him reconcile with that ninja.
He felt that Kana had taught Neji very well. He was also glad that the "hatred" Asuma mentioned had not left a deep mark on the child.
—He originally thought.
Perhaps it really is fate.
Guy couldn't help but think this when he saw the match list for the Chunin Exams singles preliminary round.
"Before the match begins, I have a piece of advice for you..." Neji said calmly, "You are weak-willed and lack your own opinions, so you are not suitable to be a ninja."
Hinata looked dejected and spoke softly, so softly that only she could hear, "I came to participate in the Chunin Exams in order to change myself..."
"If you don't want the main family to lose too badly, I suggest you forfeit now. The competition is not a clan rule, and no one will let you off easy."
Hinata glanced back at Naruto, the hesitation in her eyes turning into determination, and her voice gradually grew louder, loud enough for everyone else on the field to hear, "I know I can't beat you, but I won't give up, I want to change myself!"
“I’ve said everything I needed to say,” Neji raised his right hand. “Then let’s begin.”
Hinata's eyes widened, and she took the first step forward, her fingers, imbued with chakra, pointing towards Neji.
Neji was much faster than her and easily saw through her attack. After bending down to dodge, he struck her waist with a palm.
Hinata took a step back, reached out and slapped away Neji's right hand, and then her other hand was about to strike Neji's shoulder.
Neji twisted his body and slammed his knee into her abdomen.
He took two steps back, frowning as he looked at Hinata, who was clutching her stomach and kneeling on the ground. "Is this all you've got as the main branch of the family?"
No, it's not over yet. Hinata thought to herself, raised her head, and slapped Neji's face with her right hand.
Too slow. Her movement path was clearly visible, and her moves were unoriginal. He didn't even need to use his Byakugan to observe the flow of chakra. Neji turned his head, casually knocked Hinata down with a palm strike, and stood up to look down at her.
He felt an unnamed fire burning through his internal organs; his sister, because of that ridiculous fate, was supposed to protect this good-for-nothing.
"I... will not give up, I will never back down!" Hinata slowly pushed herself up from the ground, stood up tremblingly, looked up at Neji, and slowly raised her hand to make an attack gesture.
He probably didn't know that no one would give her any leeway during the main family's annual clan training sessions. She had fallen countless times, only to grit her teeth and get back up again countless times. Ever since she could remember, everyone had told her that she had to take Hyuga Kana as her role model, and that as a member of the main family, she had to surpass that "genius of Hyuga."
She grew up watching that person's back as she walked away. "I... want to become a ninja like Kana-neechan..."
"You shouldn't have mentioned her." Neji's eyes were slightly closed, then suddenly opened, and for the first time, murderous intent appeared in his eyes as he looked at Hinata. "How dare you mention her?"
He rolled his eyes and took a step back, unleashing the "Eight Trigrams - Empty Palm" move.
Hinata fell backward to the ground ten meters away, coughing up blood. She was no longer conscious, but her fingers were still trembling as she exerted force.
Neji's palms, brimming with chakra, were slightly warm as he took a step forward.
"Neji," Nara Shikatori called out from the stands.
Neji ignored him and continued walking forward.
"Don't cause trouble for your sister."
His steps abruptly halted, as if bound by some invisible rope. The boy took a deep breath, clenching his fists so tightly that his whole body trembled slightly before the bulging veins at the corners of his eyes subsided. He turned to look into the shadows, "How much longer do I have to fight before the match is over?"
His voice carried a hint of ruthlessness, "Cripple her?"
The difference in strength was too great; there was no point in Hinata continuing the match at this point. Hayate Gekko emerged from the shadows, raised his hand, and announced, "The match is over. Neji Hyuga wins."
That match made Kai realize that Neji wasn't without hatred.
Kana listened quietly to Kai's retelling of the match. "So?"
“Hatred only brings pain.” Kai didn’t want Neji to be blinded by hatred, because such emotions are too intense and can make people ignore the existence of happiness.
"Then why did you come to me?" She was sure that Kai had already said something similar to Neji.
Kana lowered her eyes; the popsicle in her hand had melted, and the sweet juice slowly dripped onto the ground, forming a small candy pit. "You want me to persuade him?"
Kai shook his head. "Because you, Kana, are suffering just like me."
"I don't hate anymore."
Kai was stunned.
Kana stared into his eyes, and after a moment, she suddenly smiled, her eyes half-closed. "See, you don't believe me either."
"Because you know very well that this hatred is so heavy that it cannot be let go of so easily."
"Thank you for the things." Without turning her head, she accurately tossed the melted popsicle into the trash can. "But it's too sweet for me, it'll hurt my teeth."
"I'm way past the age of having a sweet tooth."
So don't try to discipline me with your "love," and don't try to tempt me with the idea of happiness.
Kai wasn't the type to give up easily, but the reason he couldn't continue was—
"That's enough, I don't want to hear anymore." The setting sun dyed her pale pupils a faded color. For a moment, Kai felt that Kana's eyes were no longer focused on the world, but were empty. He was afraid that if he added even one more word, she would shatter from the inside out. "I'm so tired."
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