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[— Manga Scene —]
"The ones remaining are you, Choji, Neji, Lee, the ninja from the Sound Village, and the Sand boy… six people."
Kiba, who was being carried out on a stretcher, looked at Hinata and began to advise her.
"Listen, Hinata…"
"If you face the Sand boy… withdraw immediately!!"
He paused for a moment before continuing… "And also, do the same thing.."
"If you face Neji, withdraw immediately..!"
"He is very cruel… you will be utterly defeated."
"Now we will announce the next fight.."
At that moment, the proctor Hayate spoke loudly:
Hyuga Hinata vs. Hyuga Neji
The names of the next contestants appeared on the electronic scoreboard.
"Damn it…" Kiba cursed.
'Hinata…' Kurenai repeated internally.
'What an interesting fight…' the Third Hokage commented internally.
"...…" Hyuga Neji and Hyuga Hinata stood facing each other in the arena.
"I never expected to meet you… Hinata-sama…" Neji said calmly.
"Neji-niisan.." Hinata said hesitantly.
"Heh!? Siblings!?" Naruto was shocked by the striking resemblance between Hinata and Neji.
"They are members of the oldest bloodline in Konoha… the Hyuga clan, but they are not siblings…" Kakashi explained.
"Then what are they?" Sakura asked curiously.
"Well, you could say they are members of the Hyuga clan from the Main House and the Branch House."
"Main House and Branch House!?"
[— End Scene —]
The echo of Naruto's confused words rang through the Art Store, as if expressing the bewilderment of everyone reading those pages.
The volume summary had already clarified that a major fight in this arc would indeed be Hyuga Hinata versus Hyuga Neji, so the matchup itself wasn't entirely shocking.
However, their battle sparked a wave of questions before it even began. Kakashi's explanation of the "Main House and Branch House" concept came as a true shock, revealing hidden layers of complexity within a Hyuga clan that had, at first glance, seemed as cohesive and prestigious as it was in the current reality.
This was not merely a fight between two Genin; it was a conflict rooted deep in the history and traditions of one of Konoha's most ancient clans.
…
In the corner of the Art Store dedicated to the Hyuga clan, where the atmosphere was usually characterized by calm and dignity, a heavy silence fell. The distinctive white eyes of the clan, which normally reflected composure, were now wide with shock and anxiety.
"This…" Masanori Hyuga, the current clan leader, held the volume with trembling hands.
His narrowed eyes stared at the pages, as if trying to absorb the words describing a harsh internal system he had never imagined so clearly.
As the scene progressed and the implications of "Main House" and "Branch House" were explained, his eyes twitched further. Anger was evident on his face, with veins bulging around his temples. His Byakugan had activated, not to observe something, but as a pure physiological reaction to his fury.
The manga clearly indicated that Hinata was part of the Main House, while Neji was part of the Branch House, subordinate to the Main.
This revelation caused the young brothers, Kizashi and Hiashi Hyuga, to exchange extremely confused looks.
'What are you planning, Uzumaki Rubiro!?'
Masanori knew of the existence of such a system, one that had not yet been implemented in the current era, but seeing it manifest in a conflict between clan members in a hazy future made him feel as if his body were being stripped bare and displayed to the public. Not just his body, but the very dignity of his entire clan. In front of the eyes and ears of the world, this was something entirely different.
A sense of shame began to creep into his heart, mixed with deep concern for the clan's future.
Not far from him, Hizashi Hyuga, the kid who had just reached Hinata's age in the manga, stared at the pages in total amazement.
His small eyes, which had not yet known the cruelty of life, watched Neji on the pages. Kiba's words about "cruelty," followed by Kakashi's explanation of the "Main House and Branch House," began to paint a completely different picture of this boy.
A strange sense of tension began to take hold of him, the same tension that Hinata currently displayed in the manga… 'What kind of clan system did her family follow in the future? Is it based on discrimination!?' he thought internally as he turned the pages.
'If Neji is my son in the future, does that mean I will be from the Branch House too?' An inexplicable fear of the future began to take root in his heart.
Beside Hizashi, his twin Hiashi showed similar expressions of shock.
"Main House and Branch House? What is the matter with this!?" Hiashi repeated Sakura's words, as if trying to grasp the concept.
They were still children, attending the Academy, and had not yet been exposed to the complex details of their clan's traditions.
Their father, who was still alive, had not mentioned anything about succession yet.
No one had been favored over the other; despite Hiashi being the first to leave the womb, he did not see this as something that gave him any advantage over his brother in the race for succession.
In his eyes, only the strongest could be the candidate.
But what was the deal with this Main House and Branch House!?
Seeing Hinata, who had always been an example of kindness and calm, standing before Neji, who seemed to harbor a deep-seated grudge, was both puzzling and alarming.
Hiashi began to feel a heavy burden falling on his shoulders, the burden of being part of this "Main House" whose true meaning he did not yet understand. After all, his feelings toward Hinata made him strongly believe that he might be her father in the future.
As for the rest of the Hyuga clan members, their reactions ranged from shock to denial.
Some tried to pretend it was just an ordinary fight, but their exchanged glances betrayed their anxiety.
This manga was exposing their internal secrets, placing them before everyone's eyes.
Faint whispers circulated among them, trying to understand how this "future" could be so cruel, and how the system they took pride in could be the cause of such a bitter conflict.
…
In contrast, the reactions of readers from other clans were entirely different, a mix of curiosity and shock.
"Main House and Branch House?" a Jonin from the Sarutobi clan wondered.
"Does this mean there are masters and slaves within the same clan?" His friend from the Akimichi clan shook his head in amazement.
"I didn't know the Hyuga clan hid such secrets. They always seem so organized and prestigious."
…
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, whose counterpart had internally commented that the fight was interesting, saw his expression change to one of absolute seriousness.
He knew of the Hyuga clan's intention to create such a subordinate system, but seeing it embodied in this way, with all the grudges appearing on Neji's face in his battle with Hinata, was troubling.
"This system…" Hiruzen muttered, "It breeds hatred. The kind of hatred that can destroy a clan from within."
Danzo, sitting beside him, gave a cold smile.
"This is the essence of power, Hiruzen. Control. The Main House ensures the loyalty of the Branch House through this system. It is effective, albeit harsh."
But Hiruzen was not convinced. He saw in Neji's eyes a deep hatred, a hatred that could turn into a threat not only to the clan but to the entire village.
Uzumaki Mito, listening to Kakashi's explanation, felt a tightness in her chest.
The Uzumaki were a strong, interconnected clan and had never known such internal divisions.
"This isn't fair…" Mito whispered. "How can a clan impose such a restriction on its members?"
She saw Hinata as a victim of this system, and Neji as someone whose soul had been distorted by these harsh traditions.
She wondered what role Naruto might play in this conflict, he who refuses to surrender to any constraints.
At this moment, the fight was no longer just a confrontation between two Genin wanting a promotion to Chunin; it had become a mirror reflecting the dark side of shinobi traditions, revealing internal struggles much deeper than any reader had imagined.
Everyone in the Art Store, regardless of their clan or status, felt the weight of this revelation and began to question the true price of power and tradition in the ninja world.
…
Jiraiya, sitting beside Tsunade, shook his head with deep regret.
"This is the dark side of tradition, Tsunade. Power comes at a heavy price, and sometimes, that price is the humanity of individuals."
Jiraiya had already immersed himself in the events of the bloody battle between Neji and Hinata.
Meanwhile, Tsunade, watching Hinata with intense sympathy, felt anger rising within her.
"This isn't fair in any way. Hinata is a kind, innocent girl, and she doesn't deserve this much cruelty. Someone must intervene to stop this madness!" She imagined the pain Hinata was feeling and how this conflict might affect her fragile psyche.
Orochimaru, watching the scene with his usual coldness, gave a slight smile, but it carried a deep analytical gaze.
'Hatred… it is a great power. It can push people to their absolute limits and reveal the deepest aspects of human nature. This conflict between the Main House and the Branch House is an interesting case study in human psychology.'
He thought internally, seeing in this conflict an opportunity to study the dark side of human nature, how hatred can turn into a destructive force and how it can be exploited to achieve his own goals.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 175: A Future Beginning to Change…
Chapter 176: Toxic Words
Chapter 177: Resilience in the Face of the Storm!
Chapter 178: Gentle Fist!
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