Following the two silent guards through the whitewashed corridors of the Hyūga estate, Akira stepped into the spacious main courtyard.
The afternoon sun beamed down on a polished stone pavilion surrounded by neatly manicured zen gardens. Seated on woven tatami mats around a low tea table were the figures holding the absolute authority of the clan: Hiashi Hyūga, the clan head, sat at the center, flanked by six prominent Main House elders. Seated slightly off to the side, maintaining a respectful distance, were Hizashi Hyūga and a solitary Branch family representative.
The two guards immediately separated, taking rigid positions by the heavy wooden entrance gates.
Akira stepped into the open courtyard, stopping a comfortable ten paces from the tea party. Offering a simple, brief bow of his head, he spoke in a calm, polite tone. "Lord Hiashi. Elders."
The initial response was pure apathy.
Five of the six Main House elders didn't even bother looking up from their steaming cups of green tea, casually conversing among themselves as if Akira were nothing more than a passing breeze. Only Hiashi and Hizashi gave him small, welcoming nods.
Breaking the quiet, Elder Tokuma—a withered man with sharp, sunken features—slammed his porcelain teacup onto the wooden tray with a loud clack.
"Impertinent brat!" Tokuma snapped, his voice sharp and grating. "Is that how a Branch House member greets his elders? Where are your manners? Where is the proper kneeling bow?"
Akira didn't bow further. He simply raised his head, his pale Byakugan eyes fixing Tokuma with a calm, unblinking stare.
Tokuma's face contorted in annoyance as he met the boy's piercing gaze. His eyes naturally flicked upward, landing squarely on the dark green Bird Cage curse mark proudly displayed on Akira's forehead.
"How dare you look at me directly like that?!" Tokuma scolded, pointing a trembling, wrinkled finger at Akira. "Lower your eyes! You bear the mark of the Branch, yet you stand there staring as if you own the place! This is precisely what's wrong with the youth today—no discipline, no respect!"
Akira slowly shifted his gaze toward the sky, watching a fluffy white cloud drift lazily past the sun.
"Ah, this old idiot..." Akira thought impassively. "The very same leech who insists on taking a ten percent 'administrative fee' from my commercial property profits as a service to the Main House. Loudest mouth, smallest mind."
"That's enough, Elder Tokuma," Hiashi interrupted smoothly, his deep voice putting a stop to the old man's outburst. He turned his gaze toward Akira, his expression thoughtful. "Akira. Word about your match against the Uchiha boy reached us quickly. Tell me... why do you turn down the option to graduate early? Why not take the chance to bring pride to the Hyūga name the way Itachi does for his clan?"
Akira brought his gaze back down, bowing his head slightly in a posture of outward respect. "Lord Hiashi, I believe I still have a lot to learn at the Academy. My parents always wished for me to live a peaceful, stable life, and I'd like to honor that by taking my time."
Hiashi listened quietly, giving a small, understanding nod.
Before the clan head could reply, Tokuma leaned forward, waving his hand dismissively. "Absurd! What a waste of potential! The Uchiha clan just produced a prodigy who skipped three whole years. As a noble house of equal standing, the Hyūga should be encouraging our talented youth to step up and match them! We ought to be showing the Hokage and the village council who truly holds the top spot in Konoha!"
"Indeed," another elder chimed in, taking a slow sip of tea. "To stay behind in the Academy while the Uchiha take the spotlight feels like a missed opportunity."
"A young shinobi should strive to bring honor to his clan, not hide behind excuses," a third added in agreement.
Akira let out a long, quiet breath. Seeing the old men working themselves into a dramatic debate, he subtly channeled a small thread of chakra to his auditory nerves, completely muting his hearing. With the noise faded out, he returned to staring peacefully at the clouds.
Watching the scene unfold, Hiashi and Hizashi exchanged a tired glance. A group of grown men, well into their sixties, ganging up to press a six-year-old orphan over a simple school decision.
Hiashi's eyes lingered on Akira's relaxed posture. The boy showed no nervousness, no resentment, and no hesitation regarding the mark on his forehead. "He's completely untroubled by their pressure..." Hiashi thought inwardly. "Hizashi was right... the boy has a remarkably steady heart."
"Alright, let's calm down," Hiashi said, his voice easily cutting through the elders' chatter.
Hiashi turned back to Akira, his tone growing gentler. "Answer me directly, Akira. When do you actually plan on graduating?"
Releasing the chakra from his ears, Akira answered straight away. "I plan to finish the standard six-year curriculum at the Academy, Lord Hiashi. I want a solid foundation before I take on full missions."
"See?!" Tokuma sighed, sitting back with a look of disappointment. "He's just cautious to a fault. Why are we spending so much time fussing over him? It's disappointing to see a child with so little ambition."
"Agreed," another elder muttered, casting a quick glance toward Hizashi. "Lacks any real drive."
Hiashi shook his head slightly, offering Akira a warm, reassuring smile instead. "Don't pay them too much mind, Akira. Taking your time to build a strong foundation is a wise choice. The clan will always support its members, no matter what pace you choose to grow at. Go on back home."
"Thank you, Lord Hiashi," Akira said softly.
He offered a polite bow and turned on his heel. As he walked toward the exit gates, he caught the disappointed, condescending looks of the elders.
"Yeah, yeah... keep looking down on me," Akira sneered internally. "No wonder no Branch member ever surpasses you fools. You hoard all the grand techniques, lock away the resources, and expect everyone else to chase after phantom glory."
Once Akira's small figure disappeared beyond the outer gates, Hizashi turned toward his elder brother, choosing his words carefully.
"Brother... Akira's chakra control during that match was surprisingly solid," Hizashi spoke up, his tone sincere. "Since he's staying at the Academy, do you think we could grant him access to some of the foundational secret techniques? It would give him a great head start for his private training."
"Nonsense!" Tokuma immediately interjected, setting his cup down. "Handing out secret styles to a boy who lacks ambition? Absolutely not!"
"Besides," another elder added with a greedy glint in his eyes, "the child isn't lacking anything. He inherited his parents' wealth, rebuilt his storefronts, and even renovated his estate to look as comfortable as a Main House residence! If he has the funds to build a luxury villa, he can buy his own standard technique scrolls. There's no need for us to hand out clan secrets."
One by one, the elders stood up, making casual excuses as they vacated the pavilion.
Left alone in the quiet courtyard, Hiashi shook his head slowly at his younger brother, a helpless expression in his eyes.
Hizashi opened his mouth, wanting to advocate further for the boy, but seeing the immense weight of administrative duties already resting on Hiashi's shoulders, he let the words die in his throat, letting out a soft sigh.
To ease his brother's mind, Hiashi looked at Hizashi and spoke in a gentle, reassuring tone. "Don't worry too much, Hizashi. Akira is a bright kid. He has a strong foundation from his parents, and with his sharp mind, he's going to build a very comfortable, successful life for himself. Not every child needs to be rushed into becoming a weapon."
Hizashi stayed silent for a moment before offering a warm, resigned smile. "I suppose you're right, brother. I'll take my leave as well."