Chapter 52 — This Time, I'm Playing on a Higher Level
Inside the Ninja Academy classroom.
From time to time, a jōnin would enter, loudly call out the names of three students, and take them away.
Before long,
only ten people remained.
"Everyone…"
Hyūga Hiashi gave a faint smile—though it carried a trace of bitterness. Still, he offered his blessings to his companions.
Ten people meant three teams of three… with one person left over.
And that person would undoubtedly be him.
Unlike Hiashi, who already knew the outcome,
the others were filled with excitement and anticipation, each afraid of being the one left alone.
Only Kinoshita Hikaru remained calm, already having a vague idea of what was coming.
Though his thoughts differed from Hiashi's.
As early as when he first entered the elite class, he had told Kinoshita Muraichi that he wanted to form a larger squad. It might have sounded absurd—but what's wrong with having dreams?
Standing at the podium, Kinoshita Muraichi spoke:
"Kinoshita Hikaru, Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Shigeru, Senju Nawaki, Uchiha Mikoto, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Chōza, Uzumaki Kushina—follow me. Unlike the standard three-man teams, you will form a brand-new squad. A nine-man team—the first of its kind in Konoha."
A nine-man team?
Wasn't it supposed to be three-man squads?
Then that meant…
Hyūga Hiashi's body stiffened. Slowly lowering his head, tears began streaming down his face.
Memories flooded his mind—
All the moments they had spent together.
Every time they collapsed from exhaustion in the fields, lying under the open sky, breathing in the scent of camellia blossoms, dreaming about the future—
They had always made the same promise:
To carve out their own place in the world.
At those moments, Hiashi had always worn a faint smile. Though he felt a hint of regret, he was never too saddened.
After all, the three-man squad system meant they would eventually part ways.
Even if he couldn't journey with them, he had comforted himself:
I'll just walk my own path. And when we meet again, I'll tell them my own story.
But now—
Everyone else would remain together.
And only he would be left behind.
That… he could not accept.
At that moment,
the classroom fell into silence.
No one responded. All eyes turned toward Hiashi, who stood there with his head lowered, his body trembling faintly.
"Sensei… what about Hiashi? Did you forget someone…? You did, right?"
Senju Nawaki couldn't accept it.
They had trained together, lived together, fought together—
And now, a nine-man squad would be formed… leaving only Hiashi behind.
"No," Muraichi replied. "I believe you all understand Hiashi's identity. As a member of the Hyūga main family, he will not become a standard ninja. He will be protected to prevent the Byakugan from being lost."
"I see…"
A heavy silence followed.
No one knew what to say.
They wanted to comfort Hiashi—but didn't know how.
Ancient clans always carried these rigid, outdated rules.
Unyielding. Unchanging.
Sitting in the corner, Kinoshita Hikaru thought quietly:
"No… this isn't right. It's too deliberate."
"First, they separate everyone else, leaving only us behind—giving us the first shock. Then they immediately suppress it, forcing us into conflict."
"This doesn't feel like a decision. It feels like a test."
"A choice."
"Do we abandon Hiashi and form a nine-man squad… or anger the Hyūga clan and risk being disbanded to save him?"
"This definitely isn't just the Hyūga clan's decision. It feels more like Hiruzen Sarutobi's."
"What is he trying to see?"
"Does he want to know if we would truly stand up for a comrade against a powerful clan?"
"Or is he trying to teach us that ninja must make sacrifices?"
"Or perhaps… he wants to know whether our bonds are real—or just empty words?"
A ninja is a ninja precisely because they are often forced to make cruel choices.
"If that's the case… then let's see."
Unlike those born and raised in Konoha, who feared the great clans and dared not challenge their authority—
Kinoshita Hikaru held no such reverence.
In his eyes, these so-called noble clans weren't inherently honorable.
Strength dictated everything.
And those with power rarely cared about principles.
His expression shifted rapidly—
Confusion.
Anger.
Then—
Resolve.
Bang!
Hikaru slammed his hand onto the desk, shattering it and drawing everyone's attention.
He stepped forward, walking straight to Hiashi.
"Do you accept this?"
"…Mm."
The reply was barely audible.
As if his edges had been worn down, forced to submit to fate.
All those joyful memories felt like a dream—
And once he woke, he would return to that cold, rigid household.
At that moment, Hiashi thought of his younger brother.
Thought of how, as the elder brother, he had been powerless to protect him—forced to watch as the Caged Bird Seal was branded onto him.
And now—
He couldn't even walk the shinobi world alongside his companions.
How similar… these two moments were.
"My life… has been decided since birth. I can only follow the path set by my clan. I have no way to resist."
Hiashi muttered softly.
Then he raised his head and forced a smile—
One uglier than crying.
"Hikaru… even so, we're still companions, right? The scenery of the shinobi world… I suppose… I won't be able to see it with all of you."
"If you're not with us, then this sky is incomplete."
Hikaru's voice was steady.
"I need you. Everyone needs you."
"Now tell me, Hiashi… do you want to explore the shinobi world with us?"
"…Can I?"
Looking at Hiashi's hopeful gaze, Hikaru smiled.
"Of course. That's our promise—to walk the shinobi world together."
His eyes were as firm as stone as he turned to the others.
"Everyone, Sensei said that Hiashi will be protected by the Hyūga clan to prevent the Byakugan from being lost."
"Then we'll show them—compared to their so-called elites, we are more than capable of protecting our own comrade."
"That's right!"
"Our comrade—will be protected by us!"
Hikaru grinned brightly.
"Hiashi, do you see? Everyone needs you."
At this moment, Hiashi could no longer hold back his tears.
Looking at Hikaru, it was as if he had found light—
Pulled out from the darkness.
"Sensei… how many will the Hyūga clan send to protect Hiashi?"
"Three jōnin."
That was a formidable force.
After all, even the Fire Daimyō only had six jōnin as personal guards.
They really think highly of us.
"Then we'll challenge them."
Hikaru's voice was calm but resolute.
"We'll prove to the Hyūga clan that we are stronger than three jōnin."
Kinoshita Muraichi fell into deep thought.
Looking at the expectation in their eyes, he finally made up his mind and nodded heavily.
"Wait here. I'll report this to the Hokage."
With that, he vanished in a Body Flicker.
The group immediately gathered to discuss strategy.
"Hiashi, get over here and help us—otherwise, we won't win."
Hearing Hikaru call him, Hiashi hurried over, tears still streaming down his face.
Kushina recalled how they had once risked their lives to save her. Clenching her fists, she smiled brightly.
"We will never abandon our comrades!"
"That's right!"
Everyone shouted.
With Hiashi's intelligence, they quickly formulated a plan and assigned roles.
"We'll prove it through our actions."
"We'll show them that our team can protect Hiashi."
Before long,
Muraichi returned and announced:
"The Hokage has agreed and has negotiated with the Hyūga clan. If you can defeat the three jōnin, the Hyūga clan will acknowledge that you are capable of protecting the Byakugan—and Hiashi will be allowed to join your team."
"When will it take place?"
"Tomorrow. In the Forest of Death."
Hikaru nodded.
That meant they had one day to prepare—
Which was good news.
"Everyone…"
Hikaru's gaze sharpened.
"For Hiashi…"
"Let's go to war!"
End of Volume One.
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