Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 16: Dai and Hyuga Fuji

A few days later, as usual, Hyuga Fuji created three shadow clones to divide his tasks.

One worked on experiments underground, another trained in ninjutsu in an underground training hall, and the last studied the various pieces of knowledge he had collected.

Three clones had proven to be the optimal number over years of trial and error. Any more, and the accumulated fatigue would severely reduce his training efficiency the next day.

Meanwhile, Fuji's true body went into the forest to focus on taijutsu training.

Shadow clones could provide experience but couldn't enhance physical strength. Unlocking the next gate of the Eight Gates required personal effort.

His training method was modeled after Guy's self-discipline.

This was, after all, the man who almost kicked the series finale into existence. His training methods were certainly worth adopting—so long as Fuji didn't shout out loud like Guy, there was nothing embarrassing about it.

"Fuji! Training like this has no soul!"

As Hyuga Fuji was sweating profusely, doing one-handed push-ups, a booming shout filled the air alongside the sharp sound of something cutting through the wind.

Reacting instantly, Fuji pushed off with his hand and feet, moving several meters back in an instant to dodge a fierce incoming kick.

"Guy, warning your opponent before attacking is a bad habit."

Hyuga Fuji looked toward the spot he had just vacated, where a figure clad in green spandex stood.

"That kind of thing could cost you your life on the battlefield."

"You're absolutely right, Guy. Burning youth must also be tempered with timing—on the battlefield, you can't afford to slip up."

Another figure stepped out from behind a tree, similarly dressed in green spandex and sporting thick eyebrows—Might Dai. Crossing his arms, he nodded seriously, as if imparting wisdom to his son.

If one ignored their matching outfits, it might even seem like Dai was genuinely educating his child, rather than barreling ahead on some eccentric path.

"I understand, Father." Guy grinned widely, giving his father a thumbs-up. "Youth allows no room for failure!"

"Guy!"

Dai looked at his son, tears welling in his eyes. "Well said! For the sake of youth, we'll run ten laps around Konoha today!"

Guy: "Oh!"

Hyuga Fuji watched the duo with an indescribable expression, raising a hand to his forehead in exasperation.

In Konoha, these two were sometimes the most challenging people for him to communicate with.

Too passionate.

That said, interacting with them was strangely easygoing.

A small smile tugged at Fuji's lips as he asked, "Teacher, you didn't come all this way just for training, did you?"

"No," Dai said, shaking his finger side to side, "it's precisely for training."

"You've been back for nearly half a year now, and Guy and I have never seen you train here. I need to assess whether your skills have declined. Guy!"

Flashing his pearly white teeth in response to his father, Might Guy once again assumed a fighting stance facing Fuji.

"Let's have a passionate battle of youth!"

Hyuga Fuji narrowed his eyes. "Guy, I'm currently a Tokubetsu Jōnin. I've recently submitted my application for the jōnin exam to Hokage-sama.

Your rival, Kakashi, became a jōnin a long time ago. You haven't kept up with us. If you want to fight me, at the very least, you'll need to become a jōnin first."

Guy froze mid-motion, dropping his stance and nodding in agreement.

"You're right. Although challenging a jōnin sets my heart ablaze, without the proper title, I can't earn your acknowledgment, can I?"

"Fine! I'll become a jōnin as soon as possible. By then, you can't refuse my challenge!"

"Start by running ten laps around the village. If you stop mid-way, you'll have to do twenty laps as punishment."

Watching as Fuji sent Guy off with just a few words, Might Dai stood silently.

Truly skilled at handling Guy.

"Teacher Dai, I'm sorry. Some things have been happening in my clan, and I didn't want to involve you." Fuji walked over to Dai, his tone apologetic.

"Ah, you mean the incident where Hyuga clan members were killed?"

Dai scratched his head, glancing briefly at his son, who was now enthusiastically running laps. He asked in mild confusion, "The higher-ups said it was caused by foreign spies, didn't they?"

Fuji shook his head. "It's more complicated than that. Hokage-sama has personally intervened."

Dai immediately understood and refrained from asking further, instead smiling warmly. "You're about to become a jōnin. You'll have to work even harder from now on!"

His tone showed no doubt that Fuji would pass the exam.

At 15 years old, Fuji was already a Tokubetsu Jōnin. Unlike himself—a lifelong genin—Dai knew Fuji was destined to become a jōnin.

"It's all thanks to your excellent teaching," Fuji replied with a smile.

"A genin who can't use ninjutsu—what could I possibly teach you?" Dai shook his head, though there was pride in his voice. "You and Guy have already surpassed me."

"In terms of strength, not yet," Fuji replied.

Konoha had a reputation for having the strongest genin, especially those who never advanced to chūnin—they were often the most extraordinary.

In terms of raw strength, the only ones in Konoha who posed a lethal threat to him now were Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, and Might Dai.

The rest, even the so-called "Professor" Third Hokage, were not truly dangerous to him.

After all, Fuji knew the abilities and trump cards of all Konoha's strongest shinobi.

But they… didn't know his.

"If the village's chūnin exams didn't assess all aspects of a ninja's abilities, you wouldn't still be a genin," Fuji said sincerely.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist probably cursed this fact before they died.

A genin capable of killing Kage-level opponents—only Konoha could produce something like that.

"Hahaha! It makes me happy to hear such praise from my student, but I do have many shortcomings. The Eight Gates Formation is still a forbidden jutsu, after all."

Dai laughed heartily, his teeth flashing in the sunlight like Guy's. "Do your best in the jōnin exam. Don't let overconfidence trip you up. I'll prepare the best gift to celebrate your success!"

Fuji glanced at Dai's green spandex outfit with a complicated expression, forcing a smile. "Thank you, Teacher."

He hoped it wasn't what he was imagining.

"Alright, enough chit-chat. You sent Guy off because you wanted me to personally train you, didn't you?"

Dai placed one hand behind his back, making a gesture to invite a fight. "Come on, let's have a fiery match of youth!"

Fuji's gaze sharpened as green energy flared around his body.

If he was going to become a jōnin, there was no need to hide certain abilities too deeply.

So long as his power was displayed within a controllable range, the Third Hokage wouldn't act against the Hyuga Branch Family.

Moreover, with the Fourth Hokage now in power, the Third wouldn't meddle unnecessarily.

"You can already open the Gate of Pain?"

Dai's expression grew serious as a similar green aura surrounded his body.

"Looks like this will be a passionate battle indeed."

As the words fell, Dai and Fuji locked eyes and vanished from their positions simultaneously.

In an instant, the forest echoed with the sounds of fierce clashes. The sheer force of their strikes snapped trees as though they were twigs.

Under their relentless onslaught, the forest was soon left in ruins.

Hyuga Fuji carefully observed Dai's movements with his Byakugan, occasionally adjusting his own techniques based on the guidance Dai deliberately provided.

Slowly, Fuji absorbed and integrated Dai's strengths.

Dai wasn't just his teacher for the Eight Gates. His decades of relentless taijutsu training had given him a wealth of experience and techniques—exactly what Fuji needed to learn.

(End of Chapter)

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