Chapter 44: No Way, You Guys Really Thought I Was Like You?
Hyuga Makoto had always been a man of action.
Now that he had an idea, he naturally followed through with it immediately!
So, during the following period, he focused on his research into the 'tattoo era'.
Meanwhile, he occasionally went with Kakashi to investigate the relationship between Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Itachi, while also not forgetting to train Hinata, Neji, and Naruto.
"What's wrong with you, man?"
Just training with Naruto was making Neji lose his composure a bit.
"It's clearly so simple, yet you can't learn it after all this time. You're such an idiot!"
"Tch, I'm just having bad luck."
Naruto pursed his lips; he knew it was his own problem, but he refused to admit defeat.
"I'll definitely succeed. I'm the man who's going to become Hokage in the future!"
"You should focus on how to stop being the dead last first."
Neji gave a light snort, but his gaze couldn't help but drift toward Hyuga Makoto, who was spacing out nearby.
"Don't hold me back. If you stop me from catching up to Makoto's pace as soon as possible, watch out or I'll beat you up!"
The current Neji had truly changed; he no longer spoke of things like fate.
With Hyuga Makoto as a role model, he suddenly realized that his fate seemed to be something he could control himself.
Even though the Caged Bird Seal still existed, he was relatively free compared to before, and he wouldn't allow anyone to stand in his way!
"It seems you two are really full of energy..."
Just as the two were bickering, Hyuga Makoto's voice rang out leisurely.
"Since you still have the energy to argue, it seems the pressure I'm giving you isn't enough."
Hiss...
As soon as Hyuga Makoto spoke, Neji, Naruto, and the well-behaved Hinata all turned pale instantly.
Their training volume was by no means low, and Hyuga Makoto wasn't afraid of them getting injured at all!
This Guy had mastered Medical Ninjutsu; if any of them got hurt, he could heal them immediately. It was practically a nightmare for them...
Yet, they didn't dare to talk back!
After all, Hyuga Makoto was the target Neji was chasing, Naruto had actively requested the training, and Hinata hoped to gain her father's recognition.
No matter how painful it was, they had to endure!
"Don't make those faces, you make it look like I'm abusing you."
Hyuga Makoto swept his gaze over them and slowly stood up.
"Besides, your current training volume is far less than that of a certain powerful Jonin I know back when he was a child."
"A powerful Jonin?"
Hinata asked timidly, while Neji and Naruto were also full of curiosity.
Naruto might not know what a Jonin meant, but Hinata and Neji were well aware!
"Yeah, he's a good friend of my captain's. He was also a dead last since he was a kid."
Hyuga Makoto patted his rear and spoke slowly. Although he wasn't well-acquainted with Guy, it didn't stop him from using him as an example.
"But through incredible willpower and effort beyond imagination, he became an elite Jonin of the Village, and might even be stronger than my captain!"
Saying this, Hyuga Makoto turned and walked toward the back of the training ground.
"He's not a Genius, but he's a genius of effort. You Guys should do your best too."
"A genius of effort?"
Hinata murmured to herself, while Neji remained silent.
But something was flickering in both their eyes, and Naruto even clenched his fists.
"A genius of effort? Alright! I'll definitely become a genius of effort too!"
"If you want to meet him, I can introduce you."
Hyuga Makoto blinked; he quite wanted to see Naruto in a Green Jumpsuit.
"Continue your training for now. I have something to take care of and will be back in a bit."
"Um, Makoto..."
Just as he was about to leave, Neji couldn't help but ask a question.
"Back when you were training, were you even more hardworking than us?"
"Huh?"
Hyuga Makoto was stunned for a moment. Seeing the expectant looks from the three youngsters, he suddenly gave a wicked smile.
"Sorry, but actually, I wasn't."
"Huh?"
"Back then, I learned everything in just one or two tries. Why would I need to live such a hard life?"
"..."
"You Guys didn't think I was like you, did you? No way, right? No way?"
"..."
All three fell silent at that moment. Hinata was perhaps fine, but Neji and Naruto's fists were already clenched tight!
However, Hyuga Makoto didn't pay them much mind. He strolled leisurely into a grove of trees behind the training ground.
There, Hyuga Hiashi was quietly watching the three little ones train.
"Clan Head, what brings you here?"
Hyuga Makoto walked up to his side and asked curiously.
"Are you worried?"
"With you teaching them, I am naturally at ease."
Hyuga Hiashi shook his head, not at all surprised that Hyuga Makoto had discovered him.
"But as a father and an uncle, I still wanted to take a look. Please excuse me."
Speaking of these two little ones, a small smile appeared on his face.
Ever since resolving some of the 'knots in his heart', his regard for Neji had begun to steadily increase.
As for Hinata, he had originally been truly disappointed, otherwise he wouldn't have'started a new account' (had another child).
But she was his daughter after all; it was impossible for him to truly not care about anything.
"And I also want to thank you."
Watching the three dive back into training, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"You've helped Neji and Hinata make great progress, especially Hinata. It's really been hard on you."
"Hinata has actually never been bad; her personality is just too introverted."
Hyuga Makoto shook his head and chuckled lightly.
"Neji is indeed excellent. Perhaps I will recommend him to join the Anbu in the future."
"Oh?"
Hyuga Hiashi was stunned to hear this. He pondered for a moment before asking in a low voice.
"How many people can you recommend?"
"There's no specific quota, only one requirement."
"What is it?"
"They must be someone I approve of."
"Is that so..."
Hyuga Hiashi nodded slightly upon hearing this, his gaze also shifting to Naruto, who was training alongside them.
"I understand. Do not betray the trust of Hokage-sama, Makoto."
"I know, Clan Head. This time, I'll need your help as well."
Hyuga Makoto smiled 'knowingly'. After thinking for a moment, he continued speaking.
"It's just that I also have a question that might be a bit presumptuous. I wonder if..."
"Hizashi held you in high regard; there's no need for such formality between us."
Before Hyuga Makoto could finish, Hyuga Hiashi shook his head and smiled.
"If you have a question, just ask it directly."
"I actually really want to know..."
Hyuga Makoto lowered his voice and spoke with a somewhat serious expression.
"Clan Head, how do you truly view the Caged Bird Seal?"
"The Caged Bird Seal..."
Hyuga Hiashi's face also turned serious. He knew this question was unavoidable.
He knew that Hyuga Makoto would eventually come to ask him this one day.
Moreover, he had to face this problem himself, because Hanabi was almost three years old...
"The essence of the Caged Bird Seal was to protect the Byakugan, but as time passed, this technique for guarding the Family gradually became distorted."
Since this was the person he had promoted and someone Hizashi valued, Hyuga Hiashi sighed and finally spoke.
"Hizashi even gave his life because of it. Unfortunately, what has already happened cannot be changed."
"I think I understand."
Hearing this, Hyuga Makoto couldn't help but nod.
Although Hyuga Hiashi spoke implicitly, Hyuga Makoto understood exactly what he meant.
Besides, even if he didn't say it, Hyuga Makoto knew that the Branch Family System would eventually be changed by this man in the future!
However, Hyuga Makoto intended to make a profit from this...
"Tragedies that have already occurred are indeed irreversible, but what if some regrets could still be remedied?"
"Regrets... can still be remedied?"
Hyuga Hiashi was stunned, looking at Hyuga Makoto in disbelief.
His mouth opened slightly as if to say something, but in the next moment, both he and Hyuga Makoto turned to look into the distance.
Because several Anbu were rapidly approaching them...
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