Chapter 23 : Hyuga Hiashi!!

"Well, this is my home!"

Hinata's voice was soft and timid, reflecting her usual personality, but as she gazed at the grand mansion, she seemed nervous and reluctant to enter.

It was clear what kind of life Hinata led in this house.

She felt oppressed by her father every day and was afraid to go home.

"Come on, it's time for me to go home!" Genya said, noticing Hinata's hesitation. He patted her head reassuringly and urged her to go inside.

Hinata nodded, hesitantly releasing Genya's hand, and prepared to enter her home.

Just then, the door of the Hyuga clan mansion opened, and a man stepped out. His distinctive white eyes were immediately noticeable.

Behind him was a middle-aged man with a curse mark on his forehead, who looked about 80% similar to the leading man.

Caged Bird?

Genya examined the complex pattern on the forehead, intrigued.

It's worth noting that some members of the Hyuga clan are so self-righteous they use the Caged Bird to control the lives of others within the clan. Their stated goal is to protect the Byakugan from outsiders.

But that's absurd.

In reality, it's just a way for the ruling family to dominate the non-direct descendants, consolidating their power.

Thankfully, the Uchiha clan doesn't have such divisions among its members. Otherwise... if I had been branded as a so-called Caged Bird since childhood, I might have considered wiping out all those direct descendants.

"You finally remember to come back?" The middle-aged man, who appeared to be in charge, barked as he saw his daughter and an unfamiliar boy.

His commanding presence was palpable, even without any visible anger.

The man, who appeared to be about thirty, looked aloof. If Genya wasn't mistaken, this was Hinata's father, Hyuga Hiashi, and the man behind him who looked almost identical was Hyuga Hizashi.

"Father!" Little Hinata cried softly upon seeing the man. She instinctively retreated behind Genya, peeking out at her father with apprehension.

Genya could feel that the small body behind him was still trembling, her fear palpable.

Hyuga Hiashi descended the stairs, his gaze fixed on Genya and Hinata. He didn't speak, just stared at them in silence.

Genya couldn't help but smirk. He wasn't intimidated by anyone's pressure.

Hinata, hiding behind Genya, said softly, "Father!"

Hearing Hinata's fearful voice made Genya more irritated by Hyuga Hiashi's stern expression. "Tsk, why do you always look so serious? No wonder your daughter is scared of you. I have to say, I really don't respect you!"

Sure enough, after Genya's comment, Hyuga Hiashi's stern face showed surprise. As the head of the Hyuga clan, he had never been spoken to like this by a child.

"Who are you?" Hiashi asked. Noting the Uchiha clan emblem on Genya's clothes, he knew Genya was from the Uchiha clan but wasn't sure which branch. Could he be the second son of Uchiha Fugaku?

Genya straightened up and met Hiashi's gaze with his distinctive Dual Pupil eyes. "I'm Uchiha Genya."

"Uchiha Genya? Are you the son of Uchiha Kinya?" Hiashi asked, his curiosity piqued. The unusual look in Genya's eyes made him feel uneasy.

He had heard that Genya was known for his Dual Pupil, but looking into his eyes now, Hiashi sensed there was something unique about them.

Without thinking, Hiashi activated his Byakugan to scrutinize Genya, trying to see through him.

But as soon as he did, he noticed something odd.

Despite being a child, Genya had only a small amount of chakra in his Chakra Reserve and Chakra Pathway, almost like an ordinary person.

Genya's entire body seemed to glow with a faint chakra light, as if every cell was a small, separate store of chakra. It was like his whole body was a reservoir for chakra.

But without chakra in his Chakra Reserve and Chakra Pathway, performing ninjutsu was impossible.

Hyuga Hiashi was watching Genya closely, but he kept his thoughts to himself and maintained a faint smile.

The special ninjutsu Genya used, which stored chakra in his cells, was blocking Byakugan's vision! Even with his Byakugan, Hyuga Hiashi could only see Genya as an ordinary person who couldn't perform ninjutsu.

Seeing her father's intense focus on Genya, Hinata stepped forward and stood in front of him. "Father, Genya is my friend!"

Her voice trembled slightly, but she stood her ground, determined to protect Genya.

Hinata's father, Hyuga Hiashi, looked surprised. His daughter was speaking to him like this for the sake of a young boy. He remembered how well-behaved she used to be.

He thought about how Genya might have influenced her behavior and frowned. 

Genya shrugged casually and ignored the glare from Hinata's father.

Hyuga Hiashi sighed and said, "You've grown up and dared to run away from home. Go back right now!"

Hinata shyly agreed and glanced at Genya with a hint of reluctance. "Genya, can you come and play with me sometime?"

Without waiting for Genya's reply, she quickly turned away, her face flushed, and ran towards the Hyuga residence, hoping not to hear a refusal.

Genya chuckled and said, "We're friends now. I'll visit you when I can. If anyone bothers you, just come to me. And if you get hungry again, you can go to Ichiraku Ramen and eat for free!"

Hinata ran even faster upon hearing this.

As she entered the house, a head peeked out from behind the gate, secretly watching Genya. Her large appetite had been exposed by Genya—what would he think of her?

"Hungry?" Hyuga Hiashi, surprised and astonished, looked at Hinata peeking from the door. The Hyuga clan is a prestigious clan in Konoha, and he had never let his clan members go hungry, especially not his own daughter.

Even Hyuga Hizashi, who was standing behind Hiashi, was taken aback. He couldn't believe his brother would treat his niece Hinata this way.

"Little Hinata ate four bowls of deluxe ramen tonight. It looks like you, as a father, haven't been treating her well!" Genya said with a pout. 

"Why not let Hinata stay with me? I'll make sure she's well-fed and warm every day!"

Hinata's father, Hiashi, was visibly irritated by Genya's words. He waved dismissively at Genya, saying, "Humph, it's getting late. You should go home!"

As the head of the clan, Hiashi felt embarrassed to be lectured by a child, so he asked Genya to leave quickly, worried he might lose his temper.

"Hinata, if you're ever mistreated at home, come to me," Genya called out as he hurriedly left, fearing Hiashi's wrath.

Hiashi, still fuming, couldn't help but laugh despite his anger.

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