Hiashi Hyūga stiffened when Chi Yu declared, "What right do you have to decide Neji's future? I will enter the Hyūga residence and fetch him myself."
Hiashi stepped forward and blocked the entrance. His voice was cold and authoritative. "Chi Yu, this is the Hyūga residence. You have no right to enter. I am the clan head—everyone here answers to me. Neji will not be your disciple."
Despite his composure, Hiashi was tense. He did not underestimate the man before him; Chi Yu had been a killing machine in the past. On instinct, Hiashi activated his Byakugan and scanned the chakra flow in Chi Yu's body.
Hiashi's Byakugan revealed a concentrated current of chakra around Chi Yu's eyes. Chi Yu's sharingan—now bearing three tomoe—glinted, and the air seemed to thicken with pressure.
Chi Yu's voice was flat. "Hiashi, you activated your Byakugan on me. Are you preparing to fight?"
Hiashi's heart jumped. He opened his mouth to answer, but Chi Yu gave him no time. In a blur of motion—using the Body-Flicker Technique—Chi Yu materialized before him and threw a punch at Hiashi's face.
Hiashi crossed his arms to block. The force of the blow drove him back several steps.
Shouts rose behind Hiashi as a number of Hyūga shinobi appeared, hands ready for combat. The gate guard who had earlier judged Chi Yu polite and calm now stared, stunned and reassessing his impression.
This was Hyūga territory. Even the Hokage customarily informed Hiashi before entering the clan compound. Hiashi had not expected Chi Yu to attack outright.
He recovered his voice and tried one last appeal to protocol. "Chi Yu—this is our clan's residence. You cannot enter without permission. If you persist, I will report you to the Third Hokage and you will face punishment."
Chi Yu snorted. "You opened hostilities by activating your Byakugan. I came only to take my disciple for training, and you keep obstructing us—wasting my time and Neji's. Your title means nothing to me. Yesterday Neji and I established a formal master–disciple relationship. If you wish to dissolve it, let Neji say so himself."
His tone hardened. "Tell the Third Hokage if you like. I am entering the compound. If you stop me, you are detaining my disciple—anyone who tries will be dealt with. Try me if you dare."
Chi Yu's three-tomoe Sharingan flared into a Mangekyō, and he advanced, radiating an oppressive aura.
Hiashi looked to his clan. He could not challenge Chi Yu here and now—Chi Yu's strength was plainly beyond what Hiashi could risk provoking. Hiashi had seen the chaos when the Hokage's building collapsed: Chi Yu surrounded by an enormous chakra, holding Utatane Koharu by the throat while Hiruzen and Homura stood nearby and did not move. Hiruzen would not act without absolute certainty; that had become painfully clear to Hiashi. If Chi Yu killed clan members now, the Hyūga would suffer the loss while Hiruzen hesitated.
Reluctantly, Hiashi backed down and chose a compromise. "Wait. I will bring Neji."
Chi Yu's crimson gaze fixed on him. "You've wasted my time. Three minutes. Bring Hizashi and Neji. Be a second late, and I act."
Hiashi gave the order. A Hyūga shinobi vanished with the Body-Flicker Technique and returned within two minutes with Hizashi Hyūga and Neji.
Chi Yu smiled faintly as he looked at Neji. "Neji—took some effort to fetch you."
Neji lowered his head, voice small. "Teacher, my father and I came to find you, but we were stopped."
Hiashi felt a chill as Chi Yu glanced at him. Cold sweat ran down his back.
Chi Yu waved to Neji. Hizashi released Neji's hand and said softly, "Go, Neji—go to your teacher."
Neji ran to Chi Yu. Chi Yu took the boy's hand. "Starting tomorrow you must come to me yourself. If you're late, you will be punished. A shinobi must respect time—do you understand?"
Neji frowned. "But… what if they stop me?"
Chi Yu's hand ruffled Neji's hair. "If you are not where you should be within half an hour, I will come fetch you. I am responsible for you as your master, but you will still be punished. If someone can stop you from reaching me, it means you are too weak. Weakness is a liability; when you're weak you get punished."
Neji blinked. "But if others stop me and I can't leave—if it's not my fault—will I still be punished?"
"This is the first time, so you won't be punished today," Chi Yu said. "But understand this: if anyone ever interferes with you for standing in my path, tell me who it was. Before you are grown, I will not allow anyone to bully you."
Neji brightened. "I understand, Teacher."
Hiashi's eye twitched as he listened. The meaning was plain: Chi Yu had warned him. If anyone obstructed Neji again, Chi Yu would respond on Neji's behalf.
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters