Chapter 100: True Growth
Late at night.
In the heart of the Mitokado clan's modest territory stood a refined mansion—simple in size, yet high in status. It was the pride of the clan.
Inside, Mitokado Shinji was fast asleep.
He slept quietly—no snoring, no teeth grinding, none of the usual bad habits. But all of a sudden, Shinji eyes snapped open. For a moment, they were clouded with confusion. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was calm.
He didn't get out of bed. Instead, he sat up and crossed his legs.
There was no warning, no reason. Just like that, Mitokado Shinji—or rather, the man currently controlling his body—began refining chakra.
Because the one sitting there now wasn't truly Shinji.
It was Ryosuke. Far from the Mitokado clan's grounds, Ryosuke had taken over.
This wasn't the first time.
Lately, it had been happening every night. Shinji real consciousness was locked inside a genjutsu. Trapped, unaware, dreaming.
Sometimes Ryosuke constructed dreams for him. Other times, he left it blank. After all, people didn't dream every night. When Shinji woke up in the morning, he just felt like he had a good night's sleep. No suspicions. No memories.
As for why Ryosuke was doing this—it had to do with the upcoming journey to the Land of Waves.
This alliance mission was critical, and Ryosuke had debated for a while whether to interfere personally. But too many outsiders were involved, and exposing his abilities in front of strangers wasn't something he was willing to risk.
Still, after some breakthroughs with Yin Release, Ryosuke's mastery over genjutsu had improved. He'd discovered a new way to insert himself into the mission—without anyone realizing it.
Time passed.
As the nights went on, Ryosuke grew more familiar with Shinji's body.
He needed to. If danger struck during the mission, he had to be able to take over instantly—and handle Shinji's body like it was his own.
Just before dawn, Ryosuke quietly released his genjutsu and slipped away, leaving the Mitomon territory behind.
"A true scholar can know the world without ever leaving his home."
Ryosuke wasn't a scholar—but he was Hyuga. And as long as he wanted to know something, the Hyuga clan's intelligence network was open to him. Their reach stretched across the entire village, and beyond.
Regarding the mission to the Land of Waves, the official Konoha representative would be Mitokado Homura, and Shinji would be among the traveling team.
Shinji—a Chūnin of Konoha.
He'd completed 227 B-rank missions, 123 C-rank missions, and 11 D-rank missions. A capable and experienced shinobi. But despite his strength, he had few friends. His rigid personality made him hard to approach. Nearly thirty, still unmarried, no dating history to speak of.
A man like that—skilled, introverted, and discreet—was the perfect vessel for Ryosuke's plan.
Just in case, he had two backup candidates as well. This alliance had to go smoothly.
By the time Ryosuke returned home, daylight had broken.
Though breakfast hadn't been served yet, the courtyard was already alive with motion. Hiashi stood there, training Hanabi in the basics of physical combat.
The scene felt nostalgic.
Once upon a time, Ryosuke and Hinata had trained together in this very spot.
"You're back?"
Hiashi raised his head at the sound of footsteps. His eyes scanned Ryosuke. "So… you've decided to go with them?"
There was hesitation in his voice—worry, too.
This mission was more dangerous than anything Ryosuke had faced before.
Hiashi knew it. But he also knew he couldn't stop him.
"I've made all the necessary preparations," Ryosuke replied, avoiding his father's eyes. He couldn't stand the look of concern on Hiashi's face. If he stared too long, he might change his mind and give it all up.
He quickly changed the subject.
"Where's Hinata? Is she up?"
"It's still early," Hiashi said, sighing. "She went to the training grounds."
Even though he often acted indifferent, Ryosuke knew his father cared deeply.
Lately, Hinata had been pushing herself harder than ever. The pressure, the expectations—it weighed on her. And Hiashi, though he never said much, always made sure the caretaker Aliang prepared more food for her.
Because he knew one thing for sure:
Hinata loved to eat.
---
"Haah!"
"Haa!"
From a distance, Ryosuke heard the sound of steady breathing and focused grunts.
As he approached the training ground, he saw her—Hinata—standing in the center, fists flying. Her arms were small, but the determination behind them was sharp. Fist shadows filled the air like raindrops, fast and relentless.
Her hand speed was impressive. The afterimages were proof.
But to Ryosuke, it was still… not enough.
Too slow. Too soft.
Still, for a girl her age, Hinata was doing far better than most of her peers.
He wasn't comparing her to average shinobi. He was comparing her to the geniuses—the monsters—the ones born with unnatural talent or unfair advantages.
But Hinata wasn't one of them.
She was just herself. And that made her progress even more admirable.
"The Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms requires more than just speed," Ryosuke said, stepping into the clearing.
"You need power. Each strike has to land hard enough to shut down the opponent's chakra points instantly."
Hinata stopped mid-motion, breathing heavily.
She turned to look at him, saying nothing.
There was something in her expression—like a wounded animal, silently bearing pain.
Ryosuke's heart ached.
Even though he'd been holding back, letting her grow on her own, he couldn't stop himself from walking over. He reached out, instinctively, to pat her head like he used to.
But she turned away—dodging his hand.
His palm hung in the air for a moment.
Stunned.
Then Hinata spoke.
Her voice was calm, steady, but filled with emotion.
"I'll find a way."
She took a step back, eyes fixed on him.
"I'll find a way to bring the main and branch families together. I'll… protect Hanabi."
That night—the one where she learned the truth about the Hyuga system—it had changed her.
She realized she and Hanabi would soon be separated, just like their father and Uncle Hizashi once were.
Why should one family be split in two?
Hinata understood the logic—the caged bird seal, the mutual protection system. Intellectually, it made sense. But emotionally, she couldn't accept it.
Not anymore.
She stared up at Ryosuke with fierce determination.
And he smiled.
"Yeah... our Hinata is strong. She will do it."
She had truly grown.
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