A/N: This is Double Release day! We hit our goal, so here's the appreciation gift! (1/2)
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Ryoku stood stiffly before the massive gates of the Hyūga compound, his arms limp at his sides, his heart weighed down as if a hundred stones were pulling it to the ground. His shoulders sagged with defeat. He couldn't help but feel like the very act of being here, at this place of pristine order and suffocating discipline, was proof that he had already lost.
The gates themselves loomed tall, painted a solemn green that seemed almost militaristic in its tone. At the very top, carved with a precision only the Hyūga would dare, was the clan's proud emblem. The mark of centuries of dominance, of rules, of a bloodline that thought itself untouchable. Ryoku stared up at it, his chest tightening.
'This is it… I'm really doing this.' His lungs pulled in a long, heavy breath, as though he were steeling himself before stepping onto a battlefield. He held it until his chest burned, then exhaled sharply and forced one foot forward.
One step became another, and then another. The moment his sandal touched down inside the compound proper, Ryoku felt as though the gears of fate had shifted, dragging him deeper into motion.
The compound stretched wide around him. He passed members of the clan scattered in their daily routines—some walking with their robes flowing elegantly behind them, others standing in tight groups whispering lowly. All of them, however, cast him side-eyed glances. Some halted in their tracks outright. Their lips moved with words they didn't bother to disguise.
Ryoku's fists curled tight at his sides. 'Seriously? Don't the Hyūga have any friends outside their little circle? They've never had guests before? Why are they staring at me like I'm some kind of alien that slipped through the cracks? It's not like I want to be here!'
He let out a low grunt, crossing his arms, trying to shrug off the stares as his eyes swept across the maze of wooden houses ahead. Eventually, his gaze snagged on one structure that dwarfed the others in scale. Wide, long-roofed, layered with old elegance.
"Looks like I found my target," Ryoku muttered under his breath. Straightening his back, he started marching forward, ignoring the whispers that nipped at his heels.
The closer he got, the more he realized how different this house was from the others. Even inside the compound, this residence stood apart—ringed by its own fence, protected as though from its own kin. 'Segregation much?' Ryoku thought grimly, the image of Neji's cursed seal flashing behind his eyes. His jaw tightened.
As he reached the gate, the air shifted, heavy with scrutiny. He could feel it—multiple gazes, sharp and practiced, trained on him from the shadows. Watchers on towers. A suffocating vigilance unique to the Hyūga, that even the Hokage mansion lacked.
Standing firmly at the gate was a guard, a woman taller than him, draped in the traditional white robe of the clan. Her posture was rigid, her pearly-white eyes fixed on him with a wariness that carried no welcome.
Ryoku slowed, pausing just before the gate. His throat worked as he tried to summon enough courage to speak. He knew he looked out of place, and every second of silence only made it worse. Finally, he stepped closer—still careful to keep a respectful distance.
"I was sent via orders from Lady Tsunade," Ryoku began, his tone steadier than he felt. "She said I was to help aid in the training of the Hyūga clan heir." He stood there, awkward, hands at his sides, waiting for her response.
The woman didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stepped forward, closing the gap until she stood inches from him. Her presence was suffocating, domineering. Her brown hair was pulled tightly into a high ponytail, and her pale eyes scanned him with clinical precision.
The assessment was short. Too short. The way her lips curled downward told him everything: she had judged him already, and he had failed.
As she jerked her head back in disdain, her medium-sized breasts bounced slightly within the robe. The garment hugged her body tightly, revealing not only a sharp cleavage but even the faintest trace of underboob. The middle was left loosely tied, exposing a lean, hardened stomach carved with abs like stone.
Ryoku's eyes flickered down against his better judgment. The sight tugged at something in him. 'The hardened warrior futa archetype…' His mind lingered on the idea, imagining what she might be packing beneath that robe—
But before his gaze could betray him further, the woman leaned down, bending until she was eye-level with him. Her hand clamped firmly onto his shoulder, fingers digging in with punishing force. Up close, Ryoku noticed the scar that slashed across her face, running from her temple down to her jaw. A mark of battles survived, of danger lived through.
Her glare hardened. "An enemy would never send such an obvious fake instructor," she said coldly, her voice dripping with malice. "It amused me for a moment. But I don't take being ogled lightly. I'm a distinguished warrior of the Hyūga clan. Not some woman you pick up on the street. Have some respect, you bastard."
The grip on his shoulder tightened until it felt like his collarbone would snap.
Ryoku yelped, grabbing at her hand, his body twisting under the pressure. "O-ouch! Okay! Okay! I get it!"
With a disdainful huff through her nose, she released him, stepping back. He staggered slightly, immediately clutching at his aching shoulder. The woman exhaled sharply, unimpressed.
"Leave the compound. Don't come back with another one of your jokes. Next time, you'll be dealt with far more seriously." Without another glance, she turned, walking back to her post, posture radiating indifference.
Ryoku stood there, still massaging his shoulder, face twisted with pain and frustration.
'Ugh, seriously! What's wrong with these people? Forget Tendo Pain, I need to get stronger just to protect myself from random villagers!'
Sighing heavily, he turned around. "Clearly without identification, she won't let me in," he muttered bitterly to himself. "Well, bummer. Tsunade should've thought about that before sending me in willy-nilly. I mean, really? She seriously thought I'd just stroll into the Hyūga Head's home because I said she sent me? Give me a break! At least now I don't have to do it."
He marched back toward the compound gates. The stares followed him once more, whispers rippling at his back, but he no longer cared. He felt lighter now, as though all the weight of Tsunade's manipulation had slipped off his shoulders. Catharsis welled inside him. 'It's over. Done. If Tsunade asks why, I'll just say they didn't let me in. Not my fault.'
His sandal was just about to cross the threshold out of the compound when a light tap landed on his shoulder. Instinctively, Ryoku spun around—
And froze.
Behind him stood a girl he recognized immediately. Her pale eyes were calm, her expression reserved but not unfriendly.
"I heard from Meiko that you said you were sent by Lady Tsunade to be my older sister's instructor," the girl said. Her voice was clear, articulate, each word carrying the practiced polish of a clan heir. "Is your name Ryoku? My mother spoke of someone with that name coming to teach."
The color drained from Ryoku's face. His heart plummeted into his gut. His body went rigid, eyes wide with disbelief.
'No… no, no, no. This can't be her… Hanabi Hyūga?!'
His mouth went dry. Scratching the back of his head nervously, he bent into a clumsy bow. "N-no, no, that isn't me. I'm just a prankster, like that Meiko said. I've learned my lesson, so I'll be taking my leave now."
Without another word, he spun on his heel and bolted, sprinting out of the Hyūga compound as fast as his legs could carry him, leaving the girl standing in stunned silence.
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Go on, read the next chapter and enjoy, it's already out. Also powerstones are appreciated so if you could leave some before you go enjoy the second chapter of today!