It didn't take much time or effort to win over Ayane. After that, Hakushi had another subject to study— the secret technique of the Hyuga Clan, the Gentle Fist.
Ayane handed over the scroll that contained the training method and theoretical knowledge of the Gentle Fist, a well-kept secret of the Hyuga Clan, to Hakushi without any reservations.
If this act of betrayal were discovered by the Hyuga Clan, Ayane would undoubtedly be executed.
However, more terrifying to her than death was the prospect of endless days of darkness in the future.
Moreover, in her heart, she had already seen the light.
The family and the village, in her eyes, were no longer important, even insignificant.
Therefore, giving the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist to an unrelated person was not betrayal in Ayane's eyes but an act of justified rebellion.
In fact, to Ayane, the Hyuga Clan itself was an irrelevant existence.
Hakushi understood that although Ayane had developed a sense of dependence and obedience toward him, he needed to gradually deepen his imprint on her mind.
Ayane, taking his advice, expressed her anger and hostility unreservedly in front of the Main Family.
As Hakushi had said, the members of the Hyuga Main Family only glanced at Ayane's angry and hostile gaze indifferently and paid no further attention.
After all, Ayane was just one of many from the Branch Family who harbored hostility towards them.
There were countless individuals in the Branch Family like that.
Therefore, the more hostile Ayane was to them, the more at ease they felt.
They feared those in the Branch Family who hid their animosity, as those were the troublesome ones the Main Family needed to guard against.
◎
Everything requires sufficient power.
The controllers of the greatest power in the Ninja Realm are ninjas.
The source of a ninja's power can be categorized into many types.
Hakushi learned this knowledge from the books in the library at the Ninja School.
The library at the Ninja School had a rich variety of books, but there were also many books it lacked.
For instance, the Gentle Fist of the Hyuga Clan, a secret family technique not passed down outside the Hyuga Clan.
Among the various Gentle Fist techniques in the Ninja Realm, the Gentle Fist of the Hyuga Clan was undoubtedly the strongest.
This piqued Hakushi's interest greatly, and he discovered that the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist was actually very similar to Taichi Fist, with many shared theories.
However, the scroll of the Gentle Fist that Ayane gave him was not a complete version.
Because as a Branch Family member, Ayane could not access the core moves of the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist.
The severity of the class divide within the Hyuga Clan exceeded Hakushi's imagination.
Therefore, Hakushi could fully understand Ayane's immense hatred toward the Hyuga Clan.
But due to the Main Family's long-standing superior position, the Branch Family dared only to be angry but not speak up, to the point where some became actual slaves loyal to the Main Family.
This part of the Hyuga Branch Family had lost their personal freedom and dignity.
They did not question the correctness of the Hyuga Clan's current traditions, caring only whether the Main Family was satisfied with their service.
They took the Main Family's joy as their joy, and the Main Family's anger as their anger.
Thus, the factions within the Hyuga Clan were not merely the Main Family and Branch Family but rather the Main Family, Branch Members loyal to the Main Family, and Branch Members hostile and hateful towards the Main Family.
Among these, the Main Family's position was as stable as a rock, and those in the Branch Family bound by the 'Caged Bird' Seal posed no threat to them.
"Hakushi, have you noticed that Ayane seems to have changed a bit?"
This was Ruri's original remark.
On the playground, the indifference on Ayane's face was not as severe as before. She could once again converse with her classmates, talking and laughing.
However, there was still a difference from the original Ayane.
Because Ayane's smile always carried an inextinguishable trace of melancholy and inferiority.
"After going through such an experience, it's natural, isn't it?"
Hakushi, hanging on the horizontal bar, jumped down and commented nonchalantly.
Ruri nodded in agreement. Indeed, the tradition of the Hyuga Clan was exceedingly cruel.
Even as an outsider, she found it hard to watch.
"Speaking of which, Ruri, does your Uchiha Clan have traditions similar to the Hyuga's?"
Hakushi appeared to be pondering something.
Ruri rolled her eyes and said with a huff, "Our Uchiha Clan has no such outdated and contemptible rules."
Hakushi's lips twitched; such words coming from Ruri lacked any persuasiveness.
Aside from him, the entire class kept a respectful distance from Ruri, whether boys or girls.
Moreover, Hakushi noticed other Uchiha students in the Ninja School whose attitudes were even worse than Ruri's, despite their talents being inferior to hers.
They spoke incessantly of the Uchiha Clan, as if worried others might not recognize the name Uchiha.
By contrast, Ruri was relatively low-key, aside from having a bit of a cold personality.
"By the way, let's do that again tonight."
Ruri suddenly spoke, turning her head to one side, her neck turning a shade of red.
"That?"
Hakushi blinked in confusion.
What?
"That..."
Ruri's voice suddenly lowered.
Seeing Hakushi remain silent for a long time, she assumed his reluctance and her gaze turned fierce, her dark eyes glaring at Hakushi:
"Don't you want to touch me? Do you have someone else?"
"..."
Hakushi was at a loss for words.
He understood.
It turned out she wanted him to create a new suitable exercise plan.
After all, it had been almost a month since the last one.
But Hakushi inexplicably felt a bit guilty.
Maybe it was just an illusion.
"I'm always with you, so how could there be anyone else around? You're overthinking it, Ruri."
Hearing Hakushi's weak explanation, Ruri finally nodded in satisfaction.
"Your method was very effective. Previously I sparred with a Chunin from my family, and he said my abilities have surpassed most Genin. At this growth rate, next year I could reach Chunin level."
Hearing this from Ruri, Hakushi could also roughly gauge his own abilities.
Similar to Ruri, or maybe slightly inferior, but not by much.
The best outcome they ever achieved was a draw.
It seemed their goal to eventually exceed their rank was still distant.
"That's impressive."
"Likewise."
Having a shared secret between boys and girls easily brings them closer together.
Hakushi hadn't believed it before, but now he did.
◎
"You want books on Medical Ninjutsu?"
Ruri was bewildered by Hakushi's request.
"That's right, can you get some?"
Hakushi looked at Ruri with eagerness.
Although there were medical books in the school library, they didn't meet Hakushi's needs.
So, he had to approach Ruri for help.
Unlike Ayane, Ruri was not only a talented member of the Uchiha Clan, but also the Uchiha were not as rigidly traditional as the Hyuga Clan. The upper echelons of the Uchiha still took good care of Ruri, a genius.
Ruri pondered for a moment, then nodded, agreeing.
Her status within the Uchiha Clan wasn't extremely high, but it wasn't low either.
Moreover, she knew many Medical Ninjas from the Uchiha Clan, elder members deemed unfit to awaken their Sharingan, only assigned to support roles within the clan.
Their purpose was to serve the elite of the Uchiha, learning Sealing Techniques and Medical Ninjutsu, even Barrier Jutsu.
Ruri believed that with her destined future as a top Uchiha ninja, they'd be eager to assist her.
Furthermore, as long as she didn't pass the Uchiha Clan's secret techniques on to Hakushi, there would be no issues.
As far as Ruri knew, the clan occasionally exchanged resources and ninja techniques with the village.
Ruri acted swiftly, visiting Hakushi's apartment during the weekend break.
It was her first time entering a boy's private room.