Following Hyuga Yui's dramatic exit, the atmosphere of the carefully prepared birthday banquet plummeted to sub-zero levels.
Hyuga Hanako's face was pale with indignation. She had poured her heart into this event, dreaming of the perfect daughter-in-law. Yui's outburst felt like a direct slap to the face of the Main House.
Had the setting been different, Hanako might have urged her husband to use the Caged Bird Seal to remind the girl of her place.
Hyuga Hiashi, however, was surprisingly calm. Unlike his wife, who was fixated on "face," Hiashi had lived through the same stifling traditions. He understood exactly what Shinichi was feeling.
To him, this "blind date" banquet had been a farce from the start—a ritual every Hyuga leader had to endure, each handling it differently depending on their character.
Seeing the guests frozen in shock, Hiashi raised his cup with a practiced, effortless grace, smoothy covering for the Yui family's departure.
"Yui is a sensible girl," Hiashi remarked lightly. "She must have felt unwell and left early. Let us not dwell on it. Please, everyone, enjoy the food and drink!"
With the Clan Head setting the tone, the guests followed suit, raising their glasses. The icy tension began to thaw, and the banquet resumed its rhythmic, polite chatter.
The Selfishness of a Modern Soul
While the guests ate, Hyuga Shinichi remained silent, looking inward.
Yui's appearance had acted as a mirror. He realized that no matter how much he used "logic" to tell himself that sacrifice was necessary for the clan's continuity, his heart rejected it. At his core, Shinichi was "selfish." He didn't want to sacrifice his emotional life for a political arrangement.
Despite his cold efficiency in battle, he still craved a "sincere" and "pure" connection. The modern education from his previous life had left a permanent mark; he refused to be treated as mere "breeding stock" for the clan's bloodline. Even with the weight of the Hyuga on his shoulders, his instinct was to break free from the existing system.
Having reached this clarity, a faint smile appeared on his face. His eyes, once clouded with doubt, became clear and sharp again.
He didn't make a scene or walk out. He respected the effort his mother had put in, so he spent the rest of the evening being the perfect host.
He laughed with the elders and shared polite, brief conversations with the remaining girls. He maintained the harmony of the night, even if he had already decided his heart wasn't for sale.
Parental Perspectives
After the last guest had been seen off, Hiashi and Hanako returned to the hall to corner their son.
"Shinichi, which of the girls did you like?" Hanako asked hopefully. "If you've made a choice, I'll invite her to be Hanabi's personal tutor. It would be a perfect excuse for you two to spend time together."
"Using Hanabi as a wingman?" Shinichi chuckled. His new clarity made him feel relaxed enough to joke.
Hiashi noticed the change in his son's tone. He realized Shinichi had made a decision.
"It's a bit early to talk about 'interest,' Mother," Shinichi said. "The girls are still quite young, and honestly, so am I. I'd like to wait a few more years and see."
Hanako's expression shifted, sensing a brush-off. Before she could protest, Hiashi gently tugged her sleeve and intervened.
"Too early? Perhaps," Hiashi said. "At that age, personalities haven't even fully settled yet. But Shinichi... you know some things cannot be changed, right? Your mother and I plan ahead because we want the best for you. Finding a partner early allows for the growth of real affection."
He looked at Hanako with a rare, genuine softness. "Your mother and I were an arrangement, yet no one can deny that what we have is true love. Don't assume tradition and freedom are enemies."
Hiashi's words struck a chord. Shinichi hadn't expected his father to offer such a balanced, "impartial" perspective on the matter. It was a reminder that while "free love" was the modern ideal, "growing to love" was a valid path that had sustained his parents for decades.
However, for now, Shinichi had more pressing concerns. His safety and the future of the world weren't yet guaranteed. He didn't have the luxury of worrying about romance while the shadows of the Otsutsuki still loomed.
Konoha Year 60: The Winds of Change
The "Selection of the Heir's Bride" ended with a whimper rather than a bang. No rumors leaked out, Shinichi's life returned to normal, and the village soon moved on to the next "hot topic."
Time flowed on like a quiet river.
It was now the year 60 of the Konoha Calendar.
The peace was broken by the arrival of the Academy's graduation season. While Shinichi wasn't a student, a member of his family was officially becoming a Genin.
It was his cousin, Hyuga Neji.
Neji had been assigned to Team 3. The Jōnin leader was none other than Shinichi's close friend, Might Guy. The team was rounded out by two other graduates: Rock Lee and Tenten. Following Konoha tradition, it was a balanced squad of two boys and one girl.
Neji was already famous within the clan and the village as a "genius." His graduation was a significant event for the Hyuga.
Might Guy, ecstatic to be assigned a Hyuga genius, bypassed Neji's father, Hizashi, and went straight to the Hyuga estate to find Shinichi. He wanted to know the clan's "career plan" for Neji so he could tailor his training appropriately.
"Shinichi! My youthful rival!" Guy shouted as he arrived. "Tell me, what are the clan's expectations for young Neji? I want to make sure his path to greatness is paved with the flames of youth!"
Seeing Guy's familiar, energetic face, Shinichi felt a jolt of realization.
Neji is a Genin. Team Guy is formed. The "Plot Timeline"—the era of Naruto's return and the rising storm of the Akatsuki—was now knocking on the door.
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