Hizashi noticed the disdain in Akira's eyes and frowned slightly.
"Hyuga Akira," he began, "I know you bear some resentment toward the Main House, but the Branch Family's duty is to protect the Main House. In turn, the Main House leads the Hyuga Clan."
Akira rolled his eyes so hard it was a miracle he didn't grow a second pair of Byakugan.
"Not my damn problem."
The Hyuga Clan's "duty" had nothing to do with him.
Hizashi ignored the jab and pressed on with a heavy tone. "The Main House bears the weight of the entire clan. Can't you be a little more understanding?"
Akira looked at him with a deadpan expression. "If that's the case, then give the job to me. Tell your brother I'll become the Main House heir. He can be the servant instead."
Hizashi's face darkened. "That's not funny."
"You started the joke," Akira scoffed.
Without warning, a shuriken materialized in his hand from his inventory, and he hurled it directly at Hizashi.
Hizashi's eyes widened as he halted and dodged instinctively.
But Akira had already picked up speed, dashing ahead to rejoin the team.
"F***ing shameless." Akira swore openly as he caught up to Hiashi.
Hiashi's sharp gaze sliced toward him, but Akira just grinned wide, looking like he was itching for a fight.
Tsunade suddenly came to a halt atop a tree branch, forcing both Hiashi and Akira to stop with her.
A scowling Hizashi landed behind his brother a moment later.
Tsunade's face was like thunder as she glared down at Akira.
"You attacked a teammate without permission."
Akira shrugged. "His mouth needed cleaning. I helped."
All three stared at him like he was the only one throwing punches.
"I was only reminding you of your responsibility," Hizashi said coldly.
Akira didn't even glance at him. He locked eyes with Hiashi instead. "You want me to be like your lapdog of a brother? Dream on."
As if he didn't know Hiashi had sent Hizashi to play peacemaker, hoping he'd willingly accept the collar.
As if.
Hiashi's expression turned grim. His hands began to form a half-seal, the start of the Caged Bird technique.
Akira saw it. Tsunade saw it too.
"Enough!!"
Boom!
Her fist slammed into the tree beside her. The trunk shattered with an explosive crack, the top half of the tree crashing to the ground.
Rubbing her temples, Tsunade muttered, I should've never taken this mission.
Her voice turned icy. "I don't care what grudges you've got. Right now, you're a team. Until the mission is over, you'll all behave, or else…"
She flexed her fist with a crunch, eyes gleaming with threat.
Faced with that, Hiashi immediately released his seal.
Akira snapped a salute. "Don't worry, Lady Tsunade. I promise I won't fight with them, as long as you're watching."
Which obviously implied when she wasn't watching...
Tsunade narrowed her eyes at him but didn't argue. She turned and leapt to the next tree.
Akira followed right after, flashing a grin back at the two brothers. "Come on. Don't slow down. We've got a mission, remember?"
And whose fault is the delay!?
Hiashi clenched his teeth. This was the first time a Branch Family member had shown him zero respect.
Hizashi hesitated before quietly saying, "Brother… I think Lady Tsunade is intentionally protecting Hyuga Akira."
It was subtle, but he wasn't blinded by emotion, he'd noticed Akira only ever targeted Hiashi, and Tsunade's interventions were oddly timed.
Hiashi's eyes widened.
"…No way."
He thought back through every moment since the team had assembled that morning.
Every time he acted, Tsunade had shut it down.
"…Impossible," he muttered, shaking his head. "Hyuga Akira? How could he possibly have ties to someone like Tsunade?"
Hizashi sighed.
But they didn't linger. Both quickly caught up.
The forest blurred past them as they picked up speed.
Tsunade led the way, Akira right behind her. Suddenly she growled over her shoulder, "You little brat, enough."
Akira grinned. "Of course, Lady Tsunade. I always know when to stop. Wouldn't want to trouble you too much."
She snorted and sped up again.
The four-man squad became streaks of black weaving through the woods.
Their target wasn't far.
Soon, they arrived.
The team concealed themselves atop the trees, eyes locked on a ramshackle gate guarded by a ragtag group in tattered clothes.
"Most of them are just regular bandits," Tsunade explained. "But their leader and lieutenant are rogue ninja. Your job is to drive them out."
She looked pointedly at Hiashi.
"This is a trial mission. You'll be doing it yourselves. Unless things go really bad, I won't interfere."
This was a C-rank mission. Tsunade wasn't one of the future Sannin yet, but she was still an elite jonin.
This kind of job didn't need her to lift a finger.
Hiashi nodded and took the lead. "Hizashi, flank them from the rear and block their escape. Let the regulars go if you can. Focus on the rogue ninja."
"Akira and I will infiltrate from the front and engage the two leaders. Akira, any objections?"
He wasn't trying to act like a dictator, Hizashi would always defer to him. But Akira? That wildcard was the problem.
Silence.
"…Akira?"
Hiashi turned, and found nothing but empty air.
Hizashi pointed toward the gate.
Hiashi's face turned pale.
"Hyuga Akira!!?"
He was already striding toward the entrance like he owned the place.
The bandits noticed him immediately, rising to their feet in alarm.
Tsunade slapped a hand over her face.
Does this guy even deserve to be called a ninja?
Akira, of course, didn't care.
He was already surrounded.
"Hey, brat! Where do you think you're going?" one of the bandits snarled.
"Are those eyes cursed?" another muttered, unnerved by his pale white pupils.
Akira ignored them, mind focused on loot tables.
What did bandits drop again…? Ah right. The boss sometimes dropped ninja gear.
"Hey, we're talking to you!!" A burly bandit stormed up, raising his hand to slap him.
Poof!
A puff of smoke exploded.
The man's hand slammed into a spiked club, a spiked club?!
Blood gushed from his palm as the barbs shredded his flesh. That slap had some power behind it.
He didn't even get the chance to scream.
A kunai sliced his throat open, and he collapsed with a thud.
Akira landed on his head, kunai dripping blood.
"Pulling the boss."
"Byakugan!"
<><>---------------------------------------
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
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🚨 TL/N 💥
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
💥> Naruto: Mind Control (Highly Recommended)
💥> Bleach: Sephiroth Template
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
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