Chapter 46: After the War
The scorching heat of summer had finally faded, giving way to the cool, crisp air of autumn.
It was early evening, and the sun had not yet completely dipped below the horizon. The sky was painted in a brilliant crimson hue, like a sea of fire—eerily reminiscent of the forest blaze that had raged just days ago.
"This is the perfect weather for traveling," Souji said, his tone light as he adjusted the small backpack slung over his shoulder, packed with supplies for the journey ahead. "Remember when we first left the village? We were drenched in sweat from head to toe every single day."
Walking beside him at a relaxed pace was Hyuga Hoshicai, his face glowing with joy.
Ever since that fierce battle, both of them had been brimming with energy and excitement. The high from victory hadn't faded—they were still riding it.
"Master Ryosuke, would you like some water?" Hoshicai asked, offering him a canteen filled with fresh spring water.
Ryosuke chuckled softly and declined, "No, thank you."
"How about something to eat then?" Souji added with a grin, holding out a handful of wild fruits they'd gathered earlier. "We only took a short break at noon—gotta keep your energy up, right?"
"That won't be necessary," Ryosuke said again, still polite.
"Well, uh—" Souji reached into his pack once more, clearly determined to help.
But Ryosuke stopped walking and turned to face the two of them. He sighed, though not in frustration—more like someone overwhelmed by kindness.
"Can you two try acting normal for once?" he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You've been way too enthusiastic lately. It's starting to feel a little much."
Before, they had always carried themselves with duty-bound respect, a kind of reverence shaped by the traditions of the Hyuga clan. They were branch family members assigned to protect him, and that's what they did—professionally and without fuss.
But ever since they'd witnessed that moment in the battle, their attitudes had shifted. The respect was no longer just out of obligation—it felt sincere, genuine. And frankly, it threw Ryosuke off a bit.
"No, no, we're just doing what we should," Souji said quickly, stepping back nervously under Ryosuke's gaze. He scratched his head and added, "You're a member of the main house... and those eyes of yours are unlike anything we've ever seen."
"You're going to become someone like Uchiha Madara one day," he said, almost in awe. "Just being able to assist you, even a little, is already a huge honor. Please—let us have that chance."
Hoshica nodded beside him, his eyes reflecting the same deep admiration.
When they had seen the transformation in Ryosuke's eyes—when they'd felt that overwhelming power—it had all clicked. They understood why the clan leader had entrusted them, why Ryosuke was allowed to marry into the Main family.
It was real. The Hyuga's Byakugan could evolve—just like the Uchiha's Sharingan. And maybe, just maybe, their clan's time had finally come.
"Assist, huh..." Ryosuke muttered the word under his breath. Then he chuckled and shook his head.
"If I've shown you my power, it means I've already decided to trust you. So there's no need to go overboard. If you keep acting like this when we get back to the village, people are going to start asking questions. We can't draw attention to me."
The moment he said that, both Souji and Hoshicai panicked and quickly took a few steps back, bowing deeply.
"We're sorry!" they said in unison, afraid they'd jeopardized everything. They didn't want to be the reason Ryosuke's secret got out—or the reason the Hyuga's future was delayed.
"You don't have to apologize like that," Ryosuke said, a little exasperated. "Just treat me the same way you always have."
Then his tone grew more serious. "As for my power… I'm sure you've already guessed what it is. But you also know how confidential this is to the clan. The fewer people who know, the better."
"Until I'm strong enough, this will be the Hyuga's greatest secret. It has to be protected."
Souji and Hoshica immediately responded with determined nods.
"Don't worry, Master Ryosuke. We won't say a word. Not even to our own families!"
"I know you won't," Ryosuke said with a gentle nod. "We've known each other a long time—I trust you."
He continued, "Right now, the only people in the village who know the full truth are my father, the clan leader, the chief elder, and Hinata. That's it."
"You two are now the fourth and fifth. Not even my uncle, Hyuga Hizashi, the head of the branch family, knows."
Those words hit Souji and Hoshicai hard. Their fists clenched, not out of fear, but out of pride. To be trusted like this—it was overwhelming.
"When we return," Ryosuke added, turning to Souji, "I'm going to propose to my father that you take up the post of guardian ninja at the daimyo's mansion. That's a spot we secured during the negotiations with the daimyo."
"You'll act as the bridge between the Hyuga clan and the noble circles. It's a vital role. The other branch family members will take notice. Some of the more radical ones may even try to sway you to their side."
"But when that happens... I hope you'll still choose to stand by me. Together, we can rebuild this fragmented clan."
Ryosuke looked him in the eye, his expression sincere and unwavering.
It was a habit of his—whenever a conversation carried real weight, he always looked people in the eyes and smiled. It wasn't arrogance. It was genuine warmth. A sign of trust.
Souji's eyes lit up. He stood tall and said confidently, "I won't let you down. Your Byakugan… no, our Byakugan, is the future of the Hyuga. Those radicals don't understand the clan's true direction."
"Good," Ryosuke said, nodding with approval.
The truth was, Ryosuke had planned all of this well in advance. The moment he revealed his power to them, it wasn't an accident—it was a choice.
He knew he couldn't do everything alone. He needed people he could rely on—people who could act on his behalf when he couldn't be everywhere at once.
If he always had to clear an area before acting or hide his tracks afterward, he'd never get anything done. And eventually, someone would figure it out.
So he had to build a team. Trusted allies. Loyal subordinates.
And Souji and Hoshicai, both from the branch family, both already close to him, were perfect for the job.
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