Chapter 420: The Strongest of the Hyuga

Chapter 420: Chapter 420: The Strongest of the Hyuga

After evening fell, the celebration came to a smooth end, and the crowds on the streets gradually began to thin out.

Aside from the little episode involving Kimimaro and Sasuke’s spar, the entire alliance ceremony had passed without the slightest disturbance. In fact, everything had gone so smoothly that even Hyuga Kagami was somewhat surprised.

Kagami had thought Orochimaru might take the opportunity to stir up some trouble.

After all, when the alliance agreement was formally signed, the plaza had been packed shoulder to shoulder, with a sea of people stretching almost as far as the eye could see. If Orochimaru had caused even a minor disturbance at that moment—even if he had merely detonated a few explosive tags—the number of casualties could easily have reached four digits.

After finishing his guard duties for the day, Kagami returned home.

Knock, knock...

Before long, a series of knocks came from the outer courtyard.

Kagami opened the courtyard gate and found Neji standing outside, carrying a boxed meal.

Bowing toward Kagami, Neji raised the bento box respectfully with both hands. "Sensei, you probably haven’t eaten yet, right? I brought you dinner!"

Although the apprenticeship had not yet been formally established, Hizashi had already settled the matter with Kagami long ago. As a result, Neji had already begun addressing Kagami as ’Sensei.’

Taking the bento, Kagami inwardly muttered, "Why does that somehow sound a little weird...?"

He led Neji into the house and casually opened the bento box.

Immediately, the rich aroma of freshly prepared food spread through the room, making his appetite surge.

Neji, meanwhile, sat formally on his knees across from Kagami, his young face filled with seriousness.

As Kagami ate, he asked, "What’s wrong? Didn’t you have fun today?"

Neji seemed not to have expected that question. He froze for a moment before replying, "I had a lot of fun."

Kagami smiled. "Don’t always keep yourself cooped up at home. You should spend more time with kids your own age."

Naruto and Sasuke were the saviors personally chosen by the Sage of Six Paths. If Neji could establish a friendship with them from childhood, it would bring him immeasurable benefits in the future.

Neji nodded at first, then asked, "Sensei, do you know about the match in the plaza today?"

Kagami glanced at Neji. "So that’s what you came here for."

Neji bit his lip. "Sensei, that match in the plaza today had a huge impact on me. Whether it was that boy from Otogakure or the boy from the Uchiha Clan, they both displayed talent far beyond anything I’d imagined. I..."

Kagami waved his hand, cutting him off. "When it comes to talent, you’re actually not inferior either. It’s just that those two are somewhat special."

Neji hurriedly asked, "Sensei, do you think I’m not as good as them?"

Kagami didn’t mince words and answered directly, "That Oto boy is much stronger than you. It’ll be very difficult for you to catch up to him within the next three to five years. As for Uchiha Sasuke, now that he’s awakened his Sharingan today, his strength will also improve by leaps and bounds. Until you’ve completely mastered the Gentle Fist’s Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, you’ll have a very hard time against him."

Kimimaro was a simple and single-minded person.

The one thing constantly on his mind was becoming someone useful to Orochimaru. It was precisely because of that purity that he could devote himself entirely to his goal without distraction. Unlike ordinary children, he wouldn’t waste time playing around or slacking off.

And Orochimaru had never treated him like a child, either. What Kimimaro received from him was the harshest possible ninja education.

On top of that, Kimimaro’s bloodline and innate talent were both among the very finest in the entire shinobi world.

Therefore, among those of his generation, he should currently be one of the two strongest young prodigies in the shinobi world.

The only person who might be able to contend with him was perhaps Toneri Otsutsuki, on the moon.

Neji lowered his head and whispered, "I... I understand."

Kagami reassured him, "Who’s stronger or weaker is only temporary. Don’t get discouraged. It’s not impossible for you to catch up to them. Just keep working hard!"

Neji said, "I know. I just don’t want to see Father disappointed."

Kagami silently shook his head.

He could imagine how disappointed Hiashi and Hizashi must have felt after watching Kimimaro and Sasuke’s match today.

At present, Hinata had yet to display any particular talent in the Gentle Fist. And although Neji was regarded as a genius within the clan, that was only when compared to the other Hyuga children.

Compared to Kimimaro, who had fought in the plaza today, Neji was still far behind. He was even slightly inferior to Sasuke, who had awakened his Sharingan in the middle of the fight.

After hesitating for a long while, Neji finally mustered up the courage to ask, "Sensei, is our Hyuga Clan really inferior to the Uchiha Clan? Is the Byakugan really inferior to the Sharingan?"

Kagami casually replied, "Those aren’t questions you need to be thinking about right now."

Neji puffed out his cheeks. "Then when will I be able to think about them?"

"Defeat me!"

The corner of Kagami’s mouth curled upward as he smiled. "When you can defeat me and become the strongest member of the Hyuga Clan, then you can start thinking about whether the Hyuga or the Uchiha are stronger. You haven’t even reached the pinnacle of the Hyuga Clan yet. So what basis do you have to judge which clan is stronger?"

Neji immediately caught the implication hidden within Kagami’s words and exclaimed in surprise, "Sensei, you’re the strongest member of the Hyuga Clan right now?"

Although Neji had always known that Kagami was strong, just like the other members of the Hyuga Clan, he had subconsciously assumed that the strongest Hyuga should naturally be the clan head, Hyuga Hiashi.

So hearing Kagami say this left him utterly astonished.

Kagami didn’t deny it.

He simply continued eating his bento and nodded.

As for being the strongest in the shinobi world, Kagami wouldn’t dare make that claim.

During his last surprise attack on Nagato, even with Nagato being restrained by several other opponents, the battle had ultimately ended in a draw. That alone showed that, at present, Kagami’s strength was still slightly inferior to Nagato’s.

But as for being the strongest Hyuga, there was absolutely no question about it.

After all, those guys on the moon were all named Otsutsuki. They had nothing to do with the Hyuga Clan.

Neji immediately straightened his posture and asked expectantly, "Sensei, can I start training under you right now?"

Kagami shook his head. "There’s no rush. At your age, the most important thing is building a solid foundation. In that regard, I may not necessarily be better than your father. So wait until you graduate from the Ninja Academy, then you can train under me."

"Oh..."

Neji lowered his head in disappointment.

Kagami’s expression turned stern. "Not just anyone can become my disciple. If you can’t take first place at the Ninja Academy, then even after you graduate, I won’t acknowledge you as my disciple."

Neji bowed deeply toward Kagami. "Please rest assured! I definitely won’t disappoint you!"

Whoosh...

Just then, a figure dropped directly into Kagami’s courtyard before hurriedly rushing into the house and shouting, "Kagami, something terrible happened! Kakashi was ambushed!"

Kagami frowned as he looked at the anxious Guy who had barged into the room. "Slow down. Tell me exactly what happened."

Neji obediently stood up and moved off to the side.

Guy sat down, his expression grim. "This evening, the ANBU found Kakashi unconscious in one of the secret training grounds. He’d been attacked."

Kagami immediately asked, "Is he all right?"

Guy replied, "From the looks of it, he’s only suffering from severe exhaustion. His life isn’t in danger, but... but his Sharingan was stolen!"