novelzi 2. The Silent Game with the Fifth Elder
2. The Silent Game with the Fifth Elder
2. The Silent Game with the Fifth Elder
As the older individual softly slid open the Japanese-style door to Hikari's room, he stepped inside. Hikari, with his Byakugan activated, quickly took in every detail of the man's appearance.
He appeared to be in his mid-forties, which was close but slightly past the prime 'peak' age for a shinobi in this world, generally considered to be around mid-thirties.
Hikari knew from his memory already that this man was a father, with three qualified children who had already been married and living on their own in different places.
These children now resided in different areas of the Main Branch's central housing within the stretched-out Hyuga compound.
This man had one of the highest authorities within the Hyuga clan, besides the Hyuga Patriarch himself, as he was one of the Hyuga clan's Main Branch's nine and only Elders.
His youngest child, already in their mid-teens, was considered an adult by the standards of this world, with the others being in their early and mid-twenties.
So, alongside his wife, and some Branch Family 'attendants' she was in charge of, they were the only current inhabitants of this large Fifth Elder's line's main estate.
It was located right in the center of the entire Hyuga's compound, just near other Elders' main estates and in the last circle of housing in front of the Patriarch's own.
'Despite being slightly past his prime, this man is certainly very strong and not to be underestimated. He's on a completely different level compared to those branch members I observed earlier...', Hikari concluded almost instantly after his thorough examination.
Through the precise vision of his Byakugan, Hikari could see the exceptional level of training and care the man had put into maintaining his body.
His chakra pathway system was notably well-developed, indicating a significant reservoir of chakra potential that spoke to his prowess as a shinobi.
Moreover, Hikari noted the man's overall bearing, which radiated the authority of someone accustomed to wielding great social power within the clan.
Every step he took was measured and deliberate, characteristic of a seasoned professional whose movements were honed to perfection, always ready to jump into action.
His facial expression was that of a battle-hardened veteran, giving away nothing. In great contrast to the branch family members Hikari had observed before, this man's demeanor revealed absolutely no weaknesses or emotions, his face as unreadable as a poker player's.
As his feet touched the tatami floor of the room, designed in the classic Japanese style, his aura was unmistakable. He radiated a sense of strength and authority.
Clad in the traditional attire of the Hyuga clan, his long hair perfectly complementing the distinctive white eyes that marked their heritage, the elder's entrance into the room was commanding.
The fact that Takumi added the suffix "-kun" after Hikari's name, despite being an elder of the clan and considering Hikari's mere three years of age, was nothing short of extraordinary.
It was exceedingly rare for anyone in their world to address a three-year-old so formally and seriously, which spoke volumes, especially given Takumi's esteemed status within the clan.
Moreover, the shift from using "-sama" to "-san" about himself suggested a significant change in Takumi's view of their relationship. It implied that Hikari's standing should be considered much higher than before, not yet equal but far removed from the respect typically expected from a child of Hikari's age towards someone of Takumi's rank.
Although the Byakugan enhanced its wielder's ability to psychoanalyze opponents by observing physiological responses—such as increased sweat production, accelerated heart rates, and other chemical changes in the body—making it difficult for most people to deceive or act in front of a Hyuga, Hikari's couldn't use that approach currently, due to obvious reasons, to analyze Takumi, so he applied some broad knowledge from his previous life.
His Byakugan had only recently awakened, leaving his abilities in a nascent, almost blank state. Furthermore, the majority of the Hyuga, especially elite jonin-level figures like Takumi, have mastered the art of controlling these external indicators.
Their profound understanding of the Byakugan, combined with an intimate knowledge of their own body's workings, allows them to regulate their physiological reactions meticulously.
As the conversation unfolded, Takumi continued to inquire about Hikari's health, displaying a semblance of concern that seemed somewhat out of character compared to their previous interactions.
Hikari, for his part, assured Takumi that he was completely fine now, answering each question in turn.
This exchange, he noted, constituted a significant portion of the total time they had spent together since Hikari had moved into the Hyuga complex a few months ago, following the death of his parents.
Takumi, as a prominent elder of the clan, had numerous responsibilities that kept him away from this housing estate.
He was deeply involved in managing the Hyuga clan's private commercial ventures that his own Fifth Elder main line was historically involved, or their own 'share of the pie' better said.
Additionally, his duties extended to various roles within the clan and possibly even assignments inside of the Konoha administration as well, leaving him little time for personal interactions between them.
The conversations they had had in the past were brief and marked by a cooler, more distant demeanor from Takumi.
The main thing Hikari got from those interactions is that he could soon start his training with him after he turned three years old, which Hikaru did around a month ago, but refused to start trying due to some childish reasons.
And, now, with Hikari being the last surviving member of the Third Elder main line and still just a child, it fell upon Takumi to oversee Hikari's inheritance and responsibilities as well.
As their conversation progressed in a following few minutes, Hikari began to get the gist of Takumi's underlying motives at the beginning of their seemingly casual exchange between an elder and a youngin; To evaluate Hikari's capabilities for his motives and also his future role within the Hyuga clan likely on some kind of 'mission' from the rest of the higher-ups.
'It's good that he's so ambitious and risk-taking. At least he won't stand in the way of me claiming my rightful property and status in the future if all goes according to plan...', He thought, feeling a surge of relief before he suddenly experienced piercing pain in his eyes.