(The Hyūga Clan Massacre plotline starts in Chapter 15. The early chapters serve as buildup—I admit the title is a bit of a bait.)
(Please be kind in the comments. As a new author, feedback is very important to me, so I hope for your understanding.)
(Leave your brain here. I'll take good care of it for you. (?′╰╯`?)? )*
...
Konoha Year 48
Hyūga Gakuya's father knelt before Hyūga Hiashi.
"I am willing to accept punishment under the clan's laws. I only beg you to spare my wife and son. Gakuya is a genius—one day, he will awaken the Byakugan."
"He will not bring shame upon the clan."
Hiashi's expression was cold and unyielding.
"You will be punished as per the clan's rules. They must die as well."
"As a Hyūga, it is unacceptable for our bloodline to be tainted by outsiders."
Before Gakuya's father could react, Hiashi activated his Byakugan and unleashed a devastating Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm. The attack struck Gakuya's mother directly—she had been holding the three-year-old Gakuya in her arms.
As a civilian, she stood no chance. Gakuya's father was too far away to intervene.
The outcome was inevitable—her body was torn apart, and blood and flesh splattered over the trembling child.
The sheer horror overwhelmed Gakuya, and he passed out. At that moment, a foreign soul quietly fused with his own.
"Enough!" A thunderous voice echoed through the hall as an elderly man entered, flanked by a squad of ANBU. It was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He stepped forward and lifted the shell-shocked Gakuya into his arms.
"Haven't you done enough? No matter the circumstances, a child is innocent!"
Gakuya's father immediately prostrated himself before both men, pressing his forehead into the dirt.
"I know my sins are unforgivable, and I accept death. I only beg you to let my son live—he is blameless."
With those final words, he struck his own temple with a chakra-infused palm, ending his life instantly.
Hiashi's gaze was impassive.
"Since the Hokage has intervened, we will leave it at that for today." But then his tone sharpened. "However, this child will live as a Hyūga. The moment he awakens the Byakugan, he will be marked with the Caged Bird Seal."
Hiruzen knew this was the clan's bottom line. He nodded without hesitation.
What mattered was that the boy survived. Challenging the Hyūga's archaic traditions would take time, but for now, this was a victory. Hiruzen had long resented the clan's practice of prioritizing itself over the village. That outdated rule had no place in Konoha's future.
...
Two Years Later, Early Konoha Year 50
In a dimly lit corner of the Hyūga compound, a small boy curled up into a ball as several figures surrounded him, kicking and punching mercilessly.
"You filthy disgrace! Just existing is an insult to us!"
"A Hyūga without the Byakugan? What a joke!"
"Not even worthy of the clan's seal! Then again, a mongrel like you doesn't deserve such an honor."
These were members of the Branch Family—boys who had just been branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
Filled with resentment and bitterness, they couldn't lash out at the Main Family, nor could they defy the rules. But they had found another outlet—there was someone even lower than them, someone who wasn't even officially recognized as a Branch Family member.
Hyūga Gakuya.
Human nature at its worst—when oppressed, some will resist, but others will simply seek a weaker victim to abuse.
Gakuya was at the very bottom of the Hyūga hierarchy, an existence even beneath the Branch Family.
"Hold him up! Let him see what true Hyūga power looks like!" One of the older boys smirked.
"Let's show him what the Branch Family can do."
Two boys yanked Gakuya to his feet, each holding one of his arms.
The older boy activated his Byakugan, veins bulging at his temples.
"This is the Hyūga's White Eye—something a bastard like you will never have! Go cry to your dead parents about it!"
"Gentle Fist—Two Palms!"
He wasn't holding back. His fingers struck Gakuya's body with precision, sending him staggering as blood spurted from his mouth. Gakuya couldn't even defend himself—no one had ever taught him how to fight. He didn't even know how to mold chakra.
"Enough!"
A stern voice cut through the chaos. Gakuya was barely conscious, unable to turn his head to see the newcomer.
"Is this what you call the pride of the Branch Family? Ganging up on a boy who doesn't even have the Byakugan?"
"But—"
"Back to your training. Now!"
"Yes, Lord Hizashi!"
The boys scattered instantly, leaving Gakuya's unconscious form on the ground.
Hyūga Hizashi, the leader of the Branch Family, frowned as he examined the child's battered body.
"Take him home. From now on, he will receive the same stipend as other Branch Family children."
One of his attendants hesitated. "But, my lord… the Clan Head strictly forbade aiding him. Why are you—?"
Hizashi's expression softened slightly. "His father broke the clan's rules, but he was once a friend of mine."
"The Clan Head won't punish me for this. Just take him home." He then pulled out a scroll. "Give this to him as well."
"This is...?"
"A technique his father created. It was deemed heretical, but today, I return it to him."
"Yes, my lord."
...
When Gakuya finally awoke, he found himself back in his small room.
The moment he tried to move, pain shot through his body, and he let out an involuntary groan.
...
After struggling with all his might, Hyūga Gakuya finally managed to sit up against the wall. As soon as he lifted his head, his gaze landed on the scroll lying beside him.
Carefully, he picked it up and unfolded it. Even the slightest movement sent waves of pain through his body.
The title read: The Fusion of Ninjutsu and Gentle Fist.
Inside, the scroll detailed various theories on integrating Gentle Fist techniques with ninjutsu, proposing different methods and possibilities. At the end, it even included several successful case studies, mostly involving C-rank and B-rank ninjutsu.
But what truly caught Gakuya's attention was the signature at the bottom—Hyūga Tokuma. His father. The very same father he had barely even met.
"They gave me ninjutsu techniques… but I don't even know how to refine chakra!"
As if in response to his frustration, a small booklet slipped out from a hidden compartment within the scroll.
Picking it up and flipping through its pages, Gakuya's eyes widened in astonishment. This was it—the chakra refinement method he had been longing for!
Overcome with excitement, he clutched the booklet tightly. With this, he could finally become a true shinobi!
He couldn't wait to start training immediately. Carefully studying the meditation techniques written within, he adjusted his posture and attempted to refine his chakra.
Sure enough, within ten minutes, he felt a surge of energy being drawn from his cells and gathering in his lower abdomen—his chakra was forming.
His body even felt a little lighter. As the chakra circulated through him, the swelling from his injuries gradually subsided.
"Incredible! So this is the legendary chakra!"
According to the booklet, the more he trained, the faster he would be able to extract chakra. Enduring the lingering pain, Gakuya gritted his teeth and continued his practice.
"Hyūga Hizashi… I will repay this debt one day."
His mind drifted to the voice that had saved him. If not for Hizashi's intervention, he would already be dead.
And if he had died, those little bastards who beat him would probably have walked away without a single consequence. No—worse than that. Their parents might have even patted them on the back and praised them for their actions.
The thought made Gakuya's expression twist with rage.
"Hyūga clan… just you wait. I'll take my time playing this game with you!"
…
Hizashi gently patted his pregnant wife, Hyūga Sayaka, on the back, offering comfort.
"Don't worry. I've already sent the training method to Tokuma's son."
"I've also arranged for him to receive the same treatment as a branch family member. He'll get a monthly stipend of ten thousand ryō—enough for him to live a good life."
Hyūga Sayaka was deeply moved. She bowed to Hizashi. "Thank you!"
"There's no need for thanks. That child is your brother's son—my nephew. Let's just focus on your pregnancy for now. Once Neji is born, I'll bring Gakuya over to be his study companion."
"Alright!"