Chapter 41 41: Final Day at the Academy.

"It's useless to struggle!" sneered Hyuga Ichino. He spread his palms, and a glowing Yin-Yang formation appeared around him. "Let me show you the power of the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist!" As he spoke, chakra surged through his body, visibly streaming from his chakra points. Spinning rapidly like a top, Ichino formed a chakra barrier around himself. His arrogant voice rang out again. "Gentle Fist Technique: Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation! This is the Hyuga clan's ultimate defense. It can deflect any attack. Don't waste your strength!" "Really? I'd like to see you try to deflect this." Kaito's figure appeared directly in front of Ichino. He clenched his right hand, and a Rasengan quickly formed in his palm. But that wasn't enough—his chakra output surged, causing the spiraling orb to grow until it exceeded the size of his hand, glowing like a full moon. It was the Big Ball Rasengan—an enhanced version of the original. "Is that... the Rasengan? How do you know the Fourth Hokage's signature jutsu?!" Hyuga Ichino's arrogance vanished. His eyes were filled with disbelief, his voice trembling unconsciously. "Well, who knows?" Kaito shrugged. His gaze remained cold. "Let's see how strong your clan's 'absolute defense' really is." Without hesitation, Kaito hurled the massive Rasengan at the spinning chakra barrier. CRACK! The moment it made contact, Hyuga Ichino's Rotation shattered like fragile glass. A mouthful of blood spurted from his lips. Fear and shock filled his eyes. Kaito stood calm and composed, the Rasengan in his hand still intact. He pressed forward. But just before it struck Ichino again, the Rasengan dissipated. Kaito turned around and walked away, his indifferent voice echoing in the air. "Hinata is mine. She always will be. This is your first and last warning. If it happens again, I'll visit the Hyuga clan myself." Hyuga Ichino watched Kaito's retreating back in silence, his gaze complicated. "So this is the strength of this year's top academy student? Clan Leader... I wonder if you did the right thing today." "I will deliver the message," Hyuga Ichino murmured. Then, he vanished in a flicker. Once Ichino's chakra presence disappeared, Kaito scoffed. "This time, I let it go because you're from the Hyuga Clan. But next time won't be so easy." After his daily training, Kaito fell asleep early—tomorrow was the graduation exam, and he needed the rest. --- Hyuga Clan Compound Since the Uchiha clan's destruction five years ago, the Hyuga clan had risen to become the most prominent in Konoha. Yet to call it the "most powerful" was almost laughable. It couldn't compare to the former glory of the Senju or Uchiha. There wasn't even a single Kage-level shinobi in the clan—only a handful of elite jonin. It was a reflection of Konoha's overall decline. In the central chamber, a dignified middle-aged man sat at the head of the table. Beside him, Hyuga Ichino recounted the events of the night in detail. This man was Hyuga Hiashi, the current clan leader—and Hinata's father. "Patriarch, before he left, he asked me to deliver a message," Hyuga Ichino said cautiously. "What did he say?" Hiashi asked calmly. "He said... Miss Hinata is his and will only ever be his. This is the first and last time. If it happens again, he'll come to the Hyuga clan himself." Hiashi narrowed his eyes. "Bold words. Who does he think he is? Does he believe our clan has no strength?" After a pause, he asked, "Are you certain he used the Rasengan?" "Yes, sir. But it wasn't just any Rasengan—it was a larger, more powerful version." Yinuo gestured with his hands. "You're right. That was the Big Ball Rasengan," Hiashi said, a flicker of memory in his gaze. "I've seen it once... in the hands of Jiraiya." "Do you think this Kaito might be Jiraiya-sama's secret disciple?" "It's possible. Regardless, let's end the matter here. Nothing happened tonight. As for Hinata—her future is hers to decide." "Yes, Patriarch." --- Kaito, sound asleep, had no idea that his actions had already left a deep impression on Hyuga Hiashi—so much so that the clan leader now suspected he might be a student of one of the Legendary Sannin. But even if Kaito knew, he'd probably just smirk. It didn't matter whether he was Jiraiya's disciple or not—he was confident he could crush the Hyuga clan on his own. Besides, who cares about Jiraiya? Even that Sannin couldn't win against Kaito's teacher. — As dawn broke and sunlight spilled across the village, Kaito rose and began his morning routine. Today was the final day at the Ninja Academy—the start of the original timeline. And for some reason, a strange feeling of melancholy clung to him. Carrying Ino on his back toward the school, neither of them spoke. They simply walked in quiet companionship, cherishing their last moments together as students. When they arrived, Kaito was surprised to see that nearly everyone had already shown up. ---