CHAPTER 103
Two days later.
Guy, Ebisu, and Shiranui Genma sat around a low table inside the temporary canteen at the base, devouring their lunch.
The constant tension of the past few days combined with the exhaustion after battle made even this simple meal taste exceptionally delicious.
"Hey, Guy, slow down!"
Ebisu pushed up his slightly crooked sunglasses and stared at Guy, who was stuffing nearly an entire rice ball into his mouth.
"No one's going to steal it from you."
Genma silently moved a piece of pickled radish from his own bowl to the edge of Guy's.
He didn't say anything, but the concern in his eyes was obvious.
He knew exactly how great the burden of opening the Fourth Gate of the Eight Gates was on the body.
Even with Guy's astonishing recovery ability, he desperately needed nutrition and energy right now.
"Mmm."
Guy gave a muffled response.
Just as he was about to stuff the pickled radish into his mouth, the tent flap was suddenly pulled open and a messenger poked his head inside.
"Team 9! Captain Hyuga is awake!"
"Cough! Cough cough!"
Guy immediately choked.
Ebisu and Genma hurriedly swallowed the food in their mouths.
The three of them sprang to their feet almost simultaneously and rushed toward the medical tent area.
As they arrived outside the largest medical tent, the curtain happened to open from the inside.
Homura Mitokado slowly walked out.
"Lord Homura!"
The three immediately halted and stood at attention before saluting.
Homura Mitokado's gaze swept across them.
His expression remained calm as always, and he merely gave a slight nod.
"Your team performed well during this mission."
His voice was steady and composed.
"In the face of a powerful enemy, your tactical response was timely. Not only did you preserve your own forces, but more importantly..."
He paused briefly as though considering his words.
"...you prevented an important strategic asset from falling into enemy hands."
His eyes settled on Guy.
"Especially you, Guy. You remained calm under pressure and displayed remarkable courage."
Guy naturally understood what Homura was referring to.
The Byakugan had not been successfully taken by Ao.
"It was my duty."
Homura glanced at him but did not comment on the modest response.
Instead, he continued.
"The mission evaluation has been upgraded."
"Due to your performance during the critical moment and your role in preventing a major loss to the village, headquarters has approved additional wartime merit rewards."
His gaze swept across all three of them.
"Might Guy, awarded 100 merit points."
"Ebisu and Shiranui Genma, awarded 50 merit points each."
"One hundred?! Fifty?!"
Ebisu nearly shouted.
He quickly covered his mouth.
However, his eyes behind the sunglasses had already widened into circles.
Even the senbon in Genma's mouth stopped moving as surprise and delight flashed across his face.
This was a huge gain.
Guy himself was slightly shaken.
One hundred merit points were enough to exchange for a considerable amount of resources.
"Take the next few days to recover and prepare for your next mission."
Homura said nothing further.
After finishing, he departed alongside his attendants.
Only after his figure disappeared around the corner of the camp did Ebisu finally release a sharp breath.
"One hundred points! Fifty points! We're rich!"
"We really struck gold this time!"
"Guy, you're incredible!"
Genma also revealed a rare and obvious smile.
He reached out and firmly patted Guy's shoulder.
Guy grinned, but his thoughts had already drifted toward the medical tent.
Taking a deep breath, he lifted the curtain and entered.
The light inside was soft.
The scent of medicine lingered heavily in the air.
Hyuga Yukian was half reclining against a hospital bed.
A thick white bandage covered his right eye socket, and the dried bloodstains were still visible.
He stared blankly at a spot on the ceiling.
The calm and somewhat distant expression he usually wore was gone.
In its place was a hollow emptiness.
As well as weakness that could not be concealed after losing such an important organ.
Hearing movement, Hyuga Yukian slowly turned his head.
His remaining white eye landed on the three who had entered.
"Captain!"
Guy and the others walked over.
Their expressions unconsciously became serious.
Although they had not spent much time with Hyuga Yukian, seeing him in this condition still weighed heavily on them.
His gaze slowly swept over Ebisu and Genma before settling on Guy.
Without saying a word, he struggled to support himself with his arms.
It looked as though he wanted to sit straighter.
Or perhaps even stand.
"Captain, don't move!"
Guy immediately stepped forward, intending to help.
Yet Hyuga Yukian avoided his hand.
He stubbornly planted both feet on the ground.
Although his body swayed slightly, he stood firm.
Then, before the stunned eyes of Guy, Ebisu, and Genma, this Hyuga Main House Jonin bowed deeply toward Guy.
"Guy, thank you."
"Captain! What are you doing?!"
Guy was startled and hurriedly stepped aside while supporting Hyuga Yukian's arm.
"Please stand up! We're teammates. This is what I should have done!"
Hyuga Yukian slowly straightened.
His remaining eye stared directly at Guy.
The usual coldness and distance had disappeared.
"No. This goes beyond simply doing what should be done."
His voice was hoarse, yet every word was firm.
"If it weren't for your vigilance and warning beforehand, and if it weren't for your final eruption of strength..."
"My Byakugan would already be in Ao's hands."
He paused.
The muscles beneath the bandage twitched slightly.
His voice became lower.
And heavier.
"If that had happened..."
"Even if I survived, I would not have had the face to continue living."
Guy felt his heart tremble.
Looking into Hyuga Yukian's remaining eye, he could see the unwavering determination within it.
There was not the slightest exaggeration in those words.
For the Hyuga Clan, whose pride and secrets revolved around the Byakugan, losing an eye to an enemy was a disgrace worse than death.
Had the Byakugan truly been stolen, Hyuga Yukian would likely have chosen death to preserve the honor of the Hyuga name.
A complicated feeling rose within Guy.
After a long pause, he finally asked the question that had lingered in his heart.
"Was it worth it?"
Hyuga Yukian fell silent.
He looked deeply at Guy.
It was as if he could see straight through him.
After a moment, he slowly answered.
"It was worth it."
"This is the glory of the Hyuga Clan and the secret that the Main House is sworn to protect."
"Sometimes there are things more important than an individual's life."
He raised a hand and gently touched the bandage over his ruined eye.
"This eye is gone."
"But it still belongs to the Hyuga Clan."
"It did not disgrace the name of the Main House."
"That outcome is ten thousand times better than having it taken away and living on in shame."
Guy remained silent.
Ebisu and Genma also pressed their lips together.
The tent fell quiet.
Perhaps they could never completely understand the conviction of placing clan honor above one's own life.
But they could feel the weight and determination behind Hyuga Yukian's words.
After a long while, Hyuga Yukian finally seemed to emerge from those heavy emotions.
His gaze shifted toward the alloy nunchaku resting beside Guy's bed.
"Your weapon..."
"It is very unique."
His words broke the silence.
"It isn't a conventional ninja tool."
"The way it uses chains and centrifugal force to alter attack trajectories and extend striking range..."
"Did you design it yourself?"
Guy was caught off guard by the sudden change in topic.
He picked up the nunchaku and briefly explained the fundamentals of chain weapons, including how they generated force and how they could seamlessly transition between offense and defense while functioning at both long and close range.
Hyuga Yukian listened attentively.
His remaining eye subtly followed every movement during Guy's demonstration, analyzing each detail.
After Guy finished speaking, he pondered for a moment.
"A very interesting concept."
"It balances flexibility and ferocity exceptionally well."
He gave his evaluation.
Then he looked up once more.
His gaze toward Guy became somewhat different.
"Guy, I've observed your battles."
"Your Taijutsu foundation is extraordinarily solid."
"Your explosive power, speed, and endurance exceed those of your peers."
"Even many veteran Chunin cannot compare to you."
"The path you're walking is a path devoted entirely to Taijutsu."
Guy nodded.
He did not deny it.
This had been the direction he chose long ago.
Hyuga Yukian seemed to make up his mind.
Then he slowly spoke.
"The Hyuga Clan is famous for the Gentle Fist."
"Our techniques focus on precise strikes to tenketsu and exceptional Chakra control."
"However, within the Main House, there are also certain Taijutsu techniques passed down that differ from the Gentle Fist."
"Some of these techniques place extremely high demands on physical conditioning and instantaneous explosive power."
He paused.
Then he looked directly into Guy's eyes.
"I happen to know one such Taijutsu technique."
"And I think..."
"It may suit your weapon very well."
His voice became serious.
"Guy, are you willing to learn it?"
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