Shikigami Summoning in Konoha

Chapter 17: Stirring Up Trouble!

It took a full week before Hiashi Hyūga sent someone to inform Katsuragi that he could resume studying with Hinata. In the meantime, a peace treaty between Konoha and the Cloud Village was officially signed, putting the village in a festive and joyful mood.

However, they were unaware that this peace was purchased with the humiliation of the Third Hokage and the Hyūga clan, at the cost of the clan leader's own younger brother, securing only a temporary respite from conflict.

Upon arriving at the Hyūga compound, and after several days of recovery, the atmosphere within the clan still carried a scent of sorrow, but it was much improved compared to his first visit.

Katsuragi entered the training room where Hiashi had instructed him to go, only to find a slightly older boy standing next to Hinata, someone he felt he had seen before.

"Lord Hiashi!" Katsuragi greeted, noticing Hinata's surprised and pleased expression, which made him secretly joyful. It seemed his efforts to foster a good relationship over this time had been successful.

Just a few days apart, and Hinata was already missing him. Katsuragi thought proudly to himself.

Fortunately, the Byakugan cannot read minds. Otherwise, if Hiashi knew Katsuragi was already eyeing his daughter at such a young age, it's hard to say whether he might be driven out in a fit of rage.

"Katsuragi, let me introduce you. This is Hyūga Neji, and from now on, the three of you will train together," Hiashi indicated the aloof young man standing next to Hinata.

"Hyūga Neji!?"

Katsuragi was taken aback and then turned to look more closely at him. With black hair and handsome features, he indeed resembled the 'tragically fated' Neji from later in the story, though currently, instead of a forehead protector, his forehead was wrapped in a white cloth.

"Caged Bird?"

With his knowledge of the plot, Katsuragi knew about the branch family's Curse Mark, the Caged Bird Seal, used by the main family to control and ensure absolute obedience from the branch family.

"Hello, I'm Katsuragi. Nice to meet you!" Katsuragi didn't ponder for long and extended a hand with a smile to the cold Neji.

However, Neji just gave Katsuragi a chilly look and neither shook his hand nor introduced himself, leaving Katsuragi feeling somewhat awkward and a bit irritated.

"Neji nii-san!" Hinata watched the two with a worried look.

"Neji!" Seeing Neji's response, Hiashi frowned and sternly rebuked, "Katsuragi is greeting you!"

Only then did Neji react, giving Katsuragi, who was awkwardly retracting his hand, a frosty response: "Hyūga Neji."

"Hmph!"

Hiashi grunted and then looked at Neji with a complicated gaze. Perhaps he was considering the recent loss of his brother, as he ultimately said nothing more.

"Katsuragi, since you're still injured, do some recovery exercises on the side. Neji, Hinata, you two practice sparring," Hiashi quickly made arrangements for the trio.

Katsuragi moved aside to start some light training while keeping an eye on Hinata and Neji.

Although called a sparring session, it was more of Hinata attempting to attack and Neji defensively blocking without much engagement, which explained Neji's unpleasant expression when Hiashi had spoken earlier.

"Ouch!"

Trying to test his recovery, Katsuragi accidentally exerted himself too much and aggravated his wound, involuntarily hissing in pain.

"What's wrong?"

As the clan leader of the Hyūga, Hiashi, hearing Katsuragi's hiss, turned to look in his direction and asked.

"It's nothing! It's nothing!" Seeing Hinata also stop and look at him worriedly, Katsuragi quickly waved his hand to indicate he was fine.

"Waste of time!" Neji, who was already reluctant to train there, muttered under his breath upon seeing Hinata distracted by Katsuragi, wasting what he considered precious time.

Katsuragi's gaze hardened upon hearing Neji's comment. Although Neji spoke softly, with the power of his Shikigami, he had still heard the muttered insult.

Hiashi noticed too but only frowned deeply, looking at Neji with a stern face before finally sighing and saying, "Enough for today, Neji, you may leave."

"Excuse me!" Neji didn't hesitate, bowing slightly and then leaving. As he passed Katsuragi, he glanced disdainfully at the training equipment by Katsuragi's side, his look full of scorn.

"You, young man, have stirred up big trouble!"

Katsuragi was burning with anger. If it weren't for his injury and his reluctance to reveal Yuki-onna's powers, he really wanted to pin Neji down and teach him a lesson.

Watching Neji about to leave the training room, Katsuragi called out, "Hyūga Neji!"

Neji paused, turning his head slightly as if wondering why Katsuragi was calling him.

"Let's have a test in two weeks! If you're not a waste, that is!"

Katsuragi couldn't swallow his pride. Having previously challenged ninjas, what was there to fear from Neji, who wasn't even a ninja yet? Besides, he was confident in his real strength to beat Neji.

"Huh!" Neji scoffed, clearly disdainful of Katsuragi's words, and responded without turning back, "I don't have time to play games with you!"

"This guy!" Katsuragi considered whether to find a dark and stormy night to teach Hyūga Neji a lesson with a sack and a brick, given how arrogant he was. It's no wonder why in the original story, while all his peers survived, he died young, his character flawed from a young age.

However, Hiashi's next words stopped Katsuragi's drastic night plans, preventing a rumor of a young boy's tragic cries from spreading through the village.

"Neji, accept his challenge! Katsuragi's skills are much higher than yours! Sparring with him will benefit you."

Upon hearing Hiashi's words, Neji turned around, his face extremely ugly. He looked at Hiashi, then at Katsuragi who was a year younger, his eyes filled with rage: "Fine, I hope you won't regret this!"

"Hmm! Hopefully!" Katsuragi responded coolly. If he couldn't even beat Neji with the power of Shikigami, how was he supposed to face the likes of Obito or Madara Uchiha in the future? He might as well bury himself now.

"Katsuragi... Brother Neji..."

Only Hinata looked worriedly from Katsuragi to Neji. She genuinely didn't want them to fight and hoped they could get along well.

End of Chapter 17