Shikigami Summoning in Konoha

Below is the English translation of Chapter Chapter 18: The Battle Begins!

In the evening on the streets of Konoha, Hinata and Katsuragi walked side by side. Due to the previous kidnapping incident, when Hinata suggested she accompany Katsuragi, the Hyūga clan specifically assigned a guard to protect them discreetly from the shadows.

"Katsuragi! Why do you want to fight with Brother Neji?"

"Hmm?"

Hearing Hinata's question, Katsuragi paused, unsure if Hinata had heard Neji's remark earlier. Judging by her current demeanor, it seemed she hadn't, so he replied with a smile, "It's nothing. He's so arrogant; it'll be good for him to be put in his place!"

"But..."

Hinata lowered her head, voicing her concern softly, "I don't want either of you to get hurt!"

"Hmm, who would you be more upset about getting hurt, me or that guy Neji?" Katsuragi stopped walking and turned to Hinata with a teasing smile.

Caught off guard by his question, Hinata's face turned red, and after hesitating for a while, she whispered in almost a mosquito's buzz, "I… I don't want you… to get hurt."

"Heh heh!"

Fortunately, Katsuragi's hearing was sharp enough to catch her response. He chuckled twice, then reassured her, "Don't worry! I won't get hurt. And for your sake, I'll try not to let him get hurt too."

Originally, Katsuragi had planned to teach Neji a lesson, but seeing Hinata's worried look, he decided to let Neji off easy. After all, Neji was a member of the Hyūga clan and the son of the recently deceased Hiashi, so it wouldn't sit well with Hiashi if his nephew were too harshly treated.

"Thank you, Katsuragi!" Hinata whispered her thanks, then stole a glance at Katsuragi, seemingly wanting to say more.

"By the way!"

Katsuragi suddenly remembered the gift he had prepared for a long time and hadn't yet given. Glancing at the guard following them at a distance, he discreetly pulled out a beautifully wrapped box from his backpack.

"This is!?" Hinata's eyes lit up with surprise, having thought Katsuragi had forgotten about the gift. She had been debating whether to bring it up, but Katsuragi had remembered after all.

"Yes! A gift I've prepared with great care!" Seeing Hinata's happy face improved Katsuragi's mood, which had been soured by Neji. As he handed over the gift, he suddenly thought of something and advised, "But, Hinata, it's best if you keep this just between us. Can we keep it a secret?"

While the gift itself was not a significant issue—most people would probably regard it as a mere craft if they saw it—because it was made by Katsuragi, it could raise questions. He hadn't considered this earlier due to his excitement at successfully crafting it.

If others found out about this object and traced it back to him, how would he explain its origin? Revealing that he made it could expose Yuki-onna's abilities.

"Now that I've already brought it out, it would be awkward to take it back, so I can only ask Hinata to keep it secret," Katsuragi thought.

"Okay!" Hinata nodded seriously. Although she didn't yet know what was in the box, she would do her best to fulfill his request since Katsuragi had asked.

Katsuragi might have been overthinking it. Once Hinata got home and saw what he had made, she definitely wouldn't show it to others, especially since Katsuragi, for his part, had specifically crafted it in the likeness of a couple as part of his somewhat mischievous plan.

Given Hinata's character, she would likely blush and secretly treasure it away. That would be just like her.

After bidding farewell to an excited Hinata, who was eager to go home and open her gift, Katsuragi returned to his own home, completed his routine practice, and continued learning with the Three-Tailed Fox and Yuki-onna in the courtyard.

The next day, although Katsuragi had intended to ask if Hinata was satisfied with the gift, upon seeing her blush at their meeting, he ultimately decided not to ask. Her expression hardly seemed like one of dislike!

Conversely, Neji's look at him was full of dissatisfaction, likely resenting every moment forced to stay there by Hiashi's strict orders.

As days passed, the two weeks quickly flew by. The medical ninja who had treated Katsuragi had underestimated his recovery capabilities; less than a month had passed, and his wounds had fully healed.

That afternoon, Neji was practicing as usual with Hinata. As he prepared to leave, Katsuragi stopped him.

"Hyūga Neji, you haven't forgotten our agreement, have you?"

"Of course!" Neji replied seriously, having realized a week into their training that Katsuragi was not as weak as he had initially thought. His previous judgment had been too hasty.

Still, Neji was confident in his victory, believing his father's guidance and a year's age advantage over Katsuragi, who had grown up in an orphanage, gave him the upper hand.

All this confidence, however, was based on his ignorance of Katsuragi's Shikigami powers. If he knew Katsuragi could handle even lower ninjas, he might not have been so optimistic.

"You ready to try now?" Neji asked in a grave tone.

"What, you have something else to do?" Katsuragi stretched and reassured Hinata, who was anxiously watching them both. He then taunted Neji, "Don't worry, beating you won't take long."

"You…"

Neji's handsome face tensed with anger at Katsuragi's challenge, replying coldly, "Just don't come crying for mercy later!"

Hiashi, having noticed their interaction, stepped beside them and said, "Since you two have agreed, let's start now, and I'll be the judge."

In truth, Hiashi was quite curious about Katsuragi's capabilities. Although he knew Katsuragi had held off two ninjas, he hadn't witnessed the battle himself. Allowing Neji to test him was partly to gauge just how skilled Katsuragi was.

"Thank you, sir!"

Katsuragi thanked Hiashi, then moved with Neji to the training field to begin their match.

"Please instruct!"

"Please instruct!"

Despite their mutual dislike, necessary courtesies were observed. After bowing to each other, they took fighting stances as Hiashi announced the start of their match.

Watching Neji's cautious demeanor, Katsuragi considered how to defeat him without breaking his promise to Hinata not to harm Neji, but he also wanted to vent his frustration, leaving him somewhat conflicted.

End of Chapter 18