Disclaimer:
Naruto and all of its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
“Dialogue”
‘Thoughts’
-Author notes-
A.N – The pairing hasnt been decided yet.
So that part of the story is open for sugestions.
What pairing would you like to see for Sho?.
Chapter 10: The Father’s Shadow
Hiashi Hyuga sat in his private study… the morning light was starting to filter through the paper screens, warning him that he had just spent another night without sleep.
The room was austere, decorated only with a few scrolls and the ceremonial sword that had belonged to his father.
It was the room of a man who valued function over form, duty over comfort.
And it was the room where Hiashi did his thinking.
His pen moved across the page, recording the day’s business.
Clan finances.
Training schedules.
Diplomatic correspondence.
The endless minutiae of running one of Konoha’s most prominent families.
But his mind was elsewhere.
‘Shokuhi.’
The name surfaced unbidden, as it had been doing for weeks now.
His youngest son.
The one everyone considered the useless spare.
‘He’s changed.’
Hiashi set down his pen, his eyes drifting to the window.
Outside, the compound was coming to life…servants moving through the corridors, clan members beginning their daily training.
And somewhere out there, his son was doing…
something.
He’d heard the rumors, of course.
The head of the Hyuga clan heard everything.
The servants talked.
The elders whispered.
The branch members observed.
First, there was the miraculous recovery.
A fever that should have killed him, yet somehow left him stronger than before.
The healers couldn’t explain it.
The elders were suspicious.
Hiashi was…
uncertain.
Then, the spar that his son had with Neji.
Word had spread quickly through the compound…Shokuhi had challenged the prodigy of the clan, and he lasted thirty seconds.
Thirty seconds against Neji, who had been training since he could walk.
It was nothing to most shinobi, but to the sickly spare who could barely stand for ten minutes, it was unprecedented.
And now, the most troubling rumor of all.
‘He intends to enter the clan tournament.’ He had received the news from his youngest daughter, who happened to meet her siblings when they came for some training.
Hiashi’s jaw tightened.
The tournament was no place for someone like Shokuhi.
It was brutal, competitive, and unforgiving.
The other participants would show him no mercy, regardless of his bloodline.
‘Just because he’s my son doesn’t mean they’ll go easy on him.’
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
“Enter.”
A servant slid the door open, bowing low.
“Hyuga-sama.
The healer, Yamanaka Ryo, has arrived as you requested.”
Hiashi nodded.
“Send him in.”
The old healer entered, his expression as perpetually worried as ever.
He carried his medical kit, though Hiashi knew it was more for show than necessity.
“Hyuga-sama.
You requested my presence?”
“Yes.” Hiashi gestured to the cushion across from him.
“Sit.”
Ryo settled onto the cushion, his old eyes studying Hiashi with careful assessment.
“What can I help you with?”
Hiashi was quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts.
He wasn’t used to discussing his family with outsiders.
But Ryo had treated the Hyuga for decades, and Hiashi trusted his discretion.
“Shokuhi,” he said finally.
“I want to know everything you’ve observed about his recovery.”
Ryo’s expression flickered, but there was no surprise there.
He’d been expecting this question.
“His recovery has been…
unprecedented to say the least,” Ryo began carefully.
“The fever that should have killed him somehow cleared the blockages in his chakra pathways.
I’ve never seen anything like it in all my years of practice.”
“Nor have I,” Hiashi said.
“But that’s not what I’m asking.
I want to know if he’s truly recovered.
Or if this is just…
a temporary improvement.
A false hope.”
Ryo was quiet for a long moment to gather his thought befor continuing.
“His chakra pathways are still somewhat constricted, but significantly less than before.
His physical condition has improved dramatically.
His stamina, his strength, his overall health…all are better than I’ve ever seen them.”
He paused.
“But I cannot guarantee that this improvement will continue without any issues.
The human body can be unpredictable sometimes.
Especially one that was as damaged as his.
We can only keep a close eye on him and act if something happens.”
Hiashi absorbed the words, his expression unchanging.
“And his training?
The running, the conditioning exercises?
Is that safe for him?”
Ryo’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“He is training already?”
“Of course he is.” Hiashi scoffed.
“He is a young boy.
Now that he feels better, he is pushing himself as much as he can.
He probably feels the need to compensate for all the time he had spent bedridden.”
“I can understand the feeling.” Ryo inclined his head.
“The training is…
not advisable.
But I checked on him last week, and he seemed to be in good shape.
Whatever he is doing, it seems to be working.
His body is adapting, and growing stronger.”
“Is it sustainable?”
“There is no way to tell for sure, Hyuga-sama.” Ryo’s voice was honest, direct.
“His body could hold up.
Or it could break.”
Hiashi nodded slowly.
“I see.”
“Is there anything else, Hyuga-sama?”
“No.
You may go.”
Ryo rose, bowing, and left the room.
The door slid shut behind him.
Hiashi sat in the silence, his thoughts churning.
‘His body could break.
Just like…’
He forced the thought away, but it came back anyway.
‘Just like his mother.’ Hiashi had never told his children about the years he’d spent trying to save their mother.
She’d grown sick shortly after Hanabi’s birth…a slow, creeping illness that sapped her strength and stole her vitality.
The healers had been baffled.
No poison, no disease, no curse.
Just a body that had been weakened by too many births, too much stress, too little care.
He’d spent a fortune on specialists, on treatments, on anything that might help.
He’d neglected his duties, his training, his clan.
He’d poured everything into saving her.
And he’d failed.
She’d died anyway, slipping away in the night while he held her hand.
‘I couldn’t save her.
I couldn’t save the woman I loved.’
He’d made a vow that day.
He would never let himself become that vulnerable again.
He would never let love cloud his judgment.
He would never let himself be destroyed by grief.
And that meant he couldn’t let himself love too deeply.
‘Shokuhi is just like her.
The same weak constitution.
The same determination.
The same stubborn refusal to give up.’
Hiashi had tried to find a cure for his son’s condition, just as he’d tried to find one for his wife’s.
He’d consulted healers, researched ancient texts, even reached out to allies in other villages.
All without success.
And when it became clear that Shokuhi might not survive his fever, Hiashi had felt the familiar weight of helplessness settle over him.
‘Dying from sickness may be for the best.’
The words had been cruel.
He knew that.
But they’d also been honest.
He’d watched his wife suffer for years, watched her body waste away, watched the light fade from her eyes.
The thought of watching his son go through the same thing had been unbearable.
‘If he died, he wouldn’t suffer anymore.’
And now Shokuhi was getting better.
Stronger.
Pushing himself harder than ever before.
‘If he pushes too hard, he’ll break.
Just like she did.’
Hiashi’s hands clenched into fists.
‘I won’t let that happen.
I won’t lose another family member to their own stubbornness.’
He rose from his seat, his decision made.
“I need to talk to him.”
<><>
The summons went out that afternoon.
Hiashi sat in his private meeting hall, the room empty save for himself and the servants who had prepared the space.
He’d dismissed them all, leaving only the silence and his own thoughts.
His son would be here soon.
He needed to be ready.
The door slid open, and Shokuhi entered.
Hiashi studied him carefully, noting the changes he’d observed over the past weeks.
His son stood taller now, his posture less hunched.
His eyes were clearer, more focused.
There was a new energy about him, a determination that hadn’t been there before.
‘He looks healthier.
Stronger.’
Hiashi pushed the thought aside.
“Close the door.”
Shokuhi did as he was told, sliding the door shut behind him.
He settled onto the cushion across from Hiashi, his back straight, his hands resting on his knees.
His eyes met Hiashi’s gaze without flinching.
‘His attitude is also different… he’s not showing fear and looks much more secure in himself.’ Hiashi noted.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Hiashi studied his son’s face, searching for any sign of the weakness that had defined him for so long.
He found none.
“You’ve been training a lot,” Hiashi said finally.
It wasn’t a question.
Shokuhi nodded.
“Yes, Father.”
“With a genin named Rock Lee.”
Sho froze, and his eyes went wide.
“You also have been leaving the compound before dawn every day,” Hiashi added.
“You…you knew?.” Sho sounded shocked.
Hiashi’s eyes narrowed.
“You thought I didn’t know?
You thought you were being sneaky?”
He watched his son’s face flush with embarrassment.
That was good.
He needed to understand that secrecy was impossible in this clan.
“I…
I thought I was being careful.”
“You were being careless.” Hiashi’s voice was sharp.
“This is the Hyuga compound.
There are eyes everywhere.
The servants see everything.
The branch members report everything.
Did you think I wouldn’t notice you slipping out every morning to go training in that forest north of the village, or that you were meeting with one of Neji’s teammates and the Uzumaki boy?.”
Shokuhi looked away to hide his embarrassment, and Hiashi was reminded that his son was still young and naive.
“I didn’t tell you because…” His son paused, searching for words.
“I didn’t think you’d care.”
Hiashi’s expression did not change.
“What foolishness is that?.
Of course I care about what you do.”
Shokuhi blinked, surprise evident on his face.
“You do?”
“You are my son.” Hiashi said.
” You are my son and everything you say or do, will be reflected back onto me.
Every time either you or your sisters make a mistake, I have to hear the Clan Elders complaining.”
“Oh…I see.” Sho looked clearly disappointed.
Hiashi knew this was no the answer his son wanted to hear, but giving him what he wanted was not an option he could take.
A person who was satisfied with who they were, will never strive to improve themselves, and he wanted his son to become the best man he could be.
“Now…on another topic.” Hiashi continued.
“What is this I hear about you entering the clan tournament?.”
“Hanabi told you…” Sho muttered.
“Of course she did.” Hiashu scoffed.
“That little girl is the most proper of you three.”
“Well, I’ve been training hard and I’ve been getting stronger.” Shokuki said.
“I want to prove myself at the tournament.”
“I see…” Hiashi watched the emotions shifting across his son’s face.
Pride, defiance and anger.
‘So he still sees himself as nothing more than a burden.’ He could guess what Shokuhi was thinking without the need of any jutsu.
“I know I’m not going to win,” Shokuhi added.
“I know I’m still weak.
But I will still…”
“Do you know what happens in the clan tournament?” Hiashi asked, his voice carefully controlled.
“I’ve seen it before.
I know the format.”
“You’ve seen it from the sidelines.” Hiashi’s voice sharpened.
“You’ve never been in it.
You’ve never felt what it’s like to be in that arena, with everyone watching, expecting you to fail.”
Shokuhi’s jaw tightened.
“I know.
But-”
“Just because you are my son does not mean the other participants will show you mercy.” Hiashi was cold, clinical now.
“In fact, they may try harder.
They may see you as an easy target, a chance to prove themselves by defeating the clan head’s son.”
“I know that,” Shokuhi said, his voice rising.
“I’m not naive.
I know they won’t go easy on me.”
“Then why do it?” Hiashi demanded.
“Why put yourself through that?
You know you can’t win.
You know you’ll be humiliated.”
Shokuhi’s eyes flashed with anger.
“Because I’m tired of being humiliated!
I’m tired of everyone looking at me like I’m worthless!
I’m tired of being treated like a burden that everyone wishes would just disappear!”
‘So that’s what it was…”
Hiashi’s expression was cold as stone.
“So you want to enter the tournament to prove everyone that you’re not weak?”
“Yes.”
Hiashi scoffed.
“That’s a foolish way of thinking.
You’re still a child if you care so much about the othe opinion of the other clan members.
You think they have been cruel to you and want to prove them wrong.”
“I…” Sho didn’t know what to say.
“You don’t understand how the world works.
You don’t understand what true cruelty looks like.
But if you keep walking this path all the way through…you will find out one day.”
Shokuhi’s hands clenched into fists.
“I dont care what you say!.
I will enter the tournament and prove to everyone that I am no longer weak and worthless.”
Hiashi’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re making a mistake.
You’ll embarrass yourself.
You’ll embarrass the clan.
Give up on that silly task, take your time to recover, and perhaps next year…”
“I don’t care about the clan.” Shokuhi’s voice was sharp.
“Now, I only want to prove you wrong.”
Hiashi wanted to explain.
Wanted to tell his son about the sleepless nights, the desperate searches for a cure, the helpless rage of watching his family waste away and being unable to save them.
He wanted to say, “I couldn’t save your mother.
I couldn’t bear the thought of watching you die too.
So stop pushing yourself so hard…”
But he couldn’t.
That would mean opening himself up.
That would mean vulnerability.
That would mean admitting that he’d failed as a father, as a husband, as a man.
Instead, he did what he always did.
He retreated behind the mask.
“Then you’ll fail.” Hiashi’s voice was flat.
“The tournament will eat you alive.”
“Maybe.” Shokuhi’s hands clenched into fists.
“But at least I’ll have tried.
That’s more than you ever did for me.”
Hiashi felt the words like a slap.
He kept his face impassive.
“Go,” he said coldly.
“I have nothing more to say to you.”
Shokuhi turned toward the door, his shoulders rigid with anger.
He paused with his hand on the frame.
“I’m going to win,” he said quietly.
“Not because you believe in me.
But because I believe in myself.”
He left, the door sliding shut behind him.
Hiashi sat alone in the empty hall, staring at the closed door.
‘He’s so angry.
So determined.
Just like her.’
He thought about his wife’s face as she lay dying.
Thought about the doctors’ helpless expressions.
Thought about the months of watching her fade away, piece by piece.
‘I couldn’t save her.
I can’t save him either.
But at least…
at least he’s alive.’
He closed his eyes, steadying his breathing.
‘Let him be angry.
Let him hate me, if that serves as his motivation to keep improving himself.
As long as he’s alive, I don’t care what he thinks of me.’
His hand trembled slightly, and he pressed it against his knee to steady it.
[Status Update – End of Chapter 10]
Name: Hyuga Shokuhi
Level: 2
Title: The Eclipsed Spare
Stats:
Strength: 5
Agility: 4
Vitality: 6 (↑ from 5)
Perception: 6
Chakra Capacity: 5 (↑ from 4)
Chakra Control: 5
Status Effects:
Chakra Vein Constriction (Mild) – Permanent
Chronic Fatigue (Moderate) – Permanent
Brittle Bones (Mild) – Permanent
Byakugan Inefficiency – Permanent
Passive Skills:
Endurance: Novice (Level 6) (↑ from Level 4) – Allows the user to push the body past its normal limits for an extended period of time.
Shuriken Throw: Novice (Level 5) – Increases accuracy when throwing shuriken and kunai by 30%.
Active Skills:
Clone Technique: Novice (Level 2) (↑ from Level 1) – Creates two tangible illusions of the user.
Clones have no substance but are visually identical.
Gentle Fist: Novice (Level 1) – Basic understanding of Hyuga Gentle Fist techniques.
Strikes are still clumsy and imprecise.
Quests Active:
Eyes of the Clan – Objective: Perform well in the next clan tournament to demonstrate your growth.
(Progress: 0/1)
The Road of the Strong – Objective: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and run 10 miles every day for 30 days.
(Progress: 20/30)
A.N: