Disclaimer:
Naruto and all of its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
“Dialogue”
‘Thoughts’
-Author notes-
Chapter 08: The Sibling’s Bond
Sho made his decision the moment he returned from his morning training with Lee.
He would ask Hinata for help.
It wasn’t an easy choice.
For eleven years, he’d been the one who needed help, the one who was always receiving and never giving.
Asking for more felt selfish, as if he were taking advantage of his sister’s kindness.
But the tournament was approaching, and he couldn’t afford to be proud.
‘She’s my sister.
She’s never given up on me.
The least I can do is ask.’
<><>
The Hyuga compound was incredibly vast, a maze of traditional buildings and covered walkways.
Sho had grown up here, but he’d never truly explored it.
His weakness had kept him confined to his room and the immediate surroundings.
Now, he walked through the corridors with a clear purpose.
Hinata’s quarters were on the eastern side of the compound, closer to the main house where their father resided.
It was a privilege to be the heir… living closer to the clan head, closer to the center of power.
Sho had always been relegated to the western wing, far from the main house.
Out of sight, out of mind.
He found Hinata in one of the smaller training grounds, a secluded courtyard surrounded by bamboo and flowering shrubs.
She was practicing basic forms, her movements were slow and precise.
He paused at the entrance and observed her for a moment.
This was not something he was used to seeing.
Hinata moved with a grace that belied her shy nature.
Her strikes were clean, her stances balanced.
She’d clearly been training hard, her face set in an expression of concentration that was rare for her.
‘She trains for hours every day.
She pushes herself harder than anyone knows.’
Sho felt a surge of anger at the thought of the clan elders, of Neji, of anyone who looked down on his sister.
They claimed she had no talent, that she was too soft, too weak.
But they never saw this side of her.
They never saw the hours of effort she put in, the determination behind her gentle eyes.
‘They don’t know her at all.’
He stepped into the courtyard.
“Hinata.”
She startled, spinning around.
Her cheeks flushed pink when she saw him.
“Sho-kun!
I didn’t hear you approach!”
“Sorry.
I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
“You’re not interrupting.” She lowered her guard, her expression softening.
“I was just…
practicing some basic forms.”
“I could see that.” He walked closer.
“You’re really good, Hinata.
I know the elders don’t see it, but…
you’re really good.”
Her blush deepened.
“Thank you, Sho-kun.
That means a lot coming from you.”
They stood in silence for a moment.
“Sho-kun…” Hinata’s voice was hesitant.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.
You can ask me anything.” He responded without hesitation.
“You’ve been…
different lately.
Much more energetic.” She paused.
“I have never seen you like this before.”
” I have never felt better, so…I’ve been training a lot,” Sho said.
“I need to put a lot of extra effort in if I want to catch up to the level that is expected of me.”
“You have been training by yourself?” Her eyes widened.
“What kind of training?”
He’d known this moment would come.
He’d prepared for it, practiced what he would say.
But now that it was here, the words felt inadequate.
“I met someone outside the clan compound,” he began.
“A ninja named Rock Lee.
He’s a genin, and he’s been helping me train.”
Hinata’s expression shifted from surprise to concern.
“A genin?
But Sho-kun, you barely know him!
How can you trust-”
“He’s a good person, Hinata.” Sho’s voice was firm.
“He’s a bit like me…he was born with a condition that makes it hard for him to use chakra.
He can’t use ninjutsu or genjutsu at all.
But he doesn’t let that stop him.
He trains harder than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
Hinata was quiet for a few seconds.
“And he’s been helping you train?.
What have you been doing exactly?”
“Every morning.
Before dawn.” Sho smiled.
“I’ve been running with him.
Training with him.
And…” He paused, considering how much to reveal.
“It’s been working.
I’m getting stronger.”
He could see the emotions flickering across her face, a mixture of surprise and worry.
But there was also a hint of disappointment.
“Why didn’t you tell me before??
After all, she was his sister, and since their mother passed away, she had also been his protector.
She’d spent her whole life looking out for him, and now he’d been keeping secrets.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” he said quickly.
“I wanted to, but…
I wanted to make sure my recovery was real first.
I didn’t want to get your hopes up if I failed and ended up bedridden again….”
Hinata stepped closer.
“Sho-kun, you could never fail in my eyes.
I’ve always believed in you.”
He felt his throat tighten.
“I know.
I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” She took his hand, squeezing it gently.
“I’m glad you found someone to help you.
I’m glad you’re getting stronger.” A pause.
“But…
why are you training so hard?
What changed?”
Sho took a breath.
“I want to participate in the tournament.”
Hinata’s eyes went wide.
“The clan tournament?
But Sho-kun, that’s in less than two months!”
“I know.”
“But you’ve never even-” She stopped herself, clearly not wanting to hurt his feelings.
“I mean, the tournament is extremely competitive.
The strongest boys from the branch house will participate, hoping to earn the favor of Father, or maybe a Clan Elder.
Even Neji might be there…he was last year’s winner.”
“I know.” Sho met her gaze, his expression steady.
” I am aware that I’m not going to win.
I know that.
But I want to prove something.
I want to show everyone…Father, the elders, Neji, that I’m not so weak anymore.
That I’m not a burden.”
Hinata was silent for a long moment.
Then, slowly, she smiled.
“You’re not a burden, Sho-kun.
You never were.” She squeezed his hand again.
“And if you want to participate in the tournament…
I’ll help you.”
His heart leaped.
“Really?”
“Really.” She nodded, her expression resolute.
“I can teach you the basic forms of the Gentle Fist.
It won’t be enough to win, but it might be enough to…
prove something.”
“Thank you, Hinata.” His voice was thick with emotion.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Just promise me that you will be careful, so I dont have to see you bedridden ever again.” She was serious.
“I will.
I promise.”
<><>
Hinata led him to a larger training ground, one used by the younger members of the clan.
It was surrounded by high walls, with wooden dummies and practice targets arranged in neat rows.
When they arrived, they found someone already there.
Hanabi Hyuga was eleven years old, a year younger than Sho and Hinata.
She had the same white eyes, the same dark hair, but there the resemblance ended.
Where Hinata was gentle and soft-spoken, Hanabi was sharp and fierce.
Where Hinata hesitated, Hanabi acted.
She was practicing her forms, and she was good at it…really good.
Her strikes were precise, her movements fluid.
She’d clearly been training just as hard as Hinata, if not harder.
“Hanabi,” Hinata called out softly.
“May we join you?”
Hanabi stopped mid-strike, turning to face them.
Her eyes narrowed when she saw Sho.
“Hinata.
And…” Her gaze flickered over Sho with obvious disdain.
“Shokuhi.”
“Hello, Hanabi.” Sho kept his voice neutral.
“We were hoping to use the training ground.”
“Were you?” Hanabi’s tone was dismissive.
“And what do you plan to do here?
Collapse from exhaustion?
Need someone to carry you back to your room?”
Sho’s jaw tightened.
He’d known Hanabi was dismissive of his situation; she’d made that clear over the years.
But hearing it so bluntly still stung.
“Hanabi,” Hinata said, her voice carrying a note of warning.
“Dont say those things.
Our brother has been very sick recently, and didn’t even visit him once.”
“I’m just stating facts.” Hanabi crossed her arms, her expression unchanging.
“He’s never trained a day in his life.
He can barely stand for ten minutes.
What could he possibly do in a training ground?”
“I’m training for the tournament,” Sho said, his voice flat.
“I’m going to participate.”
Hanabi’s eyes widened, just slightly, before her dismissive expression returned.
“The tournament?
You?” She laughed, a cold, humorless sound.
“That’s absurd.
You’ll embarrass the clan, and our family.
You’ll be defeated in the first round by any member of the branch house.”
“Maybe that’s true, but…” Sho met her gaze without flinching.
“But I’ll still try.”
Hanabi studied him for a moment, something flickering behind her eyes.
Then she scoffed.
“Fine.
Waste your time.
But don’t expect me to go easy on you if we meet in the tournament.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Sho had already predicted that Hanabi would attend.
Hinata never liked those competitions, so Hanabi thought it was her duty to represent our family and make Father proud.
Of course, no one ever thought of Sho taking part in such an event.
Hanabi turned back to her training, dismissing them both.
Sho could feel her eyes on him as he and Hinata moved to the far side of the training ground.
‘She wants to prove herself.
She wants to be the heir.
That’s why she’s so harsh on everyone, including herself.’
He understood that much.
Hanabi was young and ambitious, desperate for their father’s approval.
She saw Hinata as weak and Sho as worthless.
For Hanabi, her siblings were obstacles between her and what she wanted.
‘She doesn’t realize that being heir isn’t about being the strongest.
It’s about being worthy of the position.
And Hinata is worthier than any of us.’ Sho thought.
<><>
The training session was far from easy.
Hinata started with the basic stances, footwork, and the proper way to hold one’s hands.
It was humbling, being reduced to the simplest exercises.
Sho’s body protested, his muscles screaming in ways they hadn’t during his morning runs.
But he pushed through.
“Your stance is too wide,” Hinata said gently, adjusting his feet with her own.
“You need to be stable but mobile.
Your center of gravity should be low.”
Sho adjusted, trying to follow her instructions.
It was awkward, his body unaccustomed to the positions.
“Like this?”
“Better.” Hinata circled him, her eyes assessing.
“Now try a basic palm strike.”
He struck out, his palm slicing through the air.
It was clumsy, lacking the precision of a true Gentle Fist technique.
“Your wrist is too stiff,” Hinata observed.
“Loosen it.
Your power should come from your hips, not your arm.”
Sho tried again.
And again.
And again.
It was frustrating.
The movements looked so simple when Hinata did them, so effortless.
But his body refused to cooperate.
‘This is going to take a long time.’
But then, as he completed his twentieth repetition, something caught his eye.
At the edge of his vision, a small number appeared.
It was barely visible, like a ghost in his peripheral vision.
+5 Experience
He blinked, and it was gone.
But he’d seen it.
‘Was that…
experience?
From training?’
He focused, trying to see it again.
He completed another palm strike.
+5 Experience
Again.
+5 Experience
A grin spread across his face.
‘I see…every bit of training gives me experience.
I don’t need to depend on just quests to level up.
I merely need to train, and I will get better.’
His heart raced with excitement.
The system had been a mystery, its rules unclear.
But at least he understood that hard work alone would already make him stronger.
Every repetition, every effort, every failure and success would bring him closer to his goals.
‘This could change my approach, perhaps…’
“What is it?” Hinata asked, noticing his sudden expression.
” You stopped all of a sudden.
Is something wrong?.
Did you get hurt?”
“No.” He shook his head, his smile widening.
“I just…
I think I understand something now.”
“Understand what?”
“Hard work.” He looked at his hands, still small and pale, but no longer trembling.
“I understand that hard work pays off.
That every bit of effort matters.”
Hinata smiled, her eyes warm with affection.
“That’s a good lesson to learn.”
“It is.” He returned to the training with renewed excitement.
Hanabi would occasionally look at him, frown, and go back to her business.
They trained for another hour, Sho pushing himself harder than he ever had before.
Each repetition brought him closer to the next level, each mistake taught him something new.
By the end of the session, he was exhausted.
His body ached, his muscles burned, and his mind was foggy with fatigue.
But he’d made progress.
[Gentle Fist: Novice (Level 1) – Unlocked!]
Description: Basic understanding of Hyuga Gentle Fist techniques.
Your strikes are still clumsy and imprecise, but you have begun to understand the fundamentals of the style.
+50 Experience
Sho smiled, even as he collapsed onto the floor.
“Excellent work, Sho-kun,” Hinata said, her voice warm with pride.
“You’re learning faster than I expected.
Your moves at the end were getting good.”
“Thank you.” He looked up at her, his sister, his protector.
“For everything.”
She smiled down at him, and for a moment, the world felt right.
<><>
That night, as Sho lay in his futon, his body screaming with exhaustion, a new notification appeared in his vision.
He sat up immediately, his fatigue forgotten.
[LEGENDARY QUEST DETECTED!]
Quest: The Road of the Strong
Objective: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and run 10 miles every day for one month.
Reward: 5,000 Experience Points, “Chronic Fatigue (Moderate) – Permanent REMOVED!”Failure: Missing the daily quota will fail the mission.
There are no second chances for the weak.
Note: This quest is a test of will, not of skill.
You must complete the training without interruption.
The training is grueling and may push your body to its limits.
Do you accept?
[YES] / [NO]
Sho stared at the notification, his heart pounding.
The reward was monumental.
5,000 experience points would almost certainly push him to the next level.
The title was intriguing.
But the real prize…
“Chronic Fatigue (Moderate) – Permanent” REMOVED!
‘If I do this…
if I complete this quest…
my chronic fatigue will be gone.
Completely gone.’
He thought about what that would mean.
No more exhaustion.
No more collapsing after simple exertion.
No more feeling like he was carrying a weight that no one else could see.
‘I could train without limits.
I could push myself as hard as I wanted.
I could become truly strong.’
He looked at the requirements.
100 push-ups.
100 sit-ups.
100 squats.
10 miles of running.
Every day.
For a month.
It was insane.
Impossible.
His body would break before he finished the first week.
‘But Lee does much more than this every day.
He trains harder than anyone I’ve ever met.
If he can do it…
why can’t I?’
He thought about his father.
About Neji.
About the elders who’d written him off as worthless.
‘If I complete this quest, I’ll prove them all wrong.
I’ll prove that I’m not weak.
That I’m not a burden.
That I can become strong.’
His finger hovered over the notification.
‘This is my chance.
My real chance.’
[Do you accept?]
[YES] / [NO]
Sho took a breath.
“Yes,” he said firmly.
“I accept.”
[Quest Accepted: The Road of the Strong
Progress: 0/30 Days Complete
Your journey begins tomorrow.]
Sho lay back on his futon, staring at the ceiling.
His body was screaming in protest, but his heart was soaring.
‘A month.
One month of grueling training.
And then…
I’ll be free.’
He closed his eyes, a smile on his face.
‘I can do this.
I will do this.
And when I’m done…
nothing will stop me.’
[Status Update – End of Chapter 8]
Name: Hyuga Shokuhi
Level: 2
Title: The Eclipsed Spare
Stats:
Strength: 5
Agility: 4
Vitality: 5
Perception: 6
Chakra Capacity: 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 3) – Allows the user to push the body past its normal limits for a moderate period of time.
Shuriken Throw: Novice (Level 5) – Increases accuracy when throwing shuriken and kunai by 30%.
Active Skills:
Clone Technique: Novice (Level 1) – Creates one tangible illusion 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: 0/30)
A.N: