Naruto: Dual-Pupil Uchiha

"Genya! Where have you been these past few days? I haven't seen you at all—I missed you so much!"

Naruto threw his arms around Genya, his voice filled with excitement.

Up until now, Genya was still Naruto's only friend.

The other kids all followed their families' instructions and stayed away from him.

On top of that, Sarutobi Hiruzen had been keeping a close eye on Naruto—anyone who tried to approach him would quickly be warned off.

So, for all these years, Genya was the only one who ever got close to him.

As time passed, Naruto remained completely alone.

Besides Genya, the only person he had any sort of connection with was Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Of course, that was before Naruto knew the truth.

Back then, he believed Hiruzen was helping him out of kindness. He had no idea the old man was the one responsible for his current suffering.

Lately, Genya hadn't come to see him at all, and Naruto had really started to miss him.

It felt like months had gone by since they last met.

Naruto truly, deeply missed him.

As he spoke, maybe because of how emotional he was—or maybe for some other reason—a red chakra suddenly flared up around his body for just a brief moment, filled with a trace of killing intent.

But,

It only lasted for a single breath.

The red glow vanished as quickly as it appeared, like it had never been there at all.

What no one saw was that, in that brief instant, Genya had already exchanged a silent greeting with the Nine-Tails inside Naruto.

After not seeing each other for days, even the fox seemed to have a bit of an attitude toward him.

Genya gave it a few calming words.

Then he turned to Naruto, who had leapt into his arms.

"I've just been resting at home these days," Genya said. "I haven't gone out, that's all. Tonight, I'm treating you to dinner."

"Really?" Uzumaki Naruto's eyes lit up the moment he heard those words.

"I want to eat ramen—Ichiraku Ramen!"

Lately, the Third Hokage's allowance had been getting smaller and smaller.

Naruto could barely afford nearly expired food on discount.

When hunger really struck, he'd run to the river and try to catch a fish or two.

It had been ages since he last had a bowl of hot ramen.

"Alright," Genya said with a nod. "We'll go eat—and eat until we're full."

He turned to look at the students in his class and calmly added, "You all come too. We've graduated. This meal's on me."

His tone was steady, his words polite.

Treating everyone to a meal at Ichiraku didn't bother him—it wasn't a matter of money.

Genya just thought it'd be a good chance to build some goodwill.

"Genya, you're the best!" Naruto beamed, practically bouncing in place. "Once I graduate as a ninja and start doing missions, I'm totally treating you next time! So much good food!"

The blonde knucklehead nearly lunged forward to give Genya a kiss on the cheek, full of gratitude.

Genya shoved him away without hesitation.

He was a man of principle—and had absolutely no interest in being kissed by another guy.

"Thank you, Genya." A soft voice came from the side.

Hinata had walked up silently, hands clasped in front of her, cheeks tinged pink. She looked up at Genya shyly. She wanted to go too—it had been a long time since she'd had a moment alone with him.

But before she could say anything else, harsh voices cut through the moment.

"Tch, just one meal. Does he think we care that much?"

"Just a useless Uchiha."

"I heard he couldn't even learn proper ninjutsu and had to switch to taijutsu. Does he really think he's going to pass the ninja exams?"

"Trash. That's all he is."

The words were sharp and laced with disdain.

They came from a group of children belonging to the powerful clans—the Sarutobi, the Shimura, the Mitokado, and even the Hyūga.

They had always looked down on the Uchiha.

And for Genya, the boy who had inherited the clan's bloodline but lacked its strength, their contempt was even deeper.

So when the opportunity came to mock him—they took it, without hesitation.

They were mocking him, but Genya looked at them calmly. His voice was quiet, but steady.

"We're not even in the same classroom. I don't remember inviting any of you."

"Invite us? You piece of trash." One of the Hyūga Main House members sneered.

"You think we'd go if you did invite us? Pathetic. You're the one who's been hanging around that rebellious Branch House dog, Neji Hyūga, right? Figures... trash always sticks with trash."

Lately, Neji had become more and more defiant. Especially toward the Main House. That made them uncomfortable—and angry.

"Hyūga Sōsuke, shut up!"

A voice snapped like lightning.

It was Hinata. Usually timid and soft-spoken, her eyes now burned with a rare seriousness.

"I won't let you talk about Neji like that!"

No matter what others said, Neji was still her cousin—her older brother in all but name.

How could she just stand by and let someone insult him?

"Hinata-sama, you've clearly been misled by Neji," Hyūga Sōsuke said with a frown.

"The Main House and the Branch House may share the same blood, but they are not equals. The Branch exists to serve the Main."

"They're not servants." Hinata raised her voice, firm and clear. "They've sacrificed so much for the Hyūga clan. We should respect them more."

Her words rang out like a strike of thunder—sharp and full of anger.

In truth,

Ever since Hinata had begun to understand the world around her, she had always wondered—why was the Hyūga clan split into Main and Branch?

Why did the Branch House have to obey every command from the Main?

Wasn't forcing your own family to bow down... a kind of cruelty?

Was this really what was best for the Hyūga?

She didn't have the answers. But even if she couldn't change anything now, at least today—she would speak her heart.

"Hinata?" Genya looked at her.

And for the first time, he smiled.

She really was...

Although Hinata was still a little shy, she didn't show the slightest sign of backing down when it came to something important.

Good… good!

Her change made him genuinely happy!

"Hyuga Hinata, are you questioning the decisions of our Hyuga ancestors?" Hyuga Sōsuke looked at her with disdain in his voice.

"It seems the elders haven't taught you well enough. We of the Main Family are meant to stand above the Branch Family. That's our right. And the Branch Family must obey our orders!"

"If you keep thinking this way, I'm afraid… even if you're the daughter of the clan head, you won't be able to…"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear. If Hinata kept holding on to these ideas, the Hyuga clan would never allow her to become the next clan head.

The Hyuga Main House.

The supremacy of the Main House above all.

Hinata was a Main House member herself, yet she refused to defend its authority—that was a major offense. Worse, she even dared to say it out loud!

"Hmph. This isn't your concern," Hinata said sharply, completely unfazed. "I'm just speaking my mind."

"Very well, then. Since that's the case, I'd like to see what kind of strength the 'young lady' actually has to say something like that!" Sōsuke was clearly angered by her defiance.

"Hinata, I challenge you to a spar!"

As fellow Main House members, even if he gave her a harsh lesson, the clan head wouldn't say much.

As soon as he finished speaking, he flashed forward and appeared right in front of Hinata, ready to strike.

But the moment his palm lifted—

It was suddenly stopped, caught by a firm hand. He couldn't move at all.

A lazy voice followed right after.

"Weren't we talking about me? How did this suddenly turn into a Hyuga clan issue? And now you even want to fight?"

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