Konoha Year 50
With Neji's birth, Hyuga Gakuya's days became much easier. Under the pretense of needing a reading companion, Hyuga Hizashi kept Gakuya at home.
But in reality, everyone knew this was to protect him. If Gakuya continued to be beaten like before, something disastrous would eventually happen.
It was also during this time that he learned Hyuga Sayaka was actually his aunt, and Hyuga Hizashi was his uncle by marriage. The newborn Neji was his younger cousin.
With this, life improved considerably. He ate and lived with his uncle's family, and during training, there were always people to guide him. And since baby Neji couldn't even walk yet, Gakuya had plenty of free time.
Then, news came that the Kannabi Bridge Battle had erupted, and another name was added to the Memorial Stone—Uchiha Obito.
But Gakuya knew Obito had been taken by Madara. The Eye of the Moon Plan was beginning.
...
Konoha Year 51
After a year of training, Gakuya's strength had improved rapidly. Not only had he mastered the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist, but he had also learned several C-rank taijutsu techniques from his father, Tokuma.
During his training, he discovered that his talent was exceptional. He could quickly grasp ordinary ninjutsu, and chakra refinement came easily to him. Compared to his peers, his chakra reserves were already two to three times greater.
This led him to suspect that he might have some Senju blood in his veins—perhaps very diluted, but still present. His mother might have been a descendant of the Senju.
The Senju Clan had long encouraged intermarriage with commoners, and by this point, many families could trace their lineage back to them.
As the year progressed, reports of various clan leaders having children kept surfacing—an ominous sign that the Nine-Tails' Rampage was approaching.
Gakuya clearly remembered that the protagonist of this world, Uzumaki Naruto, was born on October 10th—the same day Minato Namikaze perished. That night, all civilians and low-ranking shinobi would be sent to shelters. It might be an opportunity to take advantage of the chaos.
The thought stirred something in him, but he quickly suppressed it. His top priority should be survival.
Moreover, in the original timeline, Neji's mother never appeared, likely having died in an accident.
Many civilians and shinobi perished in the Nine-Tails' Rampage. The destruction inflicted upon Konoha was second only to Pain's invasion. A major reconstruction period followed, and during that time, the Uchiha Clan's district was relocated to the outskirts of the village.
The mere thought made Gakuya shiver. A single Tailed Beast Bomb could obliterate everything. Even an elite shinobi would have no choice but to flee, let alone someone like him, who was barely at the level of a genin.
...
That evening, Gakuya was restless. His usual cheerful demeanor was replaced by furrowed brows.
Hyuga Sayaka noticed his anxiety and asked, "Gakuya, are you feeling alright? Are you sick?"
"I'm fine, Aunt. I just have a bad feeling, like something terrible is about to happen."
Suddenly, he felt himself being pulled into a warm embrace.
"Do you feel better? Your father used to comfort me like this too."
"Thank you, Aunt. I do feel better now," he said, managing a small smile. "Aunt, let me take care of Neji tonight."
"Are you sure? He's a handful and cries a lot at night."
"It's fine. I can handle it."
"Alright, I'll leave him to you then."
...
Holding the now one-year-old Neji, Gakuya watched as the little boy snuggled against him affectionately.
Tonight was the Nine-Tails' Rampage. Having Neji with him meant he could react quickly and get him to safety.
At dusk, Gakuya sat beside Neji's bed, resting his eyes. The moment he heard an explosion, he would wake his aunt and take them to the shelter immediately.
Hizashi was at a clan meeting tonight, and Gakuya knew that in the original timeline, he wouldn't die during this event. Unless there was some butterfly effect, the Nine-Tails wouldn't kill him. As a jonin, he wouldn't fall so easily, even in a battle against the beast.
Then, a deafening explosion shook the village. The ground trembled violently.
The Nine-Tails had been summoned by Obito!
Gakuya's eyes snapped open. He grabbed the sleeping Neji, wrapping him securely in a bedsheet.
Kicking the door open, he dashed to Sayaka's room. His aunt had already been awakened by the noise, wearing only a simple nightgown.
"Gakuya, was that an earthquake?"
"No! We have to go! There's a giant fox outside!"
Before she could process his words, he grabbed her hand and bolted for the shelter.
"It's the Nine-Tails!" Sayaka gasped as realization hit.
Just as they left the courtyard, a Hyuga from the main house, Hyuga Naoto, approached them.
"Hyuga Sayaka, get your gear. All branch family adults must fight."
"But… I'm no longer a shinobi." Sayaka had retired after becoming pregnant with Neji. It wasn't fear that stopped her; she just wanted to protect her children.
"Have you forgotten your skills? The Third Hokage ordered the Hyuga Clan to serve as the second wave of attackers."
"Are you main family members not fighting first?" she shot back.
Before she could argue further, agony struck. Naoto had activated the Caged Bird Seal.
"This is just a warning. Defy us again, and you die."
Gakuya finally understood why Neji became an orphan.
Weak as he was, he could do nothing.
As Sayaka's pain subsided, she lowered her gaze to the furious Gakuya.
"Take care of Neji."
Clenching his fists, he nodded. He had no choice but to run.
...
He pushed his speed to the limit.
A layer of wind wrapped around him, propelling him forward.
As buildings collapsed behind him, elite shinobi fought desperately to halt the Nine-Tails' advance. Chunin and genin worked to evacuate civilians.
"This way!" A masked figure gestured toward Gakuya.
Recognizing Kakashi, he didn't hesitate and followed him into the shelter, where he saw many familiar faces—Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, Genma Shiranui, and even a young Uchiha Itachi cradling Sasuke.
Some, eager to fight, were held back by a veteran chunin. "You'll just die out there. Stay put."
Gakuya shook his head at their youthful bravado.
Neji, now awake, whimpered. "Brother… scared…"
"It's okay. It'll be over soon."
The battle raged until dawn, ending only when Minato sacrificed himself to seal the Nine-Tails into his newborn son.
When the shelter doors opened, Gakuya ran to the Hyuga compound, searching for his aunt and uncle.
Hizashi stood among the ruins, alone.
"Where's Aunt Sayaka?"
A long silence.
"She… sacrificed herself."
Gakuya felt as though lightning had struck him.
Then, a sharp pain filled his eyes. His vision distorted, turning black and white. He could see through walls. He could see chakra networks.
Hizashi reacted instantly, shielding Gakuya from view. "Calm down. Hide it."
If he wanted revenge, he couldn't let them know he had awakened the Byakugan.
Slowly, he retracted his chakra. His vision returned to normal.
...
That night, a new Gakuya was born—one who would carve his own destiny.