NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 1: Prologue
In this alternate story, Minato Namikaze was born as a half-Hyūga, a fact that would play a pivotal role in the life of his son. After the tragic Nine-Tails incident, in which Minato and Kushina sacrificed their lives to save the village, their newborn son Naruto was left orphaned. Out of compassion and duty, Hiashi Hyūga and his wife, Hitomi, adopted Naruto into the prestigious Hyūga clan, bringing the infant into the world of nobility and tradition.
Two months after adopting Naruto, Hitomi gave birth to their daughter, Hinata, making Naruto and Hinata siblings in all but blood. Though Naruto bore little resemblance to the Hyūga beyond his pale complexion and noble demeanor, his striking blue eyes, passed down from his father, served as a reminder of his Namikaze heritage.
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Three and a Half Years Later
When Hinata was just three years old, tragedy struck during a peace treaty negotiation with Kumogakure. The village's Head Ninja, under the guise of diplomacy, attempted to kidnap the young Hyūga heiress to claim her Byakugan for his village. Hiashi acted swiftly, killing the kidnapper to protect his daughter. However, the incident escalated into a diplomatic crisis.
To avoid war between the villages, Hizashi Hyūga, Hiashi's twin brother and a member of the branch family, offered his life in exchange. With his self-sacrifice, the Hyūga clan narrowly averted disaster, but the loss left deep scars on the family.
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Naruto and the Hyūga Way
Raised as a member of the main family, Naruto adopted the strict traditions of the Hyūga clan. His personality reflected the teachings of the Hyūga noble code, honor, duty, and an unyielding adherence to the rules. Like Byakuya Kuchiki in another life, Naruto valued discipline above all else, enforcing the clan's principles with unwavering resolve.
One incident stood out as an early example of Naruto's loyalty to the rules. At the age of eight, Neji Hyūga, a branch family prodigy, openly disrespected Hinata during a training session, questioning her worth as the clan heiress. Naruto, seeing Neji's behavior as a breach of decorum, acted swiftly.
"Neji," Naruto said coldly, his voice carrying the weight of his authority as a main family member. "Your words dishonor not only Hinata-sama but the entire Hyūga clan. Apologize immediately."
Neji glared at Naruto but said nothing, his pride preventing him from complying. Without hesitation, Naruto used his superior skill in the Gentle Fist to strike Neji's chakra points, leaving him immobilized.
"Your talent does not exempt you from respecting the clan's hierarchy," Naruto stated, his tone calm but firm. "Consider this your only warning."
Neji, though furious, begrudgingly learned that day not to cross Naruto, who commanded respect through both strength and authority.
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Though Naruto was part of the Hyūga main branch, the villagers of Konoha treated him with disdain and fear due to his jinchūriki status. Even among the Hyūga, whispers of the "monster within" followed him. Yet, Naruto did not falter. He paid no mind to the hatred and fear, for his sense of duty and adherence to the clan's rules were all that mattered to him.
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As the years passed, Naruto proved himself a prodigy within the Hyūga clan. He awakened the Byakugan at a remarkably young age and mastered the Gentle Fist with an elegance that surpassed even the most skilled elders.
Despite his adoption, Naruto's unmatched skills and discipline led many to consider him a worthy candidate for the next clan head, a prospect that stirred tension within the Hyūga.
Naruto's relationship with Hinata and Hanabi remained distant and formal. While he treated them with the respect befitting a main family member, there was no warmth in his interactions. His stoic demeanor and strict adherence to duty left little room for familial affection, further reinforcing his image as an unyielding noble.
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Yet, deep within Naruto's mind, faint memories of a life long past began to resurface. Images of cherry blossoms, a blade of scattered petals, and a life of nobility and duty filled his dreams. He could not fully comprehend their meaning, but these fragments awakened something within him, a sense of familiarity, as if these memories belonged to someone else entirely.
Unbeknownst to him, Naruto was the reincarnation of Byakuya Kuchiki, the former Captain of the Sixth Division of the Gotei 13. His current life as a Hyūga seemed to mirror the stoic and disciplined existence he had once led, but these memories would soon challenge his understanding of his identity and destiny.