I'm in Konoha, and I started with Ashura Chakra.

Chapter 53: I'm not pretending anymore, I'm laying my cards on the table, I am Thousand-Armed Yagyu.

Yagyu was indeed very surprised.

One second he was wondering if the Hinata vs. Hyuga Neji matchup in the original story was a coincidence, but the next second he was matched with Hyuga Neji.

Without a doubt, Yagyu was right; the matchmaking in the original story was indeed rigged, and it is the same now.

Hiruzen Sarutobi simply didn't want to watch the duel between the heirs of the Hyuga clan's main and branch families; instead, he wanted to see the duel between the top students.

So, Yagyu calmed himself down, nodded to Class 8 who were cheering him on, and then instantly appeared in the hall.

"Yagyu, go for it! Don't go easy on him just because he's Hinata's clansman, beat him up!"

Ino's shouts echoed throughout the venue, completely ignoring the stares directed at her.

This is something that Sakura and Hinata greatly envy.

Shy Hinata and ladylike Sakura simply didn't have the courage to do such a thing, and could only cheer for Yagyu in their hearts.

"That kid's got some lucky ladies!"

Sarutobi Asuma lit a cigarette, muttering enviously, "Does being handsome really mean you can do whatever you want?"

From the Ninja Academy until now, he hasn't even managed to catch up with Kurenai Yuhi.

However, Yagyu was surrounded by three beautiful and lovely girls, and the three girls had an excellent relationship.

If it were anyone else, Sarutobi Asuma would definitely suspect that their friendliness was feigned.

But Ino was his student, and Sarutobi Asuma already knew her personality and was well aware that she wasn't faking it.

How did that Yagyu manage to be so steady?

"Rokugan—Open!"

As Hyuga Neji descended from the stands, he suddenly activated his Byakugan.

However, he did not adopt the starting stance of Gentle Fist, nor did he immediately attack Yagyu. Instead, he examined Yagyu's body.

"Just as I expected..."

A few seconds later, Hyuga Neji, looking as if he hadn't expected it, slowly said, "Back in the Ninja Academy, I was already very curious. How could a commoner like you, without any individual guidance, possibly overpower the heirs of the major ninja clans? And how could you use a B-rank Water Release technique in your fifth year?"

"Logically speaking, your identity has already determined your fate, and there is no way to reverse it."

"But you did the impossible, as if you defied fate."

"Now it seems that you didn't defy fate, but rather that your ability to surpass them and maintain your position as the top student is fate's arrangement."

Hyuga Neji pointed at Yagyu and said, "Your chakra reserves are at least dozens of times greater than mine. Apart from that blond guy and that Sunagakure guy with the gourd, even the Hokage's chakra reserves can't compare to yours!"

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the genin and jonin on the stands all changed.

Then, many Jonin who were skilled in perception or had special abilities began to sense Yagyu's chakra.

Immediately, their eyes were filled with horror:

"Such a powerful amount of chakra, at least dozens of times more than mine!"

"He seems to be a student of Kurenai Yuhi; we've really struck gold!"

"..."

Kakashi Hatake lifted his headband, revealing his three-tomoe Sharingan, and scrutinized Yagyu, clicking his tongue in amazement, "With that kind of chakra, and that hair and eye color, he couldn't possibly be..."

Hearing the exclamations of the Jonin, Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding a pipe, exhaled a puff of smoke and gazed at Yagyu below through the thin mist, his heart filled with surprise.

It's so similar...it's so incredibly similar!

Seeing that Yagyu remained unfazed, Hyuga Neji continued, "According to history books, in order to connect the various clans with the common people, the Senju clan had a large number of its members abandon their surnames and integrate into Konoha."

"Over the decades, Senju has become Konoha, and Konoha has become Senju."

"Silver hair, red eyes, astonishing chakra—your features are almost identical to those of the Second Hokage."

"If nothing unexpected happens, you are a descendant of the Senju clan, having awakened the Senju clan's physique across generations."

"That's precisely why you've been able to consistently suppress Uchiha Sasuke, and even the heirs of the various ninja clans!"

"hiss……"

Almost the instant Hyuga Neji finished speaking, the Konoha Jonin in the stands all gasped in shock.

All the doubts I had just had vanished in an instant, like the clouds parting to reveal the sun, and everything became clear.

"Silver hair, red eyes, and this chakra—these features are indeed the same as the Second Hokage's."

"A descendant of the Senju clan? No wonder he became the top student in this year's class, especially since it's such a special class!"

"I wonder how strong he is!"

"..."

Kurenai Yuhi belatedly murmured, "No wonder Yagyu was able to use such powerful water-style ninjutsu in a waterless environment, so that's why..."

"Yagyu-kun..."

Hinata stared wide-eyed at Yagyu, a feeling of indescribable joy welling up inside her.

If Yagyu is truly a member of the Senju clan, then she might actually be able to be with him, and her father and the clan elders wouldn't stop her.

In the eyes of the Uchiha clan, they, along with the Senju clan, are one of the two great clans that founded Konoha.

But in the eyes of those ninja clans, the Senju were the founders of Konoha, and the Uchiha were just losers, the last ninja clan to be defeated by Hashirama Senju.

Therefore, in their eyes, and in the eyes of the daimyo, the Senju are the true lineage!

This is also why Tsunade was able to immediately succeed as the Fifth Hokage after returning to the village, and why Shimura Danzo didn't even have the desire to compete for the position.

There's no way to fight it, and we can't fight it anyway!

If Yagyu is indeed a descendant of the Senju clan, then his identity and status will be completely different from before.

At that time, he wouldn't need to send Ino to the Hyuga clan; he could go to the Hyuga clan to find Hinata himself.

When Yagyu went to Hinata in the past, it was like a toad trying to eat swan meat; he didn't know his own limitations.

If it were Yagyu, a descendant of the Senju clan, who were to find Hinata, then it would be a perfect match, a golden couple, a match made in heaven!

In this ninja world, which is still ruled by noble lords, there are such double standards and feudalism.

"Your speculation is interesting, but unfortunately there's no evidence."

Yagyu smiled and said, "But I'm very happy because my idol is the Second Hokage."

After speaking, Yagyu slowly raised his index and middle fingers and said, "As a fellow Konoha ninja, please guide me!"

"I firmly believe my theory; this is fate."

Hyuga Neji also raised his index and middle fingers, his face full of fighting spirit, and said, "Your defeat is also fate."

After completing the opposing hand seals, Hyuga Neji immediately adopted the Gentle Fist starting stance.

But the next second, his expression changed drastically, as did that of all the ninjas in the stands.

Liu Sheng did not lower his index and middle fingers, which he had raised, but instead quickly changed his hand seals.

One-handed hand seal!

Immediately, Yagyu took a deep breath, his cheeks puffed out, and shouted, "Water Release... Great Waterfall Technique!"

Like opening a dam, Yagyu spat out a stream of water towards the ground, and then the moisture in the air gathered, causing the water to rapidly grow and surge like waves, forming a huge wall of water taller than the stands, or like the hand of the sea god, slamming down on the tiny Hyuga Neji.

(End of this chapter)