Hinata left, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi standing there alone, questioning reality.
At this moment, he was pondering a question that was of utmost importance to him.
Was the social morale of Konoha truly that bad?
With Hinata now gone, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat by the riverbank all by himself.
He silently pulled out the pipe that had accompanied him for many years, lit it, and began to smoke.
Reflecting carefully on everything that had happened in the village over the years, a look of profound distress washed over Hiruzen Sarutobi’s face.
Back then, when Kushina first arrived in Konoha, she was ridiculed by the villagers because of the Uzumaki clan’s naturally red hair.
Sakumo Hatake was harshly criticized and shunned by the villagers because he failed a mission.
Kakashi was discriminated against by the villagers due to his father’s mission failure and subsequent suicide.
Might Guy was mocked by the villagers due to his mediocre talent in ninjutsu.
And now, Hinata was being bullied by her peers because of her Byakugan.
As for Naruto…
That went without saying…
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt deeply melancholy—so melancholy that his pipe never once went out.
He remembered when the First Hokage founded Konoha; back then, society was so safe that lost items were left untouched on the road, and doors were left unlocked at night.
Following the First, during the era of the Second Hokage, the village customs could still be considered simple and kind.
How did things turn out like this by the time it reached me?
I have failed the First and Second Hokages…
Lost in these thoughts, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s face grew increasingly gloomy as he packed another pinch of tobacco into his pipe.
Having taken her leave of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hinata strolled leisurely along the streets of Konoha.
Since she had already reported in and completed her task with Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hinata naturally carried no mental burden.
Or rather, such a thing as a mental burden didn’t even exist for Hinata in the first place.
With that thought, Hinata began heading back home.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a flower shop open in the commercial district of Konoha.
A small figure was carrying a pot of blue flowers and setting it down at the storefront.
Was that…
Ino?
Hinata remembered that the Yamanaka clan ran a flower shop.
“Hinata!”
Seemingly noticing Hinata’s gaze, Ino set down the flowerpot and waved enthusiastically at her, calling out.
“Ino.”
Seeing Ino greet her, Hinata walked over with a smile without any hesitation.
“Mom!”
“My friend is here!”
“I’m going out to play with her!”
Seeing Hinata arrive in front of her, Ino joyfully grabbed Hinata’s hand and shouted cheerfully toward the inside of the shop.
At Ino’s shouting, a beautiful woman wearing an apron—with several fresh flowers tucked into its front pocket—walked out from inside the shop.
“Hello, Auntie Yamanaka.
My name is Hinata Hyuga, I’m Ino’s desk partner.”
“Ah, you’re from the Hyuga clan.
How cute.”
“Go on, go play.”
Ino’s mother walked over to Hinata, leaned down, and gently patted her head.
Her gaze lingered for a brief moment on Hinata’s smooth forehead before she pulled out a fully bloomed lily from her apron pocket and handed it to her.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
Hinata thanked her as she accepted the fresh flower.
“And as for you, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.”
Ino’s mother chided playfully, poking her daughter’s forehead with a finger.
“Hehe, we’re off then!”
Ino grinned, rubbing her forehead, and then pulled Hinata along as they fled from her mother’s line of sight.
Heavens above, she finally had a weekend off; there was no way she was going to waste such precious time at her mom’s whim!
Honestly, a minor chore like that could be solved in an instant, yet Mom just had to make her do it.
This was outright oppression!
Exploitation!
Mom is exploiting me as child labor!
I’m going to tell Dad later and complain that Mom is bullying me!
Uh, actually, never mind.
Dad will definitely take Mom’s side…
Complaining about her mother internally, Ino unknowingly pulled Hinata all the way to the lakeside of a nearby park.
“Hehe, I really have to thank you, Hinata.”
“Otherwise, I would never have escaped Mom’s evil clutches.”
Ino turned around, patted Hinata’s shoulder, and spoke with a grin.
Seeing Ino like this, a gentle figure subconsciously surfaced in Hinata’s mind.
“Your mom is very gentle, Ino~”
Hinata looked down at the flower in her hand and smiled softly at Ino.
“Eh?”
“No way!
Mom is super mean, she never lets me go out and play.”
Ino tilted her head and countered.
“Right, right, whatever you say, Ino.”
Seeing this, Hinata played along and indulged her.
“But it’s so nice out.
Since it’s a rare day off, let’s go play together!”
Ino suggested, looking toward a few kids their age playing not far away in the park.
“I’ll have to pass, Ino.
I need to head home and train in a bit.”
Hinata shook her head, placing the lily that Ino’s mother had given her into Ino’s hands.
“Huh?
Why are you like this?”
Seeing Hinata refuse, disappointment was practically written all over Ino’s face.
“But, if you beg me, Ino, I might consider hanging out with you for a little bit.”
Seeing Ino’s expression, Hinata couldn’t help but tease her.
“Hmph!
Who says I need you to accompany me?
At worst, I’ll just go find Sakura.”
Ino huffed, crossing her arms and turning her head away, putting on an “I’m ignoring you” look.
“Speaking of which, it seems Sakura has someone she likes recently~”
“She might not want Ino anymore~”
Seeing this, a gleam of mischief flickered in Hinata’s eyes.
“I knew it!”
“It’s Sasuke, right?!”
At those words, Ino bristled like a cat whose fur had been rubbed the wrong way.
Her previous “I’m ignoring you” attitude vanished in an instant.
Hinata smiled without a word, wearing an expression that thoroughly enjoyed the show.
“…But Sasuke likes Hinata, doesn’t he?”
Seeing Hinata’s reaction, Ino’s fierce momentum deflated instantly like a punctured balloon.
Ino had clearly witnessed the way Sasuke blushed in front of Hinata last time.
“But he’s just Sasuke!
Just you wait, Hinata!”
“I’m definitely not giving Sasuke up to you!”
Ino immediately pumped herself up again, pumping her fists with sheer determination, which only deepened the smile in Hinata’s eyes.
“But what if I don’t even like Sasuke?”
“Besides, compared to Sasuke, I think Ino is much cuter.”
Hinata’s words caused Ino’s eyes to light up.
She quickly stuffed the lily into her pocket, grabbed Hinata’s shoulders with both hands, and leaned in close with a look of pure hope.
“Really?!”
“You really don’t like Sasuke, Hinata?!”
In contrast to the excited Ino, a trace of helplessness appeared on Hinata’s face as she said:
“Yes, yes, yes.
I don’t like a guy like Sasuke who walks around with a straight face all day long.”
“You and Sakura are clearly much cuter.”
Having received the answer she wanted, Ino beamed with joy, completely glossing over Hinata’s comment about her and Sakura being cuter.
She was the young mistress of the Yamanaka clan, so of course she was the cutest!
Hehe, Hinata is the best!
“Besides, if it’s someone you like, Ino, how could I ever try to take him from you?”