Hearing this, Hiashi Hyuga choked on his words.
He instinctively wanted to refute Hinata’s statement.
That child was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
If the Nine-Tails ever went berserk, those closest to him would be the first to get hurt, so it was best to stay as far away as possible.
Furthermore, the boy possessed another highly sensitive identity.
For a prominent clan like the Hyuga, getting too close would inevitably invite misunderstandings, which ran completely counter to the Hyuga clan’s long-standing principles.
Hiashi originally intended to use these reasons to admonish Hinata.
But as he looked down at Hinata’s still-childish face, these words, heavily laden with adult rationality, got stuck in his throat, completely unspeakable.
“Hinata has a point…”
Hiashi patted Hinata’s head, a rare hint of tenderness slipping into his voice.
As expected, a child’s world was usually pure.
Even a rebellious child like Hinata still harbored that sense of innocence deep inside.
It was just that during the process of growing up, this innocence would gradually be eroded away.
“Since you don’t hold any prejudice against him, Hinata, why did you give him a beating?”
The two of them walked along the streets of Konoha, looking just like an ordinary father and daughter.
“That guy was acting all high and mighty, saying things like ‘girls should be protected by boys.’ He was clearly looking down on me.
Wasn’t he just asking for a beating?”
Hinata spoke nonchalantly.
Hiashi smiled but said nothing.
Well, as far as Hiashi was concerned, he honestly couldn’t find any fault with that logic.
Especially given his position as Hinata’s father.
You little blondie, trying to pick up girls at such a young age?!
You really are cut from the same cloth as your father!
At this thought, any lingering dissatisfaction Hiashi had about Hinata beating up Naruto vanished instantly.
In fact, he even felt that Hinata had gone too easy on him.
“Is it even that guy’s place to say something like that?”
“That’s clearly something I should be saying to other girls!”
Hinata crossed her arms, her face filled with disdain.
Right, right, right.
Is it that Nine-Tails brat’s place to say that?
If anyone’s going to say it, it should be my precious daughter!
Hiashi applauded mentally, clearly in full agreement with Hinata’s words.
But midway through, his body suddenly froze.
Huh?!
Wait a minute!!
Something seems terribly wrong!!
The Hokage BuildingThe Hokage’s Office
“Lord Hokage, I am deeply sorry.
My daughter’s rowdiness has caused you trouble.”
The father and daughter had already arrived before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiashi, whose emotions usually never showed on his face, revealed a hint of apology as he bowed slightly to Hiruzen.
“It’s no matter.
It’s just children playing around.”
“There is no need to take it to heart, Hiashi.”
Seeing Hiashi’s attitude, Hiruzen quickly put down the documents he was reviewing, walked over to Hiashi, and helped him up.
“This must be Jushiro’s granddaughter.”
“If that old fellow knew his granddaughter was this exceptional, he’d probably be happy enough to come back to life.”
Hiruzen looked at Hinata and continued with a smile.
“Indeed she is.”
“Hinata, greet Lord Hokage.”
Hiashi instructed.
“Why call me Lord Hokage?
Call me Grandpa.
Back then, Jushiro and I fought side by side as brothers.”
Hiruzen said with feigned anger.
“Grandpa Hokage.”
Seizing the opportunity without hesitation, Hinata played along perfectly.
Hearing this, Hiashi’s expression became slightly strange.
Hinata was usually never this obedient…
“Hahaha, good child.”
“Hiashi, this child is sharper than you are.”
Hiruzen laughed heartily, pulling Hiashi’s hand as he joked.
“Ah, you flatter her, Lord Hokage.”
Hiashi could only chime in helplessly.
After a few more words of conversation, Hiashi took Hinata and bade him farewell.
Coming here was merely Hiashi adhering to the Hyuga clan’s long-standing protocol; after all, an incident like this could be treated as major or minor depending entirely on Hiruzen’s whim.
And precisely because of the Hyuga clan’s tactful conduct, Hiruzen didn’t care about the matter at all.
If it had been the Uchiha clan who beat up Naruto instead, Hiruzen might not have said anything on the surface, but a fresh layer of suspicion would likely have been added to his heart.
Leaving Hiruzen, the father and daughter walked down the street.
Any passersby who recognized Hiashi stepped up to greet him, while those who didn’t still cast friendly glances his way, drawn by the distinctive Byakugan visible in their eyes.
“I want to eat that.”
Halfway through their walk, Hinata tugged at Hiashi and pointed toward a roadside dango shop, calling out in a crisp voice.
“How many?”
Hearing this, Hiashi led Hinata toward the storefront.
“Ten portions of every kind!”
Hinata said without a moment’s hesitation.
Hiashi: …
Are you stocking up inventory or something?
Although he had expected it, Hiashi still couldn’t help but complain internally.
Hinata’s appetite had always been different from ordinary people; her capacity for food was truly staggering.
She could often down thirty or forty bowls of rice in a single meal, and she was only six years old.
When she reached the age of puberty and growth spurts, Hiashi could already foresee her appetite easily doubling or tripling.
The old father felt completely helpless, but under the broad, ear-to-ear grin of the shop owner, he dutifully pulled out his wallet to pay.
“Please take these with you first, Lord Hiashi.
I’ll have the rest delivered to the clan compound for you.”
The owner beamed as he selected the flavors, handed the packed dango to Hiashi, and spoke with a smile.
Obviously, this wasn’t the first time this had happened.
“Thank you for the trouble.”
Hiashi handed the packed dango to an eagerly expectant Hinata, speaking helplessly.
Watching his daughter eat so happily, he couldn’t help but worry.
If she gets married in the future, what kind of family could even afford to feed her?
Recalling what Hinata had said before they entered the Hokage Building, Hiashi’s worries deepened, casting a shadow of anxiety over his brow.
At this rate, whether she marries out or marries someone into the family is still up in the air…
At this thought, Hiashi’s face practically had the words “I am deeply depressed” written all over it.
“What are you thinking about?”
Seeing Hiashi enveloped in a gloom so thick it could practically drown him, Hinata couldn’t help but ask.
“Ah, nothing…”
Just a crippling fear of the future…
Hiashi pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply.
He could almost see a future where Hinata walked through the door holding another woman’s hand, causing the entire clan to explode in shock.
“In that case, let’s go home.
There’s still some time left today, so we can train for a bit.”
Hinata swallowed a dango whole and spoke indistinctly through a full mouth.
Since she had already resolved to become someone who stands tall, she naturally wouldn’t waste a single moment.
“Should we call Neji?”
Hiashi asked subconsciously.
“Of course!”
Hinata nodded heavily at his words.
Perfect timing.
That guy Neji actually dared to tattle to his own father after getting beaten to tears!
I guess I went too easy on him!
Time to ramp up the intensity for him!
“Wait, maybe we should pick someone else…”
Hiashi only just realized what he had blurted out.
“No way, he’s the one!”
“He’s my cousin after all, so don’t look down on him.
Brother Neji is a genius!”
Hinata spoke with absolute confidence, which only filled Hiashi with deep remorse.
Poor Neji…
Uncle didn’t mean to do this to you…