“What is there to even say about that?”
Hinata stood on the podium, scratching her head as she looked down at the pairs of eyes filled with curiosity.
Among them, only Naruto glared at her with a look of hostility and annoyance.
Seeing this, a slight smirk played across Hinata’s lips.
Due to her personality, Hinata didn’t dress like the “Little Hinata” of the original story, nor did she fit the traditional Hyuga mold.
Compared to her clansmen, who wore nothing but black or white, Hinata’s attire was quite modern.
She wore an eye-catching red jacket over a black mesh armor—a staple for shinobi—and modern black shinobi pants.
Her originally short hair had grown to a medium length, tied casually into a ponytail.
This look, combined with the smirk currently on her face, gave off a faint air of provocation.
“This girl…”
Naruto sat below the podium, teeth gritted as he stared at Hinata, whose face practically screamed ‘I’m asking for a beating.’
What exactly is she so arrogant about?!
Fine!
So what if she has a good family, looks good, is rich, talented, and strong?
What’s so great about that!
“I am Hinata Hyuga,” Hinata began slowly from the podium, leaving Naruto looking utterly bewildered.
???
Are you even talking about yourself?
“I have always been kind to others,” she continued.
“I dislike conflict.
Therefore, I hope everyone can be a bit more tolerant of me.
If I do something wrong in our daily lives and offend you, please take a moment to reflect on your own issues.”
“Even if it is my fault…
facts aside, aren’t you all also to blame?”
“That concludes my ‘preventative warning.’ Generally speaking, I’m actually very easy to get along with!”
???
What kind of self-introduction is this?
This is clearly a provocation!
“What the heck!
Who does she think she is, acting so smug?!”
“Woof!”
“She seems really hard to deal with…”
“This girl is so arrogant.”
“Of course!” Hinata’s voice rang out again.
“If anyone is unhappy with this, you are welcome to challenge me!
One-on-one, a group fight, or even a gauntlet match—I don’t care!”
The room fell into a dead silence.
Everyone stared at Hinata on the podium in disbelief.
Is this young lady of the Hyuga clan insane?!
Isn’t she just making herself a target for everyone?
In the eyes of the classroom—and indeed, all of Konoha—members of the Hyuga clan, especially the women and specifically those from the Head Family like Hinata, were expected to be well-educated, gentle, and refined.
This Hinata, who acted like a little delinquent, was someone they simply couldn’t get used to.
“That’s my self-introduction.”
Hinata looked at the wide eyes below her, completely indifferent.
This “playing house” at the Ninja Academy was honestly too boring.
She had to find some fun for herself.
If she had the choice, she wouldn’t even want to come to the Academy at all.
Is this the heir to the Hyuga clan…?
In a seat by the window, a boy with black hair and black eyes watched Hinata intently.
He was Sasuke Uchiha, the second son of the Uchiha family.
As a member of the Uchiha, a clan that had stood alongside the Hyuga as a great power for a thousand years, Sasuke naturally possessed the inherent pride of his lineage.
Faced with Hinata Hyuga’s borderline provocative declaration, Sasuke could not simply ignore it.
However, he wouldn’t react vocally like the others.
He would follow his pride as an Uchiha and wait for an opportunity when Hinata Hyuga was at her best to challenge her to a one-on-one duel.
To Sasuke, that was the pride of a great clan.
Is there a screw loose in this kid’s head?
Watching the classroom through his crystal ball, Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat speechless.
He suddenly remembered something Hiashi Hyuga had said the day before: “My daughter is unruly.”
Hiruzen had thought it was just Hiashi being humble.
Now it seemed he had meant it literally…
Looking at Hinata in the crystal ball, Hiruzen stroked his chin.
Though she was a bit rebellious, she was still the heir to the Hyuga clan.
Furthermore, despite such a personality, Hiashi hadn’t stripped her of her status as heir.
This suggested that, besides the cleverness she had shown before, Hinata must have other brilliant qualities that forced Hiashi to acknowledge her as the successor, even if he had to do so through gritted teeth.
In that case…
Back in the classroom, Hinata had already strolled back to her seat under Iruka’s gobsmacked gaze.
In Ino’s view, even if the Hyuga were a great clan, this was just too much attention.
Even the Uchiha had never been this blatant.
“Relax,” Hinata leaned in with a mischievous grin.
“If you’re unhappy, Ino, you can always challenge me too.
You’re so pretty, Ino—who knows, maybe I’ll just ‘happen’ to lose to you.”
“You’re too close…”
Looking at that face so near she could almost feel the warmth of Hinata’s breath, Ino couldn’t help but blush slightly.
She didn’t know if it was just her imagination, but she felt like the Hinata in front of her acted more like a boy.
Actually, not even a boy—what boy would be this arrogant?
She was more like a grand villain from a TV show.
And she was far too familiar; they hadn’t known each other long, yet Hinata acted as if they’d been friends for years.
“I guess Ino doesn’t like me then,” Hinata said, feigning a look as if she were about to burst into tears.
“I’ll try to restrain myself in the future…”
“No, that’s not it!
I just think you’re being a bit too flashy,” Ino explained hurriedly.
“With so many classmates, saying things like that will offend a lot of people.”
“Oh, so Ino is worried about me…”
Hearing Hinata’s words, Ino felt a bit exhausted.
She felt that even though her own words were normal, they somehow took on a different flavor the moment they entered Hinata’s ears.
“But please, rest easy.
I’m very strong, you know,” Hinata said, pointing a thumb at herself with a face full of confidence.
“If there’s ever any danger, I’ll be the first one to protect you.”
Ino was speechless.
She had a feeling that if she ever was in danger, there was an eighty percent chance Hinata was the one who caused it.
Meanwhile, sitting in front of them, Sakura listened to the whispers between her best friend and Hinata.
She suddenly had the strange sensation that her best friend was being snatched away by this girl who had appeared out of thin air.
Sakura blinked and scratched her head, feeling odd.
“Of course, that goes for you too, Sakura,” Hinata whispered, leaning over to Sakura’s ear with a light chuckle, having sensed her mood.
Ino watched Hinata blankly.
She had a sudden sense of déjà vu.
If Hinata were a boy, she’d probably be a total scumbag—one moment she’s seriously promising to protect Ino, and the next she’s already flirting with Ino’s best friend…