“Strike!”
“Again!”
“Find the right opening…
then strike!”
“You have to locate the dummy’s weakest point!”
At the Hyuga clan compound, inside the training grounds…
Hiashi Hyuga, dressed in a loose white training robe, was instructing Hinata in the fundamentals of the Hyuga Clan’s Gentle Fist.
But the longer he taught…
…the more frustrated he became.
Ever since learning that Hinata had an unusually large appetite, he had made sure to prepare extra portions for her every meal.
After eating her fill, her strength had indeed improved considerably.
The palm prints she left on the wooden dummy were now clear and forceful.
Yet every strike still landed without any real purpose.
It was obvious that her attacks lacked aggression.
The Hyuga Clan’s Gentle Fist wasn’t “gentle” because it lacked power.
Although it wasn’t as overwhelmingly destructive as the Strong Fist style, it was still an exceptionally ruthless martial art.
Every palm strike had to be swift and merciless, seizing every opportunity to inject chakra into the enemy’s chakra points.
But Hinata…
Not a single one of her strikes was aimed at a true vital point.
“Hinata!
Stop.”
After watching for quite a while, Hiashi finally couldn’t bear it anymore.
His stern voice echoed across the training ground.
Startled, Hinata shivered.
Like a child who had done something wrong, she lowered her head, shrank her neck, and quietly waited to be scolded.
Seeing her reaction, Hiashi sighed.
Half of his anger vanished immediately.
Still, his expression remained severe.
As a father, he was delighted by how obedient and gentle his daughter was.
But as the daughter of the Hyuga Clan Head…
That kind of personality simply wasn’t suitable.
Truthfully, he wasn’t asking her to become as exceptional as that child from the Uchiha Clan.
He only hoped she could be average.
Yet even reaching that modest standard…
Still required a very long journey.
And the time left for Hinata…
…was running out.
A trace of struggle flashed across Hiashi’s eyes.
But even as clan head…
He couldn’t defy the fate imposed upon the Hyuga Clan.
“Neji.”
“You demonstrate.”
Hiashi glanced toward Hyuga Neji.
The expressionless boy stepped in front of the training dummy.
Hiashi then beckoned Hinata over, his tone softening slightly.
“Watch carefully.”
“Learn carefully.”
“Your strikes must carry power.”
“They must carry determination.”
“They must target your opponent’s vital points.”
“They can’t be nothing more than soft, decorative movements.”
Hinata obediently nodded.
Watching Neji’s cold expression as he delivered one precise palm strike after another, admiration and envy flickered within her pale eyes.
She wanted to meet Father’s expectations too.
But every time she practiced…
Whenever she imagined that the opponent was an actual person…
She couldn’t help easing the force behind her strikes.
And instinctively avoided aiming for their vital points.
If Hayashi -kun knew…
Would he be disappointed in me too?
Without realizing it, Aoba Hayashi appeared in her thoughts.
Even though quite some time had already passed…
Whenever she remembered that night…
It still felt as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.
The scene often reappeared in her dreams.
It had been the first time…
The first time someone had stood up to protect her.
The first time someone had treated her to delicious ramen.
The first time someone had learned that she actually had a very large appetite…
First experiences always left the deepest impressions.
Especially when there had been so many of them all at once.
And so…
Hinata drifted off into her thoughts.
Both Hiashi and Neji noticed immediately.
Neji’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
His face remained cold and emotionless.
But the contempt hidden within his eyes deepened.
This…
This is supposed to be the future heir of the Main Family?
Just because of my birth…
I’m expected to sacrifice my life for someone this useless?
The resentment inside him intensified.
Fortunately…
He suppressed it well.
Because the pain inflicted by the Caged Bird Seal was unbearable.
Hiashi was equally displeased.
However, more than anger…
He felt puzzled.
Normally, Hinata was obedient and hardworking.
Even though her progress had been slow, she always practiced diligently.
She had never behaved like this before.
Yet recently…
She had begun spacing out more and more often.
Sometimes while chatting.
Sometimes while eating.
And now…
Even during training.
It was obvious she had something on her mind.
Hiashi couldn’t simply ignore it.
Looks like I need to find some time to talk with Hinata.
Having made up his mind, he spoke quietly to Neji.
“That’s enough for today.”
“Neji, you may leave.”
In Hinata’s current state, continuing practice would accomplish nothing.
Her mind simply wasn’t focused.
Neji said nothing.
He didn’t even bother saying goodbye.
Carrying his resentment with him, he silently left the training hall.
Watching the young boy’s retreating back, Hiashi’s shoulders trembled ever so slightly.
As though suppressing some powerful emotion.
That boy probably thinks he’s hiding it well…
Hiashi let out another quiet sigh before looking at his daughter, who was still lost in thought.
Sometimes…
He wondered whether they would all be happier if they’d simply been born into an ordinary family.
As time passed…
Night quietly fell.
Moonlight streamed through the window.
Hinata sat beside Hanabi’s cradle, resting her cheeks in both hands as she absentmindedly stared at her little sister.
Her tiny face was adorably squished between her palms.
Even with her cheeks all puffed up, she remained irresistibly cute.
Inside the cradle, baby Hanabi giggled happily.
She waved her tiny hands toward Hinata’s face, eager to touch it.
Unfortunately…
Her little arms were simply too short.
Meanwhile, Hinata was busy wondering…
How could she meet Aoba Hayashi again?
“Young Lady.”
“Dinner is ready.”
The maid’s voice came from outside the room, interrupting her thoughts.
“I’ll be right there.”
Snapping back to reality, Hinata gently lifted the tiny Hanabi from the cradle.
At last…
Hanabi’s little hands reached Hinata’s soft cheeks.
She laughed even more happily.
Hinata had no idea why her little sister seemed so delighted.
But seeing Hanabi’s adorable smile…
She couldn’t help smiling too.
When dinner finally ended…
Hinata gathered all her courage.
“I…”
“I’d like to go out tomorrow…”
“Go out?”
Both Hiashi and Ayako Hyuga looked at her in surprise.
This was the first time Hinata had ever made such a request.
She was incredibly shy.
Forget playing with children outside the clan.
Even when meeting members of her own family whom she wasn’t familiar with…
She would hide behind her parents rather than greet them.
So why…
Did she suddenly want to go out?
Seeing that her parents were still stunned, Hinata nervously gripped the hem of her clothes.
“May I…”
“…go out for a little while?”
“Just for a little while?”
Her soft, timid voice finally brought them back to their senses.
Ayako was about to agree immediately.
But Hiashi stopped her.
At that instant…
Everything finally clicked.
Now he understood why Hinata had been distracted these past several days.
Why she had kept losing focus.
Only after hearing her ask to go out…
Did he fully realize the reason.
Hinata wanted to see that boy—
Aoba Hayashi .
He had assumed they were merely acquaintances who had met once by chance.
He hadn’t expected the boy to leave such a deep impression on his daughter.
“Hinata.”
“Have you forgotten how those civilian children nearly bullied you last time?”
Hiashi deliberately hardened his expression.
He wanted to see just how much courage she truly possessed.
“It won’t happen again.”
Hinata shook her head firmly.
“I won’t let anyone bully me anymore.”
“Because…”
“Because I promised him…”
Seeing her daughter like this, joy appeared in Ayako’s eyes.
Her precious little girl…
Had finally begun to grow.
Hiashi, on the other hand, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest.
It was as though he were watching his family’s carefully raised cabbage happily chasing after a pig.
His chopsticks tightened instinctively in his hand.
But when he saw Hinata’s watery, pleading eyes…
The words of refusal simply wouldn’t come out.
“You may go out tomorrow afternoon.”
“But don’t stay too long.”
“Be back before dinner.”
“Thank you, Father!”
Hinata answered happily.
For the first time in a long while…
Her entire demeanor seemed brighter than it had ever been before.