Looking back at the original story…
There were very few times when Hinata acted against her naturally timid personality.
But without exception…
Every single one of those moments happened when Naruto was in danger.
Once, she brought him medicine after he was injured.
Another time, she unleashed the Protective Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms when they were surrounded by the Kamizuru Clan.
And then…
There was the unforgettable moment when she stood against Pain.
Don’t tell me I have to get beaten up in front of Hinata too…
Lost in thought, Aoba walked toward Ichiraku Ramen.
Suddenly…
A large shadow loomed over him.
He looked down first.
A huge belly.
Then he looked up.
Standing before him was a chubby boy at least a head taller than he was.
The boy glared at him fiercely.
“So, brat…”
“You finally decided to come outside.”
“Who are you?”
Aoba didn’t recognize him at all.
“What?”
“You already forgot?”
“You’re the one who beat up my little brother a few days ago!”
The fat boy angrily thrust his fist toward Aoba.
“Your little brother?”
Looking puzzled, Aoba glanced around.
Only then did he notice…
A group of children had already surrounded him.
Quite a few of them were even taller than the fat boy.
Then…
His gaze landed on one familiar face.
It was the boy who had bullied Hinata a few days earlier—
The same one Aoba had beaten up.
His eyes immediately lit up.
Perfect.
I was just wondering how to solve this problem…
And someone delivered the answer right to my doorstep.
“Hey!”
“I’m talking to you!”
“What are you looking around for?”
Aoba slowly smiled.
It was the classic grin of a movie villain.
“How about this?”
“Do me a favor.”
“As payment…”
“I’ll go easy on you while beating you up.”
Meanwhile…
Hinata walked happily down the street.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Her bright eyes sparkled as she imagined meeting Aoba again.
But…
As she turned a corner…
The color instantly drained from her face.
Several boys stood ahead.
Blocking her path.
Although every one of them had bruises covering their faces…
Hinata immediately recognized them.
They were the same three boys who had bullied her before.
Seeing them staring at her…
Fear instantly gripped her heart.
Her body froze.
It felt as though she had been struck by a paralysis jutsu.
When she finally regained her senses and tried to run…
She discovered several older, larger boys standing behind her as well.
Y-You…”
Her body trembled.
A layer of tears quickly formed in her eyes.
She wasn’t merely frightened anymore.
She was on the verge of crying.
What she failed to notice…
Was that the fear in those boys’ eyes was actually even greater than hers.
“L-Little girl…”
“Y-You’re…
the one…”
“W-Who got them beaten up last time…
right?”
The older chubby boy could barely speak.
One of his front teeth had been knocked out earlier, making every word whistle awkwardly.
Watching secretly from nearby…
Aoba couldn’t help twitching his lips.
What terrible acting…
Fortunately…
Hinata was too timid to notice.
Otherwise…
He’d have to give this group another round of “training.”
“T-They…”
“W-Were the ones who…”
Hinata desperately tried to explain.
Unfortunately…
Her own speech had completely fallen apart.
She couldn’t even finish a sentence.
“Hey.”
“So you’re bullying someone again?”
A calm voice suddenly rang out.
Every single boy shuddered.
The instant she heard that voice she had longed to hear…
Hinata raised her head.
There…
Not far away…
Stood the little boy she had wanted to see.
Like someone grasping a lifeline…
Hope filled her eyes.
“It’s you, Hinata.”
“So…”
“It looks like you’re getting bullied again.”
There was unmistakable disappointment in Aoba’s voice.
Hinata immediately remembered the promise she had made him last time.
She bit her lip.
Unable to say a single word.
Aoba sighed softly.
Then he subtly signaled toward the frightened boys.
“W-We…”
“We’ll handle this brat.”
The fat boy finally managed to speak more smoothly.
“You three…”
“Go teach that little girl a lesson.”
“Y-Yes…
Boss.”
The three smaller boys slowly approached Hinata.
Everyone else surrounded Aoba.
“A-Aoba-kun!”
Hinata cried anxiously.
But seeing the three boys closing in…
Fear rooted her to the spot.
The fight erupted.
Every one of the older boys was terrified of accidentally hurting Aoba.
Naturally…
They only pretended to fight.
But Hinata couldn’t possibly tell.
“Aoba-kun!”
“Stop!”
She cried out in panic.
She had just seen Aoba get struck across the side of his face.
Blood sprayed from his mouth.
“N-No…”
“Please…”
Her vision blurred with tears.
“It’s…”
“It’s all my fault…”
“I can’t do anything…”
Tears poured uncontrollably from her pale eyes.
The light slowly faded from her gaze.
Password accepted.
The veins around her eyes suddenly bulged.
Chakra surged violently through her body…
Rushing straight toward her eyes.
Byakugan…
Activated!
Hinata suddenly turned.
Her pale eyes looked completely lifeless…
Yet terrifyingly fierce.
She fixed her gaze on the three boys who had bullied her.
They had already been scared before.
Now…
They froze completely.
Hinata: Berserk Mode Activated.
She burst forward.
Everything Hiashi had ever taught her about the Gentle Fist flashed through her mind.
Both palms shot out simultaneously.
Bang!
Two boys were struck directly in the stomach.
The tremendous force instantly doubled them over.
They collapsed to the ground…
Unable to stand again.
Hinata spun gracefully.
Her right palm lashed out once more.
The final boy immediately entered what could only be described as “baby-like sleep.”
Everyone present was stunned.
Not only the older boys putting on their fake performance…
Even Aoba himself was dumbfounded.
She…
She actually snapped?
Before anyone could react…
Hinata charged toward them.
Aoba-kun…
I’ll protect you.
Moments later…
The two boys closest to her were each struck down with a single palm.
Only then did the fat boy finally recover from his shock.
Pure terror covered his face.
This isn’t what we agreed on!
Those guys on the ground don’t look like they’re pretending!
“H-Help!!”
He completely lost his nerve.
Scrambling across the ground…
He fled as fast as he could.
He didn’t even bother with his younger brother anymore.
Once the leader ran…
Everyone else who could still move immediately scattered.
Aoba didn’t even glance at them.
They were merely tools.
And now…
Their job was done.
Seeing Hinata walk toward him…
Aoba hurriedly swallowed the ketchup he had hidden in his mouth.
Otherwise…
If his disguise were exposed…
The berserk Hinata might beat him up too.
But after reaching him…
Hinata simply stood there silently.
Head lowered.
Without saying a word.
Several moments passed.
Still…
She remained motionless.
“H-Hinata?”
Aoba cautiously called her name.
No response.
He gently tapped her shoulder.
This time…
She reacted.
The tiny girl immediately collapsed forward…
Straight into his arms.
Her eyes were tightly closed.
She looked utterly peaceful…
Fast asleep.
“…”
Aoba stared blankly.
Can someone actually fall asleep in the middle of a fight?
Did activating the Byakugan consume too much chakra?
After gently wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes…
He had no choice but to carry the unconscious Hinata on his back…
And take her home.