Even if she was back to being broke, Hinata was satisfied. The Sacred Fist could now evolve further, and with it, maybe she could someday escape the prison of her own birthright.
Her fists clenched in her pockets as her heart pounded with strange anticipation. But as she neared the edge of the village, her steps faltered. With a faint sigh, she turned and entered a candy shop, picking up a fluffy cotton candy.
It was still too early to think of "someday." She had to get through today first.
When she returned to the Hyuga compound, she found the small figure she expected waiting outside her door.
"Onee-sama!"
Hanabi rushed over eagerly. Hinata forced a smile, handing her the cotton candy. "Here—did you train well today? This is your treat."
"Yes! Father praised me again!"
Hanabi's eyes gleamed with pride. "He said my Gentle Fist has improved. If I keep—"
"Alright, alright, I get it. You're a prodigy with the Gentle Fist."
Still smiling stiffly, Hinata patted her sister's head. "But I'm tired. Let's talk another time, okay?"
"Ah… okay. Good night, Onee-sama."
Hanabi nodded, a little disappointed. She walked away, glancing back every few steps, clearly wanting to share her joy. But Hinata was done pretending for today.
"Annoying brat. She really needs to learn to read the room."
She shut her door with a snap, stripped down, and collapsed into bed. Sleep—she needed sleep to wash away the irritation.
"Tch. That idiot Naruto better be practicing his Sacred Fist tonight. If not, I'm done coddling him."
Muttering to herself, Hinata flexed her fingers and let sleep take her.
Tick-tock… the clock's hands moved quietly. Minutes passed.
Suddenly, Hinata—who had been sleeping deeply—opened her eyes and sat upright.
Elsewhere in the Hyuga compound, Hanabi lay dejectedly in bed. Her sister had coldly brushed her off, and it stung.
"She never used to send me away like that…"
Even as a child, Hanabi could sense the tone in Hinata's voice. That forced smile, that distant tone—she'd noticed the change. She just didn't want to believe it.
Then—footsteps echoed in the hallway outside her room.
"Hanabi… it's me…"
The voice made Hanabi sit up in surprise. "Onee-sama?"
"Don't open the door. Just stay there and talk to me."
Hanabi paused, puzzled. "But…"
"Please, Hanabi. Just listen to your sister."
Something was strange—but it was definitely Hinata's voice. The silhouette on the paper door was unmistakable. And the voice—it wasn't the cold, detached one she'd grown used to. It was the old Hinata: warm, gentle, and a little fragile.
"I just wanted to tell you—Father might be strict, but never talk back to him. And take care of yourself. If it's too much, don't force it. I'm sorry, but I have to go now…"
There was something mournful in her tone.
"Goodbye, Hanabi."
Hanabi's heart dropped. "Wait! What's happening—?!"
She rushed to open the door, but the hallway was already empty.
Gone—like a dream.
---
'What… is this?'
In a haze, Hinata felt her body moving. It was like she was dreaming. She could hear herself talking to that annoying little Hanabi, then leaving the compound and heading toward the training grounds.
'Is this… a dream?'
Still hazy, Hinata observed her surroundings. She saw "herself" skillfully slipping through the underbrush until arriving at the woods beside the training field—where, just as expected, an orange-clad figure was practicing late into the night.
Naruto, panting and exhausted, was still throwing punches.
'So, he really is putting in the work… He might just catch up to Sasuke's level with enough effort, at least in terms of mastering Sacred Fist techniques.'
That thought came naturally—but something felt wrong. This dream was too vivid. She could see the fine lines on tree bark, feel the tension in her limbs. From her vantage point, "her body" was hiding in the trees, secretly watching Naruto—exactly like the timid Hinata from the original story.
'Wait… original Hinata?!'
The realization hit like a cold splash of water. Her awareness snapped into full clarity—and in that moment, she saw it: the illusion of a dream shattered. The trees, the sounds, the crisp air—it was all real.
She wasn't dreaming. Her body had truly come here on its own.
"No way… how…?"
Even for Hinata, this brought a jolt of fear. She had accepted being a transmigrator, having taken over this body along with all its memories. But this—her body acting independently—suggested something deeply disturbing.
Was this a remnant of the original Hinata's will? Or…
Balling her fists, Hinata tried to ground herself. The feeling of her tightened knuckles snapped her back to control.
Time to test it.
She stepped out from the trees, brushing aside a branch.
"Who's there—oh, Hinata."
Naruto turned, catching his breath. "What are you doing out here so late?"
Hinata didn't answer immediately. She walked into the clearing, carefully choosing her words.
"Nothing much. I just saw you were working hard… so I came to offer a supplementary lesson."
"Huh? Lesson?"
Naruto stood upright, confused.
"Your self-learning of the techniques is too slow. So let's try another method."
Hinata raised her hands. Her Byakugan activated, veins bulging at the sides of her eyes as her voice dropped into a threatening calm.
"Let's try… real combat."
"If you can't get stronger by beating people, then…"
"…get stronger by getting beat up."
---
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