But the upside was clear: first, the chakra cost was nearly negligible. It didn't require lengthy hand seals, nor did it need much preparatory movement. It could basically be hidden within a simple flick of the wrist and fired at will. Because of this, the technique had another name—"Assassin's Flame."
As the name implied, it was akin to a blade hidden in the sleeve—a sneaky, mid-range strike. Not particularly powerful or far-reaching, but it excelled in secrecy and instant execution. As long as it disrupted the enemy's rhythm, its value was clear.
And more importantly, this technique was something Hinata had developed entirely on her own—she hadn't shared it with Sasuke or Naruto.
Thinking of those two faces, Hinata's pale eyes narrowed.
There was no need to coddle those two idiots in everything. In the end, getting stronger was something that required personal effort. If they kept relying on her for guidance and pushing, then it was no surprise they'd be left behind.
Still... even with all this, her own progress was not yet enough—especially compared to those two.
That idiot Naruto had the Nine-Tails sealed inside him. Even in the original, after three years of floundering, he became an unstoppable savior the moment he tamed it. Sasuke didn't even need that much—one glimpse of the Sharingan and he was summoning Susanoo to mow down gods and buddhas alike.
By comparison, Hinata's natural talent was simply not in the same league. Even if her current strength exceeded that of Sasuke and Naruto, that small gap would probably vanish without warning.
Clenching her fingers, Hinata shook her head hard, forcing that bitterness out of her mind. That kind of emotion might provide a spark of motivation, but for someone as proud as her, it was an insult.
Rustle—
Just then, the faint sound of foliage being disturbed came from the woods behind her. The next second, a massive lion burst from the trees, roaring as it leapt toward her back. From its poised claws and gnashing jaws, it was clearly aiming to tear out her slender neck in a single bite. Its fur was pure white, patterned with black markings like strokes from an ink painting.
"Hmph~!"
Hinata didn't even turn around. She casually flung her left hand backward—an orange-red flame instantly shot from her palm. The Assassin's Flame engulfed the pouncing lion mid-air. With a hissing sound like steam rising, the white beast dissolved into smoke and vanished.
"It's still daylight, and already the rats are crawling out."
Hinata's voice was calm as her Byakugan activated. In her vision, a figure hidden in the trees to her left was clearly visible. Withdrawing her hand, she added, now with a chilling tone, "Three seconds. Or I kill you."
Her words made the figure in the forest hesitate for a moment, but after barely a second's thought, he stepped out obediently. Clearly, he'd realized that his stealth was useless against her eyes—and her killing intent was the real deal.
"They say the Byakugan is an excellent bloodline. I'd say that's very true."
Emerging into the sunlight was a boy in a black vest and pants. He looked to be Hinata's age. A massive scroll and brush were strapped to his back, and his trademark fake smile made him instantly recognizable.
There was no doubt—this was the ninja artist from the original, Sai.
Also known as one of the elite guards of Danzo, the mastermind boss of Konoha's shady dealings.
Which meant, his appearance here had only one possible explanation.
Interesting… Looks like a certain evil partner might have finally taken notice of her.
Hinata's lips curled upward slightly in excitement. She felt like she was staring at a new opportunity.
With that thought, she turned to face the magic brush boy. Her voice was imperious and arrogant.
"State your business, rat."
"I'd like to know—who sent you to greet me with this little ambush?"
---
In the Ninja Academy, a classroom without a teacher wasn't much different from a vegetable market. And for a bunch of students about to graduate, the energy during breaks was at its peak. The curriculum was pretty relaxed, grades weren't a huge deal, and it lacked the brutal competitiveness of a real-world exam prep class.
Which meant the students were full of life between lessons. More girls had gathered around Sasuke. Choji's drawer was now stocked with a wider variety of chips. And Sakura and Ino had somehow acquired a stack of no-brand makeup products.
Today's topic? Uh... let's say things got pretty heated.
"I'm not wrong! That black-dressed woman who popped up out of nowhere? She's totally a homewrecker trying to seduce Lin!"
"She is NOT! Madam Higan definitely has her own tragic backstory! Black spider lilies symbolize death and love—obviously a metaphor! It's all foreshadowing, you shallow cow!"
"No way! Ahri is Lin's real lover!"
"Madam Higan has way more queen energy to be the main wife!"
Two girls from the same class were arguing loudly, red in the face, clearly representing two sharply divided factions. The debate was all about who was the true main heroine: Madam Higan or the fox spirit Ahri…
"..."
Shikamaru lay facedown on his desk, one arm behind his head, completely lifeless. Even for someone as lazy as him, hearing his classmates argue passionately over this kind of topic… yeah, that was definitely past his embarrassment threshold. Or at least, his current one.
"Hm. Looks like our series is quite popular."
Chin propped in one hand, Hinata spoke lazily. The corn kernel in her other hand popped with a snap—it wasn't charcoal this time, at least barely edible popcorn.
"You haven't made enough money yet? Not to criticize, but at this point, money's usefulness is kind of wearing thin, isn't it?"
Sasuke eyed her with faint irritation. He wasn't stupid—he'd more or less figured out that Hinata had been strengthening herself by essentially paying to win. But since it worked so well, he hadn't complained.
"Hehehe~ Money is a wonderful thing. Always useful, no matter the time or place."
Letting out a low chuckle, Hinata looked at Sasuke with interest.
"Besides, if you want to revive the Uchiha clan, you'll need funds too, won't you?"
That made Sasuke pause. Before his eventual reunion with Itachi, the Uchiha second son clearly still had some attachment to his family. His stated goal during class assignment had been to revive the Uchiha.
"Hmph. Fair point."
Unable to come up with a rebuttal, Sasuke huffed and ended the conversation.
Back at her desk, Hinata gave a little shake of her head. Her lips curled into a strange little smile as she whispered to herself, "Yeah~~ money really is a wonderful thing~~"
---
Flashback: Scene Replay
Danzo's mood wasn't good. Though his face remained cold and composed, Hinata still caught the frustration and impatience behind his eyes.
"I always thought the Hyuga clan was obedient. But after seeing you, I realize—anyone with a bloodline can't be completely tamed."
As he spoke, Danzo's grip on his cane tightened. The dim light of the underground lair stretched his shadow over Hinata like a physical representation of his suspicion and disdain.
"I'm flattered. But I doubt you brought me here to compliment my personality."
Facing Danzo fearlessly, Hinata wasn't the least bit nervous. In the original story, Danzo's obsession with exterminating the Uchiha had deeply fractured his relationship with the Third Hokage. After the Uchiha massacre, the Third ordered the dissolution of Root. Which meant that right now, Danzo was in a period of exile and hiding—like a tiger stripped of its claws.
In that state, it was unlikely he'd risk making a move against the Hyuga heiress. Doing so would only invite the Hokage's wrath.
"Hmph! You know who I am?"
"Nope~ But that doesn't really matter, does it?"
Danzo's gaze darkened at her answer. Meanwhile, Hinata frowned sharply, activating her Byakugan. Her tone turned mocking.
"Back off. I don't know what technique you're trying to use with that right eye—but I think you'd better stop."
Danzo's fingers clenched again. Though surprised, he also found himself quietly impressed by this girl.
Yes—within Danzo's right eye was the Sharingan once belonging to Uchiha Shisui, a genjutsu prodigy. That eye could cast the powerful illusion technique Kotoamatsukami, capable of implanting thoughts into a person's mind without them realizing it.
But to use genjutsu required a flow of chakra. And this Hyuga girl had somehow sensed his intent, using her Byakugan to detect the sudden chakra activity…
Unbelievable.