Inside Hinata's room.
On the tatami mat, Kiyoshi had promised he wouldn't do anything—but eventually, he couldn't resist, leaning in to taste those delicate, soft lips.
This new experience made Hinata's eyes widen, her mind going blank in an instant.
"Kiyoshi..." She gazed at his face, which was so close to hers, locking eyes with his deep gaze, her heart racing uncontrollably.
Her pure white eyes glistened with emotion.
Following his gentle guidance, her face flushed as she hesitantly, awkwardly responded.
After a while—
Hinata was left slightly breathless, nearly fainting from the intensity of it all, her cheeks flushed deeply red.
Her hands clutched Kiyoshi's shirt tightly.
"Kiyoshi…." She looked like a girl who'd been caught doing something mischievous, feeling nervous and unsure.
Her heart beat wildly, thump-thump: How… how could he do that?
"It's because Hinata is just too irresistible."
Kiyoshi gave a slight smile, resisting the urge to tease her further, seeing how flustered she already was.
He wrapped his arms around her slender frame, holding her close like a pillow.
With his eyes closed, he gently patted her back, soothing her. "It's late, sleep well."
After getting over her initial nervousness, embarrassment, and wandering thoughts, Hinata, exhausted from a day of training, finally drifted off to sleep in Kiyoshi's warm embrace, sleeping soundly and peacefully.
….
"Kiyoshi-ni.."
Morning.
When Hinata awoke, the spot next to her was empty.
"It wasn't a dream, he was really here." The lingering scent on her sheets caused her cheeks to flush as she pulled the blanket over her head, inhaling the scent shyly, a tiny smile emerging.
Kiyoshi's embrace was so warm.
"Sister."
Just then—
A girl with long black hair rushed into the room, calling out loudly and knocking on the door. "I'm coming in."
Without waiting for Hinata's response, Hanabi had already opened the door.
"Hanabi, wait.."
Hinata, who rarely lingered in bed, felt startled, like she'd been caught in the act, her face a mix of panic and embarrassment.
Her heart raced as Hanabi rushed over.
"Hanabi, you should wait for permission before entering. It's rude otherwise." Hinata scolded, trying to keep her composure.
"Neechan, is school on break today?" Hanabi, oblivious to her sister's attempt to stay calm, held Hinata's hand and looked up at her expectantly.
"Father isn't home these days, can you take me out?"
In Hanabi's memories, she rarely got to spend time with her sister outside of the house.
Her father had always been strict, constantly pressuring her to train, often reminding her that since her sister wasn't meeting expectations, Hanabi would have to shoulder the responsibilities of the clan.
But now, things seemed to have relaxed a little. Although he still supervised her training, he was no longer as strict.
Lately, whenever he spoke of her sister, his tone was no longer one of disappointment but often filled with pride and warmth.
Hinata had changed, becoming much stronger recently. But because she was so focused on training, she barely had any time to spend with Hanabi, even rarely sharing meals together.
"Hanabi."
Hinata was taken aback, instinctively patting her sister's head.
She remembered that her father had left the village a few days ago with the branch family's guards to visit the Taketori clan, the Hyuga's longtime allies, in the Land of Grass.
"Hinata, if there's nothing pressing, take a break today." Ayako approached her daughters, smiling warmly.
"Training needs balance. Don't push yourself too hard."
"And, the clan elders have decided, now that Hanabi has turned four, we can't delay it any longer."
Ayako looked at Hanabi with a hesitancy in her eyes. "When your father returns, Hanabi will have to..."
If Hinata had not changed so dramatically, her father might have delayed the decision of choosing between his daughters as the rightful heir.
After all, until recently, Hinata's lackluster performance had left much of the Hyuga clan dissatisfied, and even the elders hadn't pressured Hiashi to decide too hastily.
But Hinata had suddenly grown exceptional, a stark contrast to the timid, unremarkable girl she used to be.
As the clan leader's eldest daughter, Hinata was technically the rightful heir. Now that she had shown such potential, there was no longer any question about it.
Hiashi could no longer use excuses, and the traditional, rigid-minded elders relentlessly pushed for action.
Even as the clan leader, he couldn't defy the weight of the clan's traditions.
After all, even Hiashi's twin brother, Hizashi, had been marked with the cursed Caged Bird Seal due to being born a few moments later, bound to the fate of the branch family.
Hanabi, now four years old, was soon to be marked with the Caged Bird Seal, formally becoming a member of the branch family.
"What?"
Hinata's expression shifted, her hand on Hanabi's head trembling slightly.
The Caged Bird Seal.
Hinata remembered all too well witnessing her uncle Hizashi and cousin Neji both suffering under its curse, their lives at her father's mercy whenever he chose to activate the seal, causing excruciating pain.
The sight was terrifying, a stark reminder of how the cursed seal gave control over the lives of the branch family.
It was unbearably cruel.
"Neechan, it's alright…."
Hanabi lowered her head, biting her lip.
"It's just the Caged Bird Seal, right?"
After a moment, she lifted her head and smiled sweetly, her pure white eyes looking up at her sister.
"Father said the branch family's role is to protect the main family, while the main family leads the clan to prosperity."
"I've always wanted to protect you, sister."
"Hanabi…."
Hinata trembled, realizing Hanabi already knew.
A pang of guilt and sorrow struck her heart, perhaps if it weren't for her, Hanabi wouldn't have to face the fate of the cursed seal.
Holding her sister tightly, her own white eyes shimmering with tears, she spoke with unwavering determination, "I won't let you be bound by this."
Her voice was filled with a fierce resolve she had never felt before.
"Then, today…. can you go out with me?" Hanabi held Hinata's hand tightly, looking up at her with hopeful eyes.
Being young, Hanabi didn't fully understand the Hyuga clan's fate.
She only knew that soon she might no longer be the second daughter of the Hyuga family. She would be like the branch family members, needing to bow to her sister and call her Lady Hinata.
And on her forehead, she'd carry a painful seal like the one her branch family caretaker wore, usually hidden under a cloth or a forehead protector.
But there was one thing she did understand, even her father, the powerful clan leader, could not refuse the elders' wishes.
Her sister, just the heir, could do nothing to stop it either.
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