Chapter 131: The Suppressed Self
"As for the revision of the Caged Bird Seal, we've made some progress. A new technique should be complete soon."
"The clan's secret arts—once exclusive to the main family—are being restructured. From now on, any clan member who contributes significantly will have the right to study advanced techniques."
"The traditional privileges of the main family are also being delegated to the branch families. We're planning to adopt the Fire Daimyō's governance model to replace the old consultation system."
"Oh, and we've re-evaluated the lineage protection protocols—"
. . .
The Hyūga meeting hall no longer resembled the old, solemn space of tradition. The simple tatami mats were gone, replaced with sturdy, modern tables and chairs arranged into a large circle.
On the table were pitchers of water, cups, and neatly arranged trays of fruit—small details for comfort, but they spoke volumes.
This was Hiashi's initiative—a renovation inspired by the Hokage Building's conference layout. With the clan now meeting far more frequently than once or twice a year, kneeling for hours had become both outdated and unnecessary.
Especially for the elders.
Change, it seemed, had found even the smallest corners of the clan.
Hiashi rose from his seat, scanning the circle of clan leaders and elite members around him.
"This concludes this week's meeting. Even if things seem calm right now, I ask that you all stay vigilant and attentive to clan matters."
No objections were raised. One by one, the others stood and gave a short bow before filing out.
Hinata was among them.
Though seated further back, she had been present for every major discussion. As the reform's proposer and one of its implementers, she now stood shoulder to shoulder with the clan's top decision-makers.
No one questioned her presence.
Even if the reform had been discussed years ago by Hiashi and the elders, none of them had dared to act. It had felt too risky, too imperfect. The vision was there, but no one wanted to be remembered as the one who failed.
But Hinata had stepped forward.
And that courage alone had earned her their respect.
She had said what they had only dared to think—and in doing so, had taken her place among them.
. . .
"You head home first," Hiashi said quietly to his daughter as the meeting adjourned. "Ask housekeeper to prepare my dinner. I'll return later."
Hinata didn't argue. She simply nodded and left the hall.
Outside, the compound bustled with activity. The clan's reform had sparked a new vitality, and many members greeted her warmly as she passed—some calling her Miss Hinata, others even using Lady Hinata with genuine affection.
She'd heard those titles before, but now… the tone had changed. The respect was real.
"Hinata-sama!"
A louder voice called from the distance. It was the uncle who often manned the Hyūga compound gates.
"Uzumaki Naruto's been seen outside the clan compound recently," he reported. "He's been hanging around for a few days… Seems like he's waiting for you."
Hinata, already exhausted from the day's discussions, made her way home and relayed the news to Ryosuke.
He had just finished showering, toweling his hair dry when she walked in.
"You've been watching his movements lately," Hinata said, her tone a little sharp as she stepped closer. "But you don't even ask about me."
Ryosuke raised a brow. "That's a weird tone, Hinata."
"You're always asking Hoshicai for updates on him," she pouted. "You've never been that attentive with me."
She sounded half-jealous, half-exasperated. Like a girlfriend who felt she'd been ditched for a childhood friend.
Ryosuke looked at her, utterly helpless.
"What are you even thinking…? Naruto's my friend. And yours too, isn't he?"
"…Yeah, yeah," Hinata grumbled, looking away.
She was too tired to argue. "Anyway, he's still outside. He never submitted a request to visit, but the gatekeeper saw him loitering for days and thought you should know. Why don't you go talk to him?"
"No," Ryosuke replied without hesitation. "I can't answer the questions he wants to ask."
He sat down in the living room, towel draped around his shoulders, and let out a slow breath.
Naruto's recent behavior looked normal on paper. The reports from both Konoha's own surveillance and Hyūga's internal intelligence didn't show anything strange. He trained. He went on missions. He studied.
But Ryosuke knew him better than that.
He felt the shift—especially when Naruto started digging into his own origins.
And Ryosuke knew exactly what he would find.
The Fourth Hokage.
Minato Namikaze.
The man who sealed the Nine-Tails inside his newborn son… and left him to grow up hated and alone.
Naruto was drawing closer to that truth.
And that truth… was unbearable.
Ryosuke had no doubt Naruto wanted to ask him about it—but couldn't bring himself to voice the question.
So Ryosuke didn't go. He couldn't. Not unless Naruto was ready to face what he already suspected.
Behind him, Hinata finished slipping off her shoes. She paused mid-step, eyes wide.
"…I think I know why he's really here."
She turned toward Ryosuke, tone quieter now. "You're probably right. He doesn't want to say it out loud. But… isn't it worse to pretend not to see him?"
"He's your friend," she added, lowering her gaze. "Isn't hiding from him a bit cruel?"
Even if it was a sensitive subject—even if revealing the truth might ripple into village affairs—with Ryosuke's ability, she knew he could uncover and confirm Naruto's parentage without anyone ever knowing.
"If he already knows," Hinata continued, "then he's not here for answers. He's here for confirmation."
Ryosuke looked away, his expression unreadable.
"The identity of the Fourth Hokage's son... It was never that well-hidden," he said at last.
"If Naruto really wanted to know, all he has to do is research Minato's history. The timeline, the sealing, the day the Nine-Tails attacked…"
"It's all there. He's not missing the truth. He's just… not ready to face it."
"And I'm not the one who can give him peace with that."
"Just like when my father and I kept the Caged Bird secret from you, we didn't tell you until you were ready. Some truths don't bring resolution—they demand readiness. The right mindset."
Ryosuke's voice was calm as he leaned back against the wall, eyes steady on Hinata. "If I told him now, it might hurt more than it helps. He needs to accept it himself. Understand it. Understand why his father did what he did."
Across from him, Hinata was sprawled on the floor like a tired cat, curled into herself, eyes half-closed. Her fingers barely reached the fruit juice Ryosuke pushed toward her.
"So tired..." she mumbled.
Her voice was faint, but content.
Ryosuke chuckled softly. "That exhausted, huh?"
"Mhm," she murmured, her tone lazy and warm. "But Ryosuke... you're always so gentle. Like a teacher. You'd be great at the ninja academy."
She smiled faintly. A peaceful moment. Just the two of them, waiting for dinner.
"Maybe. But more than that, I just... think people should live their own lives," Ryosuke said as he casually flipped through a Water Release scroll. "At the very least, I want the people around me to have the freedom to choose. To live without regret."
Not everyone could be saved. But if he could give even a few people the power to decide their paths—then that would be enough.
Hinata didn't reply. The silence stretched.
Just when he thought she'd fallen asleep, she rolled over like a sleepy ball of fluff, bumping into his leg with a quiet whimper.
"You're too good," she mumbled.
She stayed there, curled up against his leg. Ryosuke instinctively relaxed his muscles, mindful of his strength.
"Sleep. I'll wake you when dinner's ready."
He raised a hand and gently combed his fingers through her hair. Under his touch, she went still, the tension easing from her shoulders.
Soon, soft breathing filled the room.
Rustle, rustle...
Ryosuke turned each page of his scroll with care now, barely making a sound. The scene was quiet and warm.
Until it wasn't.
"Sister! I'm home!"
Hanabi burst in from the courtyard, all enthusiasm and chaos, her sandals slapping against the wood floor.
Ryosuke winced.
And sure enough—
"Uhhhnnnn... wha... Hanabi?!" Hinata groaned, her peaceful slumber abruptly ended as her little sister barreled into her.
...
Whoosh—whoosh—
Two figures darted through the twilight forest outside the village, one chasing the other. Leaves rustled. Branches trembled.
"Something's been bothering you lately."
Uchiha Sasuke's voice cut through the wind, sharp and observant. His dark blue shirt flared behind him, the Uchiha crest clear on his back.
He hurled a handful of kunai. Each blade flew at a different angle, striking mid-air and ricocheting off one another. The resulting trajectory boxed in the orange figure ahead.
Naruto.
The blond Genin pulled a kunai from his pouch and expertly parried each projectile. "Nope."
His tone was flat. Not annoyed—just... detached.
Sasuke wasn't fooled.
"You've been playing it cool in front of Kakashi-sensei, but not with me. You've let your guard down."
As the kunai scattered, Sasuke sprang from the shadows. His leg whipped out with blinding speed, aiming for Naruto's ribs.
Bang!
Naruto blocked the strike with his forearm. The clash sent a gust of air through the clearing.
"...Maybe something's up. But it's nothing important," Naruto muttered.
"You sure? You don't look fine."
Sasuke followed up with another blow—then another. Each one blocked.
Naruto was defending more sluggishly now, his brows knitting together in discomfort.
Sasuke's Sharingan glinted in the dying light. He read Naruto's chakra, tracked every breath, every muscle twitch.
He knew Naruto's fighting style. Knew when something was off.
"You've been hanging around Hyuga territory a lot lately," Sasuke said as he swept into a downward kick. "Looking for him, right?"
Naruto's block faltered.
Sasuke smirked.
"That Hyuga guy isn't seeing you. Why? You scared to ask something? Or scared of the answer?"
He didn't let up—strike after strike, pushing Naruto back.
"You didn't used to be this shaky. You fought me with confidence before. Now? You're hesitating. You're panicking."
Then—
His fist landed squarely on Naruto's cheek.
Or it should have.
Sasuke's eyes widened.
The punch hit, but Naruto didn't move. Didn't flinch. His head turned slightly with the impact, but otherwise... nothing.
"You've been running your mouth for a while now."
Naruto's voice had changed—lower. Tense.
A chill crept into Sasuke's bones.
The next thing he knew, Naruto's chakra surged—red, wild, and heavy.
"Didn't I tell you? Don't talk during a fight."
Scarlet seeped into Naruto's cerulean eyes. Sasuke took a step back, heart pounding.
Too late.
Snap!
A clawed hand wrapped around Sasuke's ankle, yanking him down with crushing force.
Naruto glared at him—eyes like a beast awakened.
"You really think a pair of Sharingan is enough to stop me?"
His voice was a growl, a barely restrained roar.
"Do you know what I've endured for this power?!"
Sasuke's body tensed as Naruto's chakra pulsed like a storm, rising—raging.
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