Hinata looked dazed and nervously lowered her head.
Why was everyone looking at her?
Wasn't this Naruto and Neji's decision?
Hiashi Hyuga remained silent, mostly confused.
The main house had no comment on this matter?
Could it be that in the future, someone from the main house was willing to change the fate of the "branch family"?
But soon, he dismissed that thought.
No...
That little girl from the main house didn't seem like she was supporting anything.
She was just timid and restrained, afraid to speak, not even realizing she should take responsibility for voicing an opinion on this matter.
How did she end up as heir of the main family?
There was no relying on the main house.
Hiashi turned to Minato Namikaze. "Lord Namikaze, I ask that you—"
Minato shook his head. "We're people from the past. We can't interfere with the future."
"Even if we stop them here…"
"What happens when they return to the future?"
He had no intention of intervening.
This was, after all, an internal affair of the Hyuga clan. For an outsider to get involved would feel very inappropriate.
Besides…
His son supported this.
The presence of the Nine-Tails, Karin, and the absence of the Konoha insignia—all these clues together told him something significant about the future.
As a father, it seemed he hadn't done his job very well.
Moreover…
He hadn't even become a father yet.
So what right did he have to use that title so righteously and "lecture" his son?
Hiashi fell silent.
"How did you come from the future?" Choza Akimichi asked curiously. "And how do you plan to return?"
Naruto smiled. "By using the power of the Dragon Vein."
"There are still two companions who haven't shown up."
"Once they arrive, we'll use the Dragon Vein again to return."
That feeling of "traveling through time and space" was something he had remembered vividly.
Hiashi's expression shifted slightly. "Will you be staying for a few days?"
Maybe… this was his chance.
To persuade this boy—who might be his son.
Naruto simply smiled and didn't answer.
Their conversation continued.
It was clear that, aside from Minato, the others were all very curious about the future.
Kakashi wanted to know what kind of person he would become.
The other adults were more concerned about the fate of their clans.
But no one asked.
As Minato had said, even if they learned something, those memories would be sealed again. Rather than burdening themselves with worries, it was better not to know anything at all.
Night fell.
With the Queen of Rōran's arrangements, they stayed in the castle.
Karin and Naruto had separate rooms.
She lay on the couch on the balcony, gazing at the moon above her.
The events of the day had replayed in her mind countless times.
She was now Minato's daughter too.
But…
Not the kind of "daughter" she wanted to be.
Just then—
Knock knock—someone tapped on the door.
Karin formed a hand seal, and a golden chain shot out, unlocking the door.
"Sorry to bother you so late." A shy, timid voice came in along with the chain—Hinata Hyuga.
Karin tilted her head to look at her. "Oh, it's you. The little girl who confessed to Naruto."
"What do you want?"
Hinata stepped out onto the balcony but kept her head down, saying nothing.
"You want to know what my relationship is with Naruto?" Karin easily picked up on her emotions.
Hinata nodded.
"Though I really want to say something nasty to you…" Karin pouted and kicked over the footrest for Hinata to sit. "But—"
"There's no need to lie to ourselves."
"I do like Naruto too, just like you."
"But he doesn't seem to notice those feelings. He just sees me as family."
Even though that sounded like "good news," it didn't change Hinata's gloomy expression—she was used to that dispirited look.
Karin paused, locking eyes with her meaningfully. "Naruto's carrying some very heavy burdens."
"Even if he's never told me, it's easy to see."
"I'm not selfish enough to confess my feelings and burden him with that."
Hinata lowered her head even more.
She didn't argue—she just accepted it.
Karin turned away, looking up at the moon again.
This girl is my romantic rival?
Boring.
There's no fun in fighting someone like this.
"Did what I said to Naruto cause him trouble?" Hinata didn't care how Karin treated her. She only cared about Naruto.
"No," Karin said loudly. "If Naruto didn't have such a good memory, he'd probably have forgotten you by now."
She tilted her head. "Do you still like Naruto?"
"Of course!" Hinata said firmly and loudly for once. "I—I still like Naruto-kun."
"I've thought about it for a long time."
"I'm not in love with some made-up ideal."
"It's really him."
Karin didn't respond. She just yawned.
"I—I came to ask how I can be like you… stay by Naruto's side." Hinata lowered her head again, the courage she briefly had fading just as quickly.
Karin replied without much patience: "Because of the Uzumaki bloodline."
Hinata's mood visibly dropped. She clenched her fists.
So it was because of that?
She raised her head slightly, looking at Karin with envy.
People usually envied her clan background, but now, the thought "I wish I wasn't born into the Hyuga Clan" grew stronger than ever.
"That's not it." Karin noticed her change in emotion and quickly denied her earlier statement. "If it were just because of the bloodline, Naruto would've placed me somewhere he thought was safe."
"Being able to stay by his side—I worked hard for that."
"If you think it's just because of blood, that really makes me upset."
"Feels like you're underestimating me."
Hinata waved her hands. "No, I didn't mean that."
Karin stared off into the distance. "I don't even know what kind of girl Naruto likes."
"Cute? Pretty?"
"Tall? Short?"
Her eyes drifted down to a certain body part of Hinata's. She muttered, "Big? Or small?"
Hinata looked down—couldn't see her feet.
Big?
If it's about that, then she had an advantage.
"But he definitely doesn't like girls who can do something, yet choose to do nothing," Karin added, her eyes still fixated.
"When did you start liking Naruto?"
"Since we were very little," Hinata said with a sweet smile. It was her happiest memory. "Before we even started at the ninja academy."
Karin was shocked. "That early?"
Hinata nodded and clenched her fists.
That's why she was sure this wasn't just a childish crush.
"But you heard what Naruto said the day he left Konoha, right?" Karin tilted her head, looking from another angle.
Hinata stammered, "I…"
"You've liked him for so long, but he barely remembers you," Karin raised a hand dramatically. "If you'd been someone who lit a candle in his darkness, someone who took his hand back then…"
"Things wouldn't be like this now, right?"
Hinata bowed her head even lower.
"Right now, Naruto is forming an organization," Karin sighed. "Maybe if you joined it, you could stay by his side."
Hinata's head snapped up.
"But you're clearly not qualified yet," Karin continued bluntly. "You have no strength and no mental resilience."
"A girl like you has no chance."
Hinata took a deep breath. "I'll change."
"Change isn't something you do by saying a few words," Karin stretched. "That Uchiha…"
"You mean Sasuke-kun?" Hinata had a better impression of him.
Karin nodded. "Yeah, I think that's his name."
"The way he acts—that's what real change looks like."
Hinata said quietly, "I understand."
"I'll make it happen."
Karin didn't respond, but in her heart, she doubted it.
Someone who's been weak their whole life—how could they suddenly become strong?
Hinata stood and bowed. "Thank you very much, Karin. I—I know what I need to do next."
Karin blinked in surprise.
Wait…
When she was sitting, she didn't look that big.
How did things look so intimidating from this angle?
Hinata was about to leave.
"Wait," Karin called out.
Hinata turned back, puzzled. "What is it?"
"What do you usually eat?" Karin asked with a serious expression, summoning a scroll and pen, ready to take notes. "Do you have any particular dietary habits?"
Hinata blushed. "Why do you want to know something like that?"
"It's very important to me," Karin said with great sincerity.
Hinata lowered her head shyly and replied, "I—I like sweet foods, like red bean paste and cinnamon rolls."
"I rarely eat things like shrimp or crab."
Karin scribbled notes furiously.
She also liked sweets, and ate a lot of carbs.
But…
Their tastes and eating habits were so similar—how was there such a huge difference between their physiques?
"I…" Hinata got even more embarrassed. "I have a bit of a big appetite."
"I can eat a lot."
She gestured and gave a number.
Karin's eyes widened.
This…
This wasn't just a big eater—this was a glutton.
So the reason she hadn't developed like Hinata or Mei Terumi was because she wasn't eating enough?
But wouldn't that make her gain weight?
Seeing that Karin had no more questions, Hinata quietly said goodbye.
She didn't have full confidence, but this time, she was determined—she would change.
(End of Chapter)