What had she experienced this past month to make such great progress?
Hinata knew very well that she had grown stronger because of Takasaki's diary.
To be precise, she hadn't grown stronger over the past month, but rather two hours ago.
Her total Chakra increased by 10%, and while it wasn't enough to defeat Neji, it would at least allow her to last 3 minutes in a sparring match with Neji, up from half a minute.
Six times the duration.
Astonishing progress.
"Hinata, how did you manage to make such great progress?" Neji asked again.
Hinata actually wanted to tell him about the diary. After all, she was a member of the Hyuga Clan and bore the responsibility of revitalizing the clan, hoping to use Takasaki's diary to make the entire Hyuga Clan powerful.
But she couldn't say anything about it.
Otherwise, she would die.
Hinata could only find an excuse: "Brother Neji, I got stronger through hard work."
"Hard work?" Neji frowned.
"Yes, Brother Neji, hard work can change one's destiny."
Hinata lowered her head slightly, her face uncontrollably flushing when she lied.
Fortunately, she was somewhat physically exhausted at the moment, and her face was already a bit flushed, so no one noticed anything unusual.
Seeing that Hinata could stand steadily now, Neji no longer supported her and fell into thought.
Takasaki, through hard work, had learned the Three Body Technique and was no longer the dead last in his eyes.
And Hinata, through hard work, had become much stronger, far exceeding just lasting three minutes against him.
Neji murmured, "Hard work, can it really change one's destiny...?"
If so, could the Caged Bird Seal embedded in his forehead also be broken through hard work?
Thinking about it for a moment, Neji shook his head with a bitter smile.
Even if he wanted to work hard to break the Caged Bird Seal, he couldn't even find a direction for his efforts.
Immediately after.
He looked at Hinata, whose face was flushed from exhaustion, and Neji seemed to suddenly connect something: "Hinata, did you start working hard this month because of Takasaki's influence?"
"Y-yes!" Hinata lied again.
She hung her head in shame.
Neji didn't think much of Hinata's reaction; after all, he understood his cousin's personality—she was indeed prone to shyness and blushing, and had an introverted nature.
The key was that through Hinata's answer, he suddenly understood many issues.
No wonder Hinata was willing to invite Takasaki to her home and treat him like a distinguished guest.
It turned out Takasaki was worthy!
Through Takasaki's influence, Hinata's strength had advanced by leaps and bounds this month.
Let alone Hinata, if it were him, encountering the same situation, he would also be full of gratitude towards Takasaki.
"It seems I really misunderstood Takasaki. He clearly helped you, yet I provoked him like that earlier."
At once, Neji's guilt towards Takasaki deepened: "After the weekend, when we return to the academy next Monday, I will definitely apologize to him sincerely."
Just as the two were talking.
At the entrance of the training room, Hyuga Hiashi, wearing a deep white robe, stepped in.
Originally, Hyuga Hiashi was in a good mood after discovering Hinata's progress, and a smile was on his face.
That was until he vaguely heard Hinata and Neji talking about something related to Takasaki, and his mood instantly soured.
Hyuga Hiashi put away the smile on his face and asked with a serious expression: "Are you talking about Takasaki?"
As his words fell.
Neji and Hinata's gazes turned towards Hyuga Hiashi.
As the Clan Head of the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Hiashi held great prestige among his clansmen. Clansmen in the residence were to bow to him without exception, even his own daughter Hinata in public.
However, this time, Neji and Hinata, seeing him in public, did not bow immediately.
Hinata just stared blankly at Hyuga Hiashi, not knowing what she was thinking.
Neji's gaze was more direct, scrutinizing Hyuga Hiashi up and down, that suspicious look almost written on his face.
This couldn't be Takasaki, could it?
It wasn't that Neji was naturally suspicious; it was just that he was somewhat traumatized by Takasaki's tricks.
While he felt guilty towards Takasaki, remembering the three times Takasaki had tricked him earlier still made him a little angry.
In a proper fight, Takasaki would definitely not be his opponent.
But when it came to some underhanded tricks, he really wasn't as good as Takasaki.
"What are you two suspecting?"
The two's thoughts were seen through by Hyuga Hiashi, that old fox: "I heard about Takasaki's antics in the residence earlier. Are you now suspecting that I am Takasaki in disguise?"
After he finished speaking.
Hyuga Hiashi's eyes bulged with visible veins.
The Chakra leaking from his body formed an extremely oppressive aura that heavily crushed down on Neji and Hinata, causing cold sweat to break out on their backs.
"Father!" Hinata no longer doubted.
Neji quickly bowed: "Clan Head!"
Hyuga Hiashi's expression improved slightly, but his impression of Takasaki worsened.
If it weren't for Takasaki's earlier antics, how could his daughter and nephew possibly doubt his identity?
Rather than asking how Hinata got stronger, Hyuga Hiashi now wanted Neji and Hinata to stop having too much contact with Takasaki, especially Hinata.
Yet, he sensed that Hinata and Takasaki's relationship seemed very good.
Cutting off Hinata's relationship with Takasaki all at once seemed a bit cruel.
So, it would be better to let Neji set an example first.
After all, Neji's personality was much more decisive than Hinata's.
Immediately, Hyuga Hiashi asked: "Neji, how do you plan to treat Takasaki from now on?"
"I... I..."
Neji stammered "I" several times, but in the end, he still couldn't voice his thoughts.
He did plan to apologize to Takasaki, but having never apologized to anyone before, actually saying those words was still somewhat difficult for him.
His behavior, however, appeared to Hyuga Hiashi as if he was too embarrassed to sever a friendship all at once.
Hyuga Hiashi decided to give Neji a push: "Why are you being so timid? Just say it, say it for your sister to hear!"
Neji took a deep breath and said loudly: "I plan to apologize to Takasaki tomorrow!"
What?
Hyuga Hiashi was stunned. Even though he heard it clearly, he still found it somewhat unbelievable.
According to his understanding, Takasaki had tricked him three times earlier.
Neji was actually going to apologize to Takasaki?
From any perspective, being tricked three times by someone much weaker than oneself, even if one was magnanimous enough not to retaliate, one wouldn't stoop to apologize to the other party.
This was utter nonsense.
If anyone else had said this, Hyuga Hiashi would have severely reprimanded them. The problem was, this person was Neji.
In his eyes, Neji was not a rash person; he handled matters very methodically.
There must be a special reason why Neji would say such a thing.
Putting Neji's matter aside for a moment, Hyuga Hiashi's gaze fell on Hinata: "Hinata, I can see that your progress in this sparring session with Neji, compared to last month, is very, very significant."
Hyuga Hiashi's face was smiling. When speaking to Hinata, not only did his tone become gentler, but his gaze also softened considerably: "How did you do it?"
In front of her father, Hinata dared not lie, but she also wouldn't reveal anything about the diary: "Classmate Takasaki helped me get stronger."
What?
The Hyuga Clan Head frowned.
Wasn't Takasaki the unpopular dead last in Hinata's class? He had just caused a ruckus in his residence and was beaten away by Neji.
Why now was his usually meticulous nephew, Neji, planning to apologize to Takasaki?
And his daughter even said she got stronger with Takasaki's help.
What exactly was going on?