The Hyuga compound was silent beneath the silver glow of the crescent moon. Within one of its training rooms, the sound of faint movements echoed rhythmically, the steady rustle of fabric against the polished wooden floor blending with quiet breaths.
Hanabi sat obediently beside her elder sister, her small hands resting on her knees, her eyes filled with both admiration and curiosity. She had always looked up to Hinata — though she sometimes wondered why her gentle sister bore such a fragile aura when compared to the powerful image she carried in her heart.
Hinata turned toward her younger sister, her pale eyes reflecting the moonlight as softly as a pool of water.
"Hanabi," she began in a voice so gentle it almost blended with the night air, "what do you think we strive for when we train so hard and become stronger?"
Hanabi straightened her posture immediately, answering without hesitation.
"Of course, it's to protect the Hyuga Clan!"
Hinata smiled, her lips curving with warmth that held a touch of sadness.
"That's certainly the correct answer. But…" Her gaze lifted upward, toward the window where the moonlight spilled in. "It shouldn't be the only answer."
Hanabi blinked in surprise, tilting her head.
"Then, what else is there?"
Hinata's eyes followed the crescent moon hanging high above the rooftops, its hazy glow lighting up the night sky. Her voice grew distant, as though she were speaking not only to Hanabi but also to herself.
"Everyone is different, I suppose. Some people train to gain the recognition of others… some train to prove themselves, to show that they can overcome any obstacle. Others fight to fulfill dreams they hold close to their hearts…"
She paused, her voice softening further.
"Or perhaps… to protect the people they love."
Her words lingered in the air, carrying a quiet conviction. Hanabi's young face scrunched in thought, but Hinata gently continued.
"But the most important reason of all…" Hinata lowered her gaze, meeting Hanabi's curious eyes. "…is to become a better version of oneself."
Hanabi repeated the phrase under her breath, as though trying to taste its meaning.
"Become… a better version of oneself?" She frowned slightly. "But couldn't Big Sister have done that before too?"
Hinata exhaled softly, a sigh carrying years of pressure and unspoken emotions. She shook her head.
"That's different."
Her pale eyes darkened with memories of her struggles — of her father's cold eyes, of the elders' disappointment, of being told time and again that she was too weak to inherit the pride of the Hyuga name.
"Hanabi," she said gently, "your talent surpasses mine. You may not realize it yet, but you are still very young. There are many things in our clan that you don't fully understand… things about duty, expectations, and the burden of the Main Family."
She smiled faintly, almost bitterly. "Even I don't fully understand them yet."
Hanabi scratched the back of her head, her youthful impatience surfacing.
"Then, Big Sister, do you… do you have someone you like now?"
Hinata froze as if struck by lightning. Her cheeks flared crimson instantly, her lips parting in panic. But to her surprise, she didn't deny it. She swallowed her embarrassment and admitted softly, almost inaudibly:
"…Yes."
Hanabi's eyes widened with delight, sparkling like a mischievous little fox. She bounced closer, her face full of anticipation.
"Ah, who is it, who is it, who is it?!"
Hinata's heart pounded furiously in her chest. The warmth on her face only deepened under her sister's playful gaze. She lifted her finger and gently poked Hanabi's tiny nose, a mix of shyness and affection in her expression.
"I'll tell you later… It's a secret for now."
Hanabi pouted dramatically, crossing her arms.
"Ohhh… fine."
But behind her sulk, a sly grin tugged at her lips. Hehe, if Big Sister won't tell me, I'll just find out myself…
Hinata rose gracefully to her feet, her long hair swaying with the motion. She patted Hanabi's head softly.
"You should go to bed, Hanabi. It's getting late."
Her voice held that same caring warmth she had always shown her little sister.
"I still need to train for a while longer."
Hanabi nodded obediently. She walked toward the door, but before closing it, she peeked back one last time.
"Big Sister… don't overwork yourself."
Hinata smiled, her eyes tender.
"Mm."
The door shut quietly. Moments later, the sound of focused effort filled the training room again — the measured thud of palms striking practice poles, the soft exhalations of controlled chakra release.
Neither sister realized that in the shadows of the courtyard, a tall figure stood silently. Hyuga Hiashi, head of the clan and their father, had overheard the entire exchange.
His usually stern face was unreadable, his brows drawn tightly as he listened.
"…Hinata."
His heart stirred with conflicting emotions. The words his daughter had spoken — about becoming stronger, about protecting what one loves, about becoming a better version of oneself — echoed in his mind like a distant bell.
He remembered the past, when his gaze upon Hinata had been sharp and unforgiving. The harsh words he had spoken, the relentless pressure he had placed on her fragile shoulders. He had treated her with severity, sometimes bordering on cruelty.
But at the time, he had believed he had no choice.
As clan head, as the bearer of the Hyuga legacy, he had to be strict. Even if she was his daughter, he could not allow weakness. He had been raised the same way, after all. The Hyuga had endured in this manner for centuries — Main Family and Branch Family locked in an endless cycle of duty and submission.
And yet…
Hiashi's eyes lifted to the crescent moon above. The memory of another face appeared before him — a face nearly identical to his own, yet branded with the cruel mark of the Caged Bird Seal. His younger twin brother, Hizashi.
A pang of guilt twisted within him.
"Hizashi…" he murmured under his breath. "What… what should I do? Will the tragedy that befell us brothers continue into the next generation?"
His eyes softened with a rare vulnerability.
"Hinata… has she been resisting this so-called fate in her own way all along? All the while, I… the clan head, her father… have done nothing. Dared to do nothing."
His shoulders sagged, the weight of years pressing down.
"The cowardly one… it was me all along."
The faint sound of Hinata's training continued, determined and unyielding, filling the empty courtyard with rhythm. Hiashi let out a deep sigh, his breath scattering in the lonely night air.
---
Meanwhile, across the village, another boy's night was also consumed by training.
Naruto lay sprawled on his futon, already deep asleep the moment his head touched the pillow. His body was exhausted, but his determination was unshaken. The system's persistent urging had carved discipline into his very bones.
As his consciousness drifted, his dreamscape shifted into familiar ground — a sparring arena where he once again faced Sasuke.
But this time, Naruto approached differently.
He forced himself to maintain control, tempering the wild storm inside him. He allowed his fighting spirit and killing intent to rise, but not to the point of frenzy. Not into blind rage.
This was no longer the system's special training — it was a demand Naruto had placed upon himself.
I can't just go berserk every time… If I want to beat Sasuke, it has to be with my own strength and focus.
Even in the dream, Naruto gritted his teeth and clashed fiercely with Sasuke, every movement filled with determination. The memory of their real fight during the day gave him confidence. Though the Third Hokage had stopped the match, Naruto had, for the first time, truly stood toe-to-toe with Sasuke.
That thought burned brightly inside him.
I finally have the right to fight him fairly!
Confidence sprouted where doubt had once lingered. That night, Naruto grew once more, his resolve sharpening like steel.
By the next morning, the faint ache in his right leg reminded him of the previous day's injuries. But for Naruto, pain was no excuse. His special Uzumaki constitution was already speeding up the healing process.
With grit and determination, he refused to let it slow him down.
On his way to the academy, he walked on his hands with weighted straps tied firmly, all while studying written lessons in his head using his Divided Attention technique. Compared to yesterday, his control had improved dramatically. Only the pain in his leg made him wince occasionally — but he persevered until the very end.
---
Elsewhere in Konoha, under the golden rays of morning, another story unfolded.
Ino spotted a familiar figure ahead, her heart stirring with a mix of warmth and unease. She quickened her pace, her cheerful voice calling out as she patted her friend's shoulder.
"Morning, Sakura!"
But instead of a smile, she was met with icy rejection.
Sakura turned, her expression sharp, her eyes cold.
"Don't touch me."
She pulled her shoulder away and strode forward, her steps brisk.
Ino froze, her hand still hanging in the air. Her chest tightened.
"…Sakura."
Refusing to give up, she hurried after her.
"Are you… still angry? I already apologized, didn't I? Can't you forgive me?"
But Sakura's words were like shards of ice.
"Don't think I don't know. After we argued yesterday, you went home with Hinata, didn't you?"
Her gaze was filled with hurt and disappointment.
"That means you've already made your choice. Our friendship… clearly doesn't mean anything to you anymore."
Ino's heart skipped. So she had noticed.
But… was that really what it meant? Her voice trembled as she protested.
"That doesn't mean anything! I just walked with Hinata for a few minutes—"
"No." Sakura cut her off coldly. "As my best friend, you chose to stand with Hinata and Naruto. There's nothing more to say."
Her rejection sliced through Ino's chest like a blade.
But Ino clenched her fists, her voice rising despite the lump in her throat.
"But Hinata and Naruto didn't do anything wrong!"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)