"Kaiten, Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms, Detailed Guide to Human Meridians, Introduction to Eight Trigrams Knowledge. Brother Takao, I want these."
After Neji left, Hinata practiced Gentle Fist forms a few more times before stopping. Her four-year-old body, lacking chakra support, could only handle so much training. Overexertion risked injury.
Knowing the value of balance, Hinata turned to studying foundational theory to grow stronger. Though no longer expected to shine, she remained the Hyuga main family's sole heir until another child was born. Unlike Neji, who trained alone, Hinata had access to exclusive techniques like Kaiten. Anything the Hyuga clan possessed, she could obtain if she desired.
"The twelve main meridians, eight extraordinary meridians, and seven hundred twenty acupuncture points—memorizing them is torture," Hinata muttered, grimacing as she opened Detailed Guide to Human Meridians to her last marked page. She gestured at her body, struggling to memorize the points' locations, effects, and names.
Nearby, Takao, a Hyuga chunin, organized the books she wasn't reading. After Hiashi's disappointment in Hinata, her training and safety were entrusted to this ninja who had guarded her room during her coma.
Takao heard her complaints but could offer no help. For the Byakugan-wielding Hyuga, Gentle Fist targeted meridians and acupuncture points to disrupt chakra flow. With Byakugan, one could see chakra pathways clearly, rendering memorization of points redundant. But Hinata, with her pitifully scarce chakra, couldn't activate her Byakugan.
"Brother Takao, isn't this book incomplete?" Hinata asked, lifting her head. "It lists fewer acupuncture points than the introduction claims."
Frustrated by rote memorization, she noticed the book lacked detailed records for some points. She turned to her guardian for answers.
"Incomplete? I believe this is the only book on meridians and points in the clan," Takao replied. "If it's not here, only the Anbu or the traitor Orochimaru might have that knowledge. Young Lady, try the other books for now. I'll report to the clan leader tonight—maybe he can find what you need."
Having watched Hinata fall from cherished heir to abandoned failure, Takao resented his role as her babysitter. Yet, seeing her persistent efforts and repeated failures, he couldn't help but feel sympathy.
"No, Brother Takao, don't trouble Father," Hinata said quickly. "If he has to bow his head again for me, the elders will be upset."
Hinata's mind had matured rapidly under the clan's cold stares. Witnessing Hiashi mocked by the elders, she refused to burden him further. Smiling to reassure Takao, she set aside the meridian book and picked up one on Eight Trigrams knowledge, suppressing her urge to keep searching.
Anbu, Orochimaru? On the surface, Hinata focused on her book, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin. I remember a scroll in Father's study mentioning his defection after human experiments were uncovered. No one in the Leaf knows his whereabouts—I couldn't find him, and it's too dangerous.
Hinata refused to abandon her pursuit of meridian and acupuncture knowledge. Through studying points, she had achieved what other Hyuga needed Byakugan for: releasing chakra from her tenketsu. She believed that as her body grew, her chakra extraction would improve, so she was laying the groundwork now.
Orochimaru's out, and the Anbu… that's impossible too.
Hinata sighed inwardly. The knowledge she craved was so close yet unattainable, making even Eight Trigrams theory hard to focus on. Closing the book, she looked at Takao. "Brother Takao, I want to take a walk. I'm done with books for today."
"Outside the clan?" Takao asked.
"Yes. Outside, people stare, but at least their eyes don't hurt as much."
"Wait here, Young Lady. I'll report to Lord Hiashi."
As the main family's heiress, Hinata held the Byakugan—free of the Caged Bird seal. Though no longer valued, she was heavily protected, losing the freedom to move alone. Takao guarded her within the clan, and leaving required Hiashi's permission, with at least five escorts, seen or unseen.
Soon, Takao returned with Hiashi's approval. Hiashi's expectations for Hinata were nearly gone, but her bold declaration—"I'll become Hokage"—stirred his emotions, overriding logic with fleeting hope. Knowing the clan's harsh treatment and their inability to help her, he always allowed her outings, hoping she might find her own miracle.
Dressed for the outside, Hinata stepped through the clan gates, ignoring the jealous and mocking gazes of her kin. Breathing freer air, she stretched widely.
But her stretch froze as a passerby's words halted her like a jammed puppet.
"Yuriko, did you hear? The Uchiha's Itachi became a chunin at just ten years old."
"Yeah, he's the peace era's top genius. Compared to him, the Hyuga's main family heiress is a complete failure."
The words weren't aimed at Hinata, but they stung. Her pause wasn't from their mockery—it was the mention of Itachi Uchiha becoming a chunin. At that moment, the fog shrouding her dream cleared slightly, revealing a fleeting image: Itachi in an Anbu uniform, standing atop a telephone pole.
The vision told Hinata nothing of Itachi's actions, but it sparked a conviction: Itachi is an Anbu ninja. She trusted this instinct without question.
"Brother Takao, can you take me to visit Uchiha Itachi?" she asked.
Venturing out had proven worthwhile—Hinata saw a chance to gain the meridian and acupuncture knowledge she sought.
Postscript: Hyuga Takao: A Hyuga clan ninja, jounin rank, with few appearances. First appeared during Pain's attack on the Leaf, dutifully protecting main family's Hinata, once dissuading her from taking risks.