"Stop… please, Hinata-sensei…" Naruna gasped, clutching her clothes and squirming beneath Hinata.
Naruna didn't understand why Hinata tackled her to the ground after she used her Clone Technique again. Seeing Hinata's serious expression, Naruna's fleeting urge to resist faded. As Hinata unzipped her jacket, Naruna, driven by a girl's instinct, gripped her collar tightly, unable to fight back.
But Hinata persisted, lifting Naruna's shirt to reveal her pale stomach, marked with a spiral seal.
"Is this… a sealing jutsu?" Hinata's small fingers traced the spiral, feeling no difference between it and Naruna's skin. With her Byakugan active, she saw Naruna's chakra scatter when it neared the seal, disrupted by its own chakra.
Hinata couldn't think of a solution. Though young, she knew this seal wasn't natural—someone had placed it deliberately. Combined with Naruna's village treatment, Hinata concluded that tampering with the seal, without knowing what it held or having the power to face its hidden orchestrator, was too risky. Naruna's life was harsh, but she had freedom. Hinata feared meddling could cost her that.
Believing she understood the seal's massive chakra, Hinata shelved teaching Naruna ninjutsu. Having studied theory for nearly a year, she knew basic ninjutsu chakra paths, but none avoided the abdomen's meridians. Until the seal's interference was resolved, Naruna's ninjutsu would be as weak as her creamy clone.
This realization solidified Hinata's plan to borrow Naruna's chakra. Naruna, a future ninja unable to use ninjutsu, and Hinata, unable to refine chakra, were perfect complements. Hinata saw their meeting as fate.
Before solving her own issue, she'd use Naruna's chakra and find a way for Naruna to use ninjutsu. Looking into Naruna's flushed face, their eyes locked, Hinata said, "Naruna, I'll take responsibility for you."
Steam seemed to burst from Naruna's head, Hinata's hand on her stomach burning like a brand. "I… I… we're both girls!" Naruna stammered, misunderstanding.
"We're girls, sure, but what's that got to do with taking responsibility?" Hinata replied. "Lend me your chakra, and in exchange, I'll find a way for you to use ninjutsu."
The sheltered heiress and street orphan understood "responsibility" differently. Hearing Hinata's explanation, Naruna sighed in relief but felt an odd emptiness. She couldn't muster excitement for Hinata's promise, but she couldn't refuse her only friend. "Okay, I agree, Hinata-sensei. Can… can you get off me now? My stomach's kinda cold."
Despite her words, Naruna felt no chill under Hinata's warm hands.
Hinata, realizing her actions—tackling Naruna, lifting her shirt, touching her skin—were rude by Hyuga standards, flushed with embarrassment. "I was wrong, Naruna. Please punish me."
Her ears burning, Hinata climbed off, sitting beside the panting Naruna, head bowed, awaiting judgment.
Naruna adjusted her clothes, zipping her jacket. Facing Hinata's timid expression, an irrepressible urge rose. As Hinata closed her eyes, Naruna leaned in, her lips brushing Hinata's forehead.
Their hearts raced, eyes meeting, each hearing the other's pulse. "That… that's the punishment," Naruna said. "I sometimes find weird booklets on my roof. They say this is how you punish someone."
"Really? That's some punishment," Hinata said, flustered. "My body's all soft now. Am I forgiven, Naruna?"
The warmth surpassed her father's head pats. Hinata stood, grabbing two grilled fish from a stunned Takao nearby, handing one to Naruna and eating silently. "Naruna, have you punished others like that before?"
She didn't know why she asked, but she needed the answer.
"No, Hinata's the only one I'd punish," Naruna said. "You're my only friend."
Hinata's heart filled, sweeter than honey. This must be friendship, she thought, defining the strange feeling.
"Naruna, I can't teach you ninjutsu yet, but that's okay. Ninjas don't need ninjutsu. Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you kunai throwing and basic taijutsu. But your body's too frail. Come home with me—I'll beg Father to take you in. Naruna, be my sister."
"No!" Naruna hesitated, then refused. "If we're sisters, I can't… punish you anymore. And we both want to be Hokage. As your sister, I couldn't compete with you."
After the forehead kiss, Naruna realized she might like Hinata. She didn't want to be her sister.