Kiyohara followed Big Sister Hinata through the streets of Konoha until they arrived at the open space where she usually trained.
Calling it a training ground was actually a bit of a stretch. It was simply a patch of muddy earth on the outskirts of the village that had been repeatedly trampled flat. Several crooked, oddly shaped trees surrounded the area, and their trunks were covered with deep and shallow palm prints and marks left behind by countless punches.
It was obvious that Big Sister Hinata often came here to train by herself.
"Master, during the three years you were gone, I practiced the Gentle Fist technique you taught me every single day!"
Big Sister Hinata stood in the middle of the open space with her hands on her hips, her chin slightly raised.
Her posture was completely different from that of the Hinata in his own world. The Hinata Kiyohara knew always carried herself somewhat timidly, her shoulders slightly hunched and her hands clasped together in front of her body, as if she wished she could shrink herself into the smallest possible ball.
The Big Sister Hinata standing before him was entirely different.
Her chest was held high, her shoulders relaxed and open, and her legs were slightly spread apart at shoulder width. Her entire body radiated an air of confidence that was almost bordering on arrogance.
As a result, the considerable assets hidden beneath her clothing were also displayed rather conspicuously.
Kiyohara took one look and immediately felt that Hinata's figure was second only to Tsunade's.
Furthermore, the Hinata of this world dressed quite fashionably as well.
Her top was relatively short, leaving her firm, flat stomach exposed.
The contours of her abdominal muscles could be faintly seen. It was not the dry, overly lean flatness of someone who had simply lost weight. Rather, it was the kind of supple yet powerful physique that could only be developed through years of intensive physical training.
Kiyohara's gaze lingered on her for a brief moment before he calmly moved it away.
There was indeed a huge difference between the physique of this world's Hinata and that of the Hinata from his original world.
Different personalities could also make the exact same body give off completely different impressions.
The Hinata from his world was still a young girl whose beauty had yet to fully blossom, while the Hinata standing before him had already matured into a young woman.
"How far have you gotten?"
Kiyohara walked to the edge of the clearing and leaned against the trunk of one of the crooked trees, folding his arms across his chest.
"I've completely mastered the Sixty-Four Palms. I'm still a little short of mastering the One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Palms. Recently, I've been practicing Eight Trigrams Palm Revolving Heaven."
Big Sister Hinata raised both hands and assumed the starting stance of the Gentle Fist.
A layer of pale blue chakra began to swirl around her palms.
Kiyohara raised an eyebrow slightly.
The speed and density of the chakra vortex surrounding Big Sister Hinata's palms had indeed surpassed the level of an ordinary elite jōnin.
Compared with the Hinata in the original story, who had only possessed the strength of a chūnin, the difference was like heaven and earth.
"Attack me."
Kiyohara spoke calmly.
Big Sister Hinata grinned.
There was a hint of eager aggression in her smile, as though she had been waiting for him to say those words.
She pushed off the ground with one foot and charged toward Kiyohara.
When she reached a distance of three steps from him, her right palm shot directly toward his chest.
The chakra surrounding her Gentle Fist suddenly expanded at the instant she struck, producing a faint humming sound.
Kiyohara shifted his body to the side and easily avoided the attack.
Big Sister Hinata's palm missed its target, but she immediately changed her technique. She stepped forward with her right foot to stabilize her center of gravity, then swung her left hand at the same angle toward Kiyohara's ribs.
Kiyohara raised his arm and blocked her wrist with his forearm.
Smack!
The crisp sound of flesh striking flesh echoed throughout the empty training ground.
Big Sister Hinata's arm went slightly numb from the impact, but she did not retreat. Instead, she used the force of the collision to spin her body around, completing a full turn before sweeping her right leg toward Kiyohara's knee from the side.
Kiyohara lightly tapped the ground with his foot and leaped backward half a step, allowing her sweeping kick to pass just beside his trouser leg.
When he landed, the tip of his foot came down on a small stone, crushing it into the muddy ground.
"Your speed is decent."
Kiyohara spoke in an even tone.
"But you are too impatient when you attack. The essence of the Gentle Fist isn't simply about how fast you are. What matters is whether you can clearly see your opponent's chakra network and the points along their meridians. That palm strike just now could have sealed the acupoint on my chest if you had shifted your hand slightly to the left by two inches. But you were too eager to attack, so your angle was off."
Kiyohara possessed the Byakugan as well, so he naturally understood these things extremely well.
Big Sister Hinata withdrew her leg and raised a hand to wipe away the sweat from her forehead. She then returned both hands to the starting position of the Gentle Fist.
"Again!"
Her voice carried a stubborn determination not to lose.
Kiyohara looked at the fighting spirit burning within those pure white eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Come."
For the next half hour or so, Kiyohara continued receiving her attacks while pointing out the shortcomings in every one of her movements.
Big Sister Hinata was like a sponge. Every time he pointed out a problem, she would make a visible improvement the very next time she attacked.
Her palm strikes gradually changed from the impatient and fierce attacks she had displayed at the beginning into movements that were increasingly stable, precise, and controlled.
"Take a break for a while."
Kiyohara walked over to her and handed her the towel he had been holding.
It was something he had stored inside his sealing scroll.
Big Sister Hinata took the towel and wiped her face several times before draping it around her neck.
She intended to wash the towel before returning it to Kiyohara.
She looked at Kiyohara's face for a moment before suddenly asking, "Master, where did you actually go during those three years? I asked so many people, but everyone said they didn't know. Even the Hokage refused to tell me."
Kiyohara was silent for a moment before giving her a vague answer.
"I went to some very distant places and took care of a few things that had to be dealt with."
Big Sister Hinata frowned.
She was obviously not satisfied with such an evasive answer, but she did not continue questioning him.
"Forget it. As long as you're back, that's what matters."
She pulled the towel from around her neck and squeezed it in her hands. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she raised her head.
"By the way, where do I live?"
Kiyohara answered.
"What?"
Big Sister Hinata's eyes widened.
"Didn't you sell your house a long time ago, Master?"
Big Sister Hinata blurted out the question.
Kiyohara thought to himself that he had been right.
"So that means I don't have anywhere to live now?"
"You probably don't."
Big Sister Hinata tossed the towel over her shoulder and strode toward Kiyohara before looking up at him.
She was considerably taller than the Hinata from Kiyohara's world. The top of her head was just below his chin.
She raised her face and looked directly into his eyes with her pure white Byakugan.
"Come stay at my house."
The way she spoke was completely different from the Hinata Kiyohara knew in his own world.
Kiyohara looked at her face from such a close distance. There was still a faint blush on her cheeks from her training.
"That might not be appropriate."
Kiyohara spoke calmly.
"The Hyuga clan is one of Konoha's most prominent clans. I'm an outsider. If I move into the Hyuga compound, it could cause some inconvenience."
"What inconvenience could there possibly be?"
Big Sister Hinata put both hands on her hips and raised her chin, once again adopting the imposing manner of the big sister she was.
"My family has a huge house. We have plenty of empty rooms. What difference does it make if one more person moves in? Besides, you're my master. What's inappropriate about my master staying at his disciple's home?"
She paused for a moment, then her tone became slightly displeased.
"Or are you saying that you don't like my family?"
"No."
Kiyohara shook his head.
"Then let's go."
Without giving him any chance to argue, Big Sister Hinata reached out, grabbed Kiyohara by the wrist, and began pulling him toward the Hyuga clan compound.
Her hand was not particularly large, but she had quite a bit of strength. Her fingers wrapped firmly around Kiyohara's wrist.
Kiyohara was pulled along behind her.
As they passed the shops along the street, several middle-aged women who were shopping for vegetables happened to see Big Sister Hinata walking down the street while holding a man's wrist. Their faces immediately filled with surprise.
"Isn't that Lady Hinata? Who is the man she's dragging along?"
"Looks like Lord Kiyohara. Didn't he leave the village several years ago?"
"Oh my, when did those two start..."
Kiyohara heard the whispered comments and secretly chuckled.
The eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan openly dragging a man's wrist through the streets was probably a first even in this version of Konoha.
Big Sister Hinata had obviously heard the gossip as well.
The tips of her ears turned slightly red, but instead of becoming embarrassed, the expression on her face became even more defiant.
She turned around and glared at the women who were whispering.
The frightened women immediately picked up their vegetable baskets and hurried away.
"Hmph."
She turned her head back and continued pulling Kiyohara forward.
The Hyuga clan compound was located in the central area of Konoha and occupied a considerable amount of land.
The main entrance consisted of a tall wooden gatehouse, with the Hyuga clan crest hanging above the entrance. Two Hyuga clan members dressed in white stood guard at the gate, but when they saw Big Sister Hinata, they merely bowed slightly and did not even bother to ask any questions.
Big Sister Hinata pulled Kiyohara through the main gate and continued along the stone-paved path leading deeper into the compound.
Neat Konoha-style gardens lined both sides of the path. Pine trees and bamboo grew throughout the courtyards, while the occasional Hyuga clan member passed by. Whenever they saw Big Sister Hinata, they would respectfully bow in greeting.
As he walked, Kiyohara observed his surroundings and discovered that the Hyuga clan compound in this world was indeed quite different from the one he knew.
The Hyuga compound in his world was also very large, but the atmosphere there was always rather solemn.
The clan members walked with disciplined steps and spoke in deliberately lowered voices. The boundary between the main family and branch family was so clearly defined that it was almost suffocating.
The Hyuga compound before him, however, had a considerably more relaxed atmosphere.
Several children were running around and playing together in one of the courtyards.
A middle-aged Hyuga clan member sat beneath the veranda, drinking tea while enjoying the sunlight. Nearby, two young kunoichi were watering flowers while chatting with each other.
In the Hyuga compound of Kiyohara's world, children would have been scolded for running around and making noise in the courtyard.
Big Sister Hinata dragged him around several corridors. At one corner, they unexpectedly came face-to-face with Hyuga Hiashi.
Hiashi was dressed in the traditional white robes of the Hyuga clan.
Kiyohara immediately noticed that the aura surrounding him was completely different from that of the Hiashi in his own world.
The Hiashi from his world carried an imposing seriousness between his brows that made him command respect without needing to show anger. Everything he said and did was meticulous, and his expression maintained an almost rigid sense of dignity all year round.
The Hiashi standing before him was completely different.
The lines of his face were much softer, and there was even a faint smile hanging from the corners of his mouth.
There were a few fine lines around his eyes, but they were the kind of wrinkles that naturally appeared after years of smiling.
"Hinata, you're back?"
Hiashi's voice was gentle as well.
His eyes were filled with affection as he looked at his daughter. Then he noticed Kiyohara standing behind her, and his eyes brightened slightly.
"Lord Kiyohara, it has been a long time."
"Lord Hiashi."
Kiyohara gave him a slight nod.
Hiashi's gaze lingered on Hinata's hand, which was still tightly gripping Kiyohara's wrist. He then glanced at Hinata's slightly reddened face.
The smile at the corners of his mouth deepened.
"Would you like to come in and sit for a while? I'll have someone prepare a pot of tea."
"No need, Father. Master just came back, and he doesn't have anywhere to live, so I'm letting him stay in one of the empty rooms in our house."
Big Sister Hinata waved her hand.
Hiashi froze for a moment before nodding.
"That works as well. Lord Kiyohara is your master, so it is perfectly reasonable for him to stay here. I'll have someone prepare the guest room in the eastern courtyard."
"There is no need to go to that much trouble. The empty room next to mine will be fine."
Big Sister Hinata finished speaking and, without waiting for Hiashi to respond, continued pulling Kiyohara farther into the compound.
After passing through several corridors and crossing a small courtyard, Big Sister Hinata finally stopped in front of a sliding door.
"We're here. Master, you'll stay in this room."
Big Sister Hinata released Kiyohara's wrist and used both hands to slide the door open from either side.
The room inside was quite spacious, roughly the size of more than ten tatami mats.
There was a simple and elegant tea set in the room, along with a low tea table. Several pots of green plants had also been placed beside the window, adding a touch of life to the otherwise quiet room.
Kiyohara swept his gaze around the room.
It was quite nice, and considerably larger than he had imagined. From the condition of everything inside, it was also obvious that someone regularly cleaned and maintained the room.
"This room has always been vacant."
Big Sister Hinata walked inside while pointing out the various things in the room.
"There are tea leaves in that tea cabinet. Hot water is in the tea room at the end of the corridor, and the cups are in the cupboard. If you find that you're missing anything, just tell me and I'll bring it to you."
As she spoke, Big Sister Hinata opened the cupboard to check the bedding. She then pushed open the window to make sure there was enough ventilation before crouching down and lifting the edge of one of the tatami mats to check whether there were any signs of insects or damage.
Kiyohara watched her bustling around and could not help slightly raising the corners of his mouth.
"You sit here for a while. I'll go get you something to eat."
Hinata stood up, dusted the dirt from her hands, and walked toward the doorway.
When she reached the door, she turned around and glanced at Kiyohara again, as if she wanted to make sure he would actually sit down obediently. Only after confirming that he had done so did she slide the door shut and quickly leave.
Kiyohara walked into the room and sat cross-legged on the cushion beside the low tea table.
Outside the window was a small courtyard belonging to the Hyuga clan. A layer of white gravel had been spread across the stone path running through the courtyard.
The Hyuga clan in this world truly was completely different from the Hyuga clan Kiyohara knew.
There was no curse seal engraved on the foreheads of the branch family members, no rigid clan rules or oppressive hierarchy. Hiashi had become a kind and loving father, while Hinata had grown into a confident and carefree big sister figure.
Footsteps sounded from the corridor.
They gradually approached from a distance, light and hurried.
The sliding door was pulled open, and Hinata entered carrying a tray.
A small pot and two sets of bowls and chopsticks were placed on the tray. Steam rose from the pot, carrying a rich and savory aroma throughout the room.
Only then did Kiyohara notice that she had not yet had the chance to change after training. She was still wearing the same white tank top and dark blue, close-fitting cropped pants.
She crouched down and placed the tray on the low tea table. From Kiyohara's position, the angle happened to give him a clear view of her upper body.
He quietly turned his head to the side and shifted his attention back to the pot.
"What is this?"
he asked.
"I made it last night. I just had to heat it up today, and it was ready to eat."
Hinata lifted the lid of the pot, and a cloud of steam carrying the rich fragrance of the sauce immediately filled the room.
The meat inside was a glossy reddish-brown, with each piece cut into roughly equal-sized cubes. The meat was beautifully marbled with both lean and fatty portions.
Kiyohara picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of meat into his mouth.
The meat had been stewed until it was incredibly tender, practically melting the moment it entered his mouth. The sauce was rich and flavorful without being overly greasy.
"The taste is really good."
Kiyohara put down his chopsticks and looked at her.
Hinata froze for a moment before two faint blushes appeared on her cheeks.
"R-really? Then that's good."
She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously clutching the edge of her clothes.
The hem of her white tank top became wrinkled from her grip, revealing a small portion of her midriff.
The Hinata from Kiyohara's world would fidget with the hem of her clothes because she was shy and nervous.
The Big Sister Hinata standing before him, however, had a different kind of awkwardness in the way she played with her clothes.
Kiyohara picked up another piece of meat and chewed slowly while looking at her.
Big Sister Hinata certainly had an impressive physique.
The close-fitting pants outlined the natural curves of her figure, emphasizing the results of her long-term physical training.
"That, then I'll be going first, Master. After you finish eating, just leave the bowls and chopsticks in the corridor. I'll come collect them tomorrow."
Before Kiyohara could answer, she turned around and quickly walked out of the room.
The moment the sliding door closed behind her, the sound of her hurried footsteps could be heard in the corridor.
Tap, tap, tap.
Her footsteps echoed against the wooden floor as she almost ran away.
Hinata practically sprinted all the way back to her own room.
She closed the sliding door and leaned against it. One hand pressed against her chest as she felt her heart pounding at an unusually rapid pace.
What was going on?
She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.
Kiyohara-sensei had returned. As his disciple, it was perfectly normal for her to invite her master to stay for a night and prepare a meal for him.
So why was her heart beating so fast?
She lowered the hand from her chest and walked over to the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.
She stared at her reflection.
Her face was red, almost as though it had been scorched by fire.
She raised a hand and pinched her cheek, feeling the heat radiating from beneath her skin.
"He only said that my cooking tasted good."
She muttered softly, somewhat annoyed by her own reaction.
Yet no matter how hard she tried, she could not suppress the restless feeling stirring inside her heart.
Three years.
She always felt that the Kiyohara who had returned now seemed somewhat different.
She raised her hands and began removing the tank top she had been wearing.
The straps slipped from her shoulders, and the white fabric fell away, revealing the inner layer beneath, which was slightly damp from the sweat left behind by her training.
She removed that layer as well.
In the mirror, her figure was well-proportioned and firm.
Her body showed the results of years of physical training, with a slim waist and defined muscles that were faintly visible beneath the light.
Her legs were long and strong, while the muscles of her thighs were firm and flexible.
She turned around and opened the hot-water valve in the bathroom.
Hot water sprayed from the showerhead, and white steam gradually filled the bathroom.
She stepped into the shower area.
The warm water washed over her skin, carrying away the sweat and fatigue that remained after her training.
Water flowed down from her shoulders and along the contours of her body before eventually gathering into thin streams around her ankles and disappearing into the drain.
She closed her eyes.
Once again, Kiyohara's appearance from earlier surfaced in her mind.
The hot water continued to fall around her as white steam filled the small bathroom.
At the same time, in the Pure Land.
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya was asleep.
Her body was nothing more than a translucent chakra spirit.
She was sleeping, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that she was recovering.
The battle from a thousand years ago had consumed almost all of her chakra.
Back then, she had stood up righteously and opposed her son Hagoromo the Sage of Six Paths, preventing him from carrying out his plans.
However, she had paid a tremendous price for doing so.
Her physical body had been destroyed, and her soul had suffered severe damage. She had been forced to retreat into the Pure Land, where she had spent a thousand years slowly recovering her strength.
At present, she was merely a soul composed of chakra.
If she expended too much power within a short period of time, she would be forced into another deep sleep.
In order to remain conscious, she had no choice but to frequently return to the Pure Land to replenish her chakra.
But today, she was suddenly awakened from her slumber.
A strange chakra was coming from somewhere in the distance.
The nature of that chakra was something she had never sensed before.
It was vast and magnificent, carrying a quality that seemed almost capable of touching the very origin of the world itself.
Kaguya opened her eyes.
Everyone throughout the shinobi world was her people.
She had both the responsibility and the obligation to protect them from threats posed by outsiders.
"I have never encountered chakra like this before."
Kaguya muttered quietly, her brows drawing together slightly.
She needed to make contact with this outsider and determine exactly where he had come from and what his purpose was.
If he was a potential ally, then he would become an enormous source of assistance to her.
If he was a potential threat, then she had even more reason to learn about his strength in advance.
However, she was far too weak at present.
She was only a chakra spirit and could not maintain a projection in the living world for an extended period.
She needed to continue replenishing her chakra before she could interact with the outsider in a better state.
The next day.
Kiyohara opened his eyes on the tatami mat in the guest room of the Hyuga clan.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window and fell beside his pillow.
He sat up and rolled his shoulders a little before getting to his feet and opening the window.
The morning breeze entered the room, carrying with it the crisp, refreshing scent unique to the pine trees growing throughout the courtyard.
After changing his clothes, Kiyohara washed up in the tea room.
He was just about to take a walk around the courtyard when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from the corridor.
"Master! Are you awake?"
Big Sister Hinata's voice came from the end of the corridor.
A moment later, the sliding door was pulled open with a loud rattle.
Big Sister Hinata stood at the doorway.
Today, she had changed into a dark blue top and a pair of white trousers. Her long hair was tied high at the back of her head in a ponytail.
Kiyohara noticed something around her ears.
She was wearing a pair of small blue earrings that she had not been wearing the previous day.
"Morning."
Kiyohara greeted her.
"Breakfast is ready. Let's go!"
Hinata strode over and immediately reached out as if she intended to grab his wrist again.
This time, Kiyohara did not let her.
The moment she reached out, he casually raised his hand, causing her fingers to close around empty air.
"You don't have to pull me. I'll come with you."
Hinata missed his wrist.
Her hand paused briefly in midair before she withdrew it and gave a small snort.
"Then hurry up, Master."
She turned around and strode toward the other end of the corridor.
Her pace was still as quick as ever, and her ponytail swayed from side to side behind her with every step.
The two of them passed through several corridors and entered the main hall of the Hyuga clan.
Two people were already sitting inside.
Naruto was seated near the window.
Sunlight shone from behind him, illuminating the yellow hair that hung down around his temples.
His hairstyle closely resembled that of Minato, but his overall temperament was considerably more composed than Minato's.
He sat properly on the tatami with his legs folded beneath him, his hands resting on his knees.
Playboy Sasuke sat opposite him, but his posture was considerably more relaxed.
One leg was folded while the other was bent upward. He rested an arm casually against his raised knee, a small pink wildflower pinched between his fingers.
He had no idea where Sasuke had picked it, but he was currently twirling the flower's stem absentmindedly, looking utterly bored.
"Kiyohara-sensei, it has been a long time."
Naruto was the first to speak.
His voice was steady and mature.
Kiyohara looked at him and could not help thinking that he resembled the Namikaze Menma of the Infinite Tsukuyomi in a certain way.
The difference was that this person's name was Naruto.
"Mm. It has been a long time."
Kiyohara gave him a slight nod before walking over and sitting down between the two of them.
Hinata naturally sat beside him.
The distance between the two of them was less than three centimeters.
Playboy Sasuke noticed this small detail and raised an eyebrow.
The wildflower between his fingers also began to spin more slowly.
"Kiyohara-sensei, Hinata has been talking about you nonstop since last night. She even personally prepared breakfast this morning. I've never seen her this hardworking before."
"Sasuke!"
Big Sister Hinata glared at him with her Byakugan, her clenched fist making a faint cracking sound.
Playboy Sasuke immediately raised both hands in surrender, and the wildflower in his hand nearly fell onto the tatami.
"I was just joking, just joking. Don't hit me."
He and Naruto had only come over that morning because they heard that Kiyohara-sensei had returned.
Otherwise, the two of them normally had no reason to come here.
(End of Chapter)