With quiet efficiency, Hinata stepped forward, captured Sasuke without resistance, and secured him with sealing ropes.
On their way back to the village, they met Kakashi and several medical-nin rushing to assist.
….
After reporting to Tsunade, the mission was officially declared complete.
Although the pursuit had been led by Shikamaru and his team, Hinata's intervention had turned the tide. The mission, initially ranked as B, was later reclassified as A-rank in recognition of its danger.
However, no payment was issued — it was simply recorded as a successful operation.
"A mere hundred and fifty thousand ryō split eight ways isn't much," Tsunade admitted, rubbing her temples. "And the village's funds are stretched thin… so instead, all participating teams will have a two-week vacation."
Naruto's voice could be heard echoing down the hall as he left the office,
"Grandma Tsunade! What about Sasuke?! What's going to happen to him?!"
Hinata didn't follow. She didn't know what awaited Sasuke — a rogue ninja was still a traitor, and treason against the village was unforgivable.
But Tsunade cared deeply for Naruto. That alone made Hinata wonder if perhaps… things wouldn't be as grim as they seemed.
…
Instead of returning home, Hinata stopped by the flower shop first. She purchased a simple basket of sunflowers, the petals carrying a faint, soothing fragrance.
She wanted to visit Neji.
Among the five who had pursued Sasuke, Neji had suffered the worst injuries. It pained her to think that if she had been just a little stronger, it might not have happened.
When she arrived at the hospital, she wasn't sure which ward he was in, so she activated her Byakugan.
In an instant, she located him — lying unconscious, his breathing shallow but steady.
Then, through the wall, she saw another patient in the adjacent room.
Hinata blinked softly, glancing down at the basket of flowers in her hands.
And for a moment, her expression grew thoughtful.
…
"Hinata!"
Tenten's eyes widened in surprise when she saw Hinata standing in the doorway, holding a small basket of flowers.
Hinata smiled gently, walked over, found a vase, and placed a bright sunflower inside. After adjusting the petals and arranging it carefully, she set it on the bedside table.
"Are you alright, Tenten? Why are you in the hospital?" Hinata asked softly. Had she not come to visit Neji, she wouldn't have even known that Tenten was also hospitalized.
Tenten sighed dramatically. "The reason I'm here? Now that's a story worth exploring."
She leaned back and began recounting the recent chaos surrounding Team Guy — Neji, Lee, and even Guy-sensei himself.
"Passion, hard work, and hospitalization," she said with a half-laugh. "That's pretty much the theme of our team lately. If you're not training yourself into the hospital, you can't call yourself part of Team 3!"
Hinata blinked in surprise. "Wait… you mean Neji-nii and Lee were already injured when the mission to rescue Sasuke was assigned?"
Tenten nodded, then looked down at her bandaged leg, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Yeah… If I hadn't broken my left leg, I would've gone too!"
Hinata stayed for about half an hour, listening quietly as Tenten vented and talked. Before leaving, Hinata promised to visit again soon.
"Here," Tenten said with a grin, handing her a few beautifully folded origami shuriken. "They're not real weapons, but they're my latest hobby."
Hinata accepted them with a smile, admiring the delicate craftsmanship.
When she left, she took the now-empty flower basket with her.
…
After leaving Tenten's ward, Hinata retrieved another sunflower she had hidden in the corner of the hallway. Placing it gently into the basket, she walked down the corridor and quietly pushed open Neji's hospital room door.
Neji was still unconscious. There wasn't much to say. Hinata simply placed the sunflower in a vase beside his bed and left a small note — a few words of encouragement and blessing written neatly in her hand.
She lingered for a moment, watching him rest, then turned and left the room.
…
Back in her own ward, Tenten moved the vase closer to the sunlight and took a deep breath. The faint scent of the sunflower lifted her spirits immediately.
This was the first time since becoming a ninja that someone had visited her in the hospital — and even brought her flowers. Guy-sensei was unreliable, and with both Neji and Lee hospitalized, the ward had felt lonely.
She touched the petals and smiled softly.
"Hinata… my good friend."
It wasn't the grand gestures that moved her most, but the small ones — like a touch of warmth in winter. She made a quiet decision: once she was discharged, she'd invite Hinata to dinner as thanks.
"Maybe I'll give her a set of ninja tools too," she murmured. "I wonder if she likes them…"
…
Hinata had no idea that her simple act — splitting a flower basket in half so both friends could receive one — had touched Tenten so deeply. If she knew, she would have been overjoyed.
When Hinata arrived home that evening, she first greeted her parents to let them know she was safe. Then she returned to her room, took a long, refreshing shower, and changed into her pajamas.
Sitting at her desk, she toyed with the origami shuriken Tenten had given her, flipping them between her fingers. After a while, she set them aside and picked up the small box of gifts she had prepared earlier — little toys and trinkets for Hanabi — before slipping quietly out of her room.
…
As always, the sisters' playful laughter echoed through the Hyuga residence, mingling with Hanabi's occasional shrieks and giggles.
Hanabi had long since stopped protesting against her sister's mischievous antics — experience had taught her it was pointless. All she could do was laugh, play along, and enjoy it.
Hinata, though playful, never let games become mere frivolity. Each one contained a lesson — a subtle form of training.
Arm wrestling built Hanabi's strength.
Tug-of-war improved her endurance.
Hide-and-seek trained her perception and stealth — so long as she didn't "peek" with her Byakugan.
And swimming, one of Hinata's favorites, strengthened the body while bringing joy.
Hinata loved her sister dearly, but her affection was not blind indulgence. She knew she couldn't protect Hanabi forever. If she truly wanted the best for her, she needed to help her grow strong enough to stand alone.
…
That night, after dinner, Hinata sat on the steps beneath the veranda, reading quietly under the warm glow of lanterns. Nearby, Hanabi played with the origami shuriken, laughter spilling from her like bells in the night.
"Onee-sama! I can't fix it anymore!"
Hinata looked up and saw Hanabi holding one of the origami pieces that had come undone. Smiling, she closed her book, took it gently, and compared it to the others. After studying it for a moment, she carefully folded the paper back into shape.
Hanabi's eyes lit up, and she immediately dashed off again, tossing and catching the paper shuriken as she played.
Hinata shook her head fondly, reopened her book, and began to read once more.
After a few minutes, something in her mind clicked.
"Hmm? Origami… paper…"
A flash of inspiration struck. She couldn't fully grasp it at first, but she stared at Hanabi — or rather, at the paper shuriken — and let the thought take form.
She extended her chakra subtly, testing an idea. Using the wireless puppet control technique, she focused on the shuriken that Hanabi had just thrown.
It trembled slightly — then, to Hanabi's astonishment, floated off the ground and glided gently through the air toward Hinata.
Hinata caught it, her expression thoughtful.
After a moment's silence, she turned and went back inside.
Pulling out a stack of clean paper, she began folding.
Paper airplanes, paper cranes, flowers, boats — one after another, until thirty-two delicate figures lay neatly in a box.
Then, focusing her chakra again, Hinata activated her wireless puppet control.
The origami figures quivered — and then, one by one, they rose into the air.
Soon, dozens of paper shapes floated gracefully around the room, swirling in elegant formation according to Hinata's will.
"Onee-sama! Amazing! They're so beautiful!" Hanabi gasped, her eyes sparkling with wonder.
Hinata smiled softly.