"Let's go home for dinner!"
Hanabi called out in a carefree, girlish voice, echoing through the house.
"Mom! Dad's back!"
Hinata, who had initially tensed in her father's embrace out of girlish reserve, found herself unwilling to leave his warm embrace. Her cold expression softened into a blush, and she burrowed deeper into his arms like a little girl.
Orina had known for some time that her husband would be returning home that night, and she had prepared for it by rarely cooking herself, setting a lavish feast on the table.
As soon as they entered the house, Hanabi, seeing the table laden with delicious food, eagerly squirmed out of her father's arms and lunged toward the feast, only to be stopped by Orina, who gently grasped her small hand.
"Go take a bath first. You can eat after you're clean. Look how dirty you are."
Hanabi could only run toward the bathroom, feeling wronged and impatient.
Seeing her mother, Hinata reluctantly struggled out of her father's embrace, even though she didn't want to leave it. She quickly reverted to her usual polite demeanor and said, "Father, Mother, I'm going to wash up."
"Mm-hmm, go quickly."
Once Hinata had disappeared, Orina turned to her husband with a worried expression. "Hinata..."
"I understand. I'll figure something out."
Perhaps this was the burden of parenthood. As Hinata's younger sister, Hanabi didn't have to bear the weight of public scrutiny like her older sister. Few people paid attention to her, and Hinata's reputation as the prodigious heiress of the Hyuga Clan inadvertently shielded Hanabi. This allowed Hanabi to maintain the innocent and radiant innocence expected of a girl her age.
But Hinata was different.
The two girls quickly finished washing up and returned to the dining table to eat.
This scene of family harmony was a rare treat, occurring only once a week at best, so everyone was in high spirits. Even Hinata wore a rare smile.
To show his concern as a father, Hiashi took the opportunity during the meal to inquire about his daughters' lives.
Hinata, though her expression remained slightly cool, chattered incessantly about her experiences at the Ninja Academy, the friends she'd made, and the pranks they'd pulled. Though she often referred to them as "idiots," the smile on her face betrayed her genuine fondness for them.
This made Hanabi gaze at her sister with open envy.
Though Hanabi appeared innocent and carefree, as the second daughter of the Hyuga Clan, she was far more mature than her peers. She knew all too well that she would never have the same opportunity as her sister to attend the Ninja Academy.
The reason was simple, the Ninja Academy in Konoha existed to train ninja loyal to the Hokage.
Therefore, the fact that each major clan symbolically sent an heir to the Ninja Academy was already a significant show of respect for the Hokage.
Moreover, most of Konoha's major clans were bloodline and secret technique families, and the Ninja Academy couldn't teach them anything.
And Hanabi, who had always remained within the clan, her status lofty and noble, could never possibly form any genuine friendships.
This made her envy her older sister even more.
At her age, Hanabi couldn't hide her feelings. Her expression unconsciously drooped, her gaze filled with longing.
Hiashi naturally noticed his daughter's gaze. He gently stroked Hanabi's small head and asked, "What's wrong? Does Hanabi also want to go to the Ninja Academy?"
Hearing her father's words, Hanabi's eyes instantly lit up. She knew that if it were impossible, he wouldn't have asked. Without hiding her excitement, she nodded vigorously.
"Father, can I really go?"
"Of course. You're at the right age."
Hearing her father's definitive answer, Hanabi's eyes sparkled with joy, her delight overflowing. Unable to contain herself, she leaped up and threw herself into Hiashi's arms.
"Thank you, Father!"
Hiashi patted Hanabi's head and turned to Oriana, who looked somewhat puzzled.
"I've actually been planning this for some time."
Although Hiashi had previously criticized the Konoha Ninja Academy's educational standards, this was only when compared to schools on Earth. Compared to institutions in this world—such as the Hyuga Clan's clan school, which functioned like a private army, or Kirigakure's Bloody Mist—Konoha's Ninja Academy undoubtedly offered some of the highest educational standards in all of Konoha, if not among the major ninja villages of the Five Great Nations.
Of course, making friends was also crucial.
"There are still about two months left before the new school year begins. In addition to Hanabi, I'll arrange for some other children to enroll as well."
This could be considered a trade with the Third Hokage.
Although Oriana didn't fully understand her husband's plans, she nodded gently and turned to her delighted daughter.
"From now on, Little Hanabi will be Hinata-chan's kohai~"
As she spoke, she turned to look at Hinata.
Then she froze.
She had expected her eldest daughter to be overjoyed at the prospect of attending school with her younger sister. But Hinata's lowered head and icy silence made it clear that this was not the case.
Feeling bewildered, she turned to her husband for help.
Hiashi immediately noticed Hinata's unusual behavior. At first, he too was puzzled, but then something seemed to click into place.
Instead of voicing his thoughts, he simply ruffled Hinata's hair and urged her to eat. Oriana, seeing this, held her tongue.
The family resumed their meal in apparent harmony, though the atmosphere had subtly shifted. Even Hanabi sensed her sister's change, becoming unusually quiet.
After dinner, when both daughters had retreated to their rooms, Oriana quietly asked her husband,
"Darling, what's wrong with Hinata?"
"That child is under too much pressure."
As Hiashi spoke, Oriana, as a mother, seemed to understand something. She sighed helplessly.
"Leave it to me. I'll talk to her later."
Normally, this should have been a mother's responsibility, but she couldn't immediately think of how to comfort her eldest daughter. She simply nodded.
At that moment, for some reason, she suddenly recalled her shameless words from the previous night. A flicker of hesitation crossed her mind, but in the end, she kept them to herself.
…
"Hinata, are you asleep?"
Although the Byakugan granted him X-ray vision, Hiashi knew such powers shouldn't be used recklessly.
So, when the time came for him to speak with his daughter Hinata about life's matters, he knocked on her door as he should.
As expected, there was no answer, but Hiashi pushed the door open anyway, drawn by other sounds he heard.
The pitch-black room was utterly devoid of light.
In one corner of the tatami mat, illuminated by the moonlight, sat a small girl clutching her head, softly weeping.
Witnessing this scene, even Hiashi, who had always been confident in his actions, found himself doubting whether he might have truly gone too far.
Until now, he had believed that Hinata, as his eldest daughter and heir to his power, should possess the bearing of a protagonist.
Recalling the hardships and trials faced by Naruto and Sasuke in Naruto as children, he had held high expectations for his daughter, believing she could withstand such pressure.
Now, it seemed that regardless of whether Hinata could truly handle it, as a father, he had been undeniably cruel.
He slowly walked over, gently sat down beside Hinata, and tenderly stroked her hair. Looking at her with genuine remorse, he spoke softly,
"I'm sorry, Hinata. It's my fault, Dad's fault. I haven't paid enough attention to you."
Hinata slowly lifted her tear-streaked face, her small features still stubbornly set. Seeing her father's gentle gaze, she finally broke down into sobs and threw herself into his arms, crying,
"No, it's not your fault, Dad! It's me, Hinata, who disappointed you."
"I'm sorry, Dad. It's not that I don't want Hanabi to go to school, I just... I'm afraid..."
Hiashi understood what Hinata feared.
Although she had never bested her younger sister Hanabi in their sparring matches over the past six months, no one outside their family knew this. Even within the clan, only the three instructors, Hiashi himself, and Oriana were aware of Hanabi's exceptional talent.
So, even now, Hinata still carries the burden of being the Hyuga Clan's top prodigy, the "first among the younger generation."
But if Hanabi were to go to school, her talent would inevitably be revealed.
Then, the two sisters would inevitably be compared.
The thought of losing her status and facing the ensuing gossip was unbearable for Hinata at her age.
Hinata's subsequent words confirmed Hiashi's suspicions.
"Why? I train so diligently, yet I still can't defeat Hanabi. She doesn't even take her training seriously; she just plays all day..."
Hiashi could detect a trace of resentment towards her younger sister in Hinata's voice.
He never imagined his daughter would harbor such intense jealousy towards her sibling.
But he knew he couldn't let this continue unchecked.
So, while stroking Hinata's back and comforting her, he asked,
"Do you really think Hanabi spends her days just playing?"
Hiashi didn't wait for Hinata to answer before continuing.
"Actually, Hanabi has always envied you, her older sister, and has been diligently training to catch up to you, though you were unaware."
"She craves recognition as well. She hopes that when people speak of the Hyuga Clan's young prodigies, it wouldn't just be you and Neji. She wants someone to notice her, but no one pays attention to her—no one even mentions her name."
Hiashi could clearly feel Hinata shudder in his arms.
Then, Hinata slowly lifted her head, disbelief written in her eyes. "No way... She never takes her training seriously..."
"That's because she loves you, her older sister. Do you really think Hanabi is foolish? Over the past year, could she have missed the changes in your attitude toward her?"
Hinata's tear-filled eyes widened as realization dawned on her.
"She must have guessed, so she pretended to neglect her training just to make you happy. But that girl is still a bit silly."
"As for effort, Hanabi is actually no less diligent than you. Do you know why she envies you and wants to attend the Ninja Academy? It's because she envies you, her older sister, for having so many friends. Back in the clan, she used to have a loving older sister, but now even that sister doesn't care about her anymore. All she has left is training to pass the time. So, while you're happily attending the Ninja Academy with your friends, Hanabi is alone in the clan, training from dawn till dusk."
Hiashi wasn't just speaking from conjecture. As a father, he knew his two daughters intimately. He was well aware that every day after Hinata went to school, Hanabi would go to the training grounds alone to endure grueling, monotonous training.
In terms of true dedication, Hinata couldn't match Hanabi.
Moreover, the academic curriculum at the Ninja Academy, while essential, could sometimes be seen as a distraction from practical training that directly enhances a ninja's capabilities.
Additionally, Hanabi's innate talent surpassed Hinata's. These factors combined to create the current situation.
Just as he had trusted Hinata, he had also trusted Hanabi. He had always viewed this as character training for his two daughters, so he hadn't intervened.
But now, seeing Hinata's reaction, he realized he might have been wrong all along.
Hiashi's words struck Hinata like a wake-up call, instantly dissipating the jealousy that had been festering in her heart for over half a year. Scenes of her once inseparable bond with Hanabi flooded her mind, making her realize the foolishness of her actions over the past year.
She felt regret, but didn't know what to do, only crying and apologizing repeatedly.
"I'm sorry, Father! I didn't mean to hurt Hanabi! I just..."
"Enough. I understand. I know Hanabi knows you love her, and she wouldn't blame you."
Seeing his daughter in such a state, Hiashi tried to comfort her, but his words seemed to have no effect. Hinata's sobs grew even louder, leaving him at a loss for what to say next.
"Alright, since that's the case, I'll give you a task. You have many friends, don't you? From now on, introduce Hanabi to your friends. That way, Hanabi can make her own friends too."
Hinata wiped the tears from her face and nodded earnestly.
"I understand, Father. I'll definitely complete this task."
"Good. Then rest well. I'll be leaving now."
With that, the matter was considered resolved. Hiashi patted his daughter's head, released her from his embrace, and stood up to leave.
As for their training, he'd have to figure something out later.
Just then, Hinata suddenly stood up, spread her arms wide, and leaped into her father's arms, clinging tightly to his neck. With a hint of shyness and a soft, sweet voice, she murmured,
"Thank you, Father!"
It was a simple expression of gratitude from a daughter to her father.
In fact, when Hinata was younger, this kind of affectionate scene between father and daughter was quite ordinary.
Back then, young Hinata would often run to Hiashi when he returned home, begging for hugs.
But after turning six and gaining more maturity, she became more reserved and rarely acted like this anymore.
The real problem now was that Hinata was wearing a one-piece nightgown she'd changed into after her bath. The gown was a little small, revealing her dainty, short legs and delicate, youthful figure.
If that were all, it wouldn't have drawn Hiashi's attention.
What truly made his eyes widen was that Hinata had been curled up and suddenly stood up with such force that the flimsy nightgown slipped slightly, exposing her jade-like skin and the faintly budding curves of her breasts.
Instantly, Hiashi's mind grew hazy as forbidden memories from last night resurfaced.
The child's body of Izumi Uchiha, his wife's taboo-laden erotic words.
He felt the dark fire within him reignite, and his erection sprang up faster than his thoughts, hardening instantly.
Then, something even more uncontrollable happened.
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