Compared to the liveliness in other places, the Hyūga household's dinner was very quiet.
No speaking while eating, no talking while resting.
Hinata quickly finished three large bowls of rice. Under her mother's surprised gaze, she realized her appetite had been abnormal and hurriedly said, "Otō-sama, Okaa-sama, I'm full!"
Hiashi slowly observed his daughter. Even now, he still didn't quite understand why Kamizuki Hikari had taken an interest in Hinata.
Aside from being pretty, he truly didn't know what Hinata had that could attract Kamizuki Hikari.
Could it be talent?
Or... could Kamizuki Hikari be aiming to become Hokage?
"Hinata, wait for me in the study. I have something to discuss with you," Hiashi said sternly.
Hearing her father's serious tone, Hinata was startled for a moment but nodded.
After finishing the rest of his meal in silence, Hiashi met his wife's eyes, gave a slow nod, then quietly walked to the study.
In the study, Hinata waited uneasily. She didn't know what she had done wrong. In her memory, every time she came here, she would receive her father's lectures. This time was likely no exception.
Seeing Hiashi enter, Hinata instinctively took a step back.
Noticing this detail, Hiashi shook his head inwardly. "Hinata, I called you here today to tell you that Kamizuki Hikari came by. Starting tomorrow, you'll be training with him."
"Hikari-senpai?"
Thanks to her friends, Hinata actually knew a fair bit about Hikari.
To say nothing else, the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, as well as Naruto and Sasuke, mentioned him often.
Aside from them, Team Gai's three members also talked about him. When she thought about it carefully, it seemed like everyone except her own team had interacted with Hikari.
So, even if she didn't want to know about him, it was impossible.
"Yes. What are your thoughts on this?"
Hiashi wanted to hear her opinion. If Hinata disliked Hikari, he might reconsider.
"I-I... don't really have any opinion."
Hinata answered honestly.
She had never made choices for herself. So when Hiashi asked, she subconsciously replied this way.
Seeing this, Hiashi could only sigh inwardly.
('Fine. The main account is ruined; I'll have to level up the alt instead.')
"You may go rest."
"Besides you, Naruto and Sasuke will also be training with Kamizuki Hikari. They'll be new companions for you—be mindful when you interact with them."
Hiashi was deeply worried about his daughter's social ability.
In his view, Hinata was a typical timid girl who couldn't take hold of anything.
In his heart, Hinata truly couldn't compare to Hanabi.
---
After leaving the study, Hinata quietly returned to her room, washed up, and prepared to sleep.
Just as she closed her eyes, she heard movement at the door. A small figure soon approached her bedside.
"Onee-sama, can I sleep with you tonight?"
Hinata didn't speak. She simply reached out and pulled Hanabi into her arms. Hanabi's face immediately lit up with a blissful smile.
'This is Onee-sama's embrace... it's so warm!'
"Onee-sama, did Otō-sama scold you again today?"
Seeing Hinata looking unhappy, Hanabi asked in a small voice.
"No, he only said I'll be training with Hikari-senpai from now on."
Speaking of this news, Hinata's body trembled uncontrollably.
It wasn't fear—she was excited.
Because Hinata felt she could finally stand beside Naruto.
Yet to Hanabi, that little tremble looked exactly like fear.
"Onee-sama, what kind of person is this Hikari-senpai? If you don't like him, I'll go to Otō-sama and have him replaced!"
Though Hanabi sometimes felt Hinata was a bit slow, she was still her sister. She herself couldn't bear to bully Hinata—how could she let someone else do it?
"It's okay. Hikari-senpai is actually very nice."
"But earlier, you were clearly scared when you mentioned him!" As a clever little kid, Hanabi was sure Hinata was lying just so she wouldn't worry.
"When was I scared?" Hinata blinked.
Was she scared?
Well... she was a little scared of Kamizuki Hikari.
But the thought of training alongside Naruto made Hinata feel like she wasn't afraid of anything anymore.
"Hmph! Onee-sama isn't being honest!"
Muttering softly, Hanabi slowly drifted to sleep.
As such a young child, she was carrying burdens she shouldn't have to bear.
Now, Hanabi was enduring training far harsher than anything Hinata had ever faced.
Even though the Hyuga clan had abundant resources, they couldn't reduce her fatigue.
Holding Hanabi close, Hinata had no idea how many people envied her at this very moment. After all, besides herself, Hanabi was the goddess in the hearts of countless otaku.
And in the future, when Hinata eventually married Naruto, little-sister-in-law Hanabi would undisputedly become the shinobi world's new generation Hokage goddess.
---
Inside the study.
The lights were still burning brightly. Hiashi was carefully examining old records; most of the writing concerned events after the Hyuga clan had joined Konoha.
More precisely, they were the clan's collected intelligence on the other families of the village.
For example, their longtime rivals, the Uchiha clan—the documents on them alone could fill three entire secret rooms.
Yet what he held now were records concerning the Kamizuki family.
What exactly made a family a clan?
Two things: population and resources.
Only with sufficient numbers and control over certain resources could one establish the foundation of a clan.
But a shinobi clan required an additional element—secret techniques or a kekkei genkai.
In simple terms, a shinobi clan must have their own inherited secret arts or a bloodline ability.
At this point, some might wonder about the Sarutobi clan or the Shimura clan—neither seemed to possess particularly famous secret techniques or bloodline limits. Could such families still be called shinobi clans?
This is where the definition of "secret technique" needs clarification.
Aside from clan-exclusive techniques like those of the Ino–Shika–Cho, "secret technique" can also mean classified ninjutsu and unique ways of raising shinobi.
And in this regard, both the Sarutobi and Shimura clans qualified.
Compared to ordinary families, children born into these two clans received systematic training once found to have shinobi aptitude. They didn't rely solely on the Academy.
Unless one was a genius like Namikaze Minato, ordinary shinobi from regular families typically peaked at jonin. Reaching Kage-level was nearly impossible.
Even Minato becoming the "Yellow Flash" had relied heavily on Uzumaki Kushina and Jiraiya. Without them, Minato would simply have been a fast shinobi—and nothing more.
Now, as Hiashi read through the Kamizuki records, he set the book down. A trace of doubt flashed in his eyes.
'The Kamizuki family is of ordinary shinobi lineage... so how could such a powerful individual like Kamizuki Hikari appear?'
'And thinking about it... all these years, Kamizuki Hikari has been guarding Konoha's gate. Could there be some secret at the village gate that the Hyuga clan doesn't know about?'