Hinata couldn't figure it out.
No matter how hard she tried—even when she personally went to the border to investigate—she still gained nothing in this simulation. The conflict between the branch family and the main family was still inevitably going to erupt.
But the difference was…
[Just as the "volcano" is about to erupt, Kiyonari-kun comes to find me.]
[He is powerless to stop what is about to happen, but he can take me away from the Hyuga clan and place me under Tsunade-sama's protection. After the dust settles, we can decide what to do next.]
[Now, I have two choices.]
[1. Leave, and then watch how things unfold.]
[2. Stay, and accept the final outcome.]
"Have you truly gained nothing at all, and you still want to run away?"
Hinata let out a self-mocking laugh.
[I decide to stay, and I confess the doubts in my heart to Kiyonari.]
[Kiyonari is silent for a moment, then says, "Maybe… because you've been searching for the answer from the perspective of the main family's young lady."]
[…]
Just like the last simulation, the main family ultimately used the "Caged Bird" to suppress the conflict. Even though Hinata kept trying to improve the branch family's treatment in the simulation, the final result was still the same.
[This simulation ends here.]
[Evaluation: I'm doing this for your own good.]
[Based on the overall evaluation of this simulation, the host gains the following reward:]
[Byakugan range slightly increased.]
Hinata closed the notebook and went to the mirror. She looked at herself and tried to imagine what she would look like with a curse seal carved into her forehead.
But the branch family's perspective was something she simply couldn't imagine, no matter what.
…
The next morning, Hyuga Kiyonari held a notebook in his hand, about to head out.
"Hinata?"
"You're… going out?"
"Yeah. I've got some things to deal with." He looked at her, thought for a moment, then added, "Do you want to come with me?"
Hinata froze, then nodded. "Y-yes… can I come?"
"Of course." Kiyonari smiled. "Let's go. I'll explain on the way."
As they walked, Kiyonari spoke. "The place we're going is the Kurama household. Do you know the Kurama clan?"
Hinata nodded. "A little. I heard the Kurama clan's genjutsu is on par with the Uchiha."
"That's them." Kiyonari continued. "This time we're seeing Kurama Yakumo. She's the only one who inherited the Kurama bloodline limit, but it's also become a burden."
"Yakumo's yin power is extremely strong—so strong her body can't bear it. If she trains even a little, she becomes exhausted. She can barely accept ninja training at all. Her parents keep trying to persuade her to give up becoming a ninja."
Hinata's brows drew together, sympathy rising in her expression.
"Then what are you going to do, Kiyonari-kun? Visit her?"
"I'm going to help," Kiyonari shook his head.
"Katsuyu-sama can use natural energy to condition Yakumo's body. It can't solve the problem completely, but it can stabilize her condition enough for some training."
"But Katsuyu's conditioning usually only lasts about two to three months, so I have to go again periodically."
Hinata looked at Kiyonari, and a feeling she couldn't name suddenly rose in her chest—subtle, like something lightly tugging at her heart.
What am I thinking…? Kiyonari-kun is just helping treat someone.
She shook her head, trying to chase away the strange flutter.
Before they knew it, they had reached Konoha's northern district. A residence with the characters "Kurama" hanging outside came into view. It wasn't as grand as the Hyuga compound, but it was clearly an old Konoha household.
Kiyonari went up and knocked. The door opened quickly.
"Kiyonari!"
Kurama Murakumo's face immediately brightened with a smile. "You're here. Yakumo's been waiting for you."
"Clan Head Kurama, sorry to intrude," Kiyonari said politely, then introduced Hinata beside him. "This is Hyuga Hinata, my friend. She happened to come with me today."
Murakumo looked at Hinata, his gaze pausing for an instant on her smooth forehead. Surprise flickered through his eyes, and he nodded. "So you're the Hyuga young lady. Please, come in."
"Please sit for a moment. I'll prepare tea."
Murakumo turned and went inside.
Kiyonari and Hinata waited in the living room. Before long, Murakumo returned with a tea set, poured tea for them, then sat opposite.
"Kiyonari, same as last time?" Murakumo asked.
"Mm." Kiyonari nodded. "I've already spoken with Katsuyu-sama."
"Thank you for your trouble—and please thank Katsuyu-sama for me as well." Gratitude showed on Murakumo's face. "If not for you two, Yakumo…"
Kiyonari waved it off. "Clan Head Kurama, you don't need to be so polite. Yakumo and I are friends. Besides… the one you truly should thank is Katsuyu-sama."
Then he turned to Hinata with an apologetic look. "Hinata, the treatment will take a while, and it involves natural energy, so there's some risk. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to sit here and wait for a bit."
"I understand." Hinata could understand his concern. "I'll wait here."
Murakumo stood up. "I'll take you to Yakumo's room."
The living room was left with Hinata alone.
The wall clock ticked softly. Outside, a few birds chirped now and then.
Hinata set her teacup down. Her eyes fell on several landscape paintings on the wall—beautifully done, clearly the work of someone highly skilled. In the corner of each piece was a signature: Kurama Yakumo.
Paintings…
Her gaze lingered on the signature, and she suddenly remembered something.
Right—on that magazine, besides Kiyonari's name in the author column, there had been another name: Illustrator—Kurama Yakumo.
"So it was her."
For some reason, Hinata felt a tightness in her chest, like something was blocking her, making her uncomfortable.
She took a sip of hot tea and pressed a hand to her chest. Then her eyes drifted to the clock on the wall.
Only ten minutes had passed.
Hinata was surprised. It felt like time had passed much longer, but in reality it had only been ten short minutes.
She remembered Kiyonari saying the treatment took a while.
How long? An hour? Two?
In that much time… what would they do to pass it?
The moment the thought surfaced, Hinata's body stood up on its own. Even she froze, not understanding why she'd risen so suddenly.
Should I… go take a look?
Just one look… just to confirm everything's fine. Didn't Kiyonari say natural energy was dangerous?
She gave herself a flimsy excuse, yet her feet still moved easily, carrying her toward the direction Kiyonari had left.
Her steps were extremely light, almost silent—instinctively using the stealth she'd been trained in.
There was a room at the end of the corridor. She hadn't even reached it when she heard Kiyonari's voice from inside.
"This character is smiling, but draw it as a fake smile—give it a sense of unease. Make the reader feel it's foreshadowing, that there'll be a twist later."
Then came a clear girl's voice.
"A fake smile… like this?"
"Yes," Kiyonari sounded cheerful. "Yakumo, you're really amazing. You always capture exactly what I'm trying to express."
"It's not… it's just that your descriptions are good…"
The tightness in Hinata's chest grew worse.
What is this feeling?
She couldn't understand it.
~~~
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