Yakushi Nonō ran a few quick quiz questions. After confirming that Hyuga Kiyonari truly had zero foundation, she couldn't help showing a headache-inducing expression.
She immediately corrected him:
"If you're injured by an explosive tag, don't treat the wound right away. First, determine whether the blast caused internal organ shock. Otherwise, using a tourniquet rashly could compress damaged organs and worsen the injury."
Kiyonari nodded obediently. "If only I could awaken the Byakugan… then I could probably see what's going on inside the patient directly."
"The Byakugan's view ability is indeed very useful for diagnosing injuries," Nonō agreed, then stood up.
"Alright then—I'll go prepare teaching materials. We'll officially start lessons tomorrow. Any problem?"
"No problem." Kiyonari nodded and got up to see her out.
In the afternoon, sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Kiyonari and Hinata strolled by a lake, chatting on and off.
This was a small park on Konoha's eastern side. Many maple trees were planted along the shore; in autumn, fiery red leaves would fall and stain the lake in a brilliant crimson.
"Let's sit for a bit," Kiyonari said, pointing at a bench by the pond. "That spot looks nice—shade from the trees, and a good view of the water."
"Mm." Hinata nodded.
They sat down. Kiyonari couldn't help stretching and letting out a long breath. "Ahh, this feels good. I haven't relaxed like this in ages."
Hinata leaned back too, smiling faintly. "I'd say you're happy because you don't have to wake up at four to train anymore."
The two stopped talking and simply enjoyed the view in the quiet.
But the calm didn't last.
Tap-tap-tap!
Quick footsteps came from the park entrance. Kiyonari and Hinata both glanced over—three people were walking into the park.
In front was a boy about two or three years old, dressed lavishly, with the Hyuga clan crest embroidered on his shoulder. His cheeks were round, but his eyes carried an out-of-place arrogance.
He bounced along, shouting nonstop: "Grandpa, hurry up! I want to feed the fish! I want to feed the fish!"
Kiyonari didn't want to be disturbed. He nudged Hinata lightly with his elbow, signaling her to stop looking, and leaned close to whisper:
"Hinata, this is what normal life at our age is supposed to look like. Your schedule—waking up at four to train—tsk."
Hinata looked down at the water, a flicker of envy slipping into her eyes. "Because he only needs to be a child—playing happily under the shade of a big tree."
Behind the boy was an elderly man in his sixties. A graying beard, a dark kimono with the Hyuga crest embroidered on the back, and a clean forehead—clearly a main-family elder.
He glanced at the two children on the bench. From this angle he could only see their backs. They looked vaguely familiar, but with no obvious clan insignia visible, he didn't pay further attention.
At the back was a young man in his early twenties wearing a forehead protector. Both hands were loaded with bags, and he hurried to keep up.
"Grandpa! I want candied hawthorn!" The boy, Sōta, suddenly stopped and pointed at a small vendor by the park entrance.
The elder frowned, glanced at the stall, and ordered the young man behind him. "Go buy it."
The young man immediately set down his bags and jogged to the stall. In under a minute he returned, holding two skewers. "Sōsuke-sama, I bought them."
"Mm."
Sōsuke took one skewer and handed it to his grandson. Sōta immediately licked it happily.
The young man carefully offered the other skewer to Sōsuke. "This one is yours."
"I don't eat that." Sōsuke said coldly. "Put it away. Save it for Sōta."
"Yes." The young man quickly packed it back into a bag.
The scenery was still beautiful, but the earlier lightness was gone—especially for Hinata.
"Grandpa! I want to play that!" Sōta started up again, pointing at a swing set. "I want to swing!"
"Then go swing." Sōsuke answered evenly.
"But someone's using it!" Sōta pouted. "I want them to move!"
Sōsuke looked toward the swings. Two civilian kids were indeed playing there. Without even thinking, he ordered the young man behind him: "Handle it."
"Yes!" The young man ran over at once.
He first bought two more skewers from a nearby stall, then went to the swing set, bent down, and spoke quietly to the children.
Not long after, he returned and reported respectfully, "Sōsuke-sama, the swings are free."
"Good." Sōsuke said blandly. "Sōta, go play."
"Yay!" The boy sprinted to the swings.
For the next half hour, Sōta's demands kept coming. He wanted fish food—the young man ran to buy it. He said he was hot and wanted water—the young man immediately produced a canteen he'd been carrying.
Each time, Sōsuke only said "Go do it," or "Bring it," with no emotion at all—like he was commanding a tool. He never even called the young man by name.
And each time, the young man answered, "Yes!" and rushed to comply, smiling the whole time. He looked as if he had no dissatisfaction at all about being ordered around.
Hinata clenched the edge of her kimono tightly. More than once she opened her mouth to say something—only to swallow it back down.
Time ticked by.
At last, Sōta got tired. He ran back to his grandfather, panting, sweat all over his small face.
"Grandpa, I'm tired."
"Then we'll go back." Sōsuke stood and patted his grandson's head, then turned to the young man.
The young man immediately understood and began quickly gathering everything scattered around—used skewer sticks, empty canteen, fish food bag… He packed them neatly and waited for further orders.
Then Sōsuke suddenly spoke.
"Hayate."
"Yes!" Hayate snapped upright.
"You did well today." Sōsuke's tone was still flat. "Good. Keep it up."
It was a simple compliment, with barely any warmth in it—yet Hayate's eyes lit up instantly.
"Th-thank you, Sōsuke-sama!" he said, voice trembling with excitement. "I'll keep working hard!"
He bowed deeply. When he raised his head again, gratitude and joy filled his eyes—his whole body radiating the satisfaction of being recognized.
Sōsuke didn't care about his reaction. He only ordered, "Sōta's tired. Carry him back."
"Yes!" Hayate answered quickly.
Hayate.
Was that—Hyuga Hayate?
Hearing the name, Hinata's body stiffened. She turned sharply to look.
Hayate carried Hyuga Sōta on his back, following behind Hyuga Sōsuke with steady steps. He held that mountain of bags in one hand, and supported the boy with the other, like a silent pack mule under load.
And when Hinata truly saw the expression on Hayate's face, she went completely rigid.
What kind of expression was that?
Fawning. Humble. Desperate to please. Satisfied.
A mess of emotions blended into a smile so ugly it was hard to look at.
That smiling face reflected in Hinata's eyes, and a violent nausea surged up her throat—so strong she almost vomited on the spot.
Disgusting. So disgusting!
"Let's go," Sōsuke said, then paused—his attention caught by Hinata curling in on herself. The two kids on the bench were still facing away, but he could see the girl huddled like she was unwell.
Hm… could the candied hawthorn from the park be bad? She ate it, and Sōta ate it too—if he gets sick when they get back…
"Hinata?" Kiyonari hurriedly patted her back and twisted open a bottle of water, holding it to her lips. "Are you okay?"
Hinata shoved his hand away, dropped to her knees, trembling all over. A choked, broken sound slipped from her throat.
"That's not right—he's not like that—he shouldn't be like that!"
Hyuga Hayate was supposed to be a confident, composed captain. He was supposed to stand tall with sharp eyes, giving orders with undeniable authority.
Hyuga Hayate was supposed to be a gentle, kind captain. He was supposed to smile patiently, guide his teammates, and give sincere praise after missions.
If the Hinata from the beginning had only been awakened by the simulator's warning—the future where Hiashi died—then she had stumbled into action in a daze.
If the later Hinata had been driven by the simulator's grim future—pushed forward by the "main family responsibility" drilled into her since childhood—then she had clenched her teeth and advanced for the sake of the Hyuga as a whole.
But now—now that she had seen, with her own eyes, Hayate's hunched back, that fawning smile, the pitiful joy lit by a single hollow compliment—
Water splashed across the ground, glittering harshly in the afternoon sun.
Kiyonari bent down, picked up the bottle, and screwed the cap back on. The creak of the cap sounded like a signal, releasing the sobs Hinata had been forcing down.
At first, only small, broken whimpers leaked between her clenched lips. But the dam finally burst—those whimpers became sobbing, then wailing, tearing out of her.
Her shoulders shook violently, her forehead nearly pressed to the cold ground.
Kiyonari simply stood there in silence.
And she didn't know—
Hyuga Hayate… was his neighbor.
~~~
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