Before dawn, Hinata awoke right on time.
Opening her eyes, she found Kiba and Akamaru still fast asleep, while Shino sat silently in front of the fire, standing watch.
Slipping out of her sleeping bag, Hinata folded it neatly, then made a few quick hand signs toward Shino. He gave a small nod — their quiet signal to switch shifts.
The team's watch rotation went as follows: Kiba during the first half of the night, Shino in the second, and Hinata just before dawn. Out here, far from Konoha's safety, such caution was a necessity.
Activating her Byakugan, Hinata swept the surroundings. Once she confirmed that everything was clear, she walked about a hundred meters away from the campsite and untied the scroll fastened to her left calf.
Unrolling it, a sequence of characters — earth, wood, oil, water — appeared across its surface.
She pressed her palm over the word water and formed a quick hand seal.
The character glowed faintly, and a stream of clear water poured out, splashing neatly into a waiting washbasin. When it reached the right level, Hinata ended the jutsu, the character dimming back to normal.
From other scrolls, she summoned sealed tools and supplies — toothbrushes, soap, towels, and a small mirror. With a practiced rhythm, she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and even rinsed her hair.
…
Originally, Hinata had studied sealing techniques to deal with enemies who could not be killed — beings like Orochimaru. But along the way, she discovered an entirely new, practical use for them.
Her sealing scrolls had effectively become portable storage — a ninja's pocket dimension.
So long as the scroll's material was durable enough, her chakra reserves sufficient, and her sealing precision accurate, she could store just about anything.
During the month of preparation before this mission, Hinata had sealed an impressive array of supplies to ensure she would never go hungry or dehydrated during long journeys.
Inside her scrolls were preserved foods like bread, dried meats, squid strips, and canned goods — along with cooking utensils, pots, pans, and spices.
She also stored spare clothes, shoes, and essential ninja tools: kunai, shuriken, and senbon needles.
…
Once she finished washing up, Hinata began her morning training.
Fifty sets of frog jumps.
Fifty sets of sit-ups.
Fifty sets of pull-ups — done in sets of ten.
For the pull-ups, she used a specially crafted metal bar. Normal trees would snap instantly under the strain — after all, Hinata's weighted training gear weighed over one thousand jin (about 500 kilograms). Fully equipped, her total weight reached 1,400 jin (around 700 kilograms).
Whenever she walked on wooden floors, she had to reinforce her steps with chakra — otherwise, the floorboards would shatter with a single step.
Next came fifty sets of push-ups.
It was hard to believe that, not long ago, when her load was only 300 jin, she could barely manage five sets. Her improvement was beyond remarkable — but it wasn't without reason.
…
First, Hinata was the eldest daughter of the Hyuga main family.
Her daily regimen included tonics, medicinal wine, and nutrient baths. She ate six times a day, her meals packed with premium ingredients — rare fish, game meats, and nourishing herbs.
It wasn't the act of eating that strained the clan's finances, but rather the quality of what she ate. Her meals were made from rare and precious ingredients that ordinary people could only dream of tasting once in their lives.
These rich meals and supplements provided her with immense energy and vitality. Through training, that stored energy was released, circulating through her system and strengthening her body further.
Second, there was the Ten-Tails' chakra.
It allowed her to push beyond human limits. Torn muscles, sprains, and tissue damage — all of it was rapidly healed by that divine chakra. She no longer needed to fear exhaustion or injury; she simply had to keep training.
Because of these two advantages, Hinata's progress had become almost supernatural.
…
Compared to the other genin of her generation, Hinata's conditions were unmatched.
She possessed an inhuman metabolism, access to the Hyuga clan's vast resources, and the most potent chakra in existence. Her physical endurance, her speed, her Byakugan — everything had evolved to levels beyond the reach of ordinary shinobi.
…
By the time the sun fully rose, Kiba and Shino had woken up.
They used the washbasin, water, and toothbrushes Hinata had prepared for them, then sat down to eat.
Wearing a small apron, Hinata carried out breakfast one dish at a time, then went back to the stove — eating while she cooked more.
Kiba and Shino, though used to her habits by now, couldn't help but be impressed. They ate quickly, then went to help her cook. Between the three of them, they managed to finish off an entire tiger, two bears, and two baskets of large fish before breakfast was finally over.
…
After the meal, Hinata sealed everything away — the dining table, chairs, stove, and utensils — each item vanishing into a scroll with practiced ease. She then secured the scrolls to her calves, thighs, and arms, placing the rest into the pockets of her Chunin vest.
"This is so convenient!" Kiba exclaimed, watching her work.
Convenient as it looked, Kiba had no plans to learn.
Firstly, he already had his clan's secret techniques to focus on. Secondly, he'd seen the complex sealing texts Hinata studied — and they looked like something out of an ancient nightmare.
He shuddered at the thought.
"Nope. I'll stick with taijutsu."
Hinata smiled shyly, as was her habit, and said nothing more.
…
Once everything was packed, the trio resumed their journey.
The mission was time-sensitive, and they couldn't afford to waste even an hour on the road.
After the ambush by the Cloud ninjas, Kiba and Shino had grown noticeably more cautious. They scanned their surroundings often, wary of danger.
Hinata, however, remained calm as ever. For her, walking with heavy weights was part of her training. Reading while walking had become second nature. Occasionally, she would pause, memorize a sealing formula, and later, within her home space, study it in detail using the ten-to-one time difference.
…
After traveling for a full day and night — crossing mountains, rivers, and narrow ravines — Team 8 finally arrived at their destination: a remote mining area.
Their client was the mine's owner, a middle-aged man with a nervous air.
"I'm being watched," he confessed, hands trembling. "There are traces of ninja activity nearby. I'm sure of it. Please… protect me."
The commission fee was 200,000 ryō, the highest for a B-rank mission.
Hinata nodded softly, her pure white eyes reflecting the flickering torchlight.
"Understood. We'll ensure your safety."
… [10]
After confirming the mission details — and, of course, the food arrangements — Hinata immediately began assigning tasks.
Kiba, with his keen sense of smell, was responsible for memorizing the scents of everyone nearby, ensuring he could instantly detect any unfamiliar presence.
Shino, ever composed and inconspicuous, was assigned to remain close to their client, providing silent protection. His calm nature and low profile made him the perfect shadow; even enemies would likely overlook him.
As for Hinata, she altered her schedule entirely. While others slept at night, she remained awake — her Byakugan open and vigilant, ever watchful for the slightest movement. During the day, when things were calm, she retreated into her home space, continuing her construction work and training there.
Energy was no concern; with the Ten-Tails' chakra sustaining her, exhaustion was simply impossible.
…
There's an old saying: "You can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against thieves for a thousand days."
Defense is always more difficult than attack.
Nighttime was the most dangerous period — when people were tired, their minds dulled, and their guard lowered. It was when enemies were most likely to strike. Of course, this also meant they might choose to act during the day, knowing their targets would expect an attack at night.
A week passed in uneasy calm. The constant vigilance took its toll — Kiba and Shino's concentration began to waver. Seeing this, Hinata quietly took over their night shifts without complaint.
…
Several more days went by.
One afternoon, while the client — the mining boss — sat reading in his study, the ground beneath him suddenly rippled. From it, a figure burst forth, a kunai glinting in his hand as he slashed toward the man's neck.