Hinata's temples throbbed at the sight.
She drew a deep breath, repeating to herself, "A Clone is made from my own Chakra, so hitting it is the same as hitting me." Yet the sight of the smashed paper door, scrolls strewn everywhere, sticky honey, and splintered window frame still made her want to roar inside.
What kind of training assistant is this? They're a demolition squad!
The room fell silent; the Clones exchanged glances and instantly understood one another.
"main body, you're back!" one Clone chirped, bouncing over with half a honey-drenched chestnut dumpling in hand.
"Try it! I just improved the recipe—it should taste better than last time~"
The rest crowded round, every face wearing the same innocent "we're only training" expression.
"Ahaha, well, the table was just too flimsy—shoddy workmanship."
Hinata's lip twitched; she doubted the table was to blame.
The Clone practising Flying Thunder God spoke up. "I find this kind of 'live combat' far better for training—my proficiency has soared."
The one practising sword formation added, "And I can now defend perfectly against bricks."
Watching them chatter, Hinata opened her mouth to speak—but a Clone beside her was faster.
"Now's our chance!"
Her words were abruptly muffled by a sticky honey dumpling.
"Mmph~"
The dumpling was golden, soft, and thickly coated in warm honey. Spiritual energy wafted from it; instinctively she bit down—sweet, almost too sweet, yet the Chakra slid smoothly into her Dantian, so soothing her eyes half-closed.
"Well? How is it?" the pot-tending Clone asked eagerly. "I think it's better than the last Chestnut Cake—just a bit sticky on the teeth."
Chewing, Hinata felt half her anger melt away.
"All right, all right—just clean this place up…" She waved a hand in resigned surrender.
"Yay! main body's not mad anymore!" the Clones cheered.
Seven Clones sprang into action: the Flying Thunder God Clone flickered about retrieving scrolls; the sword-wielding Clone guided the big dipper seven stars sword to scrape splinters off the window frame.
Another Clone used a brick to scrape honey off the tatami, even sneaking a pink tongue to lick the residue until Hinata glared.
She sat at the low table, nibbling an untouched Chestnut Cake while supervising.
Just then Neji's voice came from outside.
"Young Miss Hinata, are you in?"
She slid the door open; Neji stood waiting.
"You need something?"
"The Main Family Elders ask you to call at the Main House tomorrow—something about Konoha and Sunagakure cooperation that requires your presence."
Require my presence? What's this about?
Puzzled, she simply replied, "Understood."
Neji glanced at the occasional Clone flickering behind her but asked nothing.
Hinata joined the cleanup, wiping honey from the table. "Next time you throw bricks in here, I'll ban the books—and no more icha icha paradise either!"
"No, main body!" the Clones cried in unison.
One stepped forward to scold her.
"Wicked main body, what's life without the books? Have you no proper values?"
The outburst enlightened the others; they chorused agreement.
"Exactly! Man lives for the books!"
"Wrong! That's only part of it—what matters is the deer scenes! They complement each other; lose either and you ruin the art!"
"I disagree—without certain equipment, the ace pilot has fallen…"
"Man!"
"Then the books can only pair with—"
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Hinata cut off their wild chatter—such thoughts were intolerable.
She walked the Righteous Path!
Under her supervision the Clones finished; the room looked better than before—torn paper doors were patched with cherry-blossom motifs, scrolls lined the shelves, the tatami gleamed.
A fresh pot of cherry-blossom chestnut dumplings arrived: honey balanced, softly sweet, carrying faint floral aroma and just the right Chakra nourishment.
Hinata and the seven Clones sat eating and chatting.
"main body, any guess what tomorrow's Main House meeting is about?" asked a pony-tailed Clone.
"No idea. The plot may have changed, but it's no big deal—I'll go."
After the dumplings she didn't dismiss the Clones; they scattered to train.
She sat again, Golden Core revolving slowly as Chakra flowed through her Meridians, nourishing every cell… Dawn.
At the Hyuga estate cherry petals drifted onto vermilion gates.
Wearing a pale lavender Main Family kimono, Hinata brushed her sleeve's embroidered cherry and stepped out.
The Main House was more austere: pine flanked stone paths, wind rustling needles.
At the council hall entrance she sensed Chakra—three Hyuga Elders and unfamiliar signatures: Sunagakure envoys.
The paper door slid open; she entered, surveying the room.
Three white-haired Elders sat stern and hawk-eyed at the head; below, four Suna Ninja, their leader a black-coat, buzz-cut man with twin short blades, Chakra tightly restrained—an expert.
"Hinata, please sit," the Grand Elder said genially.
She took the right-hand seat, poised and neither servile nor arrogant.
"Elders, honoured Suna delegates, apologies for the wait."
"No need," the lead envoy replied, voice low and strong. "I represent Sunagakure to discuss resource sharing and Ninja exchange between our villages."
His gaze lingered on her, curious.
He had heard of Hyuga Hinata—unfathomably powerful for her age, stepping in when Konoha was in crisis, her limits unknown.
Suna's higher-ups valued her; this meeting was partly to probe her strength.
Talks turned to resource allocation, setting up joint training bases, and more.
The Hyuga Elders spoke cautiously, seeking every advantage; Suna's delegate, equally firm yet courteous, protected his village's interests.
Hinata mostly listened, intervening only when deadlock loomed.
Her brief words cut to the point, defusing tension several times.
When one Elder insisted Suna Ninja remain under constant Konoha surveillance, the envoys bristled.
Hinata spoke calmly. "Trust underpins cooperation. Konoha will guarantee Suna Ninja's safety; Suna in turn must ensure its Ninja obey Konoha's rules. Surveillance is unnecessary—if ill intent exists, cameras won't stop it."
Surprise flashed in the delegate's eyes; he nodded. "Well said—Suna will keep its Ninja in line."
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