Chapter 60: Hinata Dies in the Simulation
Hyuga Hinata sat at her desk, palms lightly supporting her cheeks, gaze falling on the brilliant moonlight outside. She hummed a tuneless melody unconsciously.
Before her, the black notebook lay open. The Life Simulator's cooldown time was nearly complete.
During these final waiting moments, everything that happened in the movie theater replayed endlessly in her mind.
In Father's eyes, she should first be a qualified main family heir. Even with Neji, she should be the main family's eldest daughter before being his sister. As for other clan members—that went without saying.
But in Hyuga Kiyonari's eyes alone, friends were friends. Hinata was just Hinata.
"Someone like you... how can you say you're not special?"
Hinata sighed softly and activated the Life Simulator.
Life Simulator activating...
Konoha Year 54.
Under Father Hiashi's strict requirements, I continue training diligently. This year, my progress has been very significant. Father grows increasingly satisfied with my performance. I try gathering information about the Cloud Village and border situation but can't obtain any useful intelligence.
Konoha Year 55.
Scattered reports of border conflicts arrive. The Cloud Village refuses to back down, similarly deploying troops at the border. Reportedly, they've had some small-scale clashes with Lady Tsunade's force, but the overall situation remains controllable.
Year's end—the first batch of branch family members who went to guard the border return to the compound. The second batch gradually departs after the new year. This news doesn't cause major ripples within the Hyuga clan. Father merely glances at casualty statistics before setting them aside.
The next day, Father takes me to visit Uncle Hizashi who just returned to the village. During brief interaction, I vaguely sense Uncle Hizashi has undergone some change. The way he looks at Neji, at me, grows increasingly complex.
Konoha Year 56.
Father tells me I'll soon have a little sister or brother. Also, next year I'll enter the ninja academy.
Year's end—the second batch of border guards also return. The third batch prepares to depart. Unexpectedly, Uncle Hizashi—not on this roster—proactively proposes to Father that he wants to go to the border. Father refuses. The two quarrel over this, ultimately parting unhappily.
I notice more and more clan members undergoing changes. Unease rises in my heart. I vaguely feel something major will happen.
Now I have three options.
1. Seek out Kiyonari and investigate privately.
2. Inform Father and investigate publicly.
3. Seek out Neji and ask directly.
Up to this point, the simulation's first three years matched what she'd seen in her previous attempt, down to the smallest detail.
"As expected... it still doesn't work." Hinata released a sigh tinged with defeat.
On the way back from the movie theater, she'd tried asking Kiyonari about border news. But he knew very little and couldn't provide any useful intelligence.
By now, Hinata clearly recognized that the Caged Bird system oppressing the branch family was thoroughly unjust. The chasm tearing the main and branch families into two kinds of people hadn't formed overnight.
That contradiction had existed all along. It was just that for so long, clan members had slept within this unreasonable "order." No one truly wanted to shake it, to change it.
In the previous simulation stage, it was the Cloud Village's infiltration of Konoha that awakened the sleeping clan members.
Back then, using the Life Simulator's guidance and her own actions, she'd successfully thwarted the Cloud Village's conspiracy, temporarily burying that nearly-ignited fuse underground.
But this time, the new fuse lay hidden at the distant border. With her power alone, investigation was completely impossible.
"I can only choose the second option."
Hinata murmured, placing her only hope in making things clear within the simulator, borrowing Father's power to discover what exactly was happening at the border.
Only by understanding the cause could she think of ways to solve the problem.
I decide to report my discoveries and unease to Father. Father takes some interest after learning of this and soon makes time to privately summon Uncle Hizashi.
However, Uncle Hizashi avoids Father's scrutinizing gaze, using vague phrases like "everything's normal" to deflect. Though Father feels suspicious, seeing Uncle Hizashi unwilling to elaborate, he doesn't pursue it further.
Afterward, I repeatedly raise this matter with Father, trying to obtain border information from more clan members. But without exception, almost all branch family members remain silent on this topic, unwilling to say more. This abnormal phenomenon finally draws Father's serious attention. He begins investigating.
Perhaps sensing the main family's notice, the branch family members' originally restless emotions suddenly quiet down. The compound fills with an oppressive silence everywhere.
Konoha Year 57. Another year passes. When the third batch of border force branch family members gradually return, those contradictions brewing so long in silence—like a volcano reaching its limit—finally erupt.
But this time, Father seems to have anticipated and prepared. The moment branch family members begin voicing concerns, Father shows no hesitation. Together with all main family members, he activates the Caged Bird seal. Countless branch family members including Neji collapse to the ground in agony. Screams echo across the compound for a long, long time. Only Kiyonari, protected by Lady Tsunade, escapes unharmed. But after this, he moves out of the Hyuga compound.
Immediately after, to appease the branch family, Father announces lifting restrictions on learning Rotation—the "main family secret technique"—and improves branch family treatment in various ways. The clamor of questioning gradually subsides. The Hyuga clan seems to return to its former orderly state.
Then my sister is born. Father names her Hyuga Hanabi.
I enter the ninja academy, but Kiyonari leaves Konoha with Lady Tsunade, stationed at the border.
Konoha Year 61. I died. All the main family died. In a single night.
This simulation ends here.
Evaluation: Either explode in silence or perish in silence.
Based on this simulation's comprehensive evaluation, the host may choose one reward from the following two options:
Option One: Obtain all understanding of Gentle Fist that your simulated self possesses three years later.
Option Two: Inherit the cultivation progress in Gentle Fist that your simulated self achieved three years later.
Please choose carefully. Only one reward may be selected per simulation.
"I... died?"