"Naruto-kun, thank you."
Mid-conversation, Hinata suddenly stood and bowed deeply toward Naruto, her voice louder and clearer than usual.
The abruptness startled Naruto. When he looked up, he caught a glimpse of her pale collarbone. "Hinata, um... why the sudden thank you?"
Hinata raised her head, her expression serious. "Do you remember what you said at the Summer Festival? Your encouragement that night gave me strength."
After a moment's thought, Naruto recalled—Hinata had been deliberately controlling her appetite. He'd encouraged her to stop holding back.
Apparently, his words had made a real impact. Hinata had taken them to heart and stopped restraining herself at meals.
Hinata still remembered that evening vividly. Her mother had prepared dinner, and the family had gathered around the table. Baby Hanabi, only a few months old, had already been fed and lay sleeping in her cradle.
"Let us begin," Hiashi Hyūga had said, as he did every night.
The Hyūga clan maintained many rules, particularly at mealtimes. No one could touch their food until the clan head gave permission.
"Yes, Father." Hinata had picked up her chopsticks respectfully and begun eating.
With Naruto's encouragement echoing in her mind, she'd found the courage to truly let herself go.
She ate and ate and ate.
Finally, Hinata set down her chopsticks, feeling genuinely happy. Being myself feels wonderful. Though she wasn't quite full yet, she raised her head politely. "Mother, Father, I'm finished."
Hiashi: "..."
Her mother: "..."
Hinata, you've finished eating. Your mother and I haven't taken a single bite yet.
Hiashi's chopsticks remained frozen mid-air, his expression completely blank.
Hinata's mother wore an equally confused look. What had possibly possessed her daughter to suddenly develop such an enormous appetite?
Seeing her parents' bewildered faces, Hinata felt intense shame wash over her. She'd been so focused on eating that she'd completely devoured all the food without realizing her parents hadn't started.
"I... um..." Her face turned scarlet. Words failed her.
"Hm. I'm full." Hiashi set down his chopsticks and stood. "I have some matters to attend to."
"Don't you want me to make you something?" his wife called after him.
"No need." Hiashi's voice came out slightly strained. He flicked his long black hair over his shoulder and left the dining room with measured dignity.
Hinata watched her father's retreating back. Is he angry with me?
That night, Hiashi lay in bed with his wife in his arms.
Grumble... growl...
His eyes opened. He looked down at his wife and spoke with forced calm. "Dear, is your stomach making noise?" Though his voice sounded weak—he'd engaged in some... exercise earlier, all on an empty stomach.
Hearing this, his wife rolled her eyes. "That's you, husband. I already told you I'd make you something to eat. But a certain someone was too proud to accept."
Caught in the ruthless exposure, Hiashi felt his face warm. He coughed delicately. "Let's... go make some instant noodles now. I'll have the spicy kind."
"Alright." His wife slipped out of bed to prepare them.
"Make extra rice tomorrow," Hiashi said between bites of noodles. He feared ending up without food again.
The next day, his wife cooked portions for two additional people. Yesterday Hinata ate enough for three people. If I cook for five, surely my husband and I will have food.
That night...
Hiashi and his wife stared at each other across an empty table. Neither had gotten any food whatsoever. Clearly, she'd underestimated their daughter's appetite.
"Instant noodles again?"
His wife stood to prepare them.
After five consecutive days of going hungry, the couple finally calculated exactly how much their eldest daughter could consume.
Approximately fifty times what a normal person ate.
Both parents sat in stunned silence for a long moment.
If Hinata hadn't inherited the distinctive Byakugan of the Hyūga clan, Hiashi might have suspected she was secretly a child of the Ōtsutsuki clan. He checked his reflection in the mirror, confirming his black hair, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hiashi, do you think... eating this much could hurt her? What if something's wrong?" His wife's worry was genuine and maternal.
Hearing her concern, Hiashi fell into thought. Then a realization struck him with surprising force—since Hinata's appetite had increased, her Gentle Fist training had improved dramatically.
Before, Hinata's practice sessions had regularly made him lose his temper. But for five consecutive days now, he hadn't felt the urge to scold her once.
Not that the hunger had anything to do with his improved mood. Of course not.
Hinata's progress was clearly connected to her increased food intake.
With that understanding, Hiashi reassured his wife not to worry. Internally, he felt genuine satisfaction. Previously, he'd worried that his daughter lacked the strength to shoulder the clan's responsibilities.
Now it seemed the eldest daughter was more than qualified.
The most important thing now is keeping an eye on Hinata. Can't let some little boy trick her into a relationship. Otherwise, who will inherit the clan leadership? Hiashi's thoughts were already planning years ahead.
Hinata knew none of this, of course. She only understood that her appetite had increased, her training was progressing rapidly, and her father had stopped losing his temper with her.
All thanks to Naruto.
Naruto, meanwhile, was focused on imagining Hiashi and his wife staring at an empty dinner table. The mental image of their expressions made him laugh heartily.
Seeing the tall boy's genuine amusement, Hinata felt warmth bloom in her chest.
If he's happy, I'm happy.
Her philosophy was simple.
Soon, Naruto headed to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Sasuke came to help. When Hinata saw the two working, she felt too embarrassed to simply sit and wait.
She entered the kitchen to assist as well.
The moment Hinata appeared, Sasuke quietly attempted to slip out.
Within a minute, Naruto caught him. Sasuke received a beating for trying to slack off.
Sasuke glared at Naruto with pure resentment. I was trying to give you two privacy, you idiot!
After lunch—which took considerable time given Hinata's appetite—Naruto headed to the Academy with Hinata and Sasuke's shadow clone. Sasuke had mentioned that Iruka-sensei wanted to introduce him to someone.
They arrived just before class started.
The moment Naruto entered the classroom, his friends—Shikamaru, Choji, Sakura, Ino, and others—immediately came over with cheerful greetings.
Then a boy wearing sunglasses, his face still bearing faint bruises, approached and waved.
Naruto turned and stared at this unfamiliar classmate with confusion. Who is this person? He doesn't look like one of my friends.
"Um, excuse me—are you greeting me?" Naruto asked uncertainly.
"What?!" Shino recoiled as if struck. "Naruto, don't say things like that! We became friends yesterday!"