"Naruto~…"
Hinata's lips parted slightly. Her voice was so soft it was barely audible.
But Ino heard it clearly.
Watching Hinata unconsciously fidget with her fingers, her cheeks flushing red again—
Ino screamed internally.
She almost couldn't resist biting her.
How did I never realize before that this girl is sooo, sooo adorable?!
But then Ino looked up at the Naruto on the black-framed screen.
His half-straight-man way of talking made her want to laugh.
Hinata thought Ino was teasing her. She lowered her head, her face turning bright red instantly.
["Um…"]
[Hinata ultimately couldn't bring herself to cry.]
["Huh? All done?"]
[Little Naruto asked.]
["Why are you here alone?"]
[Hinata didn't answer—she just stared straight at him.]
[Seeing how timid and pitiful she looked,]
[little Naruto chuckled softly, then extended his hand. "I'll walk you home."]
[He was used to this. He often walked Ino and little Sakura home.]
[The Hyūga compound wasn't far, and it was on the way to the Hokage Tower to see that old bastard.]
[Even though he still felt it was strange—why it was such a coincidence to run into a Hyūga girl here—]
[with a practical mindset, little Naruto still offered kindness.]
[The Hyūga are strong. Shikamaru said so himself.]
[If he could build a connection through this Hyūga girl, little Naruto felt his odds of flipping the table someday would rise significantly.]
[Hinata looked at the hand he offered and stayed silent for a long time.]
[In the end, little Naruto simply grabbed her hand and pulled her up.]
["I'm Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto. And you?"]
[Little Naruto's smile seemed warm enough to melt the snow.]
[Little Hinata kept her head down. After a long time, she finally replied softly,]
["Hinata… Hyūga… Hinata…"]
[Luckily there was no one around and the street was quiet, otherwise little Naruto might not have heard her.]
["Hinata, huh?"]
["Do you remember the way home?"]
[Hinata raised her head—then just stared at little Naruto again.]
['A very introverted girl.']
['Ino said that if that happens, boys should be more proactive.']
['Yeah… Ino will probably really like Hinata. Ino loves helping kids who look helpless.']
"Hah?"
"So Black-Frame Naruto saw right through it — good eye~!"
"Not for nothing that big sis spoils you, mm-hmm!"
"And Hinata really is easy to like."
Ino folded her arms, lifting her pale neck slightly, looking extremely proud.
Sakura shot her a look and whispered to little Hanabi:
"Black-Frame Naruto only got it half right. Ino actually—"
"Ahem!"
Ino's ear twitched, and she deliberately coughed loudly.
["Let's go. I'll walk around with you—maybe it'll jog your memory."]
[As he spoke, little Naruto gave a gentle tug and led little Hinata forward.]
[Little Hinata looked at his back.]
[Her mind replayed what she had seen that day.]
[But she didn't dare ask little Naruto why something like that had happened.]
[And… looking at his back, Hinata felt he was amazing—and strong.]
["Remember anything?" little Naruto suddenly turned and asked.]
[Hinata immediately lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.]
["You're from the Hyūga clan, right?"]
[Seeing her like that, little Naruto had to change how he talked.]
["Mm." Hinata nodded softly.]
["I think the Hyūga is this way, right?" little Naruto asked.]
["Y-yes…"]
[Hinata raised her head, looking at the streets buried under snow, and a sense of familiarity surged up inside her.]
[She answered softly again.]
[Then she lowered her head and watched the footprints little Naruto left with every step.]
[Holding his hand, she carefully followed along his footprints.]
[Little Naruto didn't rush her.]
[He just held her small hand and walked slowly.]
[This was something Ino and little Sakura liked to play too.]
[Little Naruto had gotten somewhat used to it.]
The moment the narration appeared, Hinata froze.
In her pale lavender eyes, a trace of dark emotion flickered past.
[Little Naruto glanced back at the quietly walking Hinata.]
[The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.]
[According to the book, this was the classic "Yamato nadeshiko" type of girl.]
["Looking at you like this… you're pretty cute," little Naruto said with a light laugh.]
["Mm…" Hinata had no idea how to respond to praise like that.]
[Since she could remember, no one had ever complimented her like this.]
Before long, little Naruto led Hinata to the Hyūga estate gates.
[Seeing the large characters "HYŪGA,"]
[little Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly.]
[This place felt even more gloomy at night than it had during the day.]
[But fortunately, no one was outside.]
[Little Naruto didn't want to walk a lost Hyūga child home—only to be surrounded and stared at.]
[Even though he didn't care what people thought, and the Hyūga might not look at him with disgust or malice—]
[still… imagining a crowd in mourning clothes staring at him with Byakugan made him feel a bit creeped out.]
["Alright, we're here."]
[Little Naruto let go—only to realize the girl was still gripping his hand tightly.]
[After a moment, Hinata snapped back to herself, quickly releasing his hand and stepping back.]
["S-sorry…"]
["You should say 'thank you,' not 'sorry.'"]
["You're home. I still have something to do, so I'm leaving."]
[With that, little Naruto turned and walked away without looking back.]
Hinata hurriedly looked up, only to see little Naruto wave once without turning around.
Hinata's large eyes shimmered, reflecting his retreating figure.
['Naruto… Naruto-kun looks taller than last time… and stronger too.']
['So amazing~!']
[Sniff—]
[Hinata sniffled.]
[She unconsciously swallowed.]
['Naruto-kun must eat properly… and eat until he's full… that's why he can grow taller.']
Not long after, under Hinata's gaze, little Naruto disappeared into the blackened street.
That reassuring smile lingered in her mind.
["Hinata!"]
[Just then, a stern voice rang out.]
[Hinata turned around and saw her father stepping out, holding an umbrella.]
[Judging by the snow piled on it, he had been waiting outside for quite a while.]
["As the main family's important heir, why did you act on your own?"]
["I…" Hinata didn't know how to answer.]
["For you— for the main family—how many people have sacrificed themselves?"]
["You should be old enough to understand those things now."]
Hinata lowered her head silently.
Neji crying flashed through her mind.
After a moment, Hinata subconsciously looked in the direction Naruto had left—
as if she could still see that small yet strangely towering child, smiling and waving to her.
Yamanaka Ino: "Can you really blame Hinata?!"
Haruno Sakura: "Yeah, Uncle Hiashi—she's still so little. Why put that kind of pressure on her?"
Tenten: "This is hard to watch…"
Hyūga Hiashi gave no reply.
Because he had grown up under the same pressure.
The main family's burden was heavy.
Compared to them, the branch family wasn't held to such strict standards.
Hinata tugged at Ino's sleeve.
Only then did Ino rein herself in.
["Hokage Grandpa, I'm here~!"]
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