Not far from Ōtsutsuki Toneri, three or four boys had formed a loose circle. In the center of the group crouched a young girl. Her short blue hair framed her small, delicate face, making her appear especially fragile and cute.
But at this moment, she wasn't in a good state. Her pure Byakugan eyes shimmered with misty tears, and she didn't dare lift her gaze to meet the boys surrounding her.
She was afraid of them.
"Hey, look at her eyes."
"They're white… why are they different from ours?"
"Who knows? Maybe it's some kind of weird disease?"
The boys pointed and whispered recklessly, not realizing that the girl they were mocking was a member of the Hyūga family.
Yet perhaps it was because they were still young that they dared treat Hinata Hyūga so carelessly.
Hearing their comments, Hinata hugged herself tighter, bowing her head deeply, tears welling in her eyes. Her expression was pitiful and fearful.
She was genuinely scared. She disliked these people, but she didn't dare resist—they might hurt her even more if she did.
…
"The Byakugan Princess… to meet you so soon, huh?" Ōtsutsuki Toneri curved his lips into a faint smile. This was the young Hinata Hyūga.
Though he knew she had been timid and shy as a child, he hadn't expected her to be this small and frightened.
These boys were just ordinary children, yet Hinata had been rigorously trained by her father, Hiashi Hyūga, since she was very young.
If she had the courage, dealing with these ordinary boys would be nothing.
"But she is my future wife. I can't just let them bully her without consequence." Toneri's face twisted into a cold smirk. Hinata Hyūga—his destined wife—wasn't someone he could allow to be harmed.
A prince?
Nonsense. Hinata Hyūga was mine—Ōtsutsuki Toneri's.
Toneri slowly approached the boys, with Ōtsutsuki Kyokusen quietly following behind.
At that moment, the boys, noticing that the girl had not reacted to their taunts at all, felt emboldened. One of them reached out to grab Hinata's clothes.
Without warning, a repulsive force struck them, flinging them backward violently. They crashed to the ground in a heap.
"Ow… that hurts!"
The boys struggled to their feet, only to see Ōtsutsuki Toneri standing before them. Tears stung their eyes from both pain and fear, and without hesitation, they ran off as fast as they could.
Young as they were, they instinctively knew to stay far away from someone like him.
Hinata, hearing their cries of pain, lifted her head to look—but could only see their backs disappearing into the distance.
At that moment, a gentle, youthful male voice reached her ears.
"Are you all right?"
Hinata froze, then turned her head. Her eyes fell on a boy with exquisitely delicate features and white hair.
So handsome… did he help me?
Hinata's heart fluttered as her pure, flawless eyes stared blankly at Ōtsutsuki Toneri.
"You know, staring at someone like that is very rude," Toneri said lightly, smiling at her silence.
This girl—she was adorable even as a child.
And she would be beautiful when grown.
Hearing him, Hinata snapped out of her daze and immediately bowed her head, her pale cheeks flushing bright red with embarrassment.
"I… I'm sorry…" Her tiny, almost whispered voice trembled.
"You should say it while looking at the other person, right?"
"Th-then… I… I…"
"You can speak a little louder."
"I… I'm s-sorry…"
Toneri chuckled quietly. Through the Rinnegan, he watched Hinata's head lower further and further. The girl's timidity at this age was even greater than at graduation.
To be this shy… he had never seen anyone so tongue-tied. From the moment she started speaking until now, not a single sentence had come out smoothly.
"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you, remember?" Toneri squatted down to her level, gently stroking Hinata's soft hair.
It was impossible to have a proper conversation under these circumstances.
"I… I'm sorry…" Hinata whispered again, feeling the warmth of the boy's hand. Her cheeks grew redder, and her head dipped even lower.
He… his hands feel so warm…
Still, her shyness prevented her from looking up—she knew her face must be bright red.
Wouldn't she frighten him if he saw her like this?
Toneri's eyelids twitched at her bashfulness. Enough of this.
Can you say anything besides "I'm sorry"?
How was he supposed to win her favor like this?
"I'm Ōtsutsuki Toneri. You'll be my wife in the future." Toneri paused briefly, then said it directly to Hinata.
Hinata was loyal and serious about love.
He had to leave a deep impression. As long as he etched himself firmly in her memory, no one could ever steal her heart from him.
There would be no rivals for him—only he would have the upper hand.
This life, he would never be betrayed.
END OF CHAPTER
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