Naruto: From Konoha to One Piece

Outside Konoha, Shin, Hyuga Hiashi, Tsunade, and Shizune approached the village gate together. Among them, two held mixed emotions. It was a nostalgic but apprehensive return for Tsunade, while for Hizashi, it marked a defiance against tradition.

Snowflakes drifted down from the overcast sky, adding a certain solemnity to the moment.

"It's snowing," Shin noted, catching a snowflake in his hand. Oddly, the snowflake didn't melt against his skin.

Of the group, only Shizune seemed unburdened, even appearing quite cheerful. She hadn't been in Konoha for several years, having had a tough childhood caring for a gambling and alcoholic Tsunade. Now, returning to her hometown filled her with a quiet joy.

When Shin asked Tsunade if she wanted to return to Konoha, she hesitated but eventually decided to join them. Shin had expected her to refuse, so her choice surprised him, but he welcomed her presence.

The snow continued to fall more heavily, but Tsunade strode confidently toward the gate, breaking from her inner musings.

"Who's there?... Tsunade-sama? Hyuga Hiashi?" called out one of the surprised gate guards, neither of whom was familiar to Shin.

"Tsunade-sama, you're back?" the guard asked with astonishment.

Tsunade stretched nonchalantly. "Yes, I'm back!"

One guard hurried off to report her arrival, while the other simply waved Shin, Shizune, and Hiashi inside without further questioning.

After entering Konoha, Shin and Hiashi parted ways with Tsunade and Shizune. Tsunade mentioned she'd visit some old friends, but Shin, familiar with Konoha's layout, noted she was heading toward the casino.

'Typical Tsunade. Let her do as she pleases. If she stays at the Akatsuki base much longer, they might end up with a casino,' he thought wryly.

Shin and Hiashi made their way toward the Hyuga compound. Located a bit further from Konoha's bustling center, the Hyuga residence retained an old-world tranquility, sheltered from the main town's activity.

"Her eyes look strange!"

"Is she a monster, like that fox?"

"Monster girl, white-eyed freak!"

Since they'd entered Konoha, Shin had been alert, and he overheard these whispers along with the cries of a young girl he quickly recognized as Hinata.

"This must be the scene from the original story where Naruto rescues Hinata," Shin thought, though it struck him as odd that Konoha villagers didn't recognize the Hyuga's white eyes.

"Is the Hyuga clan that reclusive in Konoha?" Shin asked Hiashi, pondering how little the villagers seemed to know about them.

"To be precise, we rarely interact with others," Hiashi sighed. "Due to our bloodline, the Byakugan, it's easy for others to feel exposed around us. So, we maintain our distance."

"That explains a lot…" Shin murmured.

They neared Hinata's location, and Shin could hear the girl's cries. Rounding a corner, they found Hinata, who was, surprisingly, sitting atop a chubby boy, dealing out strikes in quick succession while the poor child bawled beneath her. Two other boys nearby looked bruised and frightened, clearly unwilling to interfere with the fierce Hinata.

Shin didn't know what to make of this scene for a moment. Wasn't this supposed to be the heroic rescue scene from the original? How had it devolved into Hinata delivering a beatdown?

"Stop!" a boy's voice rang out.

A small boy with spiky blond hair and whisker-like marks on his cheeks jumped forward. "Stop fighting!"

Hinata gave him a cold look. "Are you with them?"

"It doesn't matter if I am or not, but you shouldn't bully people like this!" he replied, his tone unwavering.

Hinata narrowed her eyes slightly, and within moments, the so-called hero, Naruto Uzumaki, lay on the ground with a bruised face.

Next to him, Hiashi's posture went rigid.

With a light cough, Hinata turned around to see her father, Hiashi, standing beside Shin. Her face brightened momentarily, but then she glanced down, looking a bit guilty as she approached them.

"Father, Shin-oniisan…"

Just then, a Hyuga branch guard ran over, sweating and out of breath. Given Shin's presence, Hiashi shot him a disapproving look but refrained from scolding him. He merely huffed, visibly annoyed.

Hinata lowered her head even further while Shin smiled, subtly giving her a thumbs-up.

Clearly, her experiences had toughened Hinata, and this fiercer personality was perhaps a positive change. Some children, after enduring similar challenges, might become fearful or withdrawn. But Hinata's reaction had brought out a certain fierce resilience.

Her change seemed promising to Shin.

After the brief incident, Hiashi appeared eager to move on and quickly led Shin toward the main Hyuga compound.

Upon arriving, they spotted Hyuga Hizashi, Hiashi's brother, standing near the gate.

The family guards paused, momentarily taken aback. With the two brothers standing side by side, now free of the caged bird mark, they appeared nearly indistinguishable from each other.

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