NARUTO: Starting with Hinata

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"Here, have a meal."

Shiki handed his lunch box to Hinata, just like before. She had been in a daze all morning, but now her focus returned. After all, Shiki was right beside her. She didn't have to worry about anything else.

After lunch, it was time for the lunch break. Everyone else had fallen asleep at their desks. Shiki quietly continued circulating his chakra, refining it within his body.

Soon, the school day ended, and it was time to go home.

Sasuke, usually the first to leave, remained seated. He pretended to tidy up his desk but was actually sneaking glances at Shiki.

**Why hasn't he approached me yet?** Sasuke wondered. **Is something wrong with my plan?**

"Hey, Hinata," Shiki said, walking straight up to Hinata, "Let's go."

Sasuke froze in place, shocked.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura seized the rare chance and said excitedly, "Let's go home together!"

"Damn it!" Ino clenched her fists, 'I've already lost to Sakura and Hinata... If I don't make a move, I'll lose everything!'

"I don't have time," Sasuke replied coldly, rejecting Sakura without a second thought. He grabbed his schoolbag and stormed out of the classroom.

Sakura stood there, stunned. But she quickly recovered. She was used to Sasuke's cold attitude by now.

"Let's head out," Shikamaru sighed, shaking his head. The burdens of being popular.

"By the way, when are we going fishing again?" Choji asked, shaking an empty bag of chips, "I miss Shiki's grilled fish."

"Fishing?" Naruto suddenly perked up, "I'm going to get my revenge this time! I'll take first place!"

"Ask Shiki tomorrow," Shikamaru replied lazily, hands behind his head as he left the classroom.

In their small circle, Shiki had unknowingly become the leader. Though Shikamaru noticed it, he didn't mind. After all, he preferred to avoid trouble.

---

As they walked to the grove, Hinata followed closely behind Shiki. She was clutching the corner of her clothes, feeling nervous about what was about to happen.

"It's time," Shiki said, coming to a stop. "Come out."

The older teenager and the three boys who had ambushed him earlier appeared, trembling.

Hinata froze. She felt as if she were paralyzed, unable to move.

"Hey, kid... You... You're the one who beat them up last time, right?" The leader stuttered, his words barely coherent.

Shiki smirked, 'Their acting could use some work.'

"Yeah, I did," Shiki replied calmly.

"You guys go deal with that white-eyed monster!" The leader barked at his lackeys, referring to Hinata.

"Boss... we can't," one of the boys stammered. They were too afraid to move, knowing that Hinata was standing beside Shiki.

"You! Come here!" The leader gestured at Shiki, taking a deep breath.

Shiki had already done his homework. He'd asked his family to investigate these boys and pressure their parents. That's why they were willing to face him again, despite their fear.

Shiki glanced at Hinata and said softly, "You don't want to see me get bullied by them, right?"

Hinata's head snapped up at his words. His smile sent a jolt through her heart, 'If they hurt him... I won't allow it!'

Without a word, she activated her Byakugan, the veins around her eyes bulging as chakra surged through her body. She charged forward, the techniques her father had taught her flashing through her mind.

Her palms struck two of the boys in quick succession, sending them flying back as they collapsed to the ground. Spinning around, she delivered a final blow to the last one, knocking him out cold.

She turned to the leader, her Byakugan still active.

'The girl's a monster!' The leader thought, his fear overwhelming him, "Mercy... Please!" He screamed, running away in terror.

Shiki didn't even glance at him. They were just tools in his plan. And his goal had been achieved.

He looked at Hinata with interest, 'She activated her Byakugan earlier than in the original story.'

"No... don't look..." Hinata, who had been so fierce moments ago, now reverted to her shy self. She quickly lowered her head, trying to hide her eyes.

"Very beautiful," Shiki said with a soft smile.

Hinata froze in place. Her face turned crimson, and in the cold winter air, a faint steam rose from her body.

"Now that things have calmed down, let's eat first," Shiki suggested, noticing that Hinata looked like she might faint from embarrassment.

"Mm-hmm," Hinata mumbled, still too shy to meet his gaze. She acted as though she wasn't the same girl who had just taken down three boys.

Shiki adjusted his sunglasses with his middle finger, 'Was that a success?'

He wasn't entirely sure. There were no clear signs or achievements triggered from the situation. The only benefit he saw was that Hinata had awakened her Byakugan earlier than expected.

"What about them?" Shiki asked, nodding toward the unconscious boys.

Hinata gradually returned to normal and noticed the three little boys lying on the ground.

She found it unbelievable that she had been the one who did this.

But for some reason, she felt more relaxed and happy than ever before.

"They just fainted temporarily and will wake up soon. Don't worry about them," Shiki said with a glance.

After all, he wasn't a devil, so he wouldn't go as far as finishing them off.

He turned and walked towards his cabin.

Hinata hurriedly followed.

As they walked, she suddenly raised her head and looked at his back.

Now that she had come to her senses, she instinctively felt something was off.

Those four boys had been acting too nervous.

Seeing Shiki, it didn't seem like he had been the one to provoke them, but rather like he had been forced into action.

"Shiki-kun," Hinata called hesitantly. "Were they...?"

"What is it?" Shiki asked calmly.

'Blind student, you've discovered the clue.' He thought to himself.

But he didn't admit anything or explain further.

Hinata looked at him for a moment before quickly lowering her head. "Nothing… nothing."

She must have been mistaken. Shiki-kun looked so calm.

And even if it had been a trap, she wouldn't regret it.

When they arrived at the wooden house, Shiki cooked a few Sichuan dishes for her, without chili peppers, just like before.

Even though she still felt a little dazed, Hinata enjoyed the meal very much.

After eating, the two of them headed to the clan's residence.

"See you later," Shiki said as he took a detour towards the Senju's old compound.

These days, he wasn't even going home. He ate, drank, and slept at Tsunade's place.

He'd wait until he had "tortured the fish" before returning.

"Shiki-kun..." Hinata called after him softly, her white eyes betraying a hint of reluctance as she watched his back.

Meanwhile, Tokuma, who had been secretly guarding her, confirmed that there was no danger and then headed to the study.

He raised his hand and knocked respectfully on the door, "Patriarch, Tokuma has something to report."

A few seconds later, a voice allowed him to enter.

Tokuma opened the door but remained at the entrance, bowing deeply.

As a guard, he didn't dare enter the room without permission.

Hiashi sat in front of the tea table, slowly sipping from a teacup.

He glanced at Tokuma with a slightly cold expression, "Did something happen to Hinata at school?"

"No," Tokuma quickly replied, his body trembling.

As Hinata's bodyguard, he knew that if anything happened to her, the consequences would be severe—for him especially.

In Konoha, although the Hokage was the leader, the great clans—particularly the Hyuga and Uchiha—had their own rules.

If Hiashi decided to punish Tokuma, not even Hiruzen could interfere.

"Miss Hinata has activated her Byakugan," Tokuma reported after taking a deep breath.

"What did you say?" Hiashi's hand paused, causing water droplets to spill from the teacup. But he didn't seem to care.

"I saw it with my own eyes," Tokuma said seriously, "I dare not deceive the clan leader."

"Explain what happened."

Hiashi put down the teacup, his previous calm replaced by interest.

Tokuma immediately recounted what had just occurred.

Hiashi narrowed his eyes.

As an experienced leader, he could easily tell that this was a trap orchestrated by Shiki.

But judging by the outcome, he was inclined to be grateful.

Hinata activating her Byakugan at the age of six indicated that she wasn't just talented—she was exceptionally talented.

Even Neji, hailed as a genius, had activated his Byakugan around the same age.

However, Hinata's gentle personality often held her back from showcasing her strength.

Hiashi waved his hand to dismiss Tokuma, then fell into deep thought.

Initially, he had encouraged Hinata's friendship with Shiki to strengthen ties with Tsunade.

Now it seemed like a rather astute decision.

Shiki, the boy was kind, easygoing, and genuinely helpful when it mattered.

Hiashi sighed. He had been disappointed in Hinata's performance and had thus invested his hopes in his second daughter.

According to the rules of the clan, only one child could inherit the main family's legacy.

The other would be marked with the caged bird seal on their third birthday and join the branch family, their fate sealed forever.

Hiashi thought of his brother, Hizashi, and couldn't help feeling melancholy.

No matter how close brothers were, once the caged bird seal was applied, they became separated by a master-servant relationship.

He had once considered abolishing the practice, but fear and the resistance of the clan elders had stopped him.

The caged bird, originally intended to protect the clan's Byakugan, had become a means of maintaining the main family's authority.

"Two more years," Hiashi murmured, rubbing his temples.

If neither Hinata nor Hanabi received the seal, the main family and the branch family would both oppose it.

Unless… an external force intervened.

Hiashi thought of Hiruzen, the current Hokage.

Only the Hokage could suppress internal opposition in the Hyuga clan.

Then another thought crossed Hiashi's mind—Tsunade.

Hiruzen had resumed his role as Hokage after Minato's death in the Nine-Tails attack, but his position wasn't meant to be permanent.

Once a suitable candidate emerged, Hiruzen was expected to step down.

Currently, the most qualified candidates were Jiraiya and Tsunade.

And since Tsunade was Shiki's teacher, her becoming Hokage would undoubtedly benefit the Hyuga clan.

Hiashi pondered this.

All that was left was to see whether Tsunade was interested in taking the role.

If so, the Hyuga clan could lend its support.

If not, Hiashi would have to deal with Hiruzen.

But that would require some form of payment, as Hiruzen was notorious for his demands.

Just look at what happened to the Uchiha clan—repeatedly targeted by Danzo and his Root faction, no doubt with Hiruzen's tacit approval.

Hiashi didn't want the Hyuga to face the same fate as the Uchiha.

Besides, he still harbored resentment towards Hiruzen for the death of his brother, Hizashi.

Back then, as Hokage, Hiruzen could have prevented it if he had taken a stronger stance.

The lives of Konoha's shinobi should be equally valued—whether they were from the Hyuga or Hidden Cloud.

What's more, they were the ones who made the mistake first.