As time passed, more and more candidates trickled back into the Ninja Academy. Some had succeeded through sheer skill and discipline, while others exploited loopholes and clever tricks to pass. Whatever the means, the result was the same: the number of examinees returning to the academy was steadily growing.
Of course, most had been eliminated midway. Compared to the packed crowd that had set out at the start, this returning group was a mere fraction. But the moment others—aside from Sasuke's team—began to arrive, it signaled one thing: the final countdown of the entrance exam had begun.
And that was exactly why Hinata was growing more anxious by the second.
Naruto, who was supposed to return with them and receive his official acceptance letter, had disappeared somewhere along the way. And even as more groups arrived behind them, there was still no sign of him.
'W-What should I do…? More and more people are coming back, so why can't I see Naruto-kun anywhere…?'
Pacing restlessly, Hinata craned her neck every few seconds to check the academy gates. She didn't understand Naruto's intentions, and worry clouded her heart. All she could do was silently pray for him to show up soon.
'Please… Naruto-kun, where did you go…?'
Compared to Hinata's distress—rooted in her lack of understanding of Naruto's personality—Little Uchiha Fan was calm, composed, and unconcerned.
"Relax, Hinata. Panicking won't help Naruto. He never does anything without a reason. If he chose to split off for now, there's a purpose behind it. Besides, he is the proctor for this exam, remember? There's no way he could fail."
Glancing around, Sasuke noticed something odd—the adults who were supposed to be waiting for them had all vanished. Furrowing his brow, he patted Hinata's shoulder, trying to steady her swaying and dizzying motions, then grumbled with mild annoyance.
"Seriously… I finally managed to 'struggle' into first place, and they're not even here? Tch. What could possibly be more important than watching me take the entrance exam?"
Hinata turned at his words, her wide eyes lingering on Sasuke. Seeing that even someone so close to Naruto wasn't worried at all, her own anxiety finally began to ebb.
"Y-You're right…"
After taking a few deep breaths to calm herself, she stopped pacing. Responding softly to Sasuke, she glanced around—perhaps influenced by his offhand remark.
That's when she realized something: not only were Fugaku and Mikoto nowhere to be seen, but even her stern and stoic father had disappeared.
'So Father isn't here either… No wonder it's felt like something was missing… Did I… disappoint him again…?'
"Come on, don't look so down. You were in the first group to finish. If that doesn't make your dad proud, then maybe he just doesn't like you."
The words were blunt—typical Sasuke—but for some reason, they didn't sound harsh. Perhaps it was because, when Sasuke looked at Hinata's uncertain, downcast expression, he suddenly saw a reflection of his past self—constantly chasing the approval of a cold father, only to fall short every time.
He paused for a beat.
Then, channeling Naruto's tone, he tried to offer a bit of comfort.
"Heh… but nah, I don't think that's it. Or as Naruto once told me—'There are very few parents in this world who don't love their kids, y'know.'"
"Huh? N-Naruto-kun said that…?"
Hinata blinked, momentarily stunned. Then a smile bloomed on her face, her eyes lighting up with realization. She nodded with determination.
"Yes! Even if Father didn't see me pass, I can still tell him myself when he returns! That should be enough!"
Sasuke was relieved to see her cheer up… until her next innocent comment blindsided him.
"If Naruto-kun would say something like that… his parents must've really loved him, huh?"
He stiffened.
"Eh? Sasuke-kun, did I say something wrong…?"
"N-No… no, not at all. You're right. Naruto's parents loved him a lot…"
Sasuke forced a laugh, awkward and hollow. He turned his head slightly to avoid her gaze and muttered in his mind:
'Was that… on purpose? Doesn't she know Naruto's an orphan? Everyone in the village knows, don't they? She's a Hyuga—the clan heiress—how could she not know…?'
Then he scowled.
'Ugh, whatever. Big Brother disappeared, and now Naruto's off doing who-knows-what again… I just want to go home and train. Interacting with people is such a drag…'
Of course, what neither Sasuke nor Hinata knew was that Naruto hadn't vanished for no reason. Nor had Fugaku and the other adults simply left without care.
After receiving Naruto's earlier warning about intruders, the adults had quietly departed to join the ongoing search and containment operation.
From their perspective, the Ninja Academy was well-guarded—with elite shinobi stationed inside and a monster like Naruto present on campus. If anyone was foolish enough to make trouble here, they'd be walking into a trap.
So rather than waste time standing around, the Uchiha and Hyuga elders chose to lend their strength to eliminating the threat before the exam ended.
What they didn't foresee…
Was that Naruto's choice to play the underachiever had temporarily separated him from Sasuke and Hinata.
And it was in this small, unforeseen gap…
That the threat they had worked so hard to prevent—
—quietly descended upon Hinata.