The cherry blossoms bloomed on schedule, draping Konoha in a veil of soft pink.
For most children, this was a new beginning filled with hope.
It was the opening day of the Ninja Academy.
But for Hyuga Hinata, it felt more like the start of a necessary procedure—an insignificant waypoint on her long road of cultivation.
Unlike the timid, introverted heiress of the main Family in the original story, Hinata now exuded calm—utter calm.
Unless she deliberately spoke, you wouldn't even notice her; she seemed to blend into the surroundings.
Her control over power had become more refined. The Breath Conceilment Technique was used to perfection; her aura was completely hidden. To anyone, she looked like a Hyuga girl with faint Chakra and an overly quiet personality.
She wore a well-fitted deep-blue kimono and stood silently at the gate of the Hyuga Clan Compound, waiting for her father, Hiashi.
Hiashi appeared quickly, accompanied by Hizashi, who was holding Neji's hand.
Hiashi glanced at his daughter, whose aura was serene and whose eyes were as still as an ancient well, and said nothing more than a flat: "Let's go."
The entrance of the Ninja Academy was already teeming with noise. Parents gave earnest advice while children buzzed with excitement or nerves.
Walking behind Hiashi, Hinata swept her pale eyes over the crowd, like an outsider observing actors on a stage.
She spotted the blond boy in an orange jumpsuit loudly proclaiming he would become Hokage—Uzumaki Naruto.
Naruto no longer showed any trace of self-doubt; the start of school clearly thrilled him.
He believed that becoming a Ninja was the first step toward becoming Hokage and earning everyone's recognition.
About that daydream, Hinata wanted to say: Honestly… it just might happen.
She also saw Uchiha Sasuke.
People passing him would shoot occasional glances, strange looks that made the little Sasuke uncomfortable.
Though she didn't want to compare hardships, Hinata still wanted to complain—can't handle this? Naruto gets far more odd stares than you.
A random thought popped into her head: What if Sasuke had a glass heart? After being treated like this, would he directly awaken a one-tomoe Sharingan?
Tier-0: Glass-heart Sasuke.
In the original story, on the night of the clan massacre, only after everyone was dead did Sasuke angrily unlock a one-tomoe Sharingan. Among the Uchiha, that counts as slow; he had nerves of steel.
Growing up happily under his big brother's care, then watching that brother suddenly turn evil and slaughter the clan and their parents—yet the emotional upheaval only opened a one-tomoe.
Hinata looked away. She also saw Ino Yamanaka fawning on her parents, Nara Shikamaru yawning, and Akimichi Choji munching snacks.
Rock Lee and the future bug-user Shino.
And little rich girl Tenten, her hair in twin buns, dressed in full Chinese style—adorable, which made Hinata feel a rare familiarity.
Inuzuka Kiba and Sakura Haruno arrived in turn.
Now all main and supporting characters were present.
After delivering her to the gate, Hiashi didn't linger. He gave routine instructions—"Practice the Gentle Fist diligently, never disgrace the Hyuga name; as my heir, you must not lose to anyone"—then turned and left; clearly the Clan Chief was busy.
Hiashi believed Hinata would shine, so he worried little and only offered a brief reminder.
Once Hiashi left, Hinata stood alone at the edge of the crowd, her excessive quiet clashing with the surrounding bustle.
"Wow, your eyes… they're white!"
A lively voice rang out; Ino Yamanaka leaned in, studying her curiously.
"You're from the Hyuga Clan, right? I'm Ino Yamanaka!"
Hinata inclined her head slightly in acknowledgment.
"I'm Hyuga Hinata."
Her coolness didn't dampen Ino's enthusiasm.
"Eyes like that look so cool—can mine turn white too?"
Hinata was tempted to say: sure, just get cataracts.
"Probably not."
"Ah… what a pity…"
After chatting a bit, Ino was called away by her parents.
Hinata thought she could finally have some quiet.
Then an even louder voice cut in.
"Oh! It's you again! Thanks for the candy—it was delicious!"
Seeing Naruto's excitement and his belated thanks, Hinata was speechless.
No wonder you're the protagonist, the child of prophecy; an ordinary person couldn't do it.
Even now he could still be so carefree.
By comparison, she felt Sasuke was the normal one.
Uzumaki Naruto bounced in front of her, blue eyes sparkling.
Hinata looked at him.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto! The man who's gonna be Hokage!"
He grinned, brimming with confidence.
[…Who asked you?]
"You're Hinata, right?
"Heh, I didn't forget!"
Naruto scratched his head, smiling brightly.
"Your eyes are so cool! We're friends now! Hope we're in the same class!"
Without Hinata even opening her mouth, Naruto rattled on and on.
He even unilaterally declared them friends, giving her no chance to refuse.
Looking at this future child of prophecy whose enthusiasm was pure and untainted,
Just as Hinata was about to speak, a teacher called Naruto's name.
"Uzumaki Naruto!"
"Oh! Right here!"
Hearing the teacher, Naruto was thrilled—he was officially starting school; after becoming a Ninja he'd be Hokage and win everyone's approval!
"Teacher's calling me—see ya later!"
He waved to Hinata and happily followed the teacher.
Watching his back, Hinata didn't know what to say.
Naruto was so lonely and starved for affection that he'd remember anyone who showed him even a little kindness—kind of pitiful…
Class assignments were posted; children from major clans were scattered.
Hinata was placed in Class 1, same as in the original story.
She walked into the classroom, found her seat, and sat down. Ignoring the strangeness and noise around her, she gazed out at the cherry tree while her mind turned inward, nurturing her spiritual power and refining techniques.
During self-introductions she spoke only four words—"Hyuga Hinata"—and sat back down, drawing stares.
She could feel eyes from every direction.
Sasuke glanced sideways.
Sasuke: This person's even colder than me.
Naruto's curious gaze was there too, along with the curious or probing looks of other classmates.
Hinata didn't care.
Formal classes began.
The content was so simple it was dull.
Chakra-refining theory? She'd long since moved past that; what circulated inside her was a more primal spiritual power extracted from Chakra.
Shuriken throwing? She cared only about how to subtly imbue a trace of lightning-attribute spiritual power.
The Hyuga never used such things anyway.
History and culture? She already knew this twisted Ninja World history by heart and could even correct the teacher's mistakes and fill in vague parts.
These theory classes were utterly boring.
The teachers kept slipping in the Will of Fire, brainwashing the students.
Naruto still got excited whenever the teacher mentioned the Will of Fire.
[This silly kid—probably the Third Hokage arranged for you to hear it, and you still fall for it…]
Hinata said nothing; she simply shifted her awareness into her inner space to hone her skills.