The Cruelest Punishment

Mm! An outstanding junior!

Looking at the youthful Hinata before him, Hagoromo Otsutsuki could not help but sigh inwardly.

Unlike Hinata's usual bragging, Hagoromo Otsutsuki knew that her current strength had been gained entirely through her own talent and hard work.

As for the bit of power inherited through her bloodline, it had long since faded over countless generations.

Still, Hagoromo Otsutsuki was curious how Hinata had cultivated herself to such a level in this era.

"Y-You... what exactly are you plotting?"

Hinata was incredibly nervous.

The seemingly elderly figure before her was a genuine thousand-year-old monster. Worse still, he had followed the Golden Tenseigan's Dojutsu power into her Soul Space.

This might have been Hinata's Soul Space, but since Hagoromo Otsutsuki had entered it, that meant its door had already been opened.

Hinata had no experience fighting within a Soul Space.

"You don't need to be nervous."

Hagoromo Otsutsuki's demeanor was remarkably gentle. "I mean you no harm."

Pah! What a load of crap!

Hinata did not believe a single punctuation mark of Hagoromo Otsutsuki's words. Human hearts were inscrutable—who knew what these thousand-year-old monsters were plotting?

Even Hinata had plans of her own. She did not believe these old fellows who had "lived" for a thousand years would obediently keep to themselves.

Those without power were one thing.

But Hagoromo and Hagoromo Otsutsuki clearly still retained the power they had possessed in life.

Hagoromo Otsutsuki shook his head with a helpless smile.

"You were quite cute as a child. How did you become like this now?"

Hinata's face remained expressionless. "It was all Father's guidance!"

Hinata felt no psychological burden whatsoever in dumping the blame on Hyuga Hiashi.

"You saw me when I was little?" Hinata asked.

Hagoromo Otsutsuki looked at Hinata strangely, blinked, and said, "Didn't you