"Naruto-kun, thank you."
As they chatted, Hinata suddenly stood up and bowed to Naruto in thanks, loudly enough for everyone to hear.
It was so sudden that Naruto jumped. Looking at Hinata, he could see her snow-white collarbones. "Hinata, um, why are you suddenly thanking me?"
Hinata raised her head and said earnestly, "Naruto-kun, do you remember the Summer Festival? That day, I received Naruto-kun's encouragement."
With Hinata's reminder, Naruto remembered too. It was the incident where Hinata had deliberately restricted how much she ate. After he encouraged her, Hinata had begun to let herself go.
It turned out that after Naruto encouraged her that night, Hinata had gained tremendous strength. She no longer held back her appetite.
Hinata still remembered that day. Her mother, Hinata Izumi, had finished cooking, and the family gathered around the table to eat. Hanabi, only a few months old, had already been fed and was sleeping in her cradle.
"Let's eat," Hyuga Hiashi said as usual that day.
The Hyuga Clan had many rules, including plenty at the dinner table. Until Hyuga Hiashi spoke, no one else was allowed to pick up their chopsticks.
"Yes!"
Hinata answered respectfully, picked up her chopsticks, and began eating.
Thinking of Naruto's encouragement, courage surged within her, and she immediately let herself go at the dinner table.
"Clack..."
After finishing the meal, Hinata set her chopsticks on the table. She felt immensely happy inside. So being herself was such a joyful thing. Although she was not full yet, she still looked up and said, "Father, Mother, I'm done eating."
Hyuga Hiashi: "..."
Hinata Izumi: "..."
Hinata, you may be done eating, but your mother and I haven't had a single bite. Hyuga Hiashi's chopsticks were still suspended in midair, and his face was full of bewilderment.
Hinata's mother,