Virtual Reality

Hinata looked adorably dazed.

Meow meow meow?

What the heck was an "Ancestor"?

Did the Hyuga Clan not have a family tree?

She had never seen Wang Yan's name in any of its records.

Though under the slight influence of the spiritual pressure field, Hinata felt Wang Yan's appearance bore some subtle resemblance to her own, a dark light flickered deep in his eyes—that was definitely not the Byakugan!

"You don't have the Byakugan. You're not from the Hyuga Clan at all. Please don't treat me like a child and lie to me."

A trace of determination showed on Hinata's young face. "Please, you must let me leave here. Even if I die, I won't let you take the Byakugan."

Every branch family member had the resolve to protect the Byakugan. As the eldest daughter of the main family's direct line, she would never disgrace her clan!

"Silly child."

Wang Yan let out a scoff.

He had miscalculated—assuming others read at the same speed as him. He hadn't expected Hinata's progress through that pile of "Books of Prophecies" to be only 15%.

If Hinata had finished reading all of "Naruto," her reaction right now would probably be very different.

After all, the illusory form Wang Yan currently showed was a blend of his own features, those of the Otsutsuki brothers, and Hinata's.

But while Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had just read the story, Hinata had been mentally analyzing drawing techniques as she went. She spent more energy and read much slower.

"These eyes are named the Ultimate Eye."

Wang Yan's tone carried the weight of ages, as if recalling something distant. He opened his mouth and spun a wild tale. "The Hyuga Clan's lineage traces back to Otsutsuki Hamura, the younger brother of the Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo. He gifted the Byakugan to his descendants. The Sage of Six Paths, meanwhile, passed down the Sharingan."

"The Byakugan's ultimate evolution is the Tenseigan."

"The Sharingan's ultimate evolution is the Rinnegan."

"And when the Tenseigan and Rinnegan merge, tracing back to the source, you get this pair of Ultimate Eyes—possessing the supreme power to create, destroy, and alter the past."

"So, I suppose you could call me your ancestor's ancestor."

"And... let you leave? Silly child, this is your dream."

Too much information. Hinata's mind was a little scrambled. Her chubby little face wore that dazed expression, making anyone want to pinch it.

"Tenseigan, Rinnegan, Ultimate Eye, dream..." Hinata murmured to herself.

She had only read part of the Book of Prophecies, but she vaguely felt that what Wang Yan said might be true.

Seeing Wang Yan's handsome, refined face, her hostility lessened a little.

"Then... what business do you have with me?" Hinata asked.

Wang Yan smiled calmly. "I am now just a lingering remnant of a soul. After all my wishes and enemies were completely settled, I exhausted my lifespan and died a natural death. I passed my will down through my bloodline. Only a descendant with deep fortune, who harbors a strong desire in their heart, can see me in a dream."

"So, it's not that I sought you out, but that you sought me out. What's on your mind? I can sense your confusion and your longing for freedom."

Hearing this, Hinata's expression drooped. "N-nothing... I'm fine."

Wang Yan scoffed. "Long-term depression and inner conflict—that's exactly because you've made a habit of going against your true heart, setting your subconscious and conscious mind in complete opposition."

Hinata didn't fully understand what he was saying, but she felt—he made so much sense!

"Foolish child! Will you not wake up yet?"

Wang Yan's voice rang like a morning bell and evening drum, thought-provoking and deeply stirring.

"From now on, follow only what your heart desires. Because your courage is enough to bear the consequences of any decision you make."

Hinata was dazed.

How she wished she could be that kind of person...

"Maybe you still don't know what you want, but at least you know what you don't want!"

Wang Yan's voice continued.

"Love yourself. There's no need to cling to others. You possess the bloodline with the greatest potential in this world. Don't waste your energy on pointless internal struggles."

"Find meaning in life. Truly live."

"Remember..."

"Be yourself!"

Those last four words were deeply engraved into Hinata's heart.

"Ancestor... Wuwu..."

Hinata cried.

She crouched down, wrapped her arms around her knees, and sobbed her heart out.

No one had ever cared about her like this. No one had ever cared what she truly wanted. No one had ever told her what she should do.

Wang Yan had once read a passage and thought it made a lot of sense: "Action is the most important thing. Accepting all truths without acting on them is just struggling in an endless loop."

Fortunately, Hinata was not that kind of person.

She now understood what she truly wanted in her heart, and had likewise solidified her life's ideals and pursuits.

"The child is teachable."

Wang Yan reached for his beard to stroke it, but grasped only air—his smooth chin offered nothing to fondle.

Thick-skinned as a city wall, he felt not a shred of embarrassment. Instead, he improvised, casually forming a hand seal with practiced flair, turning a thread of Spiritual Power into a thought-echo and embedding it deep in her consciousness.

"Next time you need me, just say 'Ancestor' before you fall asleep."

With only that parting remark, Wang Yan Disappeared without a trace.

That night, Hinata slept soundly.

The next day.

Land of Wind, Sunagakure.

The sun shone bright, the season of burgeoning life, yet this desert nation showed little change—still yellow sand filled the sky, and turbid winds rolled endlessly.

"I left a thought-echo with Hinata. From now on, no need to make a special trip for anything."

Wang Yan had the Assistant Program run a calculation: guiding Hinata's fate would yield between 20,000 and 30,000 Resource Points in the future.

That would fill the deficit from purchasing the Timeline Observer sub-class.

Breakfast was simple but nutritionally balanced: pan-seared beef cubes, freshly squeezed cactus fruit juice, and white bread.

After breakfast, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, held a cordial meeting with the four from Konoha.

"I represent the Ninja World Peace Council in coming to Sunagakure. I have three matters to handle."

The moment Wang Yan said this, the smile on Rasa's face vanished.

Though he didn't know what the Ninja World Peace Council was, the name alone made its nature clear.

Rasa's tone was calm, but carried an edge that brooked no argument: "If you're here to persuade Sunagakure to give up the Tailed Beasts, don't bother. Let's not sour the mood."

"How could that be! Before joining the Council, I was a merchant. A merchant, as they say, must uphold the principle of harmony bringing wealth. If I were asked to make you abandon the Tailed Beasts, I would never have taken this job."

Wang Yan smiled warmly, unruffled.

Beside him, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura broke out in goosebumps.

If they hadn't known him before, they might have believed Wang Yan was telling the truth.

That acting...

He'd definitely practiced, hadn't he?!

Rasa's taut facial muscles relaxed slightly. "Good. And these three are?"

His gaze cut like a blade across the three genin of Team 7, making their hairs stand on end as cold sweat soaked their clothes.

"Nephews and nieces of some friends. They've received ninja training and are still considered decently skilled. This time, I brought them along to broaden their horizons."

Wang Yan explained, glossing over the details.

He pressed both hands onto the negotiation table, his eyes sharpening as he cut straight to the heart: "Have you heard of Virtual Reality?"