Virtual Reality

Hinata wore a blank, adorable expression.

Meow meow meow?

What the hell was this "Ancestor" supposed to be?

Did he really think the Hyuga Clan had no family records?

She had never seen Wang Yan mentioned anywhere in the clan genealogy.

Although the Spiritual Power field's subtle influence made Hinata feel that Wang Yan resembled her somewhat in an intangible way, a faint Blacklight glimmered in his eyes. It definitely wasn't the Byakugan!

"You don't have the Byakugan. You are not a member of the Hyuga Clan at all, so please don't treat me like a child you can deceive."

A trace of determination showed on Hinata's young face. "Please let me leave this place. Otherwise, even if I die, I will not let you obtain the Byakugan."

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

"Foolish child."

Wang Yan let out a mocking chuckle.

He had miscalculated, assuming everyone read as quickly as he did. He had not expected Hinata's progress through that pile of "Books of Prophecies" to be only fifteen percent.

If Hinata had finished all of Naruto, she would probably have reacted very differently right now.

After all, Wang Yan's current illusory form combined the appearances of himself, the Otsutsuki brothers, and Hinata.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had merely been reading a story, but Hinata had been studying the drawing techniques while she read. It consumed more of her energy, so she read more slowly.

"These eyes are called the Ultimate Eye."

Wang Yan spoke in an ancient, weathered tone, as if recalling something. The moment he opened his mouth, he began spouting nonsense. "The Hyuga Clan descended from Otsutsuki Hamura, the younger brother of Otsutsuki Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths. He bestowed the Byakugan upon his descendants, while the Sage of Six Paths passed down the Sharingan."

"When the Byakugan evolves to its ultimate limit, it becomes the Tenseigan."

"When the Sharingan evolves to its ultimate limit, it becomes the Rinnegan."

"And when the Tenseigan and Rinnegan merge, returning to their origin, they become this pair of Ultimate Eyes, possessing supreme power to create, destroy, and alter the past."

"So, I should count as your ancestor's ancestor."

"And besides... let you leave? Foolish child, this place is your dream."

There was too much information to process. Hinata's mind became muddled, and an adorably blank expression appeared on her plump little face, making people want to pinch it a few times.

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

She had only read part of the Books of Prophecies, but she vaguely felt that Wang Yan might be telling the truth.

Once she got a clear look at Wang Yan's handsome face, some of her hostility faded.

"Then, what did you need me for?" Hinata asked.

Wang Yan smiled calmly. "I am now merely a wisp of a lingering soul. Only after all my wishes were fulfilled and all my enemies completely dealt with did I exhaust my lifespan and pass away peacefully. I passed my will down through my bloodline. Only blood descendants blessed with great fortune can meet me in their dreams when they possess a strong desire in their hearts."

"So it was not that I sought you out. What did you seek me out for? I can sense your confusion and your longing for freedom."

At this, Hinata's expression dimmed. "N-No... it's nothing. I'm fine."

Wang Yan sneered. "Your long-term depression and inner turmoil stem from making a habit of going against your true heart, causing your subconscious and conscious minds to become completely opposed."

Hinata did not quite understand what he meant, but she felt that—what he said made so much sense!

"Foolish child! Will you not awaken?"

Wang Yan's voice was like a morning bell and evening drum, stirring reflection and deep thought.

"From this day onward, follow only the desires of your heart. Your courage is enough to bear the consequences of any decision."

Hinata was somewhat dazed.

How badly she wanted to become someone like that...

"Perhaps you still do not know what you want, but at the very least, you know what you do not want!"

Wang Yan's voice continued.

"Love yourself. There is no need to cling to others. You possess the bloodline with the greatest potential in this world; do not exhaust yourself in pointless inner conflict."

"Seek the meaning of life. Truly live."

"Remember..."

"Be yourself!"

Those final four words branded themselves deeply into Hinata's soul.

"Ancestor... Wuwu..."

Hinata cried.

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

No one had ever cared about her like this. No one cared what she truly wanted, nor had anyone told her what she should do.

Wang Yan had once read a saying that he found extremely reasonable: "Practice is the most important thing. Accepting every truth without putting it into action is no different from continuing to struggle in a dead loop."

Fortunately, Hinata was not that sort of person.

She had already understood what her heart desired, and she had likewise solidified her ideals and pursuits in life.

"You can be taught."

Wang Yan stroked his beard, only to grasp at empty air. His smooth chin had nothing to stroke.

His skin was thick as a city wall, and he did not feel embarrassed in the slightest. Instead, he adapted on the spot, pretending to form a hand seal as he turned a wisp of Spiritual Power into a Thought Clone and attached it deep within her consciousness.

"If you need me next time, just say 'Ancestor' once before going to sleep."

After leaving only those words behind, Wang Yan disappeared without a trace.

That night, Hinata slept soundly.

The next day.

Land of Wind, Sunagakure.

The sun shone brightly. It was the season when all things began to sprout, yet this desert nation had changed little. Yellow sand still filled the skies, and filthy winds still roared.

"I left a Thought Clone with Hinata. If anything comes up in the future, I will not need to make a special trip there."

Wang Yan had the Assistant Program run the calculations. Guiding Hinata's fate would yield between twenty and thirty thousand Resource Points in the future.

That would make up for the deficit incurred by purchasing the Timeline Observer secondary class.

Breakfast was simple, but nutritionally balanced: fried beef chunks, freshly squeezed cactus fruit juice, and white bread.

After breakfast, Fourth Kazekage Rasa held a cordial meeting with Wang Yan's group of four from Konoha.

"I have come to Sunagakure on behalf of the Ninja World Peace Council to handle three matters."

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

Although he did not know what the Ninja World Peace Council was, the name of that organization alone revealed its nature.

Rasa's tone was calm, but carried an undeniable edge. "If you have come to persuade Sunagakure to give up the Tailed Beasts, do not bother speaking. It would only damage our relations."

"How could that be? Before joining the Council, I was a merchant. A merchant must uphold the principle that harmony brings wealth. If the task were to make you give up the Tailed Beasts, I would never have accepted this job."

Wang Yan smiled gently, entirely unoffended.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, standing nearby, broke out in goosebumps.

If they had not known him already, they might have believed Wang Yan was telling the truth.

That acting...

He had definitely practiced it, right?!

The tension in Rasa's facial muscles eased slightly. "Good. And these three are?"

His blade-like gaze swept back and forth across the three Genin of Team Seven, making their body hair stand on end as cold sweat soaked through their clothes.

"They are the children of several friends. They have received ninja training and are still considered fairly capable. I brought them along this time to broaden their horizons."

Wang Yan offered an evasive explanation.

He placed both hands on the negotiating table, his gaze sharpening as he drove straight to the point. "Have you heard of Virtual Reality?"