Although... but

"Father?!"

Hinata suddenly sat up.

She was like a hamster who had secretly hoarded food and was suddenly discovered by its owner, appearing somewhat flustered and at a loss.

"Alright, sit down."

Hyuga Hiashi raised his hand in a gesture.

"That Hyuga Kō looks so serious, but he can't drink any alcohol at all. He just ate a sake egg and he immediately got dizzy."

"I knew he couldn't keep a secret in his current state, but I never expected him to tell you so easily, not even for a minute."

"How... how did you know it was Takashi..." Hinata asked timidly.

She was somewhat afraid that Hyuga Kō found out, he would think that he had told his father, which would be tantamount to keeping it a secret.

Hyuga Hiashi, so he naturally knew what Hinata was worried about.

He glanced at Hinata slightly and snorted, "Hmph, alright, I already knew. He just finished telling you, and after holding it in for a short while, he came running over to apologize to me."

"He was really drunk, and he couldn't keep any secrets, including the secret of his mistakes."

Hinata.

"So that's how it is..."

Hinata nodded slightly.

I've come to know Hyuga Kō, this stern-faced man, in a new light.

"Kanami, since your surname Uzumaki, then Hinata should take your surname, Uzumaki."

Hyuga Hiashi crossed his arms and said seriously.

Kanami shook his head. "I haven't used my surname in a long time, and 'Uzumaki ' is just a guess. What if my Uzumaki Bloodline comes from my mother?"

"..." Hyuga Hiashi opened his mouth, then choked, unsure of what to say.

"That's true... that's true."

"The Hyuga Clan is a powerful clan; there's no need for them to adopt my surname, which is not theirs as well."

"You mean?"

"After we get married, you can still call Hinata Hyuga Kanami. The surname isn't really that important."

Kanami said.

On his original Blue Star, there was never such a thing as following a surname, so it didn't really matter to him.

"Well... but from ancient times to the present, it has always been based on the surname."

Hyuga Hiashi, then hesitated before speaking.

He felt this was very unfair to Kanami.

Especially considering that the opponent's strength is comparable to that of the Hyuga Clan, one person being equivalent to an entire clan, there is no question about it.

Who would dare to think that such a person is just an ordinary commoner?

Even if he randomly picks a surname now, that surname will definitely be recorded in the history books of Konoha Village in the future.

They may even become one of the major clans in the future.

"I'm really okay, I'm serious."

Kanami reiterated this point.

He also understood why Hyuga Hiashi insisted on asking one more question after hearing what he said.

"It's settled then. You can decide on the date. My parents died when I was young, so I'm not very familiar with the local customs. I'll leave it to my father-in-law."

Kanami smiled.

Hyuga Hiashi wanted to say a few more words of advice, but since Kanami had already acted this way, he could only nod.

"Alright, I'll think about the date, then ask the others in the clan, discuss it together, and let you know when the time comes."

"OK."

"Yes, Father."

"It's over. This month... it's highly unlikely, don't be too nervous."

Before leaving, Hyuga Hiashi added a sentence.

After he left, Hinata Hyuga felt relieved.

"Phew... I was just worried that you two would argue after Father found out."

Hinata gave a sullen laugh.

"Hahaha," Kanami laughed, "You're too anxious. These are all minor things. The most important thing about marriage is the two of us."

"Besides, my father-in-law has been testing me for so many years, surely his opinion of me should have changed by now?"

His gaze drifted into reminiscence.

Back in the day, when he first met Hyuga Hiashi, he was so frightened that he hid behind a stone lion.

"Haha," Hinata suddenly laughed, her memory returning to the Hyuga Hiashi she and Kanami first met Hyuga Hiashi.

"Kanami, you have no idea how nervous I was back then. My father used to be a very serious person. In my twelve years of life, I had never seen him smile."

"Of course I know. You were so nervous you didn't dare say a word, you wished you could disappear into the ground."

"I... I did want to say that then, but at that time our relationship... no, it was still very unclear. If I said you were just an ordinary friend, wouldn't that hurt you?"

Hinata blushed slightly as she spoke.

Back then, she planned to keep those words buried in her heart for the rest of her life, and would never utter them aloud, even if it meant her death!

This is so shameful!

Looking back now, it doesn't seem to matter much anymore, since they've reached the point where they're discussing marriage.

Kanami was taken aback. "Huh?"

"You were so thoughtful back then? You thought so much! I never imagined Hinata then."

"You're the idiot! I was just... just too embarrassed to say it."

"Hehe, I know, silly, don't worry about what others think. Just be yourself, and people will still like you."

"That won't do." Hinata pouted.

Kanami looked slightly puzzled. "Hmm? Why not?"

"Because..." Hinata paused, then continued, "You are Kanami, not just anyone..."

"Ah?"

"Ah!!"

Kanami shouted.

"W-What did you do...?"

Hinata quickly covered Kanami's mouth.

"What are you yelling about? If others hear you, they might think I did something to you..."

"Haha, I just didn't expect Hinata to say something so ambiguous, although..."

Kanami stopped abruptly, not continuing.

This immediately piqued Hinata Hyuga's curiosity.

"Although what?"

Kanami's lips curled slightly. "It does sound cheesy, though."

"Then I won't say it next time..."

Hinata blushed and clutched the hem of her clothes with both hands.

A rare act of courage resulted in a lifetime of introversion.

"Oh, but there's a 'but'."

Kanami grabbed Hinata's small hand, which was clutching the hem of her clothes, and laughed.

"I won't listen."

"If you won't listen, then who am I supposed to talk to?"

"Sigh... We're not even married yet, and you're already using emotional abuse on me. What will happen after we get married? Will I still Kanami a place in this family?"

Kanami feigned a sigh, glancing Hinata Hyuga to secretly observe her reaction.

Sure enough, Hinata panicked a second later.

"No, no, how could I possibly neglect you? Tell me, I want to hear it."

Want to hear it?

"Mmm." Hinata nodded.

Kanami looked up slightly and said, "I suddenly don't really want to talk anymore."

Hinata tried to imitate how the heroines in the storybooks she remembered acted coquettishly, grabbing Kanami's hand and shaking it slightly. "Tell me, tell me."

Although her arm-swinging motion was very slight, her shy expression was much more natural and genuine than in the storybook.

Who could withstand that?

Anyway, Kanami can't hold on.

"Speak! Bao said it!"

Kanami smiled slightly, "But it sounds so sweet when Hinata Hyuga says it."