You Reap What You Sow

He scratched his head and chuckled a couple of times before finally walking over obediently and plopping down on the ground.

Hinata also quietly walked over and sat beneath the shade of a tree, her posture much more proper than Naruto's.

"Training requires a balance between work and rest. When your chakra is depleted, don't push yourself too hard. Learn to rest." He sat down across from them and spoke seriously. "Training isn't about pushing yourself to the limit. It's about finding your rhythm—pushing when you should and stopping when you should. That's far more important than mindlessly training."

For the last hour, Qiushui had them practice throwing kunai.

An hour later, Qiushui looked up at the sky, then at the two of them, who were now sprawled limply on the ground. "That's enough training for today. We'll continue tomorrow."

Hinata was now one of the talented people bound to him, and she might even trigger a Daily Mission like Naruto. After thinking it over, Qiushui said, "Hinata, if you have time, you can come train with us too."

Hinata nodded. They were doing the same training, and it was just as exhausting, but after spending the day training with Teacher Qiushui, she felt happy.

-

At dusk, Hinata returned to the Hyuga Mansion and immediately spotted Hyuga Natsu waiting at the entrance.

"Big Sister Natsu," Hinata called softly.

When Hyuga Natsu saw the dust covering her and the bruises on the backs of her hands and cheeks, she hurried over and clasped Hinata's hands, her heart aching. "Hinata, where have you been all day? What happened to your injuries? Did someone bully you again?"

As the maid who had cared for Hinata since she was little, Hyuga Natsu understood better than anyone how gentle the eldest daughter of the Main Family was. Unlike the other strict members of the Main Family, Hinata had always treated her with kindness and courtesy. They had long since become more than mistress and maid; they were closer to sisters.

Hinata gently shook her head. "I went training today. No one bullied me."

Knowing Hinata never lied, Hyuga Natsu didn't press her. She simply took her hand and led her deeper into the mansion, concerned for her, ready to prepare a hot bath and carefully apply ointment to her injuries.

As they passed through the corridor, Hinata suddenly stopped and asked quietly, "Big Sister Natsu... did Father say anything today?"

She hadn't thought much of it while training outside, but as soon as she stepped into the mansion, the unease she had been suppressing began to creep back. This was the first time she had stormed out in front of her father and the elders, and she had been gone all day.

Hyuga Natsu was about to answer when she saw Hyuga Hiashi standing at the far end of the corridor, dressed in a black kimono with his hands behind his back.

"Lord Hiashi," Tokuma hurriedly said, bowing.

Hinata raised her head and met her father's calm gaze. Her fingers tightened slightly around her sleeve as she called softly, "Father."

Hyuga Hiashi's gaze slowly passed over the bruises on her face. After a moment of silence, he spoke in a tone so calm it revealed nothing of his feelings. "Starting tomorrow, you no longer need to follow your usual training schedule."

He turned to Hyuga Natsu and instructed her, "Go to my room and get a few jars of healing ointment. Take Hinata back to rest."

Hinata froze where she stood.

She had always known her father was disappointed in her, but when those words actually reached her ears, a complicated, indescribable feeling welled up inside her. It was as though a weight had been lifted, yet something had quietly slipped away.

"Father... I'll go back now."

She lowered her eyes and followed Hyuga Natsu toward her courtyard.

Hyuga Hiashi stood at the end of the corridor, watching her until she disappeared beyond the courtyard gate.

He let out a heavy sigh inwardly.

He had always placed great hopes in his eldest daughter, Hinata. But in the end, she wasn't the heir he had expected, nor did she come anywhere close to meeting the standards he had set. She wasn't forceful or decisive enough, and even her eyes always held a hint of timidity. Perhaps having Hanabi train in her place would be best for everyone.

Hinata followed Hyuga Natsu through the courtyard gate and saw the light on in her room from a distance.

The moment she opened the door, she saw her younger sister, Hanabi, wearing a pink kimono and sitting curled up against the wall. Her little head bobbed gently as she slept soundly.

Hinata's expression softened without her realizing it.

In the strictly regimented Hyuga Mansion, the time she spent with her younger sister was one of the few things that truly made her happy.

Suddenly, Hanabi sleepily raised a hand to rub her eyes and opened them. As her vision gradually focused and she recognized who was standing in front of her, a bright smile spread across her little face.

"Big Sister!"

She threw herself into Hinata's arms and wrapped both arms tightly around her waist.

"I'm dirty..." Hinata instinctively spread her arms, not daring to hug her back. Looking flustered, she said, "I'm dirty..."

"It's okay, I don't mind." Hanabi buried her head against Hinata and rubbed it against her. Her voice was muffled and soft with sleep.

Seeing them, Hyuga Natsu took them both straight to the bathroom to bathe.

On Sunday morning, as soon as Qiushui opened his eyes, two messages appeared before him.

[The high-quality talent you bound, Naruto Uzumaki, trained hard yesterday and returned 8 points of chakra]

[The high-quality talent you bound, Hyuga Hinata, trained hard yesterday and returned 3 points of chakra]

Right after that, he felt a warm trickle suddenly flow through his body. It was like taking a sip of warm water, leaving him feeling comfortable from head to toe.

"This must be the effect of the skill that returns chakra when a talent trains." Remembering the system skill he had received the day before, Qiushui was delighted.

You reap what you sow. The famous historian Lu Shuren was right!

After getting up and washing up, Qiushui went straight to Training Ground 13.

"Teacher Qiushui!" Naruto spotted him at once. The moment that familiar figure entered his field of vision, he jumped up and waved, wearing his trademark sunny smile.

"Teacher Qiushui..." Hinata's voice was as faint as a mosquito's. Only after Qiushui walked over and stopped did she blush and give him a polite little bow.

Qiushui smiled at them both, a trace of confusion stirring in his heart.

The Hyuga Clan was one of Konoha's prestigious families, and Hinata was the Main Family's eldest daughter. Even though he had told her the day before that she could come whenever she had time, shouldn't she be at home receiving more systematic training from her clan?

But then he thought better of it and decided not to ask. Hinata's coming could only benefit him; it wouldn't do him any harm.

His gaze swept over the system panel that appeared before him, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Qiushui was about to speak when several new messages suddenly appeared before him.

[Main Mission: The Journey of Training the High-Quality Talent Hyuga Hinata]

[Mission Requirements: Get Hyuga Hinata into the top ten in her class on the exam at the end of the month]

[Mission Rewards: To be issued after a comprehensive evaluation based on mission completion]

Looking at the mission description, Qiushui couldn't help thinking that the system was truly amazing.