Hizashi: Why Had the Little Padded Jacket Started Leaking?

Tears welled in her eyes, gradually blurring her vision.

Hinata bit down hard on her trembling lower lip, her slender fingers gripping the corner of her notebook so tightly that the pages crumpled into deep creases.

Hinata fought to suppress her sobs, but her thin shoulders kept trembling. Only now did she begin to understand why, in the first simulation, the Hyuga Clan had met such an extreme end.

"Even though... even though Father said..."

The Main Family bore the responsibility of protecting and carrying on the Hyuga Clan, but it was only because of the trust and sacrifices of the branch family members that the clan had endured to this day.

"So... so that was all just a lie?"

Hinata's voice trembled as crystalline tears rolled down her pale cheeks.

Was I the fool who'd even managed to deceive myself?

By the time dusk settled, lanterns had been lit along the corridors of the estate.

Hyuga Hiashi had finally finished the last item of clan business on the scroll. He pressed his tightly furrowed brow and let out a long breath.

The intense focus of the day had left him somewhat tired. Only after finishing his work did he realize that he hadn't seen Hinata all day. He hadn't even seen her at lunch or dinner. Had she gone out to play?

His memory flashed back to the training hall that morning. He had simply praised her with a "Not bad," and her delighted, almost disbelieving expression immediately came to mind.

Perhaps... I have been too hard on her in the past.

He stood and went outside, calling over a maid who was sweeping nearby. "Where is Hinata?"

The maid lowered her head respectfully, her voice tinged with caution. "My lord Hiashi, the young lady has been shut in her room ever since she returned from morning practice. She hasn't come out."

She hadn't come out all day... Did that mean she had skipped her afternoon training, too?

Hiashi's brows knitted at once. He waved for the maid to leave, then strode toward his daughter's courtyard, his face dark.

He stopped outside Hinata's paper door. There was no light inside, not the slightest sound—only a heavy silence.

"Hinata."

His voice held the usual authority of a father and clan head, but there was no response from within.

Hiashi waited a little longer, tamped down his impatience, and decided to try another approach.

"Open the door! You're the heir to the Hyuga Main Family. Locking yourself in your room without eating or drinking—what kind of behavior is that?"

He raised his voice, but the only answer was the same deathly silence.

Hiashi called the maid back and asked, "Are you sure Hinata is in her room?"

"My lord Hiashi, I'm sure. The door hasn't been opened all day."

Hiashi slowly raised his hand, seeming ready to force the door open, but stopped with his palm suspended in midair.

How long passed, he couldn't say. The anger in his heart slowly deflated, like a punctured balloon.

Though they didn't speak often, Hiashi knew his daughter well. Unless something had happened, Hinata would never shut herself away like this—especially after he had praised her that morning.

He stood outside the door for a long while, then finally turned to leave, saying only, "Look after the young lady. Prepare food and water, and make sure they're ready whenever she needs them."

"Yes."

The maid nodded and watched him leave.

Hiashi walked all the way to the outer hall and summoned Hinata's guard, Hyuga Homura.

"Where has the young lady gone these past two days? Who has she met, and what has she heard?"

Hyuga Homura knelt on one knee. "Last night, the young lady went out alone and was harassed by three boys in the street. Following your orders, I didn't intervene. I only watched."

Hiashi suddenly remembered how Hinata had kept looking for an opportunity to attack him during morning practice. Could... this be what had changed her?

A hint of expectation crept into his voice as he hurriedly asked, "What did she do? Did she fight back?"

But Hyuga Homura shook his head. "The young lady chose to retreat."

"Retreat? You mean she ran away." Hiashi was immediately disappointed. "What happened next?"

"The three boys chased her relentlessly and cornered her in an alley. One of them had stuffed a small stone into a snowball. I was about to intervene to prevent the young lady from getting hurt when someone else beat me to it."

"The one who came to her aid was Kiyonari from the branch family. He's the same age as the young lady. I imagine he was out playing and happened to pass by."

As Hyuga Homura spoke, he paused briefly, and the events of the previous night came to mind.

The 'princess and her knight' part can wait. I'd better not tell the clan head...

He lowered his eyes, concealing his guilt, and continued his report calmly. "After driving the three boys away, Kiyonari walked around town with the young lady to help her relax. Later, they went to Ichiraku Ramen for a late-night meal. To avoid disturbing them, I kept my distance, so I couldn't hear what they talked about."

Though Hyuga Homura had used every bit of a subordinate's verbal finesse, the chill in Hiashi's eyes still seemed almost tangible.

The thought that his daughter had found the courage to punch him because of some outsider...

Wait!

Hiashi froze, as if he'd just remembered something, and hurriedly asked, "Homura, are there any other children in the clan named Kiyonari?"

"My lord, there's only one."

In the dim yellow sunlight, Hiashi's expression shifted several times amid the interplay of light and shadow. By the time the sun had completely sunk below the horizon, his face had turned utterly grim.

Kiyonari... That name had come up at noon, when he'd gone to discuss some matters with the Hokage.

The Hokage had rolled his pipe between his fingers, making no secret of his praise for the boy. He had even instructed, "Hiashi, make sure this child is protected. If Danzo comes asking for him, don't hand him over. When he's old enough, send him to the Ninja Academy."

Though Hiashi didn't know the reason, the Hokage had personally given the order, so of course he would obey. He had planned to finish his work and then find the boy to ask what was going on. Who would've thought... the brat would show up on his own like this!

And now Hiashi couldn't lay a finger on him, even though the brat had stolen the cabbage he'd raised himself!

Damn it!

"How is the boy's character? What about his talent?"

Hyuga Homura kept his head lowered and didn't notice the shift in Hiashi's thoughts. He simply answered truthfully, "He's good-natured. His talent is still unclear. His parents both passed away, and he hasn't started practicing the Gentle Fist Technique. He's only been consciously building his strength and laying a foundation."

Hiashi pondered for a moment, then finally made his decision. "In that case, we needn't interfere for now. But increase his monthly allowance a little. Tell him it's..."

"From the Hokage."