Hinata Hyuga's Life Simulator

It took some time, but Hyuga Kiyonari finally managed to grasp the functions of the system.

First was the core feature: he could write scripts and designate actors to perform them.

When reality unfolded in accordance with the script's plot, he would earn corresponding Correction Points. The more detailed the script, the more points he would receive upon a successful performance. These Correction Points could then be used to fix bugs that appeared within the script.

However, bugs in the script were not necessarily something to be minimized; in fact, they were quite critical.

For example, if the script established that Hyuga Kiyonari's true identity was Otsutsuki Kiyonari, but in reality, Hyuga Kiyonari was merely a common member of the Hyuga branch family, a bug would emerge.

At this point, by spending points to fix the bug, he could alter the real-world Hyuga Kiyonari into Otsutsuki Kiyonari, allowing the script to proceed smoothly.

However, the magnitude of the correction was directly proportional to the point cost.

In other words, the more outrageous the script, the more points required for correction. If he had an infinite supply of points, Hyuga Kiyonari could even make his every wish come true.

So, the question arose: how was he supposed to convince Hinata Hyuga, the young mistress of the main family, to act out his script?

Hyuga Kiyonari rubbed his chin in thought for a long while before suddenly asking, "As a director, I have the responsibility and obligation to guide actors who lack acting skills. So... can I send parts of the script or character sketches and the like to the actors?"

[Yes.]

"Reality is full of variables, and I need to adjust my guidance based on the actor's performance at any time. So... does the system support real-time modifications to content that has already been sent?"

[Yes.]

"Then I know what to do." A sharp glint flashed in Hyuga Kiyonari's eyes, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

A script—no, it should be called the Life Simulator for Hinata Hyuga.

Initiate!

On the other side, in a side chamber of the Hyuga Clan Head's residence.

Hinata Hyuga held a red bean cake in both hands, nibbling at it in small bites. The sweet, sticky filling melted on the tip of her tongue, causing her to squint her eyes in satisfaction. Only when the last crumb was pinched up by her fingertips and popped into her mouth did she pick up the black notebook and flip it open.

"Hyuga... Kiyonari..."

She softly read the scrawled signature on the title page. Suddenly, the ink began to fade as if washed away by clear water, and two lines of text appeared out of thin air on the blank page.

[Life Simulator]

[Start Simulation]

"Huh? What is this?"

She timidly extended her index finger. The moment she touched the text, the entire notebook flipped to the first page on its own, without a breeze.

Immediately after, a line of small text appeared out of thin air just like before.

[I am Hinata Hyuga, and the current time is Konoha Year 54.]

?

A large question mark appeared over Hinata Hyuga's small head: "Konoha Year 54? Isn't that next year?"

Moreover, today was December 27th; to be more precise, Konoha Year 54 was only four days away.

[I heard from Father that Kumogakure and Konoha have ceased hostilities, and a delegation will arrive in Konoha in a few days. The war is coming to an end, and Father is very happy.]

[I am happy too, because it is snowing so heavily today. I want to go out and see, but the lessons Father assigned are not yet finished.]

[I have two options next.]

[1. I choose to sneak out to play.]

[2. I choose to stay and finish my lessons.]

The text stopped there.

Hinata Hyuga realized that this seemed to be a game.

Just like the ninja games the children in the village played—pretending to be a certain ninja, receiving a mission, deciding what to do next... it was pretty much that kind of thing.

So, did she need to make a choice now?

"Snowing..." Hinata murmured, answering, "I choose the first one."

But even though she had made her choice, the notebook remained unresponsive.

Hinata Hyuga suddenly remembered a small detail and reached out to gently tap the first option with her index finger.

The text on the notebook immediately began to move again.

[Because the pressure from Father's lessons is simply too great, I decide to sneak out to play.]

[I wait until the maid isn't looking, then secretly climb the tree by the courtyard wall and scramble over. Outside, thick snow has piled up, and everyone is building snowmen and having snowball fights.]

[I want to play with them too, so I muster my courage, walk over, and ask if I can join in.]

[But as soon as they see my eyes, they scream that I am a Byakugan monster and pelt me with snowballs.]

[I have two options next.]

[1. I choose to fight back and knock them to the ground.]

[2. I choose to swallow my pride and run away to avoid them.]

"Ah!" Hinata let out a soft cry, her expression turning flustered. "How could this happen?"

Without hesitation, Hinata Hyuga immediately chose the second option.

[Because Father said I must not raise a hand against my companions in the village, I chose to run away.]

[But they had no intention of letting me go; they picked up snowballs from the ground and chased after me. It felt like I had joined a snowball fight, but... something didn't feel right.]

[I ran blindly into a dead end, and with nowhere left to escape, I could only close my eyes. Suddenly, a stone flew over and struck one of the boys on the head.]

["Hey, what do you think you're doing!"]

["Ah, another Byakugan monster! How dare you throw stones at me!"]

[I heard the commotion gradually fade away, and gathering my courage, I opened my eyes. A boy about my age was standing before me.]

[He chased those people away, stayed to build a snowman with me, took me to eat ramen, and walked me home.]

[At the very end, I asked for his name, and he replied: "Hyuga Kiyonari".]

Hinata Hyuga suddenly snapped the notebook shut and hugged it tightly to her chest, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "It's him again... honestly, I don't even know you yet."

She quietly pried the notebook open a crack to peek at the final line of handwriting, only to see a small line of text appearing after the name.

"Simulation terminated, entering cooldown. Time until next simulation... tomorrow afternoon?"

"Lady Hinata! Lady Hinata! Where are you?" The maid's call suddenly echoed from the hallway.

Startled, Hinata Hyuga immediately hid the notebook inside her kimono and tightened her obi to secure it before hurriedly calling out toward the outside.

"I'm here!"

The sound of the maids' footsteps approached from outside the paper door, and as they drew nearer, the notebook hidden beneath her clothes grew hotter and hotter, as if she were clutching a piece of burning charcoal.

"Swish!"

The paper door slid open. Seeing that Hinata was safe and sound, the maid breathed a small sigh of relief before her gaze swept across the room, landing on several opened gift boxes.

"Lady Hinata, what are you doing in here?"

"Um... nothing."

The maid offered a gentle smile: "My Lady, the Clan Head is looking for you. Please head over quickly."

"I'm going right now!"

Hinata nodded her small head vigorously, then picked up her pace and trotted toward the main hall.

Watching the young lady's retreating figure, the maid couldn't tell if it was just her imagination, but she felt as though the girl seemed somewhat nervous.

Just then, the maid noticed a piece of oil paper that had been hastily tucked away on the tatami mat. She picked it up and caught the sweet scent of red bean.

"So, she was sneaking snacks."