Do You Even Consider Yourself Human?

"No... it's impossible..."

Hinata Hyuga shook her head violently, her short, lavender-colored hair dancing along with the motion.

"How could Father... how could the Hyuga Clan..."

A sense of intense fear and rejection made her subconsciously refuse to believe any of it.

She squeezed her eyes shut, flicked her wrist, and threw the black notebook away: "What Life Simulator, it's fake! It's all fake!"

It's fake, it must be fake!

She covered her ears and kept her eyes closed, repeating it to herself in her heart. As if by doing so, she could convince herself that this was all just a terrible story born from too much pressure and her own imagination.

"Don't think about it! I can't think about it anymore!"

She muttered to herself, her voice nearly breaking into a sob. She crouched down, but as her trembling fingers were about to touch the notebook, she pulled them back as if burned.

In the end, she picked up the notebook, intending to throw it into the trash can. But as she passed the window, a crystalline snowflake drifted down and landed gently on the back of her hand.

Hinata froze.

She slowly turned toward the window, her snow-white eyes widening, reflecting the snowflakes dancing across the sky.

"It's... it's snowing."

"It's snowing, then."

Hyuga Kiyonari turned his head to look at the swirling snowflakes outside the window: "At this moment, she must be desperately telling herself that the 'Life Simulator' is fake."

Hinata Hyuga's personality at this stage is fundamentally timid. When faced with problems she cannot solve or does not want to confront, her first instinct is to escape.

When bullied by other children, she chooses to run away; when she discovers a potential spy outside the courtyard, she still chooses to run away. Therefore, when she sees the content on the "Life Simulator," she will inevitably refuse to believe it.

But Hinata's character is also incredibly resilient. Even though she has never received a kind look from Hiashi Hyuga, she still practices diligently day after day. Even after Hanabi was born, she never gave up on herself.

So, she will definitely find her way out and verify the authenticity of the "Life Simulator," it will just take some time.

Now, the actors are in place, waiting for the curtain to rise.

Time reached the first day of the New Year. The streets of Konoha were already covered in pristine white snow, with fluffy layers piled up along the roads—just the right thickness for rolling a perfectly round, plump snowball.

The news that Kumogakure had decided to end the war reached Konoha, plunging the entire village into a peculiar state.

It wasn't exactly "happy," as the Third Shinobi World War had effectively ended before the Fourth Hokage took office anyway.

It was just that Kumogakure had been like a bully threatening to jump you after school, only to never show up when the bell actually rang. But you couldn't help but worry the next day at school that he might show up after all, because he was a bully, and nothing he did would be surprising.

They had been shouting for years, and only today did they finally say they wouldn't fight. Consequently, all of Konoha immediately relaxed, and even the number of drunks sprawled outside the izakayas increased. Fortunately, the Uchiha Police Force was diligent in their duties, and the city remained clean.

Hyuga Kiyonari had also arrived at his post early. Of course, he wasn't stupid enough to tail Hinata; instead, he was tracking three carefully selected brats.

Although Konoha was a place of outstanding people and rampant bullying, there weren't many who had the guts to call the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan main branch a "white-eyed monster." These three were the cream of the crop, and they made a hobby of bullying others, acting as if they were above the law.

Heh, soon I'll show you what a "black hand" really is.

Hyuga Kiyonari kept his eyes on the backs of the three in front of him when, suddenly, a yellow-haired brat flew out of a nearby shop and slammed straight into him. Caught off guard, both of them tumbled into the soft snow, kicking up a cloud of white powder.

"You damn fox-demon, I told you a thousand times not to touch my things!"

The shopkeeper chased them out, holding a bright red fox mask, shouting with a vicious expression: "Get lost, fox-demon!"

Hyuga Kiyonari pushed Naruto Uzumaki off his chest, poked his head out to look around—where did those three go?

Naruto Uzumaki, having recovered, scrambled up in a panic and reached out to pull him out of the snow pit: "Um... I'm sorry!"

"Hoo—"

Hyuga Kiyonari took a deep breath and turned to look at the shopkeeper who was still cursing.

"If you aren't going to use your eyes, you might as well donate them."

Only then did the shopkeeper notice Kiyonari's appearance. His arrogant demeanor instantly deflated; although he was still young, those eyes proved that he would surely become a ninja in the future.

"This ninja-sama, I didn't mean to..."

Hyuga Kiyonari ignored the man's excuses and slowly raised his hand, splaying his five fingers.

The shopkeeper didn't understand what he meant and asked, stuttering: "W-what does this mean?"

"Pay up. If apologies were useful, what would we need the Police Force for?"

The shopkeeper paused, then quickly replied: "How much do you think is appropriate?"

"Five thousand—" Hyuga Kiyonari noticed the item in his hand and changed his tone, "No, four thousand ryo, plus that mask in your hand."

The shopkeeper's face stiffened. Before he could speak, Kiyonari calmly straightened his clothes, revealing the embroidered Hyuga clan crest.

"If you aren't willing, the Uchiha clan's Police Force is right over there. I can also invite my clan's elders to come and judge the matter."

Cold sweat broke out on the shopkeeper's forehead. Knowing he was in the wrong, he had no choice but to hurriedly offer both the mask and the money.

Hyuga Kiyonari took the spoils, his slender fingers lightly flicking through the coins. He counted out one thousand ryo and stuffed it, along with the bright fox mask, into Naruto's arms.

"This is your share."

His tone was flat as he stuffed the remaining three thousand ryo into his pocket.

If he had quoted five thousand, his personality would have compelled him to split it with Naruto. With the current arrangement, Naruto got the mask he wanted, he pocketed an extra five hundred, and the shopkeeper suffered less of a loss—a triple win.

Naruto Uzumaki stared at the sudden windfall, his eyes wide and round. "Eh? For... for me? No... I can't! I can't take this!"

Seeing the boy's timid demeanor, Hyuga Kiyonari's gaze suddenly sharpened. "Was it him who threw you out?"

Intimidated by this sudden intensity, Naruto Uzumaki instinctively shrank his neck and nodded in response. "Yes."

"Then shouldn't he compensate you?"

"I suppose so..."

"Then take it."

Hyuga Kiyonari turned to leave; the sky had turned completely dark, and there was no time to waste here. Just then, he felt his sleeve being tugged again.

Seriously, man, what exactly do you want?

"This is money someone else paid you; I really can't take it..." Naruto Uzumaki clutched the mask as if it were some precious treasure. "Having this mask is enough."

Hyuga Kiyonari was so exasperated he laughed.

Heh, so this is the future savior who will save the ninja world?

Look at how badly he's been gaslit.

He grabbed Naruto by the collar and pulled him close, staring into his eyes. Kiyonari saw only servility within them, not a lion.

"Look into my eyes and answer me!"

"He has one head and two eyes, and you have one head and two eyes. Why is it that he can throw you out whenever he pleases, yet you don't even dare to take his money? Or do you think I'm doing this to stand up for you?"

"Do you even consider yourself a human being at all?!"