A Kind Big Sister

Hinata Hyuga paused for a moment, then lowered her head, seeming to think seriously about something.

Sunlight fell across her pale lavender hair, gilding it with a soft halo. Her pearly white eyes reflected the stone-paved road beneath her feet.

As Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno watched in surprise, she stood there quietly, completely lost in thought.

The question sounded simple, but she couldn't answer it right away. Ever since she could remember, her life had been filled with arrangements made by her father.

As the young lady of the Hyuga Clan, she had to train, become stronger, and grow into a worthy heir. These were things she "had to do," not things she "liked to do."

What did she like?

Ino liked fashion and art, and she enjoyed dressing up. When she talked about them, her eyes sparkled with heartfelt joy and pride.

Sakura liked reading, especially historical stories and ninjutsu theory. When she talked about them, she radiated the excitement and satisfaction of learning something new.

What about her?

Hinata tried to think back over her daily routine. She got up early every day to practice Taijutsu and study the Gentle Fist Technique under her father's guidance... These things took up nearly all her time. Even after she got that amazing Life Simulator, her daily routine had remained pretty much the same.

Did she like these things?

She wasn't sure.

Then did she hate them?

She wasn't sure about that either.

Training was hard, and her father's standards were high. She never managed to live up to his expectations, and frustration and self-doubt were constant companions.

But... she thought of those moments after training. When, after practicing over and over, she finally mastered a new technique; when she felt she'd improved even a little since the day before; when her father occasionally praised her... The sense of achievement and satisfaction she felt then was just as real and joyful.

"Hinata?"

Ino's voice jolted her from her thoughts.

Hinata lifted her head and met their gazes, full of concern and curiosity.

"What's wrong? What are you thinking about?"

She shook her head to show she was fine. "I... I think I probably like training."

"Training?" Ino tilted her head, a little puzzled. "You mean learning ninjutsu?"

"Mm." Hinata's voice was still gentle. "Although training is hard, and I run into a lot of difficulties, when I feel even a little progress after putting in the effort, it really does make me happy."

She raised her face slightly, the corners of her lips curving into a faint smile. "So I think I probably like training. I like the feeling of working hard and then seeing results."

Ino blinked and studied Hinata carefully, as if she'd seen right through her.

"Hinata, what do you do besides training?" she asked suddenly.

Hinata blinked. "What?"

"I mean... do you go out with your friends?" Ino elaborated. "Like shopping, getting something to eat, chatting, things like that."

"I spend most of my time training, so I rarely go out to have fun. Sometimes... I go for a walk with Kiyonari." Her voice grew even softer, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes.

As soon as she finished speaking, Ino's expression turned sympathetic.

She stepped forward and grabbed Hinata's hand. "How can that be?"

"Huh?" Hinata was startled by her sudden move.

"How can a girl's life be all ninjutsu and training?" Ino declared. "Training, training, training all day long—how boring! There are so many wonderful things in life besides training!"

As she spoke, she turned to her companion. "Right, Sakura?"

Sakura nodded in agreement. "Ino's right. It's important to balance work and rest. Even I get tired if I spend all my time reading books I'm interested in."

"Exactly." Ino nodded emphatically, then turned back to Hinata. "Hinata, how about we show you a good time today?"

"Um... really?"

"Stop hesitating. You're just like Sakura." Ino took her hand and started walking. "Come on! I'll show you all the fun places in Konoha!"

Though Hinata was pulled along before she could react, she didn't refuse. She just looked back at Kiyonari halfway, her eyes asking a silent question.

Kiyonari nodded to let her know it was fine.

He walked behind them, watching the three girls from the back, and couldn't help thinking that Ino had shown up at just the right time.

She might seem careless, gossipy, and bossy... but she genuinely cared about the people around her, and was especially good at reading their emotions.

She could see Sakura's insecurity and its cause at a glance, then solve the problem with a red headband. She could tell right away that Hinata rarely got to relax, then immediately whisked her off shopping.

No wonder she was known as a big sister who understood people in the original story. Her thoughtfulness and warmth really were impressive.

Sometimes, girls' problems really were best left to other girls.

Up ahead, Ino was enthusiastically introducing Hinata to the shops lining the street.

"This place sells dango, and their three-color dango is delicious! This one sells ninja tools, and they have a huge selection! And that clothing store over there has its main branch in the capital. They're always getting new styles in..."

Hinata listened attentively, nodding from time to time. Sakura walked beside them, occasionally chiming in.

"There's an accessories shop this way. Their hairpins are especially pretty!" Ino said, pointing to a charming little shop on the right. "I bought a hairpin I'd had my eye on there last time, and it's so pretty! Let's go look around together. I'm sure you'll like it!"

Hinata followed her gaze. Through the shop window, she could see all kinds of exquisite accessories on display. A white jade flower comb caught her eye.

"You girls go in. I'll look around outside."

Kiyonari wasn't interested in the sort of accessories girls liked, so he politely declined their invitation to join them.

As he stood at the entrance, looking around, his attention was suddenly drawn to a building.

It was a large, two-story building. Thick wooden boards and canvas covered the exterior walls, clearly indicating that extensive renovations were underway.

Several workers were busy outside. Some were carrying materials, while others were mixing paint. From behind the canvas came the sounds of hammering, sawing, and workers talking, all blending together.

As Kiyonari watched the building, a middle-aged man hurried out from behind the fence.

He was sturdy, his skin darkened by the sun, but his features were unmistakably those of someone from the Land of Fire.

When he saw Kiyonari, his eyes lit up, and an excited smile immediately spread across his face.

"Benefactor, we meet again!"

His voice rang out as he warmly greeted Kiyonari and hurried over.