Red Thread of Fate

Hinata lowered her head, nervously tapping her index fingers together. "I didn't meet Father's expectations. I lost the sparring match to Neji, and Father is very disappointed in me, so I ran away."

Naruto leaned in, having absolutely no immunity to Hinata's adorable appearance.

Such a cute little girl—as an older brother, he should be letting her win a little!

"If you're unhappy, just say it. Don't worry about whether your parents will be disappointed. As long as we live happily every day and improve a little more than yesterday, that's what matters most."

Naruto gently stroked Hinata's hair. "From now on, Brother Naruto will protect you. I'll go teach Neji a lesson in a bit; being an older brother means you have to look out for your younger sister!"

"Naruto," Hinata said happily, "my name is Hinata Hyuga."

"Little Sister Hinata, I have a small gift for you."

Naruto hid his hands behind his back.

System, pick an item from my collection.

Ding!

"Look, a little gift."

In Naruto's hand was a ball of red string.

He remembered this was the Red Thread of Fate he had obtained from a sign-in mission in the Chinese Paladin universe.

What the hell!

Is the system starting to play matchmaker for me this early?

Shameless.

Hinata looked on, puzzled, yet her heart was filled with joy. At home, everyone only cared about whether her Gentle Fist training was going well.

But she was still just a young girl of a few years, at the most innocent and carefree age.

Naruto untied the Red Thread of Fate. "This string is called the Red Thread of Fate. Once friends tie it on, no matter how far apart they are, they can sense where the other person is."

"Really?"

"I'll tie it on for you." Naruto wanted to prove he was telling the truth. "Then I'll tie it on myself."

They tied it around their ring fingers.

"Think of the other person in your heart and recite the incantation silently," Naruto instructed earnestly.

The ring fingers of both began to tremble.

The Red Thread of Fate gradually faded from sight.

In Hinata's heart, Naruto's location appeared clearly—how far he was from her, and what his status was.

"Naruto, this is so magical!" Hinata loved this gift.

Naruto laughed. "I have some communication codes, too. I'll teach them to you in a bit so that even when we aren't together, you'll be able to talk to me."

Hinata agreed.

"This is our secret. Don't tell anyone else, ever."

Naruto emphasized this with a stern warning.

Hinata nodded.

The steaming red bean buns came out again.

Kushina Uzumaki glared at Naruto, forbidding him from eating even one more.

Naruto closed his eyes in grievance; if he didn't look, he wouldn't want to eat them.

Hokage Office Building.

The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was in a heated argument with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Third, the demands made by the Land of Lightning are simply absurd, yet you chose to compromise and even want to force Hizashi Hyuga to commit suicide? I will not agree to this." Minato Namikaze spoke with righteous indignation.

The life and death of Hizashi Hyuga concerned the dignity of every ninja in Konoha.

"Fourth, can you bear the consequences of a war between Kumogakure and Konoha?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was low. "This is a unanimous decision by our Council of Elders. Sacrificing one member of the Hyuga branch family in exchange for the peace of all Konoha."

"If war breaks out, more people will lose their loved ones. You are the Hokage; you must consider the big picture."

Minato Namikaze had been the Fourth Hokage for too short a time, and the Anbu forces he had cultivated were not yet powerful enough.

Meanwhile, the Third had the Council of Elders behind him, and his prestige within Konoha was equally high.

Among them was a troublemaker, Shimura Danzō, whose cultivated Root remained a hidden danger to Konoha, difficult to assimilate.

"Third, the 'big picture' isn't about fearing war. The Land of Lightning is clearly trying to probe the secrets of the Hyuga clan's Byakugan. Although we can't find evidence on the surface, it was the Land of Lightning's ninjas who kidnapped Hinata Hyuga, which is what led Hyuga Hiashi to kill them." Minato Namikaze would not change his stance.

"If we take one step back, we will be forced back countless steps. If Konoha were united, why would we fear Kumogakure?"

"Fourth, neither of us can convince the other today. Let the choice be left to Hizashi Hyuga, or rather, the Hyuga clan. They will give everyone an answer."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned and left. Is peace not important?

Minato Namikaze vanished at the same time.

Root!

Shimura Danzō stood coldly on the damp ground. "The Fourth's personality was just like that; ruthless toward enemies, yet wanting to protect everyone within Konoha. But the more he tried to grasp control of Konoha, the more the Third and the Council of Elders would oppose him. The Fourth's style would bring endless war to Konoha, but that is fine—it is the only way I can reap the greatest benefits."

The Hyuga household was in chaos once again.

Hinata Hyuga, the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan, had gone missing again.

"Have you found any traces?" Hyuga Hiashi asked, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his expression laced with anxiety. Just a few nights ago, a ninja from the Land of Lightning had attempted to kidnap Hinata; if he hadn't intervened in time, she would have truly been in danger.

"My lord, Lady Hinata has been brought back by a child and is currently outside the gate."

"Go and check immediately. Even if it is a child, keep a close watch."

In front of the Hyuga estate.

Naruto measured the size of the gate with his eyes. "Hinata, your house is quite large, and there are so many people. Is it always this lively?"

"No, everyone is afraid to talk to me," Hinata shook her little head vigorously.

Just then, a man wearing a green hood rushed out from the Hyuga estate.

He slid to a stop in front of Hinata Hyuga and said sorrowfully, "Lady Hinata, how could you wander off alone?"

Naruto stepped aside, dodging the splashing snow. "Hinata, who is this?"

"Hyuga Ko. He is a very powerful ninja and will become a Jonin in the future." Hinata Hyuga did not mention that he was a servant assigned to her by the clan.

Hyuga Ko looked ordinary, but after Hinata's introduction, it seemed his strength was not to be underestimated.

"Lady Hinata, you are the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan; you shouldn't interact with strangers of unknown background. Let's head home immediately."

Hyuga Ko did not trust Naruto.

Naruto was not one to hold a grudge, and considering Hyuga Ko's position, his reaction was not unreasonable. "Hinata, if anything happens, just call me. Your big brother is always on call. If that Neji you mentioned bullies you again and makes you unhappy, you must tell me. I'll find an opportunity to deal with him."

Hyuga Ko shouted, "Kid, how could you possibly be a match for Lord Neji? You speak without thinking."

"You'll see in the future." Naruto let go of Hinata's hand and waved goodbye.

Hinata watched Naruto's retreating figure, feeling a mix of sadness and longing.

Turning back, Hinata saw her father standing sternly at the gate, looking as if he were about to punish her again.

In her father's eyes, was she not worthy of being loved?

"Come inside." Hyuga Hiashi's voice was piercing.

Hinata hid her emotions and returned home.

What would Naruto do next?

Naruto wandered around, taking in the scenery and observing the culture of Konoha.

"System teacher, tell me about the world's power system first! Also, what kind of strength does a Jonin have?"

This Seat will attend the Ninja Academy.

"I knew it wouldn't be that easy. But you should at least explain how to learn the Eight Inner Gates! Otherwise, how am I supposed to improve? How am I supposed to complete high-difficulty sign-in tasks?"

Hint: Might Guy!