Hinata Hyuga

After hearing Uchiha Itachi's words, Uchiha Izuna didn't know what to say. Shimura Danzō had somehow stumbled onto the truth. Still, thanks to the bond between him and Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hiruzen hadn't taken his advice.

Otherwise, their situation would have gone from bad to worse. As expected of the poster boy for "You regret it, I become Hokage"!

"Good. Itachi, thanks for your hard work. Shisui and I are going to the Hyuga Clan today. We're short one person to carry the luggage, so you..." Uchiha Izuna looked at him with some "hesitation."

Uchiha Itachi nodded. "Leave it to me." He picked up the luggage and headed for the door, glancing back at the other two as he went.

Uchiha Shisui felt sorry for him and wanted to help, but Uchiha Izuna stopped him. "Brother Shisui, Itachi can manage on his own. Don't worry."

As he spoke, Uchiha Izuna draped an arm over Uchiha Shisui's shoulder and walked ahead with a smile. Uchiha Itachi followed behind, carrying the luggage with an expressionless face.

The Hyuga Clan was nothing like the Uchiha Clan. The Uchiha Clan had been relocated to the outskirts, into a monitored area, but the Hyuga Clan had managed to stay in the village's core area by keeping their heads down.

The Uchiha trio walked down the street, looking straight ahead as they made their way toward the Hyuga Clan Compound.

The villagers along the way sized up the three of them. After all, the Uchiha Clan was worth paying attention to.

Partly because of their strength, and partly because of their looks.

Uchiha ninja ranked among the best-looking in the entire Shinobi World. Everyone loved beauty, and whenever they saw a handsome man or beautiful woman, their eyes naturally wandered over.

Whenever Uchiha Shisui ran into someone he knew, he nodded. His acquaintances knew what he was like and didn't say anything, simply patting him on the shoulder as a greeting.

Uchiha Izuna followed behind Uchiha Shisui, keeping a low profile. After all, Uchiha Shisui was now a hero of the village, known as Body Flicker Shisui, and easily drew everyone's attention.

That way, people would mistake Izuna for a child and overlook him. When the three reached the Hyuga Clan's gate, Shisui and Itachi looked at Izuna, and Izuna put on Uchiha Shisui's act of knocking on the door.

Uchiha Shisui didn't hesitate either. He knocked.

Knock, knock, knock.

Less than five seconds later, the door opened. A boy with a bandanna wrapped around his head answered, looking impatient.

"Who is it?" There was a hint of anger in his voice, which left the three of them puzzled. Had they done something to offend him?

"Hello. I'm Uchiha Shisui. I've come to visit Clan Head Hiashi. Could you please let him know we're here?" Uchiha Shisui said with a smile, not seeming to notice the boy's impatience.

When the boy heard that Body Flicker Shisui had arrived, his eyes lit up, and his Byakugan flickered with excitement. He immediately grew nervous. "S-Shisui-sama, please come in!"

Uchiha Shisui stepped inside, and Uchiha Izuna followed. Now he could get a clear look at the boy's face and clothes.

"Neji Hyuga," Uchiha Izuna said mildly.

Neji Hyuga froze and looked toward the voice. "You know me?"

"The Hyuga Clan's young prodigy. You're only seven, yet you've already mastered the Thirty-Two Palms of the Eight Trigrams Palms. You have an extraordinary bearing and are full of vitality. At your age, I can't think of any other Hyuga but Neji Hyuga," Uchiha Izuna said with a smile.

The compliment immediately made Neji Hyuga think much better of Uchiha Izuna.

"I'm flattered, I'm flattered. I haven't asked your name yet." Neji Hyuga was a stickler for etiquette. Although he was proud, he didn't act crazy around just anyone.

"Uchiha Izuna. You can call me Izuna or Big Brother Izuna." Uchiha Izuna smiled faintly.

Neji Hyuga frowned. He took back his earlier favorable impression. Why was this guy going around trying to recruit little brothers?

Uchiha Izuna just smiled without replying. Uchiha Itachi got caught in the crossfire too. Neji Hyuga didn't ask his name and went straight to the main hall to find his uncle, the current head of the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Hiashi.

The three Uchiha were shown to a stone table in the courtyard to wait. The Hyuga Clan's maids poured them tea.

Some of the Hyuga girls even watched Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi with shy expressions. Those two were so handsome!

Uchiha Shisui was like a people-pleaser, a genuinely nice guy who never offended anyone.

Uchiha Itachi sipped his tea, lost in thought.

Uchiha Izuna noticed someone watching him. He looked over and saw a little girl with blue hair timidly peeking at them.

As soon as she noticed Uchiha Izuna looking her way, she immediately hid like a startled quail.

The corners of Uchiha Izuna's mouth turned up. So this is the future Princess of the Main Character?

He smiled and walked toward the girl.

Hinata Hyuga gauged how much time had passed. Uchiha Izuna probably isn't looking at me anymore, right? It should be fine to take another peek!

After all, this big brother was pretty handsome—much more handsome than her big brother Neji!

At the time, Hinata had just been beaten up by Neji Hyuga and was planning to run away from home. Then Uchiha Izuna and the others had arrived.

Their visit had turned the usually empty front courtyard lively, so she had no choice but to wait for an opportunity.

In the original story, this was when she ran away from home, got lost, and was bullied by kids her age. Then Naruto Uzumaki had come to her rescue, leaving a deep impression on her young heart.

Just as Hinata Hyuga peeked out again to look at Uchiha Izuna, she realized he was gone. She froze, then heard a voice beside her ear. "What are you looking at?"

"I was looking at a big brother, but he seems to have left," Hinata Hyuga said blankly.

Suddenly, she seemed to realize something. She turned around quickly, stumbled, and nearly fell.

"Careful!" Uchiha Izuna caught her and, with a quick motion, pulled her into his arms.

Hinata Hyuga thought she was about to fall, so she closed her eyes and braced herself. But she felt no pain—only warmth.

She opened her eyes and saw that the big brother from earlier was holding her. Her cheeks instantly turned bright red, and steam seemed to rise from her head.

Uchiha Izuna froze. He hadn't expected the books to be right: Hinata Hyuga really did turn into a little steam engine whenever she got nervous!

"Are you all right?" Uchiha Izuna asked with a smile. He was going through puberty, and his voice was a little childish and hoarse, but it wasn't unpleasant.

Hinata Hyuga quickly shook her head. "I-I'm fine. Big Brother, could you let go of me?" Her face was red with embarrassment. Her mother had said girls shouldn't touch other people casually, except their husbands.

She was only five years old. Although she was just a child, girls in the world of ninja matured early.

And Uchiha Izuna's appearance, so much like Lord Madara's, only made him more appealing.

Uchiha Izuna paused, then gently set the little girl in his arms back on the ground.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Uchiha Izuna."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Hinata Hyuga."