Hinata, Stop Pretending

Hyuga Hiashi looked at the expression in his younger daughter's eyes and sighed. Although Hinata's actions had indeed angered him, seeing the bond between his two daughters still moved him deeply.

After all, with all those tales of brothers turning against brothers, he no longer had to worry that Hinata would one day harm Hanabi over that position. Since she knew enough to give it up now, Hyuga Hiashi suddenly realized that he seemed unable to understand Hinata anymore.

In his fixed impression of her, whenever Hinata's image appeared in his mind, he automatically pictured her as weak, timid, innocent, and ignorant.

Yet it was this very Hinata who had made a choice today that caught him completely off guard.

Hyuga Hiashi said to Hanabi, "Don't worry. Your sister probably needs some quiet time. She should be back by dinner."

Then he added, "And remember, you must not mention what happened today in front of anyone."

"But Sister—" Hanabi said.

Hyuga Hiashi forced an unnatural smile. "This is your sister's kindness. Since the two of you share such a bond as sisters, I can finally rest easy."

"As for Hinata, who will bear the Caged Bird Seal in the future, if you don't want your sister to suffer such treatment, then cultivate diligently!"

"Become stronger and hold a higher position in the clan than I do. Once you command the Hyuga Clan and possess absolute authority, you naturally won't have to let Hinata become a bird in a cage."

Hearing this, Hanabi nodded earnestly. Father was right. As long as I cultivated even harder, she would never let her sister have that ugly Caged Bird Seal carved onto her forehead in the future.

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Hinata's Iron Sisters

After leaving Training Ground One, Hinata did not hesitate and headed straight out of the Hyuga Clan's grounds.

Although her acting had been exposed and Hyuga Hiashi had seen through her, she had already put on the show. She could not quit halfway through it. If she was going to act, she had to act it out to the end, right?

Besides, if she did not leave, Hyuga Hiashi might have a moment of poor judgment and give her a warm greeting. Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

The moment she left the Hyuga Clan, she suddenly felt as relaxed as a fish leaping through the vast sea or a bird soaring through the endless sky. Once this matter was settled, she could probably truly be considered free-range now.

Although she would lose many of the rights and status she once possessed, she felt that this was actually for the best.

There were many reasons why she resisted becoming the Hyuga Clan's heir. While it was not entirely harmful and without benefit, in her eyes, the disadvantages still outweighed the advantages.

First, as an older sister, she could not accept competing with a younger sister five years her junior, regardless of the reason.

Second, although becoming the heir would mean that all kinds of family resources and authority would be directed toward her, she would lose a freedom that Hinata found absolutely unacceptable.

Look at Naruto. After Hanabi became the heir, how many times did she even appear? This was clearly a trap. But thinking about it, Hinata stuck out her tongue. It seemed she might have tricked Hanabi a little too.

Still, thinking of Hanabi's rather homebody personality, she secretly comforted herself. It's fine, it's fine. Everyone gets what they need.

Third, the world of Naruto was so vast, and she wanted to see it. Hinata had already been homebound enough in her previous life. Now that she had suddenly arrived in the world of her dreams, she could not stand being a shut-in again.

Fourth, she was at least someone with a system. No matter what the system was like, she still had such a powerful existence backing her. Was quietly staying home really fitting for a transmigrator?

Which transmigrator had not stirred up trouble after crossing over? Even if it was only to carry on the tradition, she could not stay at home, could she?

The more she thought about it, the clearer and more open-minded she became. If the occasion had been right and circumstances had allowed it, she would have shouted, "I'm free!"

Although she could not shout it aloud, her excitement made her start running. Like a little white rabbit that had been trapped in a cage and suddenly released one day, her reaction was probably much the same as Hinata's now.

She ran gleefully, wildly, faster and faster, charging toward some unknown direction and leaving clouds of dust and deep footprints across the ground.

To the occasional people she passed along the way, it felt as though a fierce gust of wind had swept past them. Flying sand got into their eyes, and only after they cleared them did they notice the cracked ground.