Foolish!

Summer nights were somewhat chilly because of the large temperature difference between day and night.

But for someone training hard, with Qi and Blood coursing rapidly through their body, such a slight drop in temperature was completely unnoticeable.

Strolling into the pitch-black Training Ground, Ryosuke saw Hinata diligently tempering her body in the darkness.

It seemed Neji's words that afternoon had provoked her. He had heard from their father that after returning home and finishing dinner, she had remained at the training ground ever since.

Fortunately, it was a day off today, and she had not trained during the day. Otherwise, training like this at night as well would only harm her body.

"Do you remember what you told me back then?"

Ryosuke walked over with a smile and called out to her from afar. "Because of your age, your body hasn't fully developed yet. Excessive training will affect your body."

"Ryosuke."

Hinata stopped running. Panting heavily, she smiled at Ryosuke as he approached. "You're back."

"What, are you bothered by what Neji said today?" Ryosuke came to her side and, without minding the dirt, sat directly on a large nearby rock.

"He was right."

Hinata looked seriously at Ryosuke. "As a member of the Main Family, as the future head of the Hyuga Clan, I can't lose to anyone else. At the very least, I should be like him and take first place in the grade."

But Ryosuke did not encourage or support her as usual.

"Foolish. You should know your own talent very well. Otherwise, Father would not be disappointed in you. Recognizing your own limits is very important."

This time, Ryosuke's tone was no longer gentle. Instead, he spoke with stern severity. "I suggest you abandon that notion. Life at the academy is only a very short stretch of your life."

"I said you would work hard, but that did not mean you could accomplish anything. You can't do this. I know it, and I hope you know it too."

"I want you to be confident, but I never wanted you to be conceited. Don't set your goals too high. A goal you can't achieve is meaningless no matter how you set it."

Hinata had changed greatly recently, but a change in her personality and mindset did not mean her talent could improve along with it.

The Hyuga Clan's unique tempering method was specifically meant to improve the physical fitness of children who had yet to mature.

Ordinary clan children, so long as they were willing to work hard, could generally qualify to practice the Gentle Fist by the age of six or seven, around one year after entering the Ninja Academy.

But Hinata's progress had always been slow. Though she was from the Main Family and had countless resources poured into her, she had only completely mastered the tempering method this year.

At her current pace, her physical fitness would likely only reach the standard required to practice the Gentle Fist at age seven, just like the most ordinary clan children.

With such talent, setting herself the goal of first place in the grade was truly overestimating herself.

He did not want Hinata to become an arrogant and conceited person.

Hearing Ryosuke's rebuke, the smile on Hinata's face froze, and she clenched her fists.

"Are you unwilling to accept it?"

Watching Hinata's expression, Ryosuke easily saw through her thoughts.

Still, one thing deserved praise: even so, she had not lowered her head. She was not timid like before. That was good.

Before him, Hinata would not pretend as she did outside, using a cold demeanor to hide everything in her heart.

She was genuine before him, and so was her unwillingness to accept it. She truly had become much stronger than before.

"I..."

Hinata opened her mouth, wanting to refute him, but after a long while, she could not say a single word.

"If you're unwilling to accept it, you don't have to take my advice."

The sternness on Ryosuke's face eased. He casually spread his hands and smiled. "Since you want to become a qualified clan head, the most important thing is that you must have your own judgment."

"It shouldn't be that Neji Hyuga says he hopes you can also become first in the grade and firmly surpass the Uchiha, and then you simply do as he says."

"Nor should it be that I now advise you to abandon this idea and choose another goal, and then you simply do as I say."

"If you always believe other people's words and live according to their demands, then Hinata, you will never become a qualified clan head. You will only become a puppet called the clan head."

Hinata, whose blood had been boiling with indignation, slowly loosened her clenched fists.

Ryosuke's gentle words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her from head to toe, calming her down.

He was right. Thinking it over carefully, with her talent, reaching the physical standard to practice the Gentle Fist before entering the academy was basically impossible.

Relying on the Gentle Fist to firmly claim first place in the grade was even more impossible.

Setting such a high goal would only damage her own confidence.

"But Ryosuke, if I can't firmly surpass the Uchiha, wouldn't that bring shame upon the Hyuga Clan?"

Hinata's expression was somewhat dejected. "Father is already extremely disappointed in me. If..."

"I think you may be overthinking it. Father has never believed you had the ability to firmly hold first place in the grade." Ryosuke Responded without the slightest tact. "Besides, as a ninja, martial strength alone is not enough."

Facing her puzzled gaze, Ryosuke explained softly. "The Ninja Academy's assessments do not consist solely of combat. There are theoretical examinations as well. Though most people focus on combat and believe that being first in combat makes one the true first in the grade."

"But if you take first place in the theoretical examinations, it may still satisfy Father. Then the Hyuga Clan will also have grounds to refute the other voices in the village."

As he spoke, he reached out and ruffled her hair. "Strength is an indispensable part of being a ninja, but you can't neglect that little brain of yours either."

"You are the future head of the Hyuga Clan. Whether they are Genin, Chunin, or even Jonin, once you formally become a ninja, you can command them as you please."

"At that time, even if you have no strength of your own, you can still possess power that only Jonin have, perhaps even many times over."

"You will not need to act personally. As the clan head, so long as you consider the overall situation and plan for the future and interests of our Hyuga Clan, you will be able to win people over and rest easy."

Hinata's eyes widened as she listened blankly.

It was the first time the young girl had learned this, and the first time anyone had told her.

She did not have to focus all her efforts on pursuing strength.

"Do you know that the village's upper ranks include positions such as military strategist and Hokage Advisor?" Ryosuke looked at her with a light smile. Without realizing it, he extended his other hand and pinched her cheek.

Hinata nodded. "The position of the village's military strategist is currently held by Jonin Shikaku of the Nara Clan. The Hokage Advisors are held by two elders from the Third Hokage's generation, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu."

"Not bad. It seems that aside from blindly training lately, you've also eavesdropped on quite a few discussions between Father and me."

Ryosuke looked at her with an amused smile, but said nothing more, only reminding her that what they discussed could not be revealed to anyone outside the family.

"Since you know that, then you should understand what their work entails."

"Strictly speaking, they are the same as you. The difference is that they oversee the entire village, planning for its interests and living and dying alongside it."

"And you are the future head of the Hyuga Clan, someone who must think for our clan. So you don't need to look down on yourself just because you lack talent in combat and training."

"There are many ways to become a ninja. Some specialize in Genjutsu, some in ninjutsu or taijutsu. Those are all different paths. The same goes for being a clan head. There are many ways to manage and win people over. Father's methods may not suit you. You must find your own path."

Beneath the dazzling night sky, Ryosuke and Hinata sat together on a large rock in the Training Ground.

One spoke earnestly, while the other listened just as earnestly.