The Timid Hinata

These past few days, the familiar figure of the female owner has been missing from Tenten's ninja tool shop. Neji opening the shop, organizing the goods, and serving customers as usual, but he always feels that something is missing from the shop—the serious profile of Tenten when she is checking the Tenten is gone, the habitual action of her biting the pen when she is writing accounts behind the counter is gone, and the quiet time when the two of them share bento boxes during lunch break is gone.

Team 3, led by Might Guy, left the village to carry out an S-rank mission. Neji knew about this but did not stop them. The reasons were quite rational: first, with Might Guy around, the safety level was very high; second, even if they encountered a danger that Guy couldn't handle, he could instantly reach Tenten's side using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

But beyond his rationality, there was always a vague sense of emptiness. This made him, unusually, close the shop early after seeing Sasuke off, lock the door, and turn to walk towards the Hyuga Main House.

The setting sun cast a long shadow of him. He walked through the streets of Konoha, past the training grounds, and around the former Uchiha Clan compound—now just ruins, but perhaps soon it would be a different sight.

The Hyuga Main House's residence appeared particularly solemn in the twilight. High walls, tightly closed gates, and two stone lanterns at the entrance were already lit, emitting a warm light in the darkening sky. This was a place that Neji both knew and felt strange about—he was born here, learned Gentle Fist here, and also experienced the oppression and helplessness of being Branch House family member here.

He had just reached the door when it opened from the inside. Hyuga Hiashi stood inside, seemingly having sensed his arrival long ago. The clan leader was still dressed in his formal clan robes, his hair perfectly styled, his expression as serious as ever, but there was a hint of barely perceptible expectation in his eyes.

"Neji." Hiashi nodded slightly.

"Clan head," Neji replied calmly, without using any kinship terms, "I've come to see Hinata."

A Hiashi glint flashed in Hiashi's eyes as he stepped aside to make way. "She's in the inner courtyard. I'll send someone to fetch her."

The two walked through the courtyard one after the other. The Hyuga Main House's courtyard was very elaborately arranged, with carefully trimmed pine trees and bamboo groves on both sides of the bluestone path. The startled deer made rhythmic "thump" sounds, and several koi swam in the pond in the twilight.

"Hanabi is practicing at the training ground," Hiashi suddenly said. "I'll go and give her some pointers."

These words sounded natural, but Neji understood their meaning— Hiashi was deliberately avoiding the conversation, giving them space to talk.

"Thank you for your trouble," Neji replied briefly.

Hiashi turned and walked steadily toward the training ground, the hem of his clan chief's robe swaying gently on the stone pavement. Neji stood there, watching his figure disappear around the corner.

A few minutes later, a series of light but hurried footsteps were heard.

Hinata jogged out of the inner courtyard and paused for a moment when she saw Neji. She then slowed down and nervously twisted her hands together. She was wearing a simple home kimono, dark blue fabric with tiny white patterns, and her long hair was loosely tied back, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks.

"Neji... brother." Hinata spoke softly, her voice barely audible, her head slightly lowered, her gaze fixed on the hem of Neji's clothes.

Neji nodded expressionlessly. "Mm."

A brief silence fell between them. The startled deer in the courtyard cried out again, and the koi in the pond leaped out of the water with a soft "plop."

Neji decided to get straight to the point. "Hinata, you're still Chunin, right?"

Hinata clearly hadn't expected Neji to ask that. She looked up, a hint of confusion in her eyes, but nodded earnestly, "Yes... yes."

Her voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility of the twilight.

"I remember your theoretical knowledge has always been very solid," Neji continued, his tone as calm as stating a fact. "You should have no problem guiding others, right?"

"Guiding..." Hinata visibly panicked, her hands clenching even tighter. "Guiding others... isn't... appropriate?"

Her voice grew softer and softer until the last few words were almost inaudible, and she lowered her head again, staring at her toes.

Neji sighed inwardly. Hiashi was right; Hinata was indeed too timid. This kind of personality would be a disadvantage in the ninja world, especially in situations requiring decisiveness and leadership.

"Hinata," he said patiently, trying to guide her with a gentler tone, "You need to be more confident. Theoretical knowledge is your strength, isn't it? During your time at the Ninja Academy, your written test scores were always among the top in your grade."

That's true. Although Hinata's performance in actual combat is poor, she has never caused any concern in theoretical exams.

Hinata replied softly, "Oh..."

Another silence fell. The twilight grew dimmer, and the stone lanterns in the courtyard lit up automatically, casting swaying shadows.

Neji no choice but to speak again, "Your classmate Kurenai Yuhi from Team 8 has been on leave the whole time, hasn't she?"

"Yes," Hinata answered more smoothly this time, "Kurenai Yuhi just had a baby, so our Team 8 hasn't had any missions..."

This was the longest sentence Neji heard Hinata say. He noticed that Hinata seemed to relax a little when the topic turned to familiar companions and teachers.

But that's not enough. Far from enough.

Neji wasn't sure if his impromptu method would actually help change Hinata's personality. But he was certain it was the most direct and effective way at the moment—to let Hinata spend a lot of time with Naruto, helping Naruto build confidence while also promoting the natural development of their relationship.

"Starting tomorrow," Neji said in an unquestionable tone, "You will need to assist and supervise Naruto's studies."

Hinata was clearly bewildered by those words. Her eyes widened, filled with confusion. "Ah... I... have no... experience... and don't know... how... to... do it..."

Her voice was broken and intermittent, and her face showed obvious panic.

Neji shook his head, a slight headache forming. He suddenly remembered that Hinata's behavior at the last family gathering seemed relatively normal—at least she could speak coherently and communicate normally. Had she spent a long time mentally preparing herself then?

Looking back now, it's quite possible. Hinata must have rehearsed countless times in her mind long beforehand to behave so properly at the dinner party.

Hiashi probably takes Hinata norm, which is why he feels particularly worried about her in normal times.

Having figured this out, Neji felt a wave of helplessness. He took a deep breath and decided to use the simplest and most direct method:

"Hinata, this is a very important task." His tone turned serious, carrying a commanding tone. "Starting tomorrow, eight hours a day, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM, in the village library's study room. You can only stop assisting and supervising Naruto until he passes the Jonin theoretical exam. Understand?"

Upon hearing this commanding tone, Hinata instinctively straightened up, lowered her hands, and responded with the standard posture of the Hyuga Clan when receiving a mission:

"Received, mission accomplished!"

Only after she finished speaking did she realize what she had just agreed to, and that she had absolutely no idea how to carry out this task. Her expression shifted from resolute to bewildered, and then to cautious:

"Neji- san... I... how am I supposed to supervise Naruto-kun's studies?"

Neji really felt he shouldn't have accepted Hiashi's request. It was too much trouble. Much more troublesome than teaching Naruto theory exams, much more troublesome than giving Sasuke a political lesson, and even more troublesome than handling Konoha's reform affairs.

He patiently offered a simple and direct suggestion. "You can prepare a sewing needle. If Naruto gets sleepy and wants to sleep, just prick him. Just make sure he doesn't fall asleep."

Hinata's eyes widened even more. "Um... is it really okay to prick... Naruto-kun with a needle?"

Her expression was a mixture of surprise, worry, and a hint of unspeakable emotion—probably imagining herself Naruto with needles and then being terrified by the image.

"Of course," Neji said irritably, "As long as Naruto doesn't fall asleep. He's tough; a needle might not even break his skin."

"What... what if Naruto-kun gets hurt..." Hinata was still worried, "What will we do..."

Neji was utterly speechless at Hinata. He felt he had already provided a clear method, and the remaining details should be left for the executor to figure out and resolve. But clearly, what Hinata needed wasn't a method, but a complete plan with every single detail arranged.

"Cold dish."

Neji uttered those two words, turned, and left. His white figure swiftly crossed the courtyard in the twilight, opened the gate, and disappeared into the deepening night.

Hinata was left standing alone in the courtyard, a embroidery needle that she had somehow produced was now clutched in her hand. She stared blankly at the tip of the needle, her face displaying a complex expression of determination, worry, and confusion.

Neji returned to his room, turned on the light, and sat down at his desk. "Make-Out Paradise" lay on the desk, but he had no desire to open it at that moment.

He recalled his conversation with Hinata, her timid demeanor, and the expression on her face when she worried about hurting Naruto...

Then he thought of Naruto —that carefree, perpetually energetic blond boy. These two, one too extroverted, the other too introverted; one careless, the other sensitive; one a theoretical idiot, the other a theoretical genius...

Perhaps they really can complement each other.

Perhaps spending a lot of time together can really make Hinata more confident—after all, when you have to instruct someone who knows nothing about you every day, you have to speak up and express your opinions.

Perhaps Naruto's never-give-up spirit can truly inspire Hinata.

But perhaps it's all just wishful thinking. How easy is it to change one's personality? How easy is it to ignite the spark of love?

Neji shook his head, deciding to stop thinking about it. He opened "Make-Out Paradise" and decided to use the stories in the book to temporarily escape reality.

Outside the window, night had completely fallen in Konoha. Stars began to twinkle in the deep blue sky, and the faint chirping of insects could be heard in the distance.

In the courtyard of the Hyuga Main House, Hinata still stood there, holding the embroidery needle in her hand, whispering to herself as she looked up at the night sky:

"Naruto-kun... learn... embroidery needles..."

A hint of determination gradually appeared on her face. Though faint, and quickly replaced by worry, it was certainly there.

Change may begin with just this one embroidery needle.