The Disappointing Heiress of the Main Family

Little Hinata noticed the cold disappointment in her father's eyes.

All she could do was lower her head.

Little Hinata had never liked fighting.

Then, one day, she realized no one was home.

Two-year-old Hinata carefully opened the door.

She ran outside.

She had been so sheltered that she had barely seen the world beyond her home.

And because Hyuga Hiashi had protected her so closely, Hinata longed all the more to see that world.

But whenever she tried to say what was in her heart,

her father's sternness stopped the words before they could leave her mouth.

Little by little, she grew timid.

The scene sped forward once more.

Before she knew it, Hinata had wandered into the forest where Naruto was.

That was when

she spotted a little blond boy beside a stream.

Too frightened to approach, Hinata did not dare greet him.

She hid behind a large tree, peeking out now and then to watch Naruto play by the stream.

Without realizing it, she watched him for a long time.

After being out for so long, Hinata began to feel hungry.

Her stomach growled.

It reminded her of her mother cooking so gently.

Her mother was always so gentle. Slowly, Hinata's thoughts returned to the present.

I hate training, and I don't want to become a ninja, she thought.

I want to be like Mom—a gentle, quiet, sweet girl.

Not someone who spends every day fighting.

Lost in her daydream, Hinata had completely forgotten her situation.

She was lost...

She kept wandering in circles, unable to find her way home.

Panic set in. She crouched on the ground, afraid to move.

Suddenly, someone appeared before her.

Naruto spoke in a soft voice. "My name's Naruto. Don't be scared."

"Are you lost?"

Hinata looked at Naruto and nodded shyly.

She said nothing.

Naruto looked at Hinata's Byakugan, which reflected the Hyuga Clan.

Naruto also began to wonder about the little girl before him.

She probably had some connection to the Hyuga Clan Compound.

Naruto held out his hand to Hinata and said gently, "I'll take you home, okay?"

Hinata did not answer. She carefully took Naruto's hand.

The scene shifted again.

Naruto and Hinata finally reached the outskirts of the Hyuga Clan Compound.

Little Hinata had not spoken a word along the way.

At that moment, she smiled to herself, because Hinata now knew where her home was.

Naruto sensed Hinata's happiness and asked carefully, "Can you tell me your name?"

Just as Hinata was about to speak...

A ninja from the Hyuga Branch Family finally found the little girl who had sneaked out to play.

He saw his family's young lady

"...hanging out with the village's Nine-Tailed Fox, and even holding hands."

Furious, the Branch Family ninja rushed over to Hinata.

He quickly pulled away from Hinata's hand, then shoved Naruto hard to the ground.

Naruto, having been shoved down, neither protested nor cried out. He lay there quietly.

Little Hinata stared in shock.

Little Hinata was about to explain that she had sneaked out and gotten lost.

This boy had brought her home.

But when the words reached her lips, Hinata could not find the courage to say them.

The Hyuga Branch Family Ninja glared down at Naruto with murderous eyes. "If you ever come near our young lady again, I won't let you off."

Naruto looked up at the tall, middle-aged Ninja and saw the killing intent and coldness in his eyes.

Naruto lay perfectly still.

Naruto had seen looks like that far too many times.

But...

Again and again, nearly everyone in the village looked at him that way.

It still made Naruto's heart ache terribly.

The Branch Family Ninja did not spare Naruto, still lying on the ground, another glance.

The Hyuga Branch Family Ninja carefully took Hinata's hand and turned toward the Hyuga Main Family residence.

On the way back, he told her patiently, "Young lady, if you see that boy again, stay far away from him."

Hinata remembered the dejection in Naruto's eyes.

He had looked nothing like the boy she had first met.

And the more Hinata thought about how this clansman had attacked Naruto for no reason, the guiltier she felt.

At last, she gathered her courage and asked, "Um... could you tell me why?"

The Hyuga Branch Family Ninja looked at the Main Family's young lady and saw just how timid she was.

The Branch Family Ninja thought, She may well be the heir to the Hyuga's next clan head.

The thought of this timid girl becoming the future clan head filled the Branch Family Ninja with resentment.

All because she was born into the Main Family, while my child was born into the Branch Family.

My child will have to protect such a weak, useless clan head.

His anger grew. What a disgrace! This is the greatest disgrace of belonging to the Branch Family.

Hinata looked at the middle-aged man, who said nothing.

Just as she was about to give up, he answered impatiently, "Young lady, you only need to remember what I told you."

"And another thing, young lady!"

"If you have time to sneak out and play, you should spend it training instead."

Hinata wanted to speak, but she could only lower her head in shame.

The Ninja went on. "Instead of using your wits to sneak out, think about how to make yourself stronger."

"Don't forget: because you're weak, we have no choice but to step forward and protect you."

One harsh statement after another left Hinata stunned.

The Branch Family Ninja remained angry the entire way as he escorted Hinata back to the Main Family residence.

Back home, Hinata faced the stern Hyuga Hiashi.

She knelt on the floor, her head lowered in fear.

"Why did you run away?" Hyuga Hiashi demanded.

Hinata trembled too badly to answer.

Only then did Hyuga Hiashi realize just how timid his daughter was.

"Stand up and answer me!" he shouted angrily.

Hearing the fury in her father's voice, Hinata could no longer hold it in.

Still kneeling, she began to cry, tears falling one after another.

Hyuga Hiashi looked at his weeping daughter and felt utterly disappointed.

Hinata's mother was cooking outside when she heard her husband's raised voice.

She hurried in and found Hinata sobbing on the floor.

She rushed to Hinata and pulled her daughter into her arms.

Then she looked up at her husband with pleading eyes.

Hyuga Hiashi turned away and left, his eyes cold with disappointment.

Note: Thank you to Qingfeng Meng Ceng Jihe for the two bouquets of flowers and three donations.

I'm truly touched. Thank you, Qingfeng.

And special thanks as well to everyone who sent donations with love.