Kushina gazed at the Light Screen in the sky, then glanced at her young son beside her. She fell quiet for a moment before asking softly, "Naruto, do you think the person up there looks a lot like you?"
Naruto nodded and answered obediently, "Mm."
Minato Namikaze stepped up beside them and looked gently at young Naruto. "The blond boy on the Light Screen, the one with three whisker marks on each cheek, is you in the future, Naruto."
"But he's very different from you now."
Naruto tilted his little face up at Minato, his eyes full of confusion.
Minato's gaze shifted. He remembered the terrible things the Light Screen had shown them three years ago about Naruto's future. After steadying himself, he explained with gentle patience, "Right now, you have long blond hair and no whisker marks on your face. Most importantly, you have your mom and dad right here with you."
Young Naruto gave little thought to that unfamiliar future on the Light Screen. He soon brightened and looked up eagerly. "Dad, I've never seen the world outside since I was born. When can I go out and have a look?"
Minato Namikaze and Kushina looked at their sweet, innocent son with tender affection. "When you're a little older and strong enough to protect yourself, we'll take you out to see the world."
Naruto lit up at once and nodded vigorously. "Okay! I'll get really, really strong! Then it'll be my turn to protect Mom and Dad!"
Watching their spirited young son, Minato and Kushina exchanged warm smiles.
Just then—
The image on the Light Screen high above suddenly changed, and a striking title slowly appeared.
"Father, would you approve of who I am today?"
A slow, sorrowful melody spread through the air. A breeze carried scattered petals down like fragments of an unfinished poem, leaving a heavy imprint on every heart.
The image on the Light Screen slowly unfolded. A girl with long black hair and neat, straight bangs appeared in the frame.
The view drew closer to her face. Her clear, unmistakable Byakugan marked her as a member of the Hyuga. She was Hinata Hyuga.
At that moment, Hinata sat alone in an open area on the border of the Land of Fire.
Suddenly, a disturbance sounded in the distance.
Hinata Hyuga rose slowly and looked toward it.
Wave after wave of immense Chakra drew closer, growing ever stronger.
Hinata understood. Had Kakashi and Lord Hokage failed to stop them after all?
She showed no fear and did not retreat. Standing quietly at the border, she waited for the enemy army to arrive.
The scene abruptly shifted.
At the edge of the frame, a tall, imposing figure appeared. The man wore stark white battle armor.
He gripped a silver spear that gleamed coldly. Black hair fell over his shoulders, and his powerful, more-than-two-meter-tall frame stood proudly at the very front of the army, radiating an intimidating presence.
He was Xue Zhantian, the young clan leader of the Chinoike Clan!
A white-armored officer hurried forward and bowed. "Young Master, a woman is standing alone at the entrance to the Land of Fire, blocking our path."
Holding his silver spear, Xue Zhantian looked where his subordinate pointed and spotted Hinata standing quietly in the distance.
The officer cupped his hands. "Young Master, shall I deal with her?"
Xue Zhantian raised a hand to stop him. "No need. Hold your position here. I'll meet her myself."
"Yes, Young Master!"
The officer answered respectfully, then bowed and stepped aside.
Xue Zhantian walked forward alone and stopped opposite Hinata. He looked down at her with a hint of amusement. "Interesting. Are you a member of the Hyuga?"
Hinata shook her head, her expression calm. "No."
Xue Zhantian seemed slightly surprised. He raised an eyebrow. "Oh? As far as I know, only the Hyuga in the entire Shinobi World possess such distinctive Byakugan."
Hinata removed the Konoha Forehead Protector from around her neck and gently placed it on the ground beside her feet. Her voice was quiet and even.
"These eyes did come from the Hyuga. But I was cast out of the clan long ago."
Xue Zhantian glanced at the Forehead Protector on the ground. "If you were cast out and are no longer one of them, are you standing at the entrance to the Land of Fire to enjoy the scenery?"
Hinata shed everything that might weigh her down and swiftly tied back her long hair. She looked him straight in the eye. "I'm not here for the scenery. I've been waiting for you."
Xue Zhantian studied the girl before him.
From beginning to end, there had been no fear in her eyes and no agitation in her manner. She had faced him with unwavering calm.
A puzzled look crossed Xue Zhantian's face. "Waiting for us? You mean to stop my entire army by yourself?"
Hinata did not answer. She simply raised her eyes, steady resolve burning within them.
Catching the pure fighting spirit in her gaze, Xue Zhantian asked with interest, "Do you know what kind of enemy you're facing?"
"I do," Hinata replied, each word clear.
"Then you're not afraid of me? Not afraid I'll kill you where you stand?"
Hinata's expression did not waver. "I am afraid! But if I don't stop you here, my father, my brother, and all my clansmen..."
"They'll die by your hand. Even if I'm afraid, I have to stand here."
Xue Zhantian raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused. "But you just said you no longer had a clan."
Hinata raised her hands into the opening stance of the Eight Trigrams Wandering Body Fist. Standing tall, she answered with quiet conviction, "I'm a disgrace to the Hyuga. My father told me again and again never to speak the Hyuga name while I was away."
"But when their lives are at stake, I can't turn my back on the home that raised me or on my clan."
A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Xue Zhantian's eyes, and he chuckled. "What an interesting woman. Have you prepared yourself to die here, then?"
Hinata met his gaze with clear, earnest eyes. "From the moment I set foot on this border, I never expected to leave it safely."
"Hahaha! Interesting!"
Xue Zhantian threw back his head and laughed. Then he drove his silver spear hard into the ground with one hand.
Using the impact to propel himself forward, he burst toward Hinata. In an instant, he was upon her, a heavy fist slicing through the air straight at her face!
Hinata reacted at once, raising her arm to block.
Thud! Thud! A rapid series of blows landed as they traded several fluid Taijutsu moves.
Xue Zhantian paused, unmistakable surprise flashing in his eyes. "Oh? You have some skill."
Hinata remained silent. Focused and composed, she countered each move as it came, leaving no gap in her defense.
Xue Zhantian stopped holding back. He unleashed the full force of his fists and feet, every vicious strike aimed at a vital point.
Even so, Hinata blocked every fierce attack without leaving him the slightest opening.
Seeing her withstand his full assault, Xue Zhantian felt genuine admiration for the woman before him.
He leaped backward and landed steadily where he had started. Gripping his silver spear, he regarded Hinata with newfound seriousness. "Now I almost don't want to kill you!"
"Submit to me and follow me from this day forward. I can guarantee your father's and brother's safety. What do you say?"
To the proud Xue Zhantian, this was the greatest mercy he could offer.
Hinata's hands flew through Hand Seals, and immense Chakra gathered in her palms to form the Twin Lion Fists. Her voice was calm but resolute. "I won't follow anyone, much less submit to them."
"Enough talk!"
Hinata's refusal exhausted the last of Xue Zhantian's patience.
Killing intent surged in his eyes. "Then die here!"
"Silver Dragon Heaven-Rending Slash!"
Hummm!
The air shuddered violently. A massive shock wave tore forward with a dragon's deafening roar, sweeping toward Hinata with devastating force!
Hinata focused all her strength and released every bit of Chakra gathered in her palms. Two majestic, gigantic Chakra lions roared forth to meet the dragon's shock wave head-on!
Boom!
The two immense forces collided, and a thunderous blast shook heaven and earth!
The vast grassland, once lush with greenery, was instantly flattened by the terrifying shock wave. Dust filled the sky as wind and sand swept across the land.
Amid the billowing dust, both fighters still stood firm where they had been, neither having yielded an inch.
Only then did Xue Zhantian finally realize that he had underestimated this seemingly delicate girl from Konoha from the very beginning.
Note: The story has reached 100,000 words! There's still been a little less support than I'd hoped, so please show it some love. Every bit of support motivates me to keep writing!
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