The Hyuga Clan Compound.
The glow of the Light Screen across the sky slowly dimmed.
Yet those brutal scenes remained etched in Hyuga Hiashi's mind, refusing to fade.
Hyuga Hiashi stood frozen, trembling all over.
The composure and authority he normally possessed as head of the Main Family crumbled completely. Hiashi replayed every moment of Hinata's death on the Light Screen, over and over.
He remembered how, throughout her childhood, he had repeatedly rejected her, scolded her, and treated her with cold indifference.
He remembered how Hinata had poured everything into training, just to earn a single word of approval from him.
He remembered how, even in the last moment of her life, Hinata's only wish had still been to become someone he could be proud of.
She had been timid and fearful all her life, yet to protect those she cherished, she had stood alone against an army and fought to her bloody death.
Hiashi had always governed the Hyuga's honor and disgrace with cold, stern authority.
Now his shoulders shook uncontrollably, and silent tears slid down his cheeks.
Beside him, Hizashi quietly watched his brother break down, his heart filled with conflicting emotions.
Ever since the Light Screen had appeared three years ago, Hizashi had known that his brother only seemed heartless. In truth, he bore countless shackles imposed by the Main Family, leaving him little choice.
A father's love lay buried in his heart, suppressed for years. But Hizashi had never seen his brother looking so shattered and vulnerable.
Hyuga Hiashi's voice was hoarse and broken, full of self-loathing, as he asked himself quietly, "Does someone like me... even deserve to be Hinata's father?"
This man, who had spent his life disciplined and restrained, never showing weakness before others, now wept like a helpless child.
Hizashi Hyuga's heart ached. He raised a hand and gently patted his brother's shoulder, speaking softly. "Brother, those were only glimpses of the future. Have you forgotten? When the Light Screen appeared three years ago, the Creator said it was meant to let us make up for our regrets."
"That future tragedy might never happen. Hinata is alive and well right now. There's still time to change everything."
Those words struck like thunder.
In an instant, Hyuga Hiashi came to his senses. That's right.
That was only the future. The present is what's real.
Hiashi did not have to watch his daughter face death alone and leave this world full of regrets.
I still have a chance to acknowledge her, to love her, to make up for all the hurt I've caused her over the years.
Regret and urgency surged in Hyuga Hiashi's eyes. No longer caring about his dignity as clan head, he spun around and rushed outside.
I have to see Hinata right now.
I have to tell her myself that she's wonderful, that she was never weak. I was wrong.
Even if Hinata never becomes as brilliant and powerful as she was in that future, she will always be my most precious daughter.
Hizashi Hyuga watched his brother hurry away, sighed softly, and quickly followed.
In a clearing nearby.
Neji Hyuga stood rooted to the spot, cold all over.
It felt as though a hand had seized his heart and squeezed it mercilessly.
The pain left him barely able to breathe.
Three years ago...
The Light Screen had revealed his father Hizashi's tragic fate in advance.
Back then, he had been young and stubborn, laying all his hatred at the feet of the Main Family and Hyuga Hiashi.
And that was why, in that future timeline, I took all my resentment out on innocent Hinata.
I hated the Main Family's injustice, so I coldly pushed away and mistreated the little sister who trusted me with all her heart.
But after watching Hinata's entire life on the Light Screen.
After watching her fight alone in a bloody battle, gentle even in death, the obsessions and resentment Neji had carried for so long.
Shattered.
The tragedy of that future would have come to pass.
But now!
His father was safe and sound. Fate had already been rewritten.
Yet I've never had a chance to make up for the kindness and understanding I owed Hinata.
Overwhelming guilt swept through him.
Neji stepped forward and reached out, holding the dazed Hinata beside him in a gentle but firm embrace. His voice broke with sobs. "I'm sorry, Lady Hinata. I'm so sorry."
"For all my future coldness, prejudice, and distance, I offer you my sincerest apology, Lady Hinata."
Neji apologized quietly, again and again. His chest burned with aching emotion, his heart full of endless regret.
Hinata froze for a moment. Seeing her normally gentle cousin Neji crying so bitterly softened her heart.
She gently raised her hand and soothed him in a soft voice. "Neji, it's all right. Those things were only part of the future."
"The Neji here now is wonderful. Truly wonderful."
"If you became like that in the future, you must have had reasons you couldn't help. I don't blame you."
Her gentle forgiveness, free of even the slightest resentment, only made Neji's heart feel heavier and ache more deeply.
Looking at his purehearted, kind little cousin, Neji recalled the enemy named Xue Zhantian from the Light Screen.
Then he remembered Hinata's earth-shaking Rotation in the future, and those strange eyes.
Her resolve as she slaughtered an army alone and fought to her bloody death.
A sense of helplessness welled up within him.
The enemies of the future were so powerful that they inspired despair.
In that timeline, my sweet, gentle little cousin had to face such hopeless odds all alone.
And my narrow-minded past self never gave her the slightest support or warmth.
A cold, resolute light rose in Neji's eyes.
Xue Zhantian!
Neji committed that name firmly to memory.
From that moment on, he would no longer remain trapped in the old grievances between the Main Family and the Branch Family.
He would do everything he could to grow stronger, to protect this little cousin who should have been cherished all along.
He would never let the brutal tragedy on the Light Screen.
Happen again!
Konoha's training ground.
The entire training ground was silent.
Everyone's eyes were red and brimming with tears as they replayed those brutal, shocking scenes in their minds.
Tenten clutched the ninja tool pouch in her hand, her nose stinging and her voice choked with tears. "I really never imagined that Hinata, who's always so gentle and shy, would become that powerful in the future. She stopped more than ten thousand enemies all by herself."
"She fought covered in blood... I can't imagine how much pain she was in, or how desperate she felt. That Xue Zhantian was such a monster."
Rock Lee clenched both fists tightly, his eyes red and his chest rising and falling. "The future Miss Hinata truly shone so brightly, but her end was far too brutal."
"The enemy's power went far beyond anything we can imagine now. If we don't train twice as hard, we won't be able to protect anyone when the crisis comes."
Kiba's ears drooped, and he spoke in a low, dejected voice. "After watching the Light Screen, I feel like there's a weight stuck in my chest."
"Lord Hiashi always treated Hinata harshly in the past, and the future Neji pushed her away because of his prejudice."
"Hinata kept trying so hard to earn her family's approval. She suffered so much hurt, and in the end, she still had to face death alone."
Shino lowered his eyes slightly, a trace of heaviness entering his normally calm, even voice. "Years of rejection and harsh treatment brought out every last bit of resilience within Hinata."
"The level of power shown on the Light Screen is already far beyond our current understanding..."
Shikamaru stood with his hands in his pockets and his brow tightly furrowed, his usual laziness gone. "She held the rear alone, killed ten thousand soldiers, and stayed standing despite hundreds of wounds."
"Someone who looked so fragile had that much steel inside her. The dangers of the future are far more terrifying than we imagined. We can't keep slacking off and hoping for the best."
Ino covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face as her voice trembled slightly. "My heart aches for Hinata. She spent her whole life longing for approval and warmth."
"But in the end, she died covered in wounds, taking her regrets with her. If we can't become stronger, we won't be able to protect anyone when disaster really comes."
Choji held his snack without the slightest appetite, his expression serious. "Hinata was really brave. Braver than any of us. I can't keep thinking only about food and slacking off. I have to train hard too, and become strong enough to protect everyone."
Nearby, Kurotsuchi's eyes were already red from crying after watching the Light Screen. Clutching the hem of her clothes, she sobbed, "The Main Family's clan head went too far! And that future Neji was an absolute bastard!"
"How could there be such a harsh, cold father, and a cousin who misunderstood her for so long?"
"Hinata was so gentle and kind! Why did she have to suffer so much, and then die such a horrible death? Waaaah!"
Beside her, Kitsuchi watched his daughter sob, then looked at the tears and grave expressions of Konoha's young shinobi.
At first, he was at a loss. Then he let out a long sigh and spoke solemnly. "The Light Screen shows the future as a warning to everyone."
"What you saw today wasn't just Hinata's tragic heroism. It was also a reminder to your generation."
"Only by constantly pushing past your limits and growing stronger can you take control of your own fate, and the fates of the comrades beside you."
Everyone nodded in silence.
Tears still clung to their faces, but the complacency in their hearts had been swept away.
The enemies of the future were far too powerful!
The regrets they left behind cut far too deep!
After listening to Kitsuchi's admonition, each of them silently swore to train hard and fight with everything they had to become stronger.
They would protect their comrades and safeguard the present. They would never let the sorrowful ending on the Light Screen befall anyone.
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