Excitement

As Hinata listened to his explanation, she felt both excited and nervous. She looked at the towering tree trunk, imagining whether she could climb it as effortlessly as Toru Kujyo had, and couldn't help feeling uneasy.

"C-can I really do it?" she asked softly, a trace of uncertainty in her voice.

Toru Kujyo looked at her. Rather than answering right away, he gave a gentle smile. It was faint, yet it made Hinata feel warm inside.

"Of course you can." Toru Kujyo's voice was soft but full of conviction. "You're the princess of the Hyuga Main Family. You have the potential of the Byakugan, as well as Jonin Aptitude. A little Tree Climbing is nothing you can't handle."

He stepped forward and reached out, seemingly intending to pat her head, but drew his hand back. Instead, he simply looked at her encouragingly. "Besides, I'm here. I'll protect you and make sure you don't get hurt. Even if you fall out of the tree, I can catch you."

His words reassured Hinata, but what made her heart race even faster was his promise: "I'm here."

Seeing her cheeks begin to redden again, Toru Kujyo deliberately adopted a casual tone. "What's wrong? Don't tell me you're afraid of getting hurt and want to slack off. If you can't even climb a tree, you'll fall way behind. Once I learn the Shadow Clone technique, my real body can train here with you while my shadow clone goes on missions outside the village. Then you won't be able to keep up with me."

His words sounded like teasing, but they struck precisely at the anxiety deep within Hinata's heart. She didn't want Toru Kujyo to leave her behind. She didn't want to become a burden to him, much less disappoint him. Toru Kujyo was the first person to recognize her inner potential and willingly help her. She didn't want to lose this precious friend, nor did she want to let down his expectations.

"N-no!" Hinata abruptly lifted her head, determination filling her eyes. "I-I can do it! I won't slack off!"

She took a deep breath and looked at the towering tree before her, as though it were an obstacle she had to overcome. To grow stronger, to keep Toru Kujyo from leaving her behind, and to gain the freedom she longed for, she had to succeed.

"Good." Toru Kujyo looked at her with satisfaction, his tone returning to its usual calm. "Then let's begin."

He picked up a small pebble from the ground and casually tossed it at the trunk. It struck precisely where he intended, leaving a small mark.

"Start here. Try concentrating chakra in the soles of your feet, then step upward," Toru Kujyo instructed. "Remember, press down firmly. Don't try to grip it."

Hinata nodded and took a deep breath. Carefully raising her foot, she imitated Toru Kujyo, gathering chakra in her sole before stepping toward the mark on the trunk.

Hinata nodded, took a deep breath, and walked up to the tree. Imitating what Toru Kujyo had done earlier, she closed her eyes and tried hard to sense the chakra inside her, attempting to guide it toward her feet. A faint warmth spread through her soles, giving her a little thrill of delight. She opened her eyes, looked at the clear pebble mark on the trunk, raised her right foot, and planted it firmly against the tree!

Click. The chakra beneath her foot seemed to find something to cling to. She felt as though she had stepped onto something sticky. Though her footing wasn't very stable, she hadn't immediately slipped off.

The first step worked! Delight surged through Hinata, and she hurriedly raised her left foot, gathered chakra again, and planted it a little higher.

Her second step held firm, too!

Excitement welled up inside her, and she eagerly raised her right foot to take a third step. But perhaps she had been too hasty, or perhaps her chakra output wasn't steady enough-the adhesion beneath her feet suddenly vanished!

"Ah!" Hinata gave a small cry as she lost her balance and fell straight backward.

Just as she thought she would hit the ground, a strong arm swiftly wrapped around her waist and caught her securely.

Still shaken, Hinata looked up and met Toru Kujyo's calm, unruffled eyes. His arm was still around her waist, and they were so close that she could even smell the faint, clean scent of him.

"I-I'm sorry, Kujyo! I..."

Hinata's cheeks instantly flushed scarlet. She hurriedly pulled free of his embrace and lowered her head, nervously twisting her fingers together, her voice barely above a whisper. She had failed on her very first attempt and even needed him to catch her. She felt utterly ashamed.

"It's all right." Toru Kujyo's voice remained calm, without a hint of blame. "It's normal to fail on your first try." He released her and took half a step back, giving her some space.

Hinata kept her head lowered, not daring to look at him.

Seeing how dejected she was, Toru Kujyo said evenly, "When I first started learning, I failed far more times than you did. I fell dozens of times before I could barely manage three steady steps."

That was a lie, of course. With the extraordinary talent granted by [Otsutsuki Bloodline (Red)] and [All-Attribute Constitution (Purple)], combined with his far greater chakra reserves and mental strength, such basic Chakra Control was effortless for him. He had mastered it almost immediately.

But he knew that for Hinata, who lacked confidence right now, a kind lie would be far more encouraging than a cold fact.

Sure enough, at Toru Kujyo's words, Hinata raised her head in surprise, disbelief flashing in her eyes. "R-really? Even you, Kujyo...?"

"Yes." Toru Kujyo nodded without a change in expression. "This technique requires extremely precise Chakra Control. You can't master it overnight. Managing two steady steps on your first attempt was already very good."

Privately, however, he thought, Just what I'd expect from [Princess of the Byakugan (Red)] and [Jonin Aptitude (Purple)], not to mention that hidden [Precise Chakra Control (Purple)] talent.

Although she hadn't realized it herself yet, her sensitivity to the slightest changes in chakra and her potential for controlling it were undoubtedly exceptional. Taking two successful steps on her first attempt was proof enough.

With Toru Kujyo's approval and his "shared experience," much of Hinata's dejection faded, replaced by a determination not to give up. Even someone as amazing as Kujyo failed so many times when he started. I've only failed once-that's nothing!

"I-I'll try again!" She summoned her courage and walked back to the tree.

This time, she focused even harder, carefully controlling the chakra output beneath her feet. One step, two steps, three steps... she successfully passed the point where she had failed before! Four steps, five steps, six steps, seven steps, eight steps!

With each successful step, her joy grew. Just as she was about to take her ninth step, the chakra beneath her feet fluctuated again, and its adhesion sharply weakened!

"Ah!" With another startled cry, she fell backward once more.

This time, Toru Kujyo seemed to have expected it. The instant she lost her balance, he stepped forward and extended both arms, catching her securely in a bridal carry.