Hiashi's helplessness

Time flew by in the blink of an eye.

Life at the Ninja Academy followed the same routine, day after day: classes, training, lunch, then home...

Yet that seemingly ordinary school life felt especially fulfilling with the same companions always by their sides.

Genya, Nami, and Hinata became a familiar sight around campus.

Outside class, the three were inseparable.

They ate lunch together on the rooftop, cheered one another on beside the training grounds-mostly with Nami and Genya coaching Hinata-and walked home together after school.

With Genya's deliberate encouragement and Nami's cheerful influence.

Hinata, once so shy and withdrawn, gradually began speaking more, albeit softly, and occasionally showed a genuine smile.

That daily companionship, woven into the little moments of ordinary life, reached deeper into their hearts than any calculated courtship could.

Without even realizing it, both girls had already become deeply attached to the boy who was always steady and dependable, offering them warmth through the smallest gestures.

[Ding! Conquest target Uchiha Nami's affection has reached 90 points (deep and devoted love)! Bond reward package triggered!]

[Congratulations, host! You have received: a significant increase in mental power and substantial increases in both chakra quantity and quality!]

[Ding! Conquest target Hinata Hyuga's affection has reached 90 points (deeply rooted love)! Deep bond reward package triggered!]

[Congratulations, host! You have received: substantial improvements to Taijutsu and physique, and mastery of chakra control!]

Two system notifications rang out in Genya's mind one after another, followed by two surging waves of power!

The explosive growth in his mental power, along with the improvements to his physique and chakra control, seemed to touch some crucial threshold.

Together, they acted upon his Uchiha bloodline, which had already been purified by the system's potion!

Hum-!

Genya felt his eyes burn, a searing sensation as though shackles had shattered and power was rushing free!

His vision instantly became clearer and sharper, his ability to track movement soaring.

He immediately closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his black pupils were gone.

In their place were scarlet eyes, each bearing three spinning black tomoe and radiating an eerie, powerful aura!

Three-Tomoe Sharingan!

Driven by the fundamental transformation of both mind and body brought about by his deep bonds.

His Sharingan had finally awakened naturally, skipping the two-tomoe stage entirely and advancing straight to three tomoe!

Powerful Dōjutsu Power flowed through his eyes, bringing unprecedented clarity to the world and a newfound sense of strength.

Genya suppressed his excitement and reined in his Dōjutsu Power, returning his eyes to their ordinary black.

It wasn't time to reveal this yet.

Feeling the Dōjutsu Power within his eyes, he gained a deeper understanding of the system.

The benefits of this "Goddess Conquest System" rewarded him with tremendous growth tailored to each girl's traits!

"Genya, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly go quiet?"

Nami, who was sharing food with Hinata beside him, noticed something unusual and asked with concern.

Hinata also gave him a worried look.

Genya looked at them, his gaze warmer and more resolute than ever.

These two girls were no longer merely part of his plan. They had truly become his greatest support on the path to strength, and... people he cared about.

"Nothing."

He smiled, his smile a little more genuine than before.

"I just suddenly thought how glad I am that I met you both."

At his words, the affection in Nami's eyes nearly overflowed.

Hinata lowered her head shyly, her ears flushing crimson.

[Uchiha Nami's affection +1! Current affection: 91!]

[Hinata Hyuga's affection +1! Current affection: 91!]

Once affection crossed the threshold of 90, every additional point became harder to earn, but it also meant their bond was growing stronger.

With the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and his strength enhanced in every respect, Genya felt even more confident.

There was still time before that fated night, and his growth had already far exceeded anything anyone could imagine.

Next, he needed to plan more carefully how to use this power amid the undercurrents running through Konoha and the Uchiha Clan, to secure a sliver of hope for himself and those he cared about.

That evening, after escorting Hinata to the Hyuga Clan Compound, Genya and Nami turned to leave.

Hinata remained where she was, watching them walk away side by side. Only after they disappeared around the street corner did she let out a soft breath and turn toward the heavy gates.

Time with Genya and Nami always passed so quickly, so easily.

She touched the handkerchief she carried with her, her lips curving upward without her noticing.

But the moment she stepped into the corridor, that ease was replaced by a familiar oppressive feeling.

"Hinata."

A low, authoritative voice sounded ahead.

Hinata stiffened and looked up to find her father, Hyuga Hiashi, standing beneath the eaves with a stern expression.

Clearly, he had not happened to pass by. He had been waiting specifically for her.

"F-Father."

Hinata hurriedly bowed her head. The last trace of warmth she had felt vanished instantly, leaving only tension and fear.

Hyuga Hiashi said nothing, silently studying his eldest daughter, whose disposition was far too timid.

The corridor was frighteningly quiet, save for the distant shouts of clan members training.

After a long while, Hiashi spoke, his voice betraying neither anger nor pleasure.

"Lately, you seem to come home with members of the Uchiha Clan quite often."

Hinata's heart sank. Her fingers instinctively clenched the hem of her clothes, and her head drooped even lower.

"Y-Yes... with Genya... and Nami..."

She tried to explain.

"They... were going the same way..."

"Genya Uchiha."

Hiashi repeated the name, making Hinata feel an invisible weight bearing down on her.

"The son of Sosuke Uchiha and Uchiha Izumi, and the most renowned prodigy the Uchiha Clan has produced in recent years."

He stepped forward, pinning Hinata with his piercing gaze.

"Do you know what relations between the village and the Uchiha Clan are like now? Do you know what our Hyuga Clan has just been through?"

Hinata's small frame began to tremble.

Of course she knew.

The somber atmosphere within the clan, her father's furrowed brow, the chill of shared vulnerability in the clan members' discussions.

And... Uncle Hizashi's cold memorial stone.

All of it weighed on her heart like heavy rocks.

"The Uchiha and the villagers... aren't getting along... and our clan..."

She faltered, unable to go on.

"Good. Then you understand."

Hiashi's voice carried an unquestionable severity.

"The Uchiha Clan is like an isolated island now, surrounded by waves of suspicion and distrust."

"Getting too close to them will do neither you nor the Hyuga Clan any good."

"That Uchiha boy may possess exceptional talent, but he carries the fate of the entire Uchiha Clan on his shoulders. That is not a burden you can bear."

He watched his daughter's shoulders tremble with fear. Her eyes, so much like those of his late younger brother, were filled with timidity, far removed from the strength and sense of responsibility the Hyuga Main Family required.

An indescribable surge of disappointment and irritation rose within him.

Perhaps mingled with it were the pain of his brother's sacrifice and his unspoken resentment toward the village leadership.

He clenched his fists instinctively, his knuckles whitening.

In the past, he might have forbidden it outright, even invoking the clan's rules.

But now... remembering his brother's calm face as he went to die in his place, remembering the seemingly kindly face in the Hokage Building that had pressed him at every turn, remembering the bitter consequences the Hyuga Clan had been forced to swallow...

He suddenly felt profoundly weary.

He could not even protect his own younger brother. Even the clan's dignity had to be sacrificed in exchange for peace...

What point was there in continuing to chastise this timid but kindhearted daughter?

The Hyuga Clan had already suffered deeply from the conflict between the Uchiha and the village.

Was he really going to sever one of his daughter's rare friendships, one that might bring her warmth, over groundless suspicions?

Even though he held little hope for that friendship's future.

At last, Hyuga Hiashi unclenched his fists.

The severity in his eyes gave way to a complicated emotion, heavy with resignation.

He waved a hand, seemingly unwilling to say more, and his tone softened.

"Never mind... you're still young. Some things... perhaps you shouldn't have to shoulder them so soon. Go back to your room and get some rest, Hinata."

With that, he stopped looking at her, turned, and walked alone into the depths of the main house with heavy steps.

His retreating figure looked rather lonely amid the light and shadows of the long corridor.

Hinata stood there blankly, looking in the direction her father had gone, her eyes stinging.

Her father had neither scolded her harshly nor explicitly forbidden her.

She gripped the handkerchief tightly, as though trying to draw a little strength from it.

Genya's warm, gentle gaze and her father's burdened, lonely back intertwined in her mind.