As Tsunade's apprentice, I couldn't possibly be mistaken

After Yecheng moved out of the orphanage, Hinata was the first major character he met.

She was also very cute and very attached to him.

The two had already formed an initial bond!

Going by the original timeline, Hanabi Hyuga was already over a year old.

When she turned three, Hyuga Hiashi would have to decide whether Hinata or Hanabi would inherit leadership of the clan.

Then he would brand the other with the Caged Bird Seal!

Although Hiashi had not branded either of them with the Cursed Seal in the original story, that had, after all, involved the mighty hand of readers' will interfering with fate.

Now that he had transmigrated here, there was no guarantee that some butterfly effect would not occur.

Yecheng did not dare gamble on that possibility.

Just as he had said when persuading Kabuto Yakushi, he had always believed that things depended on human effort.

Looking at Hinata beside him, her little mouth stuffed full and her lips glistening with grease, as cute as a porcelain doll, Yecheng could not help reaching out to pat her head.

"Hm? What is it, Yecheng-kun?"

"Nothing, Hinata. I'll protect you."

"Okay!"

At the gates of the Hyuga Clan compound.

Yecheng returned here with Hinata.

"Thank you, Yecheng-kun. I had a wonderful time today!"

Hinata blushed and worked up the courage to speak.

She held a bag of water in her hand, with five red goldfish swimming back and forth inside, unable to break out of its confines no matter what they did.

"Yeah, I had a wonderful time too, because of you, Hinata."

Yecheng smiled. "Let's go out together again when we get the chance."

"Okay..."

Hinata's expression visibly fell.

"Oh, right, Hinata. There's one more thing I need your help with."

Smiling, Yecheng took a folded card from his pocket, reached out to take Hinata's little hand, and placed it in her palm.

"Huh?"

Hinata was clearly bewildered by his sudden actions.

"Give this to your father for me. That's all. Bye!"

With that, Yecheng turned and ran off, giving her no chance to feel sad.

Hinata was still dazed, but in the blink of an eye, even Yecheng's retreating figure was gone.

She stood stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

Yecheng-kun was being considerate of me...

He's so gentle.

Hinata turned and went inside. Guided by a servant, she finally found Hyuga Hiashi in the study.

He was playing with his younger daughter, Hanabi.

"Father, I'm home."

The moment she saw Hyuga Hiashi, Hinata's timidity surged back. Her voice grew quieter, and she did not dare lift her head.

The sight infuriated Hyuga Hiashi.

With so little courage, how could she fulfill her role in the Main Family, become the clan head, or keep the arrogance of the other clan members in check?!

He was furious at her lack of resolve!

If he had a choice, Hyuga Hiashi would never let his daughter be branded with the Caged Bird Seal.

But with Hinata like this, with such a weak personality, she would only lead the Hyuga Clan into division through infighting and struggles for power!

Left with no other choice, he could only have another child and start leveling a new character.

Fortunately, Hanabi was gradually growing up and displaying considerable talent, giving Hyuga Hiashi hope.

Perhaps branding Hinata with the Caged Bird Seal and marrying her off to Tsunade's apprentice to form a marriage alliance would be the better choice.

"Big sister! Big sister's home!"

Calling out in her babyish voice, Hanabi toddled toward Hinata and hugged her legs with a grin.

"Hanabi..."

Hinata crouched down and picked her up too.

She dearly loved this little sister of hers as well.

"Hinata, how are you getting along with Yecheng-kun?"

"Mm, I had lots of fun today. We went to..."

As Hinata played with Hanabi, making her giggle and grab her finger, she told her father about the day's events.

Watching this scene, Hyuga Hiashi kept his expression unchanged, but sighed inwardly.

This scene was just like the past.

He and Hizashi had also been extremely close since childhood, as brothers should be.

But after Hizashi was branded with the Caged Bird Seal, the two had gradually drifted apart, becoming like strangers.

Once Hinata was branded with the Caged Bird Seal in the future, could the sisters still be as close as they were now?

Hyuga Hiashi did not know, nor did he want to know.

He was afraid of witnessing such a scene.

"Father, Yecheng-kun gave me something to pass on to you."

After finishing her account of the day, she took out Yecheng's card.

"Let me see it."

"Yes."

Hyuga Hiashi took the card and opened it, finding a few lines written on it:

Hinata has a huge appetite. This is a sign of talent. As Tsunade's apprentice, I couldn't possibly be mistaken.

-Yecheng

Hyuga Hiashi: ?

What was that supposed to mean?

Hiss... wait!

After listening to Hinata talk for so long just now, it seemed that their entire outing had consisted of visiting stalls and eating!

Could it be?!

Hyuga Hiashi looked at Hinata suspiciously and asked, "Hinata, do you have a large appetite?"

"I..."

Asked such an embarrassing question by her father, Hinata's face flushed bright red.

Out of reverence for her father, and having experienced what it felt like to eat her fill, she did not want to lie. But she was also afraid he would scold her for being ill-mannered, leaving her torn.

Seeing her reaction, Hiashi immediately instructed the kitchen to prepare more food that evening.

He wanted to see just how much Hinata's tiny body could possibly ea-

She could eat!

She could really eat!

Watching Hinata polish off five people's worth of food by herself, Hyuga Hiashi fell silent.

It was as if he were meeting his daughter for the first time.

Hinata set down her chopsticks and looked at Hiashi, her little face bright red. "Father..." she said timidly.

"Wait a moment."

Hyuga Hiashi first raised a hand, then pressed it to his forehead and rubbed hard.

So, as the head of Konoha's foremost clan, he had failed to give his own daughter enough to eat every single day?

If word got out, people would laugh themselves to death. He might as well stop living and bash his head against a block of tofu!

"Hinata, why didn't you tell me you weren't getting enough to eat every day?"

Hyuga Hiashi could not help asking.

He felt somewhat resentful. If Hinata had always been eating her fill, would he never have had Hanabi, and would he not have needed to brand Hinata with the Caged Bird Seal?

"I..."

The instant Hyuga Hiashi spoke in that scolding tone, Hinata shrank back.

"What's wrong with Big Sister? Hanabi will give her mine too."

Hanabi, sitting beside them, was still too young to understand. Seeing her sister looking dispirited, she thought she had not eaten enough.

At that, Hyuga Hiashi opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but ultimately swallowed his words.

Forget it. One step at a time.

He would just have to keep stalling those people on the council of elders a little longer.

"Someone bring more food."

"Yes."

Watching Hinata pick up her chopsticks again and eat another five people's worth of food, Hyuga Hiashi could no longer keep his composure.

Meanwhile, Yecheng was also undergoing an interrogation by Tsunade.

"Hey, brat, hurry up and tell me exactly how your date went today."

Tsunade poured herself drinks as she eagerly grilled Yecheng.

Shizune merely watched with a smile from the side, seemingly very interested in the matter as well.

Helpless, Yecheng could only give them an account of what the two had done on their outing that day.

Tsunade was dumbfounded after hearing it. "You're raising a daughter here!"

Yecheng smiled without answering.

With his mental age, how could he really make a move on Hinata?

He would have to wait until she grew up, at the very least!

"Never mind. Let's eat first."

Tsunade drained her cup and spoke as she poured herself another drink.

"After dinner, I'll formally start teaching you Medical Ninjutsu."