Chapter 31

At the Ninth Training Ground, Naruto sat on a tree stump, watching Hinata as she trained.

Hinata, focused, occasionally got distracted and glanced at Naruto out of the corner of her eye before returning to her practice.

Naruto shook his head, smiling to himself.

Lately, he and Hinata had been seeing each other frequently, and at this moment, Sasuke and she were the people he spent the most time with.

Sasuke continued training the Chidori alongside Kakashi, so when Hinata learned that his training partner was gone, she invited Naruto to join her.

Little by little, Hinata had been losing her shyness when they trained together, although she still got nervous easily in his presence.

The conversation in the group chat was... somewhat complicated.

[Hizashi Hyūga: Seriously, what does that girl see in you?]

[Kushina Uzumaki: My son has many good qualities!]

[Hizashi Hyūga: Oh? Name them.]

[Kushina Uzumaki: He's a handsome boy and...!]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Is that all? You can't think of anything else? Really, Mother?]

[Kushina Uzumaki: You're also a good boy and...]

[Mito Uzumaki: We both know no one believes such an obvious lie.]

[Mikoto Uchiha: Naruto is a good candidate, but I don't see him with that Hyūga girl... He should focus on my dear Sasuke instead...]

[Naruto Uzumaki: ...]

[Madara Uchiha: He is strong.]

[Hashirama Senju: He's also fun.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Just as expected from you two. You sure do pay a lot of attention to other men...]

[Madara Uchiha: ...]

[Hashirama Senju: ...]

[Mito Uzumaki: Lately, they've been sneaking off together very often, and that worries me...]

[Hashirama Senju: I've told you a thousand times, Mito! Madara and I are just friends! There's nothing more between us!]

[Madara Uchiha: ...]

[Mito Uzumaki: I don't believe you! Especially when Madara never defends himself!]

[Madara Uchiha: ...]

Naruto sighed and closed the chat. Those three wouldn't stop arguing about the same thing.

Mito, filled with insecurities about her husband, didn't seem willing to back down. Though, in a way, Naruto could understand her doubts.

He shifted his gaze toward Hinata, who was training alone, and frowned.

Hiashi Hyūga, Hinata's father, was entirely focused on training his younger daughter, Hanabi, who had shown greater talent.

Hiashi had already decided that Hanabi would be the successor of the Hyūga Clan, and as a result, Hinata was left in the care of Kurenai Yūhi, who, despite being a Jōnin specialized in Genjutsu, lacked the skills necessary to properly train a Hyūga.

The Gentle Fist, the most powerful art in Konoha, can only be taught by a member of the Hyūga Clan.

Kurenai could never teach Hinata anything useful.

Especially considering that the Hyūga Clan doesn't often use Ninjutsu due to their philosophy and combat approach.

The Hyūga Clan has always prioritized mastering the Byakugan and the Gentle Fist over Ninjutsu-related skills.

And there was Hinata, abandoned by her own father and clan, training alone, with no one to guide her.

[Naruto Uzumaki: Hizashi, help me train Hinata properly.]

Naruto didn't hesitate to ask for help from the only Hyūga he knew besides Hinata.

[Hizashi Hyūga: If this is a trick to obtain the Hyūga Clan's techniques...]

Naruto rolled his eyes as he read the message.

Honestly, the only things that seemed interesting about the Byakugan were its 360º field of vision and its ability to see through solid objects.

He was also interested in the Tenseigan, but that was more complicated. He would need Hamura Ōtsutsuki's chakra, something he wouldn't obtain so easily, and stealing Hanabi's eyes wasn't an option.

After all, Hanabi possessed the purest lineage within the Hyūga Clan, whose members descended from Hamura Ōtsutsuki.

Besides, Naruto preferred the Rinnegan. He just needed to trick Madara into obtaining Indra Ōtsutsuki's chakra and awakening it.

[Naruto Uzumaki: To be honest, the Byakugan is trash. I prefer the Sharingan. I just want to help Hinata.]

[Madara Uchiha: Heh...]

[Fugaku Uchiha: That was a blow to the Hyūga Clan's ego! HAHAHA!]

[Hizashi Hyūga: Don't you dare insult the Hyūga Clan, brat! Our clan is not beneath the Uchiha!]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Obviously. There is no Uchiha Clan anymore. If it existed, I'd be laughing in your face watching you try to compare.]

[Hizashi Hyūga: You...!]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Just hurry up. Look at Hinata...]

From the Pure Land, Hizashi observed his niece's clumsy movements and sighed. How had Hiashi allowed his daughter to stagnate like this?

He hoped Neji was training hard.

Hinata was also trying, but her talent... left much to be desired.

For the sake of his niece, Hizashi finally made a decision.

[Hizashi Hyūga has transmitted all his mastery of the Gentle Fist art to the group leader, including the Eight Trigrams: Heavenly Rotation and Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms techniques!]

Naruto smiled at the message and accepted everything.

As he stood up, Hinata stopped her training and looked at him in confusion.

"Sorry, Hinata, something came up. I have to go," Naruto said apologetically.

"Y-you're leaving already?" Hinata asked, somewhat saddened.

"We can meet tomorrow at the same time."

Naruto's words cheered her up, and she lifted her head, smiling happily.

He bid her farewell, giving her a kiss on the forehead before disappearing.

Hinata stood there, completely red, touching her forehead.

Kiba Inuzuka, who had been secretly watching alongside Akamaru, frowned and clenched his fists tightly at the sight.

He had just arrived at the Ninth Training Ground, temporarily assigned to Team 8, when he found Hinata accompanied by Naruto.

The memory of Naruto kissing Hinata's forehead filled him with fury.

"Tsk... Naruto...!" Kiba growled under his breath, now seeing him as his rival.

...

[Hizashi Hyūga: You tricked me!]

Naruto sighed, realizing how naïve Hizashi was.

[Naruto Uzumaki: I didn't trick you. I really do want to help Hinata. But before that, I need to get used to everything you've given me.]

Naruto knew he couldn't teach Hinata anything until he made the Gentle Fist his own. Simply inheriting combat experience wasn't enough; he had to master it completely.

[Hizashi Hyūga: Hurry up! The Chūnin Exams are near, and Hinata is not ready!]

Naruto frowned as he read the message.

The image of Neji mercilessly beating Hinata invaded his mind.

He wouldn't allow that to happen.

But unfortunately, Naruto wasn't a magician; he couldn't perform miracles.

There was little time before the Chūnin Exams, and there wasn't enough room to train Hinata to the level necessary to face Neji.

Without replying, Naruto began training.

For the first time since Hizashi granted him the Hyūga lineage and the Byakugan, he started training it seriously.

Naruto couldn't help but lament that the Byakugan wasn't as powerful as the Sharingan.

Because at that moment, he realized just how incredible it truly was.