19: Sister-in-Law
Konoha, Year 57 – July 23rd.
Konoha Village, Hyuga Clan Grounds.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of crisp and heavy impact sounds echoed from the dojo of the clan head's residence.
The scene zooms in to show a boy and a girl—two children—engaged in a taijutsu duel.
Those repeated impact sounds were coming directly from their hands.
Hinata and Hyuga Neji both had veins bulging at their temples. Their hands moved like blurs, fingertips wrapped in blue chakra flames as they struck at each other's chakra points.
Not a single strike landed. Each one was either blocked before hitting the target or interrupted mid-attack when the opponent found an opening, forcing a switch from offense to defense.
The constant chakra clashes stirred up waves of howling air pressure.
But this kind of rhythm was a harsh test of willpower.
A single moment of distraction, and your opponent could seize an opening and end the fight in an instant.
Sure enough, after dozens of rounds, a crisp thrust ended the match.
Snap!
Under Hyuga Neji's wide-eyed, shocked gaze, Hinata—with a stern expression—thrust her finger into his body, mercilessly injecting chakra.
In an instant, the chakra in Neji's hands vanished.
Immediately after, a flurry of fierce attacks rained down on him. Each strike pushed chakra into his body, sealing off his chakra flow and causing him intense pain.
But Neji grit his teeth, refusing to let a single cry escape.
Once the combo ended, Hinata withdrew her hands, the veins at her temples settling down. She looked at the fallen Neji and said gently:
"Thank you for the match, Neji-nii-san."
Seeing this scene, Hyuga Hiashi not far away couldn't help but show a satisfied smile.
But before Hinata could look over, he quickly straightened his face, returning to a stern expression as he addressed Neji:
"Neji, go get treated."
"Yes, Clan Head."
Hyuga Neji lowered his head, concealing the resentment and unwillingness in his heart. He stood, bowed slightly to Hinata, and said:
"Thank you for the match, Lady Hinata."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Hinata didn't notice Neji's emotional shift.
After completing the "Clan Monthly Exam," she immediately ran up to Hiashi with a hopeful expression:
"Father, I want to take Hanabi out to play. May I?"
"Mm, go ahead," Hiashi nodded.
"Thank you, Father."
Hinata flashed a small smile and ran out of the dojo, taking her three-year-old sister Hanabi with her, leaving the clan grounds to find Izayoi.
It had been exactly three years since she first began training with Izayoi outside.
Over those three years, Hinata's growth was immense, evident from her victory over Neji and Hiashi's current attitude.
This wasn't her first time defeating Neji.
Since the beginning of the year, every time they sparred, she'd win.
By the second half of the year, the wins became increasingly one-sided.
The Gentle Fist Style required not only the Byakugan but also exceptional chakra control.
And in terms of chakra control among their peers, only Izayoi surpassed Hinata.
Even Sakura Haruno, whose trait level was purple, didn't match Hinata's chakra control—Hinata had been practicing the Gentle Fist style daily, after all.
Defeating the cousin she once feared had completely transformed Hinata—she had become confident and self-assured.
Whether it was Hiashi or the elders of the main family, all had unanimously decided that Hinata would be the future heir of the main house.
Because of this, many main house elders had been urging Hiashi to place the Caged Bird Seal on Hanabi.
However, Hiashi refused, using his wife's passing and his desire to give Hanabi a happy childhood as an excuse. He said he would decide when Hanabi turned twelve.
At the same time, Hiashi no longer opposed Hinata spending time with Izayoi—even though he could see that their relationship was gradually changing.
He even allowed Hinata to take Hanabi out to visit Izayoi.
No one knew what Hiashi was truly planning.
It seemed like he was playing a long game—trying to ensure that neither of his daughters would have to bear the Caged Bird Seal.
Izayoi, of course, knew nothing about this.
He simply thought Hinata and Hanabi were allowed outside because of Hinata's excellent performance and her firm status as heir to the Hyuga clan.
As for the possibility that her firm position might cause Hanabi to receive the Caged Bird Seal early—Izayoi never considered it.
Even if he did know, Izayoi wouldn't care.
The Caged Bird Seal was merely a type of curse mark.
In terms of level, it wasn't even as advanced as Orochimaru's Earth and Heaven Seals.
Even if the Hyuga clan didn't possess a method to remove the Caged Bird Seal, once Izayoi mastered Yin-Yang Release, he could undo it just the same.
Even if Hanabi were branded with the Caged Bird Seal, it would only bring momentary pain.
After all, Shippuden had ended, and she still hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy.
Whether the Byakugan had flaws or not didn't matter at all.
---
Knock, knock, knock...
"Onii-chan, I came to play! Open the door!"
The knocking and the childish voice rang clearly in Izayoi's ears.
When he opened the door, two figures—one tall, one short—stood in front of him.
The smaller figure ran toward him, wrapping her arms around his waist and shouting, "Onii-chan, let's go out and play!"
Three-year-old Hanabi wore a custom-made pink kimono. Even at such a young age, she had already developed the habit of wearing traditional clothing.
Her short black hair just covered her ears, her bangs parted in the middle.
Her baby-fat cheeks were soft and adorable—irresistibly pinchable.
And Izayoi did exactly that.
He gave her cheeks a playful squeeze and smiled. "Alright then. What does Hanabi want to do today?"
In Izayoi's eyes, a few colorful bubbles floated around Hanabi, showing her innate traits:
Princess of the Byakugan (Gold)
Kekkei Genkai: Byakugan (Purple)
Ōtsutsuki Bloodline (Blue)
Jōnin Potential (Blue)
Chakra Control (Blue)
Compared to commoners and children of ordinary ninja clans, Hanabi's stat screen was incredibly impressive.
The only trait not on par with Hinata's was the gold-rank "Princess of the Byakugan."
In the movie, her Byakugan had been stolen by Ōtsutsuki Toneri and evolved into the Tenseigan in just a few days. Hanabi's Byakugan had extremely high purity too.
Just one level away, and her traits would be equal to Hinata's.
Everything else was exactly the same—Hanabi was basically a toned-down version of Hinata.
And just like Hinata, she had the potential to defy fate itself.
To this adorable and extraordinarily gifted little sister-in-law, Izayoi was naturally quite fond.
"I want mochi dumplings! And I want to ride high up!"
Hanabi stood on her tiptoes, trying to climb onto Izayoi.
"Okay. Today, Hanabi calls the shots."
Izayoi patted her little head, then crouched down so she could straddle his shoulders.
Holding her small hands in his, Izayoi stood up and turned to Hinata, who was watching them with a warm smile.
"Hinata, close the door."
"Got it."
After closing the door, Izayoi took the Hyuga sisters to the bustling shopping district.
Ever since Hinata's mother had passed away, her outings with Izayoi had gradually become outings for three.
He still vividly remembered how Hinata had cried her heart out that day.
Until Hanabi grew up, only Izayoi and her mother had ever given Hinata the warmth and love she needed.
After her mother passed, Hinata's reliance on Izayoi reached new heights.
Their relationship began to subtly shift from that day on.
In order to keep Hanabi from going down the same path she had, Hinata trained even harder—determined to ensure her little sister could grow up happily.
Whenever she had free time, she would bring Hanabi to find Izayoi.
To Hinata, Izayoi was better at caring for children than her own father.
Her father's presence was too intimidating—his stern expression and oppressive form of discipline. If not for her mother's affection, Hinata would have broken long ago.
Now that her mother was gone, Hinata was determined not to let Hanabi suffer the same fate.
Watching Hanabi sitting happily on Izayoi's shoulders, Hinata felt she had made the right choice.