After a few moments of travelling from roof to roof, Ryuku and Hinata arrived at the Hyuga residence.
The residence didn't even need a description to tell how beautiful and grand it was. One look, and even a child could tell it belonged to a noble family.
With oversized courtyards, tiled roofs, tatami floors, wooden corridors, not to mention several bonsai and a pond within the residence, it was probably the best place to live in Konoha.
Ryuku carried Hinata directly inside, putting her down on a wooden corridor attached to the massive courtyard — a courtyard bigger than his own house.
Talk about luxury and tradition...
Yet they forced one of their own to sacrifice for a beyond stupid reason...
The so-called prestige of a millennium, wasted over a mere provocation by Cloud... Pathetic weaklings.
No, it was all Hiruzen's and Hiashi's fault... The former's tardiness and the latter's rash decision to end abductor's life led to that incident.
Hm, whatever. Their family, their issues — not mine...
"T-Thanks, Ryuku-kun..." Hinata showed a shy but grateful look.
She's progressing quite well, hm... he thought.
"No need to thank me, Hinata. That's what friends are for."
He gave her a slight smile and prepared to leave.
"Rest for now. We still have a mission to complete."
She responded with a nod.
His next destination was the hospital, but just as he was about to Body Flicker, a soft but sharp voice came from the other side.
"Who are you to enter the Hyūga residence sneakily..."
Ryuku and Hinata turned their heads toward the voice.
Ryuku quickly interpreted the childish tone, while Hinata already recognized it.
Standing at the end of the corridor, a little girl with dark brown, shoulder-length hair stared at them, radiating a calm nobility far beyond her years.
Despite having the same pale lavender eyes as Hinata, her presence was the complete opposite — confident, poised, and assertive.
Hanabi... Ryuku confirmed in a glance.
As for Hinata, she stood frozen, almost as if she didn't exist.
Ryuku noticed her low self-esteem immediately and decided to act.
"Hey, Hinata, who's she?" he asked casually, forcing her to converse properly.
If she couldn't even talk freely with her own family, regaining confidence would remain a distant dream.
The process of overcoming her hesitation and deep-seated inferiority complex had to start at the root — a genuine, fear-free conversation with Hanabi, her genius sister.
That's why Ryuku focused on improving her communication first. Without it, no amount of strength or training could define her character.
Hearing Ryuku's question, Hinata, still shrinking back, whispered softly, "M-My sister... H-Hanabi..." Her voice was barely audible.
'...'
Although a bit disappointed, Ryuku raised an eyebrow in surprise and gave her a friendly smile. "Oh, you have a little sister? Why didn't you tell me about her earlier? I could've brought some sweets for her."
"I... Y-You didn't ask—" Hinata managed to speak a bit louder this time, a slight flicker of confidence in her voice.
But Hanabi's sharp voice cut through the air, reaching Hinata's ears, causing her to instantly fall silent.
"Nee-san, who's this person to you?"
Though she had already recognized Ryuku from a memory a week ago—the gray-haired figure training on the Hyūga's personal grounds—she still had no idea who he was, or why he was here, acting so casually in their residence and being so friendly with her older sister.
Is he Nee-san's—? No, that can't be right...
Her thoughts were scattered, confusion swirling in her mind.
Meanwhile, Ryuku, noticing that Hinata wasn't even attempting to make eye contact with Hanabi, swiftly replied on her behalf, "I'm Ryuku, your sister's teammate— or, more directly, a friend... Hinata's little sister." He ended the sentence with a small, teasing smile.
Hinata jerked her head toward Ryuku in surprise, her fingers trembling from the way he addressed Hanabi.
Oh—no, why did Ryuku-kun... Wait, it's my fault... I didn't speak loudly enough for him to hear...
Hinata blinked nervously, her mind racing.
"..." On the other side, Hanabi, clearly irked by his words, unexpectedly pouted and pointed a finger at him. But in an instant, she reverted to her usual composed self and spoke softly, "I'm Hyūga Hanabi. Call me by my name next time."
Her thoughts began to shift.
Nee-san got a friend... When will I get one?
No... Father won't let me. As the heiress of the clan, I can't even attend the Academy...
All day, training, training with Father...
I didn't want this life. Why do I have to train for hours each day while Nee-san gets to do whatever she wants...
She felt the pain coming from her bruised, bandaged hands and a strong desire to swap places with her sister. Being the heiress of the clan wasn't something she wanted. But the thought of going against their father's orders—the Patriarch of the Clan—never crossed her mind. She had been told to fight her sister with everything she had, and that's exactly what she did. But at what cost?
She lost the freedom she once cherished, while her older sister became the useless successor in their father's eyes, who saw no value in keeping her within the Clan's protection.
The Hyūga clan has no place for a weak heir...
She remembered her father's words clearly, a subtle loneliness hidden behind those confident pale lavender eyes.
After giving her silent sister a brief look, Hanabi began to leave, only to be called out by the gray-haired boy this time—by her name.
"Wait, Hanabi-chan."
Stopping, she looked back at him. "What is it?"
Even Hinata tensed at Ryuku's sudden voice.
Let her go, Ryuku-kun... Hinata cried out inwardly.
However, to their surprise, Ryuku casually suggested, "Come here, sit down. I'll heal your hands for you." He waved his hands, which emitted a soft, green aura.
----
Hyūga's Main Family Hall.
Hyūga Hiashi, a black-haired man with a serious expression, the father of Hinata and Hanabi, and the Patriarch of the Hyūga Clan, sat silently with his Byakugan activated. Veins protruded near his eyes, and his gaze, fixed on the opposite courtyard, seemed to intensify as his vision pierced through the distance. In the courtyard, a certain individual had entered without permission, now conversing with his daughters with a familiarity that seemed to deeply unsettle him.
"Hiashi-sama, as I mentioned earlier, he's Hinata's teammate, Ryuku, a Genin under Kurenai's team. Because Hinata was exhausted after their mission, he brought her back to the residence using the Body Flicker Technique. He seems to be a kind person with no ill intent towards Hinata. Even Lord Third seems to favor him for some reason," Hyūga Kō reported respectfully, half-kneeling.
"If that's all, you may leave," Hiashi ordered, his voice heavy, his Byakugan still focused on Ryuku.
"Hai." Hyūga Kō stood and left in silence. Within the Clan, the Patriarch's orders were absolute, especially for a branch member like him.
Now alone in the hall, Hiashi's gaze remained fixed. His Byakugan allowed him to see through walls and doors as if they were nothing more than thin air, making the distance irrelevant. He could observe the scene as if he stood there himself.
He's... the boy from that time...
Hiashi's mind briefly flashed to that moment — the boy running and jumping effortlessly over the surface of a stream, an act that many ninja-background children his age would struggle with.
So, he passed the Genin Test and became Hinata's teammate.
His talent is undeniable... for a civilian.
However, the next moment, even Hiashi's usual calm demeanor faltered as he noticed something unexpected in Ryuku's actions.
"That's..."