"Challenge Father?"
The mighty and stern Hyuga Hiashi was like a towering mountain in Hyuga Hinata's heart.
She felt more awe towards him.
Challenging a mountain is naturally difficult.
But once overcome, for Hinata, it would be a huge transformation and improvement.
Naruto smiled and encouraged, "Be confident. You are Hyuga Hinata, a unique existence in this world."
"And you've become very strong now."
"If your father asks you why you've become so strong, just tell him I used a secret medicine left by my parents on you."
Hinata asked in surprise, "Father… will he… think… I'm strong?"
In Hinata's memories, Hyuga Hiashi was mostly strict, harsh, dissatisfied, and disappointed with her, seemingly never offering praise or affection.
Of course, Hyuga Hinata knew her father didn't dislike her.
After the Third Great Ninja War, Konoha Village experienced its darkest hour.
Kato Dan's death, Tsunade's hemophobia, Jiraiya's departure from Konoha Village, Orochimaru's defection, Hatake Sakumo's suicide, Maito Dai's death, the Nine-Tailed's attack, the Fourth Hokage and his wife's sacrifice…
A series of changes and huge losses severely impacted the once powerful Konoha Village.
When Hinata was three years old, she was almost kidnapped by a Kumogakure Ninja. In the end, Hyuga Hiashi rescued her, even angrily killing the Kumogakure Ninja, which caused a diplomatic crisis.
Hyuga Hinata still longed for Hyuga Hiashi's approval and affirmation.
But if the opponent was her younger sister, Hyuga Hanabi, she couldn't do it.
(Note: The anime original plot explains that Hinata losing to Hanabi, who was five years younger, was because she couldn't bear to strike her.)
Naruto said, "What I said earlier was just my speculation. If your father doesn't talk to you about these things, just pretend nothing happened."
"Okay! I understand!" Hinata nodded heavily.
Hyuga Clan's residence.
Hinata tried to act like she was coming home from school as usual, but she still felt a bit guilty.
"Fa… Father, I'm home."
"I'm going to my room to study."
As Hinata passed the courtyard, she saw the sliding door of the tea room open. Hyuga Hiashi, dressed in a loose, plain kimono, was kneeling on the tatami mat, playing Go by himself.
She quickly blurted out a sentence, preparing to slip away and return to her room as quickly as possible.
"Stop!"
Hyuga Hiashi, holding a black stone, suddenly spoke.
His imposing voice startled Hinata, making her shrink her neck and freeze in place, not daring to move.
"Fa… Father…"
"Is there something you need?"
Hinata couldn't help but show her timidity, asking in a weak voice.
"Clack!"
Hyuga Hiashi placed the black stone, then rested his hands on his knees. His kneeling legs straightened, and he stood up.
He left the tea room, casually put on the wooden clogs placed in the corridor at the entrance, and then descended from the wooden viewing corridor to the courtyard.
Seeing his eldest daughter, the head of the Hyuga Main Family, looking weak and useless, Hyuga Hiashi frowned, his face filled with the frustration of not being able to make something out of her.
"Look at you, how do you resemble an eldest daughter?"
"How can you be the head of the Main Family like this in the future?!"
Hinata lowered her head, not daring to retort, and mumbled softly, "My sister does better than me. Let her be the head…"
With Hyuga Hiashi's hearing, he naturally heard what Hinata was muttering.
"Still daring to talk back?"
"Do you know what it means to give up the Main Family status?!"
Hyuga Hiashi snorted coldly.
Hyuga Branch Family Curse Mark.
An incredibly terrifying cursed seal!
The Main Family can use this cursed seal to control and destroy the brain nerves of Branch Family members, thereby controlling the Branch Family until the person dies, only then can the cursed seal be lifted.
Even… death might not be able to lift it!
After Hizashi Hyuga was Edo Tensei, the Hyuga Branch Family Curse Mark pattern was still on his forehead!
The Hyuga Branch Family Curse Mark can seal the Byakugan's abilities and can completely destroy the recipient's eyeballs and brain after the recipient's eyes are removed or they die.
Hyuga Hiashi was silent for a moment.
How could he bear to have such a vicious cursed seal carved on Hyuga Hanabi?
Both were his flesh and blood.
Moreover, the death of his younger brother, Hizashi Hyuga, also made this Hyuga Clan Head realize the problems between the Branch Family and the Main Family.
Hyuga Hiashi put his hands into his sleeves, looked down at Hyuga Hinata, and exuded the authority of a clan head: "From now on, you are not allowed to get too close to Uzumaki Naruto."
"!?"
"Naruto-kun's words… came true…"
Hinata's heart skipped a beat.
"Did you understand?"
Hyuga Hiashi was even more displeased seeing Hinata's astonished expression.
He didn't want his daughter to be taken away by a blond-haired boy.
Furthermore, this blond-haired boy was a Jinchuriki, an unstable ticking time bomb.
"Remember, this is an order from the clan head, not a request."
Hyuga Hiashi dropped the statement and turned to leave.
The usually timid and useless Hinata was unexpectedly brave and resolute this time.
If it were any other matter, Hyuga Hiashi's word might have been law, and Hinata would have accepted it without question.
But…
"Father!!"
Hinata suddenly lifted her head, her pale purple eyes gleaming with determination.
She clenched her fists and said loudly, "Father, I will agree to all other requests, but—this one thing is not possible—"
Hyuga Hiashi, who was about to leave, paused his steps and stiffly turned around.
He scrutinized the girl in front of him, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.
Is this…
Still his daughter?
The weak, incompetent, unassuming, and only shy Hyuga Hinata.
"Hmph."
After the surprise, Hyuga Hiashi snorted coldly.
"You like that fox boy, don't you?"
"You're just blinded by emotion, that's all!"
"I don't know what kind of hypnotic drug he gave you. Come on, hasn't he been teaching you something these past few days?"
"I want to see what a kid without any foundation can teach the eldest daughter of Konoha's biggest prestigious clan? Can he teach her better than us?!"
Hearing Hyuga Hiashi's half-angry, half-mocking words, Hinata's heart trembled slightly.
Naruto's words came true again!
This is… truly incredible…
"How did Naruto-kun know…"
Hinata was secretly surprised and impressed.
Hyuga Hiashi said sternly, "Come with me to the dojo. Also, call Hanabi. You two will have another match."
"If you lose to Hanabi again, then from now on, you'll stay away from Uzumaki Naruto."
Hyuga Hinata shook her head and said, "Don't call Hanabi."
Hyuga Hiashi stopped, glancing at Hyuga Hinata with disappointment.
"What? Have you become so weak that you don't even dare to challenge your sister, who is five years younger than you?"
Hyuga Hinata shook her head again, her eyes wide. Her once timid gaze no longer shied away, but instead looked directly at the Hyuga Clan Head in front of her.
"Although my sister is very smart, strong, and hardworking, she is no longer a match for the current me."
"I want to challenge you—Father!"
"Challenge—me?"
Hyuga Hiashi was completely stunned, then threw his head back and burst into laughter.
"My daughter has grown up."
"For a blond boy, she actually dares to challenge her father, the head of the Hyuga Clan?"
"Love truly makes people blind and arrogant."
Hyuga Hiashi shook his head, not angry, but rather felt a bit of admiration for his daughter who dared to challenge him.
"Come on, let's go to the dojo. Let me see what Uzumaki Naruto taught you."