Is this... a dream?
Hinata stared blankly at her long arms and slim, shapely legs, and instinctively reached up to touch her cheek.
Why does my face... and body look so mature?
Not only had she grown taller, but she now had long, beautiful hair that reached her waist.
She used to have to bend over as far as she could to glimpse her toes—but now, she couldn't see them at all.
Her chest felt heavy, and her shoulders were sore.
What a strange dream.
And this place—wasn't it the training grounds at home?
Looking at the nearby training dummies and open practice area, Hinata instinctively launched into her usual routine: practicing the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist style of Baguazhang.
That is, until she was interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open, and a pleasant male voice—
"So it really is baby Hinata."
Uchiha Kage stepped through the doorway and saw Hinata attacking a wooden dummy.
Only, this wasn't the shy Hinata from the Ninja Academy—this Hinata looked much older.
Much taller, in the literal sense.
Strikingly beautiful. The innocence of a girl, the allure of a young woman, and a quiet elegance—blended so perfectly into one person.
Compared to Tsunade, whose beauty could be overwhelming, the Hinata before him had a softer charm—something warmer. Something that tugged at Uchiha Kage's heart in a different way.
She's getting more and more beautiful as she grows up...
"Especially those eyes... so clear and bright," he murmured.
He had just absorbed Tsunade's [Red Jade]—a rare and powerful ninja fragment—but now, looking at Hinata, he felt a similar pull. He was tempted to make a move right then and there.
But still—why was the Hyuga mansion here all of a sudden?
Would more buildings from Konoha appear in this instance later? More... NPCs?
It felt like, at this rate, the revival of the Uchiha clan would land squarely on his shoulders.
That is, if these NPCs can somehow become real people.
Uchiha Kage shook the thought from his head, wiped away the sudden heat from his imagination, and walked directly toward Hinata.
Better play it safe first—observe and see what kind of Hinata this is.
What if she's not an NPC...
Y-Ying... Y-You're in my dream...?!
Did he just call me baby...?
Hinata's face turned scarlet.
And did he... compliment my eyes...?
Even if this was just a dream, wasn't this too embarrassing?
But maybe—maybe this was what she truly longed for. To hear him call her "baby." To hear him say he loved the very eyes she had always been insecure about...
So, so shameless!
If it were possible to faint in a dream, Hinata would've collapsed from embarrassment right then and there.
"I..."
She wanted to say something to Uchiha Kage, who was walking toward her, but—her body didn't seem to obey her completely. She couldn't even speak properly.
"This is the Hyuga clan's training ground. Want to spar with me?" she blurted out.
Wait, what?! That's not what I meant to say!
Hinata mentally screamed, wanting to cover her mouth.
But when she heard the boy in front of her respond with "Sure," her body moved on its own—walking into the center of the training ground, taking a Gentle Fist stance.
Her Byakugan activated instinctively.
Huh? An option...?
Uchiha Kage, who had just been thinking about whether to strike from Hinata's snow-white chest or her soft curves, suddenly paused.
A new option had appeared—right after her dialogue ended.
Judging by her lines and actions, there was no doubt. She's an NPC.
With a playful smirk, he chose "Yes."
"Perfect. Since I absorbed your ninja fragments, I've learned a bit of Gentle Fist. Good chance to practice."
Byakugan—activate!
His appearance didn't change, but an invisible pressure radiated from Uchiha Kage's body—just like when Hinata activated her Byakugan.
...It really is a dream.
Hinata's last sliver of doubt vanished when she saw the boy take the same Gentle Fist stance as her.
Everything felt real—but it had to be a dream.
No way would someone from the Uchiha clan know the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist.
And besides...
They say you dream about what's on your mind. I spent all day thinking about finding an excuse to let Ying beat me up... and now I'm dreaming about it.
But before she could reflect on it any further, the spar began—and her body attacked Uchiha Kage on its own.
"She's fast."
This version of Hinata was far more skilled than the one he'd fought at the Academy.
But Uchiha Kage was stronger now too.
Even though he was unfamiliar with Gentle Fist, he kept up with her.
Still...
Even if she's an NPC, Hinata is still... Hinata.
She pulled her punches. Every strike was cautious, almost hesitant—like she was afraid of hurting him.
"Too weak."
Gradually adjusting to her rhythm, Uchiha Kage refined his control over the Gentle Fist style—thanks to the fragments he'd absorbed.
Gentle Fist! Eight Trigrams: Thirty-Two Palms!
A near-perfect match to Hinata's technique—but sharper, more aggressive, deadlier.
Hinata's defenses fell apart after just a few hits. Her arms were pushed aside, exposing her undefended chest.
Thud-thud-thud...
Each precise strike made her body tremble. Finally, she collapsed to the ground.
"Too weak."
In a daze, Hinata felt like she was hearing her father's voice in Uchiha Kage's.
That same cold disappointment.
And strangely—though it was a dream—it hurt even more than when her own father said it.
I... I can't let Ying see me like this. Not like this.
No way.
Hinata, who had originally accepted being beaten in her dream, suddenly felt a spark of defiance.
This body—it could mimic her father's moves.
Fine. I'll use his techniques—the same ones he used on me—to show Ying I'm not weak!
She remembered how Uchiha Kage had used her moves against her.
Now, she'd turn the tables.
"Let's go again!"
Uchiha Kage had thought the fight with "NPC Hinata" was over.
And after landing so many hits on her chest, he was about to step in—just in case anything broke.
But before he could move, Hinata stood up by herself—sweat-drenched, panting, determined.
Again, she took her stance.
"Impressive. Hinata's not suited to combat, but she's unbelievably persistent. She never gives up."
Uchiha Kage respected that.
He mirrored her stance once more.
This NPC was too real—her techniques, her timing, her very soul—identical to the real Hinata.
This "dream," this system—it was incredible.
Maybe it could be used not just to harvest ninja fragments, but also as a place to train for real battles.
"Hmm? Her moves changed?"
Before, Hinata had attacked while Kage defended and countered.
Now, the roles reversed—Hinata was adapting, switching to a defensive strategy with precise counters.
Caught off guard, Uchiha Kage was suddenly slapped back.
"Her moves evolved mid-fight?"
More and more interesting.
Uchiha Kage changed tactics, shifting to direct engagement. Their taijutsu clashed in full force.
But with Hinata treated like a proper boss fight, Uchiha Kage soon read her every move—breaking through her defense one by one.
Eventually, Hinata stood frozen again—like an NPC returning to idle.
Sweat dripping, chest heaving, expression blank.
And in her crystalline white eyes, the image of the boy who now stepped closer and closer.
Until—he pulled off his jacket and tossed aside the fishnet lining covering her chest...