Hanabi sat next to her obediently. "Hanabi, why do you think we work so hard to train and become stronger?"
"Of course, it's to protect the Hyuga clan!"
Hinata smiled softly. "Of course, that is the correct answer, but… it shouldn't be the only answer."
Hanabi blinked. "So, what else?"
Hinata glanced at the night outside the window, where the crescent moon cast a hazy, gentle light. "Everyone is different… some want to be recognized by others, some want to prove themselves, and some want to fulfill their dreams. Or… some want to protect the one they love. But most importantly… they want to be a better version of themselves."
Hanabi seemed to understand. "Become a better self? Then wouldn't my older sister be able to do the same?"
Hinata sighed and shook her head. "That's different… Hanabi, your talent is better than mine, but you are still too young, after all. You don't fully understand many things about our family..."
Hanabi scratched her head. "So, sister, do you have someone you like now?"
Hinata blushed instantly but made no attempt to hide it from her sister. "…Um."
Hanabi's eyes suddenly lit up, her face full of anticipation. "Ah, who is it, who is it!"
Hinata looked at Hanabi's gossipy eyes with a mixture of embarrassment and amusement. She tapped Hanabi's small nose. "I'll tell you later… For now, it's a secret."
Hanabi curled her lip. "…Oh." The little devil in her heart bared its fangs. *'Hey, I can find out myself…'*
Hinata stood up again and patted Hanabi's small head. "Go to sleep first, Hanabi. I need to practice for a while longer."
Hanabi nodded, walked out the door, and was about to close it when she turned back and said, "Sister, don't be too tired…"
"Um."
The door closed, and the sound of Hinata's training soon came from the training room again. The two sisters were unaware that their father, Hiashi Hyuga, was in the yard and had heard their entire conversation.
"Hinata…" Hiashi Hyuga frowned slightly. He thought about the past and realized that he had been too harsh on Hinata. But… he couldn't do anything about it. As the patriarch and the head of the clan, he had his reasons for doing so. Even if she was his own biological daughter, it was the same. Because that's how he had grown up too. Even the branch families of the main family had been doing this for thousands of years.
But… Hiashi Hyuga also looked at the crescent moon in the night sky. *'Is it really right?'* He saw that face again… a face exactly like his own, except for the curse mark of a caged bird on his forehead.
"Hizashi, what should I do? Will the tragedy between you and me continue? Hinata you've been resisting your so-called fate in your own way? On the contrary, I, the clan leader and father, have done nothing and have dared not do anything… It turns out I was the cowardly one…" He listened to Hinata's hard training and sighed in the lonely night.
…
When Naruto finally finished a day of training, it was already late at night once again. Under the supervision of the System, he fell asleep immediately without any delay. With his continuous efforts and practice, he gradually became proficient in the ability to do two things at once.
**Chakra Refining Technique Proficiency:** 88 points!
**Transformation Proficiency:** 76 points!
**Sexy Jutsu Proficiency:** 70 points!
**Multitasking Proficiency:** 61 points!
The amount of his chakra also increased to 66 points!
Certainly, the practice was not over; it had just begun. In his dream, Naruto once again had a ninja sparring session with Sasuke. Only this time, Naruto began to try to control himself. While maintaining his fighting spirit and killing intent, he tried not to let himself completely lose his mind. In other words, he could let his fighting spirit boost his morale and combat effectiveness, but he could not let this boost become crazy or even go completely out of control. This was not a systematic special training, but it was Naruto's new, strict requirement for himself.
Of course, in this state, he still had to try his best to defeat Sasuke! After the real battle with Sasuke during the day, Naruto felt more confident. Because he understood that although he had been on the verge of losing control and had finally been stopped by the Third Hokage, he was still qualified to fight Sasuke fairly! This was the source of his confidence. Naruto grew a lot that night.
…
The next day, Naruto still felt a dull pain in his right leg, but if he gritted his teeth and persevered, it was no big deal. With his special physique, he was recovering rapidly from injuries of this degree. He did not give up his training because of the injury. The System did not give him that opportunity. On the way to school, he still walked upside down with a weight on his shoulders and also tried to study his academic subjects at the same time. However, compared to yesterday, Naruto was now able to multitask with much more ease. It was just the weight on his right leg that made him grimace a little. But he persevered to the end.
On another road in Konoha Village, when Ino saw an extremely familiar figure, her heart moved and her brows furrowed slightly, but soon they relaxed and were replaced with her usual bright and brilliant smile. She walked quickly forward and patted the other person's shoulder. "Morning, Sakura."
However, Haruno Sakura's face was as cold as ice. "Don't touch me." She twisted her shoulders, shook off Ino's hand, and strode away.
Ino's palm stopped in mid-air. "Sakura…" She chased after her again without giving up. "Are you… are you still angry? I've already apologized to you… You still can't forgive me?"
Haruno Sakura said with a cold face, "Don't think I don't know. After you argued with me yesterday, you went home with Hinata, right? I think you've made your choice. Our friendship seems worthless to you."
Ino's heart trembled. *'Did she see it?'* But… "That doesn't mean anything. I just said a few words to Hinata…"
Haruno Sakura said, "No, as my best friend, you chose to stand on the side of Hinata and Naruto. There is nothing more to say."
Ino couldn't help but raise her voice. "But, Hinata and Naruto did nothing wrong…"
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