Traveling without a fixed destination, Hinata led Kiba and Shino out of the Land of Fire until they reached a small coastal town. The scent of salt and sea breeze filled the air as they prepared to board a ship and set sail.
"I have some errands to take care of," Hinata said softly. "You two can explore the town if you like, but don't leave its boundaries."
With that, she turned and disappeared down one of the narrow streets.
Watching her figure vanish into the crowd, Kiba frowned. "How was it?" he asked.
Shino lifted his hand slightly. Several of his kikaichū insects fluttered back and landed on his fingers.
"We've been discovered," he replied quietly.
…
Meanwhile, Hinata made her way through the winding alleys with practiced ease. Although this was her first time in the town, she navigated the streets as if she had walked them countless times before.
That was the advantage of the Byakugan — no matter how complex the terrain, as long as it was within her field of vision, nothing could hide from her sight. Even a labyrinth was no more challenging than a children's puzzle.
She stopped in front of a modest wooden house and knocked.
Moments later, a middle-aged couple opened the door. Their eyes widened in surprise, and they quickly bowed in respect.
"Hinata-sama, welcome!"
Hinata smiled politely and returned the greeting, her tone as gentle and shy as ever. "Thank you. Please don't trouble yourselves — I just need to ask about the situation here."
Although her father had briefed her before leaving Konoha, his understanding had come secondhand. Only by hearing from those living here could she grasp the true state of things.
From the couple's account, Hinata learned the details of the surrounding area.
To save money, Hiashi had purchased one of the most lawless and chaotic sea regions available — waters so dangerous that no merchant ships or fishermen dared to approach. Pirates prowled the coasts, and rogue ninjas used the area as a hideout.
The price had been absurdly low, precisely because no one else wanted it. Those with sense invested in safer, more profitable waters.
Of course, a clan with capable shinobi could take advantage of such a bargain. If the pirates and bandits were eliminated, the area could be reclaimed and turned into a thriving fishing ground.
Hinata immediately understood her father's intentions. This mission wasn't merely about food or independence — it was also a test and a cleanup operation.
Once the pirates were driven away, the Hyuga clan could send fishermen to operate freely, splitting profits from the catch. The long-term gains would be substantial.
"Also," the couple added, "Lord Hiashi purchased a second-hand fishing boat. It's… quite old, but it can hold three to five people."
"Second-hand?" Hinata repeated blankly. "A dilapidated fishing boat?"
Her father — the ever-proud head of the Hyuga clan — allowing her, the eldest daughter of the main family, to ride such a thing? It didn't sound real.
The couple exchanged nervous glances and nodded quickly.
"Yes! Lord Hiashi said there's no need to waste money on new ships. There are plenty of fine vessels in pirate hands. Once you defeat them, their ships will be yours!"
Hinata paused, then gave a small nod.
"…That makes sense," she said quietly. "No problem."
…
After returning to fetch Kiba and Shino, the three followed the couple to the docks.
There, bobbing gently on the waves, was the so-called "fishing boat." The hull was cracked in several places, and the wood was bleached gray by salt and sun. It looked as though it might sink at any moment.
Hinata had prepared herself for the worst, but Kiba and Shino stood frozen in disbelief.
"Is this… seaworthy?" Kiba muttered.
After bidding farewell to the couple, Hinata motioned for her teammates to board. "Let's go," she said calmly.
Despite its shabby appearance, the boat floated — barely.
Hinata, recalling fragments of experience from her past life, took the helm. Though her memory was faint, the basics of navigation came back to her easily. And besides, a small fishing boat like this was simple to operate.
Once they left the shore, Hinata tied a rope around her waist, securing the other end to the bow railing. Then, to Kiba and Shino's astonishment, she jumped off the deck — straight into the sea.
The water splashed around her as she stood effortlessly atop the surface, chakra swirling around her feet.
Then, gripping the rope, she began to pull the boat forward.
At first, progress was slow. The strain made her cheeks flush pink, but as her rhythm settled, the motion grew smoother — steady and controlled.
Kiba's eyes widened. "She's… pulling the whole boat? You can train like that?"
He watched her lean forward, lowering her center of gravity and focusing her strength with perfect precision. The sight made his competitive spirit flare. "Hey, Hinata! What's the point of doing this?"
Her soft voice drifted back to him, barely audible over the sound of the waves.
"It's not about usefulness. It's about perseverance."
Kiba frowned. "You're lying. You look way too happy for something that's 'not useful.'"
He turned to Shino. "What do you think? Does this kind of training even make sense?"
Shino adjusted his glasses. "Probably. Considering how strong Hinata is, there must be meaning behind it."
Kiba gritted his teeth. "Fine. Let's find out."
Without warning, he leaped overboard, splashing into the shallows before wading closer to Hinata. "You've been dragging that thing for half an hour. You must be tired! Let me take over!"
Hinata's breathing was steady, though beads of sweat glistened on her forehead.
She glanced at him and shook her head gently.
"No. The key is endurance. If I keep going, I'll become stronger."
"Stronger, huh?" Kiba repeated, narrowing his eyes. "Didn't you just say it was useless?"
Hinata's face turned crimson. She opened her mouth, then quickly looked away, focusing on her footing instead. The rope tightened as she continued pulling the ship, too flustered to respond.
Kiba watched her stubborn persistence for another ten minutes. Her movements were graceful yet powerful — every muscle in her body working in quiet harmony.
Finally, his patience snapped. "Enough! You're already strong! Now it's my turn to get stronger!"
Before Hinata could react, Kiba untied the rope from her waist and secured it around his own.
"Wait—! I haven't finished!" Hinata cried, startled.
"Stop being selfish!" Kiba shot back. "We're teammates, aren't we? If I don't train too, I'll never catch up to you!"
Hinata hesitated, unsure whether to scold him or let him be. In the end, she sighed and climbed back onto the boat, giving Shino a helpless glance before disappearing into the cabin.
…
Shino watched silently as Kiba began to pull the vessel.
He could already tell Kiba's technique was wrong. His bursts of energy might move the ship for a while, but they wouldn't last.
Sure enough, after several minutes, Kiba's strength began to wane. The ship slowed, then drifted aimlessly with the current.
Panting hard, Kiba slumped into the water, chest heaving. "Damn it… how is she so much stronger than me?"
Shino looked down at him calmly.
"Let me try," he said at last.
Kiba grumbled but untied the rope and handed it over. Shino fastened it around his own waist, adjusted his stance, and began to move forward.
…
In terms of raw strength, Shino could never match Kiba. His power lay in precision and control, not brute force. Just getting his insects ready to move required immense focus and stamina.
However, where Kiba relied on instinct, Shino valued technique. Observing Hinata closely, he noticed that when she towed the boat, she maintained a steady breathing rhythm and a consistent pace.
He quietly imitated her form — and, making adjustments for his own body type, managed to improve it even further.
The result? Shino lasted longer than Kiba.
This, of course, didn't sit well with Kiba. When he found out, his competitive spirit flared again. The moment Shino was too exhausted to continue, Kiba wordlessly took over and resumed towing, determined to prove himself.