Meanwhile, inside the cabin, Hinata knelt gracefully on a small cushion, nibbling on snacks. Her Byakugan was active — the veins around her eyes visible and faintly pulsing — as she quietly monitored everything happening outside.
She took a sip of hot tea, the steam fogging her delicate face, which relaxed into an expression of pure serenity.
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
Hinata no longer needed to play tugboat herself; Kiba and Shino had volunteered to handle it for her.
To make their training more "effective," Hinata subtly adjusted the boat's weight by unsealing or resealing items as needed. Whenever it seemed too easy, she would discreetly add a few heavy supplies back onto the ship. Whenever it became too difficult, she would remove some again.
For Kiba and Shino, the balance felt almost perfect — always challenging, but never unbearable. Neither realized that the boat's weight was being constantly manipulated by the very person sipping tea inside.
…
Small fishing boats like theirs usually operated near the coast. Because of their limited capacity, they couldn't carry many supplies. At sea, the most precious resource wasn't food — it was fresh water.
Even ninjas could only survive slightly longer than ordinary people without it. Once dehydration set in, death was inevitable.
Large ships, by contrast, could carry enough water for long voyages, but even they had limits. When the supply ran dry in the middle of the ocean, there was nowhere to replenish it.
But this was not a problem for Hinata. She had already prepared for it.
Her solution was simple — sealing techniques.
Anticipating harsh environments such as deserts, islands, and deep caves, Hinata had long made a habit of sealing fresh water in scrolls for emergencies. For this mission, she went further — sealing the entire contents of five small rivers and two large ones, each filled with pure, crystal-clear water.
For a team of three, that was enough to last several years adrift at sea.
With the most critical issue solved, they were no longer bound by fixed routes.
Following traditional paths would make them predictable, easy targets for pirates and rogue ninjas. Hinata preferred to take the initiative — to strike before others had the chance.
…
Days blurred together. By the time a full week had passed, Team 8 had been drifting across the open sea, their days following a steady rhythm.
Hinata continued her training and worked on expanding her "home space," while Kiba and Shino took turns towing the boat.
Their meals, however, consisted almost entirely of seafood. Morning, noon, and night — fish, shrimp, crab, and squid. At first, it was a feast. But by the fourth day, both Kiba and Shino were visibly less enthusiastic.
Still, the waters here were rich beyond measure. Because of the rampant pirates and rogue ninjas, no fishermen dared approach, and as a result, the sea teemed with life. Gigantic fish and strange sea creatures swam freely.
One particularly hideous fish — a grotesque monster over twelve meters long — attacked their fragile boat in an attempt to devour them. The attempt ended poorly for the fish, which ultimately ended up as dinner.
Another time, Hinata's Byakugan caught sight of a squid the size of a small mountain gliding through the depths. Naturally, it too met the same fate.
The catch was always fresh — grilled, stewed, or sliced for sashimi.
To be honest, Hinata was beginning to enjoy herself immensely. To her, this was less a mission and more a paradise of endless seafood and freedom.
…
That peaceful routine came to an end one sunny afternoon.
Hinata, scanning the horizon with her Byakugan, suddenly stood up.
"There are pirates ahead," she said calmly as she stepped out of the cabin. "Let's go."
Kiba and Shino exchanged a glance. Without hesitation, they tightened their grip on the rope. The old fishing boat lurched as the two poured chakra into their legs and sprinted forward, dragging it rapidly across the waves in the direction Hinata pointed.
…
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
The sharp clang of bells and gongs echoed across the sea.
Dozens of pirates rushed onto the deck of their ship, shouting and scrambling about.
"What's going on?"
"Where's the threat?"
"I don't see anything!"
The pirates were as loud and rowdy as ever — brawny men used to chaos and noise, not discipline.
One pirate raised his binoculars and scanned the horizon. His jaw dropped.
"Ninjas! There are ninjas coming this way!"
Instant panic spread through the crew.
A man with a scarred face — clearly a rogue ninja hired by the crew — snatched the binoculars from him. He peered through, then scoffed.
"Idiots. They're just kids. Look at them — twelve, maybe thirteen. Not even wearing headbands. Probably the children of wandering ninjas. Any one of you could kill them."
Hearing that, the crew relaxed. Sure enough, the figures closing in looked young — one girl riding in a small, shabby fishing boat and two boys pulling it through the water.
It was such an absurd sight that several pirates began to laugh.
"What are they trying to do?"
"The girl's just sitting there while the guys do the pulling!"
"They're actually coming straight for us! Hah! Look at that speed!"
Unfortunately, their laughter didn't last long.
Kiba and Shino had misjudged the distance. When they tried to slow down, it was already too late. The battered fishing boat crashed into the pirate ship with a deafening boom!
The impact tore open a hole in the pirate ship's hull. The fishing boat splintered instantly and began to sink, while seawater flooded into the larger vessel.
Hinata had anticipated the possibility and leapt clear of the wreck just in time, all her essentials sealed safely away.
She landed lightly on the waves, scanning the situation with calm precision.
Then, turning toward Kiba and Shino, she said evenly, "You two handle the pirates. I'll take care of the ship."
Without another word, she sprinted toward the gaping hole in the hull, unrolling a scroll mid-run. From it, she summoned tools, planks, and a massive patch of reinforced material.
While her teammates clashed with the rogue ninjas above deck, Hinata went straight to work below — sealing leaks, replacing boards, and reinforcing the structure with chakra-infused wood.
She moved efficiently, each motion practiced and precise. For someone who spent so much time building and repairing inside her home space, the process was second nature.
If being a ninja ever failed, Hinata thought with a faint smile, she could easily change careers and make a living as a shipwright or construction foreman.
…
Ten minutes later, it was over.
Hinata exhaled softly, putting away her tools and brushing the sawdust from her hands. She didn't rush up to the deck — there was still fighting going on above, but it wouldn't last much longer.
The pirates were nothing but desperate men, all bark and no bite. The only real threat among them was a rogue ninja at best around Chūnin level. It was only a matter of time before Kiba and Shino finished the job.
As expected, the battle ended in just over half an hour.
When Hinata finally stepped onto the deck, she found the pirates beaten, bruised, and thoroughly subdued. She had already planned what to do with them long before seeing them in person.
Killing them would be a waste. These pirates were wanted criminals, after all — especially the rogue ninja. The bounty might not amount to much, but even a mosquito's leg was still meat.
As the eldest daughter of the Hyūga main family, Hinata felt a quiet obligation to contribute to the clan, no matter how small the profit. Even if her expenses far outweighed her earnings, a gesture of diligence would still please her father.
…
They changed course and sailed toward the nearest port. After confirming their identities with the local authorities, they handed over the pirates and collected the reward before setting sail once more — this time aboard the captured pirate ship.
However, the moment Hinata stepped inside, she frowned.
The smell was… awful. A mixture of sweat, alcohol, and years of neglect hung in the air. Even with her composure, it was unbearable.
"Kiba, Shino," she said firmly, tying her hair back, "let's clean this place up."
The three of them worked together from top to bottom, scrubbing, mopping, and airing out the rooms until the ship finally felt livable again.
Hinata inhaled deeply once they were done. "Much better."
Then, before the others could react, she tied a rope around her waist, fastened the other end to the railing, and jumped overboard.
Kiba froze. Shino's glasses nearly slipped from his face, though he caught them just in time.
"H-Hinata! You're not seriously planning to tow a ship this big, are you?!"
Hinata said nothing. Her face was flushed from effort as she leaned forward and began pulling.
Kiba blinked, watching her. "Wait… could it be that she thinks bigger is better?"
He hadn't intended to resume the towing work after changing to a ship this large — it was too exhausting. But seeing Hinata's determined back stirred something in him again.
He glanced at Shino. The two exchanged a silent understanding before jumping into action, taking over the ropes from Hinata. They strained together, muscles trembling, dragging the ship forward through the waves.
Hinata, pretending to pout, returned to the deck with a shy, "defeated" expression. But the moment she stepped inside the cabin, her lips curved into a satisfied smile.