Hanabi and Naruto walked one after another down the Hyuga household corridor. An unusual silence spread between them, as if waiting for one of them to speak.
"Hey..."
Finally, the younger Hanabi was the first to stop. It was clear that her emotions were in a very unbearable state. If it weren't for the strict Hyuga family rules instilled since childhood, she might now be screaming like a startled small animal.
"What?"
In contrast, Naruto's demeanor and words were very calm and natural. Just now, the Hyuga family's exclusive medical ninja had carefully healed the burns on his stomach, but although this treatment method was indeed much more advanced, Naruto knew he still preferred the method of applying ointment.
"She... isn't my sister..."
After holding it in for a long time, Hanabi finally squeezed out this sentence through gritted teeth. Her small face had turned an extremely strained greenish-white, making it easy to guess the turbulent emotions within her.
"No... she is your sister..."
Naruto looked down at Hanabi in front of him. The golden-haired boy's blue eyes were slightly downcast, showing an unprecedented dimness in the shadow, making it hard to imagine such emotion appearing in his eyes.
"What are you saying?! Didn't we test her?? She... she doesn't even remember applying medicine to you... meaning, she's not the sister we first encountered at all... She, yes, she must be the person on that strange contract, that woman named Suigin tou!"
Hanabi suddenly turned around, the Byakugan loli even seemed a bit incoherent. Undoubtedly, after accidentally seeing that strange blood contract, the Byakugan loli felt some terrible truth. That's why, after bidding farewell to her sister, she suddenly returned with Naruto again. And this time, from the reaction of the 'Hinata' who responded again, it was clear that she had no idea that Hanabi and Naruto had already been there before.
"Hanabi... has she done anything bad to you, or to the Hyuga clan?"
Staring quietly at Hanabi, Naruto's tone was unexpectedly calm, which made the agitated Byakugan loli subconsciously pause, then she hesitantly opened her mouth: "What are you saying... okay... no..."
"Then, has she completely disregarded the Hyuga clan, or refused to support the Hyuga clan from which she originated?"
Lowering the arm that was cradling the back of his head, Naruto's tone remained calm, which made Hanabi cry out unwillingly: "What's the point of saying all that? The most important thing is... she..."
"Then why do you say she isn't your sister?!"
Unexpectedly, Naruto abruptly interrupted Hanabi's argument. This question, filled with sharp sarcasm, made the Byakugan loli freeze in place again.
The surrounding space fell silent once more, leaving only the noisy chirping of cicadas on the tree branches.
"Hanabi, I'm an orphan. So, I don't know how blood relatives are defined. But I know the definition of family: those who are willing to be good to you. As a daughter of the Hyuga clan, and your sister, Hinata has not been indebted to anyone. So, in my eyes, she is your sister. Therefore, your childish joke should probably end now."
Walking straight past Hanabi and out the front door of the Hyuga main residence, Naruto stopped with his back to Hanabi, then turned his head to look at Hanabi, who was still standing in place.
The golden-haired boy's tone was filled with a rare depth and indifference: "Do you know? More than being ridiculed and humiliated, being rejected and denied is the most painful. And the stupidest thing is to intentionally use that pain to hurt those around you. If you want to prove you're not an idiot, then I think you should know what to do."
The golden-haired boy's figure gradually disappeared from Hanabi's sight with the lingering glow of the sunset. Watching him leave, the Byakugan loli standing in place couldn't help but clench her small fists.
Yes, even with her instinctive rebellious feeling towards others' preaching, Hanabi wasn't an obstinate stick-in-the-mud. She knew what he said wasn't without reason.
But...
"Is she really... my sister?"
Turning around, the small Byakugan loli resolutely returned to the corridor she had come from. After turning several corners, the Byakugan loli had once again returned to the courtyard she had left earlier, the area where Hinata was located.
"Sister, it's me, Hanabi."
The loli's voice from outside the sliding door indeed made Hinata frown. The last time, the other party seemed to have given up approaching her sister, so why was she acting uncharacteristically clingy today?
"It's getting late. What is it?"
Leaning against the back cushion, Hinata was writing a new script on the low table in front of her without lifting her head. After all, as one of the most important rights in a production crew, she had always held the power to write scripts firmly in her hands. So, she was rare in planning to relax for a day, treating it as mental relaxation.
Whoosh~
To Hinata's surprise, Hanabi, standing at her door, directly pulled open her room's sliding door. This made Hinata quite surprised as she looked up at the Byakugan loli standing at the door, a trace of annoyance forming between her eyebrows.
"What exactly is it? Have you forgotten the etiquette of needing someone's permission to enter a room, Hanabi?!"
Hanabi wasn't in a hurry to react to her 'sister's' reprimand. The Byakugan loli merely looked with complex eyes at the manuscript still being written in her hand. Without a doubt, this was one of the symbols of her effort and hard work. It was these words, penned by her, that transformed into the storyline of Fox Whispers, which in turn materialized into tangible profits, not only feeding a series of Konoha village families but also elevating the entire Hyuga clan's standard of living by a notch.
However, behind all of this, what couldn't be denied were her sister's shoulders and body, which appeared even more slender and fragile than those of an ordinary girl. Hinata's current height was undoubtedly among the shortest for her age group, even nearly half a head shorter than Sakura and Ino. But even if she wasn't as tall as others, she remained an existence that those people had to look up to.
This strength came from her tenacity and persistence. Every matter had her blood, sweat, and effort poured into it, so her strength was only natural.
Just like her sister from before, who used to hide and cry, she had licked clean every bit of that inner weakness and timidity, transforming it all into her self-respect and power.
Such a sister... it was as if just by looking at her, one could feel that inner strength and confidence.
Then, she should be able to be even braver than before...
"Sister..."
Slowly walking to Hinata's side, Hanabi gritted her teeth. Before Hinata could even react, the Byakugan loli suddenly threw herself into her embrace. Her small body clung tightly to Hinata's back, as if hugging her most cherished possession. That small weight carried all of a little girl's courage and heartfelt intention.
"Wh... what, what are you doing?"
Hinata's expression indeed froze. Even as she tried to maintain a calm tone, she could feel her body trembling.
It was a protective, almost self-preservation, rejection that arose from being actively touched by someone.
"Sister, I'm sorry... all this time, it's been... I'm sorry..."
Burying her face in Hinata's chest, Hanabi's broken words were not difficult to understand. This made Hinata's raised fingers stiffen slightly, but they still landed on Hanabi's back collar, attempting to lift the Byakugan loli clinging to her and push her away.
"Don't be silly, Hanabi. You are you, I am me. Your apology is useless to me."
Grabbing Hanabi's back collar, Hinata's arm exerted slight force. Although she indeed felt a slight tremor due to the Byakugan loli's action, this did not mean her resolve wavered. For someone without utility, the most she would do is keep them around and set them aside.
Because she doesn't need someone who can only endure when facing disaster. Such a person is useless as a companion and only adds to sadness.
"I won't let go! Sister is my sister! I! I also want to become someone like Sister!"
Clinging tightly to Hinata's waist, Hanabi's tearful cry finally made the hand on Hinata's back stop.
"Hanabi, what did you say?"
Looking down at the Byakugan loli in her arms, a hint of an unusual expression indeed appeared in Hinata's eyes. Yes, it was because of the meaning of her words.
"I want to become like Sister, just as strong, just as intelligent, just as capable of independently bearing more burdens! To be with you!!"
Looking up at Hinata in front of her, Hanabi's white eyes met Hinata's white eyes completely. And the determination in her eyes made Hinata's brows slightly relax.
"Is that so? I see... I originally thought that the Hyuga clan were all just rigid traditionalists who should be kept in a cage until they died, but now it seems, perhaps there's one who's different?"
Stopping her attempt to push Hanabi away, Hinata knew what that stir in her heart was.
Yes, even as someone standing at the pinnacle, Hinata was different from others. She clearly understood that anything that exists should eventually come to an end, and even accepted this development as natural. That's why she possessed a more indifferent yet stronger executive ability than other superiors.
Because she never focused on illusory immortality or longevity, she could therefore see the natural law that no flower remains red forever and no person stays good forever, thus absolutely not wasting time on superfluous personal pursuits.
Only those who believe they are not immortal can look at their world and their existence more rationally, and thus not be lost in the mist of power before their eyes.
Therefore, even at such an early stage, she had to cultivate a successor of her own.
This was not only for the sustainable continuation of her ideology and strategies but also, at times, for necessary temporary governance.
As for descendants, it was clearly impossible in the short term, and even if there were any, it would be difficult to ensure they possessed qualities that satisfied her.
And in Hanabi, Hinata saw a similar sense of indomitable spirit and drive to excel in the Byakugan loli's eyes.
Setting everything else aside, having this indomitable drive would at least enable the other party to put in more effort and perseverance than their peers.
"Hanabi, do you mean to become my successor, is that correct?"
Raising her hand to cup Hanabi's delicate little chin, Hinata's gaze was direct and stern as she looked at the Byakugan loli in front of her. She needed a clear and firm answer.
"Yes! Sister! I want to become like Sister, just as strong and intelligent!"
Despite feeling immense pressure from her sister's gaze, Hanabi still courageously gave her answer. Yes, that's it! Since she had already admitted that her sister was far stronger than herself, then what she should do is learn from her sister, rather than escape and become mired in the so-called mire of Hyuga orthodoxy.
"Very good, your answer is beautiful, I like it very much."
Releasing Hanabi's chin, Hinata tilted her head slightly, her tone carrying a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"Then, starting tomorrow, we'll see if you truly have the qualifications to be my successor."
"I'll be very much looking forward to it."
These words made Hanabi in Hinata's arms squirm uneasily. The Byakugan loli's words also became a bit timid: "Sister... one more thing..."
"What? Just say it. If you want to be my successor, you should learn my decisiveness."
"Hai!! That is! Let's sleep together tonight!!"
"..."
---
Auther Notes:
(PS1: Hmm~ o(￣▽￣)o~~ Perfectly handled conclusion~~ I'm not saying this, but to those readers who worry about Black Hinata being tricked, or the plot turning to sh*t, please have a little faith in my writing skills, okay?? At the very least, I'm a full-time author with ten years of experience. I can't guarantee anything else, but I definitely won't let my 'daughter' suffer any grievances, okay?? Even for my eldest 'daughter,' it's always her forcing others, not others forcing her. Where did you get the idea that I might let my 'daughter' be bullied by some pixel characters in a two-dimensional world?? So, feel free to read with confidence. Even if Black Hinata destroys the world, there won't be any plot where she's bullied or tricked.)
(PS2: Regarding the so-called intelligence issue, I just want to say that Black Hinata is not in God mode, and the Byakugan is not an all-knowing eye. Moreover, she has her own conjectures and judgments. In this situation, would it be normal for her to constantly suspect that she's not herself, that there's a residual body inside her, that she's about to be jointly tricked, or that she's about to be tied up and treated like a H-anime heroine?? That's completely absurd, okay?)
(PS3: Then there's the personality issue. Firstly, I have never set Black Hinata as a 'cunning' or 'insidious' character in this book. So, her personality should actually be 'strong' and 'regal.' Rationally utilizing all existing resources and controlling and crushing with the grandest and most direct means—this is the description that fits her actions~~ As for the original characters who can't see her methods, one can only say that their vision is not enough to match hers~)