In front of the Hyūga Clan compound, the night was still. The moonlight spilled over the tiled roofs, giving the estate an almost ethereal glow. Hinata crept quietly through the gate, tiptoeing carefully across the stone path. She glanced around to make sure no one was watching. When she saw the courtyard was empty, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Her heart was still pounding from earlier. The warmth of Naruto's embrace, the lingering sensation of his lips… she shook her head quickly, trying to calm herself before entering her home.
She padded softly along the wooden corridor, passing the vestibule and turning toward her backyard. Just when she thought she was safe, a sharp voice rang out in the silence.
"Stop!"
Hinata froze, her entire body trembling. Slowly, she turned her head. Leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest was Neji Hyūga, his Byakugan eyes narrowing at her.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time," Neji said coldly, pushing off the wall and walking toward her. "Why are you coming back so late?"
Hinata forced a nervous smile. "It's… Brother Neji. Nothing happened. I was just… delayed outside, that's all."
Neji snorted, his voice laced with suspicion. "And Naruto? He didn't escort you back?"
Hinata's cheeks flushed as she stammered, "He… he did. He walked me back, but then he left first."
"Oh?" Neji frowned, clearly unconvinced.
Hinata, desperate to escape the scrutiny, faked a yawn and said quickly, "I'm really tired. Brother Neji, I'll go back to my room and sleep now. Good night!"
She hurried down the corridor toward the backyard. But just as she reached the edge of the lit walkway, Neji's voice cut through the air again.
"Wait!"
Hinata stopped, her shoulders stiff. She turned reluctantly, giving him a nervous smile. "Brother Neji, can't it wait until tomorrow?"
In three long strides, Neji closed the distance. His sharp gaze swept over her before his hand suddenly reached out, touching the fabric of the oversized jacket she wore. His voice was like ice.
"Why are you wearing Naruto's clothes? Where are your own?"
Hinata froze. Then realization struck her—her stomach dropped.
She had run off in such a hurry that she was still wearing Naruto's jacket. That meant… her own clothes were left at Naruto's house!
Her face turned scarlet, but Neji's sharp eyes had already caught everything. Even a fool could connect the dots.
Neji's expression darkened, fury boiling in his chest. His fists clenched tightly.
"Hinata! Tell me the truth—did Naruto take advantage of you tonight? Did he… bully you?"
"Wha—No!" Hinata cried, waving her hands frantically. "No, Naruto didn't bully me at all!"
"Still defending him?" Neji snapped. "You must have panicked and put on his clothes by mistake after he—!"
Hinata's heart raced. She was stunned that Neji was jumping to such wild conclusions.
But Neji knew his cousin better than anyone. Hinata had never been able to lie convincingly since she was a child. He could read every flicker of hesitation on her face. To him, it was undeniable.
Naruto had done something.
The thought made Neji's blood boil. For years, ever since freeing himself from the curse of the Caged Bird Seal, he had sworn to protect Hinata—not just as a member of the branch family protecting the main, but as her cousin, her brother in everything but name.
Now, the man he trusted as a comrade, his closest friend, had crossed a line?
Neji gritted his teeth, his mind burning. "Damn him… I trusted Naruto! I saw him as my brother, and this is how he treats my sister?!"
His hands shook with anger. "I'll kill him. I'll go right now and demand an explanation!"
Neji spun on his heel, but Hinata rushed forward and grabbed his arm.
"No, Brother Neji!" Hinata begged, clinging to him. "Naruto didn't bully me! I wanted it—I did it of my own free will!"
Neji froze.
"What…?"
Her words were like a kunai to the chest. They confirmed his fears, yet at the same time, they destroyed him. His younger cousin, the gentle, kind Hinata… had willingly given herself to Naruto?
The fire in his chest roared higher. No matter what, he couldn't let this go.
At that moment, another voice called out.
"What's going on?"
Hanabi Hyūga appeared from the backyard, her hair slightly messy as though she had just woken. She walked toward them curiously.
"Sister, Brother Neji… why are you arguing so loudly?"
Hinata froze, panic shooting through her.
Hanabi's eyes fell on her sister's oversized clothes. She frowned. "Sister… those aren't yours. They're men's clothes."
Neji growled, his fury unrestrained. "Exactly! That bastard Naruto forced himself on your sister!"
Hanabi gasped, her eyes widening. She quickly turned to Hinata, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Sister… don't tell me… you already ate the forbidden fruit?" Her cheeks flushed mischievously. "So… was it like the books say? Painful at first, but then it starts to feel good?"
Hinata's entire face burned. She slapped her younger sister lightly on the head. "Stop reading Jiraiya-sama's Icha Icha Paradise! You're too young for that!"
"Ow!" Hanabi rubbed her head, pouting.
Neji glared at her, furious. "And you—what are you even reading? Instead of studying your ninjutsu, you fill your head with this filth?"
Hanabi only stuck her tongue out and made a face. "I don't care! I won't listen!"
Neji's anger only deepened. If he stayed here, he'd explode. His rage redirected itself entirely toward Naruto.
"That's it—I'm done. I'm going to find Naruto right now and settle this!"
Hinata panicked. She threw herself down, wrapping her arms around Neji's leg. "No, please! Don't go looking for Naruto!"
"Hinata-sama, let go!" Neji growled, tugging his leg.
"I won't!" Hinata's voice cracked with desperation. "Not unless you promise me you won't go after him!"
Neji stared down at her, incredulous. "Why? Why are you protecting him after what he's done to you?"
Hinata pouted stubbornly, refusing to let go.
Hanabi stood to the side, trying to stifle a laugh at the sight.
The commotion finally drew the attention of the elders.
From deeper inside the compound, two figures appeared—Hiashi Hyūga and his brother Hizashi Hyūga. They had been sharing sake and reminiscing about the past when the noise pulled them from their conversation.
Hiashi's stern eyes narrowed at the sight of Hinata clinging to Neji's leg. "Hinata! What are you doing? You're not a child anymore. Stand up at once—this is disgraceful."
Hizashi, on the other hand, chuckled softly. To him, it looked more like the play of close siblings than anything else.
But then both brothers noticed something odd. Hiashi's sharp gaze narrowed further.
Hinata wasn't wearing her usual attire. The jacket was distinctly too large, unmistakably masculine.
Neji seized the opportunity, bowing to his uncle. "Clan Head! Uncle! Hinata was taken advantage of—by Naruto!"
"What!?" Hiashi barked, his voice echoing through the courtyard.
Hinata shook her head frantically. "No, Father! It's not true! Don't listen to Neji!"
Neji's eyes burned with anger as he pointed directly at her. "You admitted it yourself earlier! And those clothes—you can't deny it! They were… together. She must have panicked afterward and put on Naruto's jacket by mistake!"
Hiashi's gaze fell heavily on his daughter, and his heart sank. The jacket truly was Naruto's.
Though he respected Naruto as the hero who saved the world—and had even grown to accept his daughter's feelings—this was too much. They weren't married yet, and already she was giving herself to him?
It violated the traditions of the Hyūga Clan.
His pride flared, his blood boiling.
"Neji! Gather the Hyūga Clan immediately. We will confront Naruto tonight!" Hiashi roared.
"That's right!" Neji growled, emboldened.
But Hinata sprang to her feet, tears glistening in her eyes.
"I told you—Naruto didn't take advantage of me! Why won't you believe me?"
Hiashi's face darkened. "We're your family, Hinata! We're trying to protect you, and you resist us? What are you afraid of?"
Hinata's hands clenched at her sides. She looked directly at her father, her voice trembling but firm.
"Even if Naruto did 'bully' me—so what!? I love him. I've always loved him. I'm going to marry him, no matter what!"
The courtyard fell silent.
Hiashi was speechless. His daughter—the one he had raised with such strict discipline—was openly defying him for the sake of a man.
Neji's shoulders sagged, disbelief clouding his eyes. To him, Naruto should have been the one pursuing Hinata, not the other way around.
Hanabi, meanwhile, stared at her sister with awe. For the first time, she truly saw her as a heroine—bold, fearless, unshaken in the face of family pressure. The kind of woman who would fight for her love no matter the cost.
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