"Not bad. Next, study the materials on sealing techniques. After that, I can help you learn the Strength of a Hundred Seal."
Tsunade reviewed Sakura's assignment and was very satisfied with her disciple's talent.
She had mentored Shizune for over a decade, but Shizune had never met the threshold to even begin learning the Strength of a Hundred Seal, so Tsunade had eventually given up. She had thought she would never take another disciple, but Sakura's appearance changed that.
To Tsunade, Sakura was like Naruto to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya had passed on his entire philosophy—his way of living, his worldview, and everything else—to Naruto, which helped create the miracle that was the Child of Prophecy.
Similarly, Tsunade planned to entrust all her ideals and beliefs about medical ninjutsu to Sakura. With that in mind, she felt that even if she were to leave Konoha one day, she wouldn't have to worry about the village's medical system declining.
"Thank you, Sensei! I'll definitely work hard!" Sakura said gratefully to Tsunade.
As a child from an ordinary family, her original ceiling had been chunin at best. But now, having become Tsunade's apprentice, she could transcend her original social class and hold hope of being with Sasuke.
This kindness was no less than that of a second parent.
"I believe you'll succeed, Sakura. Sasuke is back, so rest a bit and go chat with him!" As a considerate teacher, Tsunade didn't want Sakura to end up like her—single for decades.
"Yes!" Sakura replied joyfully. Just thinking about Sasuke-kun filled her with energy.
"Sakura, good luck. Make sure you win Sasuke over!" Tsunade said with deeper meaning.
Her words had two purposes: one was to help Sakura win Sasuke, and the other was to help Konoha preserve the Uchiha bloodline. Fortunately, the two goals didn't conflict, and she was quite pleased about it.
"Sensei, I'll do my best!"
After declaring her resolve, Sakura left with a smile.
"What enviable youth..." Hikari watched Sakura depart, sighing with some emotion.
Back when he was young, no girls his age had ever pursued him so passionately.
Ah, youth.
"Heh." Tsunade looked at Hikari and let out a cold laugh. "You may not have been popular with girls when you were young, but now that you're older, you have Tenten's affection. Aren't you feeling pretty proud of yourself?"
Uh...
She had a point.
Hikari had nothing to say in response.
"Shame on you. Handle your own romantic affairs properly. I don't want the day to come when several girls show up at the Hokage Tower causing a scene!" Thinking back on her own past actions, Tsunade really wanted to slap her past self.
Why couldn't she have just picked a decent man? She didn't even want to get married, but this guy's feelings weren't pure either. Choosing him was worse than choosing Jiraiya... Forget it, forget it—don't think about Jiraiya.
Just imagining Jiraiya, at his age, still playfully "inspecting" the women's bath made Tsunade want to crush him with her monstrous strength.
"Ahem. When it comes to romance, I've always been very sincere," Hikari said, uttering words only he believed.
In response, Tsunade gave him a look of pure disdain.
---
"Otō-sama, I'm home."
In Hiashi's study, Hinata bowed respectfully to him.
Looking at his daughter, Hiashi frowned slightly. With a father's instinct, he felt that something about her had changed.
He couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was yet.
"Mm, good to have you back."
After a brief pause, Hiashi continued, "Your mother has been missing you lately. Go chat with her."
As the strict father of the family, Hiashi had never lowered his guard in front of Hinata, always maintaining a stern demeanor.
What he hadn't expected was that Hinata didn't move.
She simply sat there, quietly gazing at him.
This time, Hiashi finally realized what had changed about her.
Her eyes.
If the old Hinata had been like a timid little rabbit—her shy gaze disappointing him—then the current Hinata was a wolf, a predator. Her eyes were filled with overwhelming pressure.
Even Hiashi was startled for a moment.
"Otō-sama, I have something to say to you." Hinata bowed respectfully once more.
"Speak." Hiashi was inwardly shocked. His eldest daughter had truly changed far too much.
"I am no longer the old Hyūga Hinata. From now on, please allow me to make my own decisions about my life. Is that acceptable?" Though Hinata's tone remained respectful, her words angered Hiashi.
What kind of nonsense was this?
He was the clan head of the Hyūga and her father.
He had wanted to retort with exactly that, but when Hiashi met Hinata's gaze as she raised her head, the words died in his throat.
"You are the eldest daughter of the main house. Your affairs concern the entire Hyūga clan. You need to understand what you're doing," Hiashi said sternly, though to Hinata, it sounded somewhat lacking in confidence.
"Of course I understand the Hyūga clan. I simply don't want this clan to become a shackle for me." Hinata continued to look directly at him. "From a young age, you've believed Hanabi has more talent than me and is better suited to be the Hyūga heir. I won't—and don't want to—change that."
"I want to marry Naruto-kun and become his wife. On this matter, I hope you can support me!"
What!
Uzumaki Naruto!?
"Even if I agreed, the Hyūga elders would never allow it. As the eldest daughter of the main house, your husband must come from within the Hyūga clan."
"Otō-sama, I'm telling you this not to seek your permission, but to inform you of a fact." Hinata gazed steadily at him. "I don't want you to stand against me when I announce this to the clan in the future. Because at that time, I will defeat anyone who opposes me."
Her words were incredibly domineering.
For a moment, Hiashi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He was pleased with Hinata's growth, but the fact that her first target was him—her own father—left him deeply displeased.
He truly wanted to know what was so great about Uzumaki Naruto that he could earn such devotion from his daughter.
"Hinata!"
Hiashi forced himself to calm down. "I hope you understand what you'll have to face after making this decision!"
Hinata bowed deeply once more.
"Thank you for the reminder, Otō-sama. Regarding the Hyūga clan's affairs, I have already thought it through. What I wish to do, the Hyūga clan cannot stop me. When I announce this matter in the future, anyone who dares to stand in my way will be defeated by me."
The current Hinata felt she had finally gained the initial right to choose her own path.
For all of this, she had to thank Hikari-senpai.
Without his training and guidance, without his help in developing her potential, Hinata knew she wouldn't have made this progress.
Through the clan's records, she had discovered that her Byakugan's abilities were superior to others, and her physical strength and chakra reserves far exceeded those of ordinary Hyūga clan members.
She loved these changes.