Hinata stood beneath a towering tree, her hands forming the Ram seal as she focused on mobilizing the Chakra within her body, gathering it at the soles of her feet, just as Izanami had instructed.
With a deep breath, she lifted her right foot and pressed it against the rough bark of the tree trunk. A sensation of firmness washed over her, as though the soles of her feet had adhered to the surface.
Relieved, Hinata raised her left foot, stepping up onto the tree. Her body now aligned horizontally in the air, she held her breath, preparing to take the next step.
But as she moved her third foot forward, her balance faltered.
"Ah…" Her expression shifted instantly, panic crossing her face as her feet, once stuck to the tree, slipped free. She gasped, her body pitching toward the ground.
In the split second before she fell, two strong arms caught her, stabilizing her body and preventing the crash.
Izanami chuckled softly, his voice warm and reassuring. "Don't worry, I told you I'd catch you."
"Izanami, I'm sorry…" Hinata muttered, her gaze dropping in apology. She felt like she had failed him.
"Why are you apologizing?" Izanami asked, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. His tone was kind, encouraging. "It's normal to fall. The fact that you managed to keep both feet on the tree on your first try is already impressive. When I practiced, I failed dozens of times before succeeding."
Hinata's eyes widened at his words, but she didn't question them. His encouragement lifted her spirits.
"Keep going," Izanami urged with a smile. "I know you'll make it to the top soon."
"Yes," Hinata replied, her confidence now bolstered by his support.
She formed the hand seals again, gathering Chakra at the soles of her feet, and placed her right foot back on the tree trunk. Her body once again became horizontal in the air, her movements smoother this time.
This time, Hinata didn't hold her breath. With a sense of calm and newfound determination, she took her third step.
The previous hesitation—the loss of control in her foot's Chakra—didn't happen this time. She steadied herself, the Chakra in her feet firmly anchored, and her shoes adhered to the tree's bark.
Step after step, she progressed. Fourth, fifth, sixth… her confidence building with each successful movement.
It wasn't until the eighth step that her balance faltered again. As she moved to take the ninth step, the Chakra in her feet wavered, causing her body to tilt, and she began to fall once more.
But this time, something was different. Hinata didn't panic. There was no cry of alarm or desperation. Instead, a quiet sense of anticipation filled her heart.
Just as before, her body didn't crash into the ground. Instead, it was caught gently in Izanami's arms. He held her effortlessly in a princess carry, his eyes filled with admiration.
"Impressive, Hinata," he praised, his voice warm and sincere. "You made it that high on your second attempt. You're truly a genius."
"Hehe…" Hinata giggled softly, her heart swelling with pride. She couldn't help but smile brightly, the kind of smile she rarely allowed herself to express.
Today, she'd received more praise than in the past few years combined.
Is this what it feels like to be recognized? she thought, her chest swelling with a sense of accomplishment.
Hinata, whose personality had not yet become as shy and easily discouraged as in the original timeline, felt a surge of motivation. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with newfound confidence as she spoke, her voice steady and determined.
"Izanami, put me down. I want to try again."
"Alright," Izanami said, his smile widening as he gently lowered her to her feet.
He watched Hinata with pride. It was clear she was changing—growing stronger, more confident.
He had been through the same trials and tribulations when he was younger, but now, as he stood with Hinata, he felt a sense of satisfaction. She wasn't just a victim of circumstance, but a young woman full of potential. It was his aim to help her realize it.
Hinata, the young lady of the Hyuga Clan, had been under immense pressure her entire life. But with time, Izanami could see her blossoming into something different—someone who wouldn't be held back by her past insecurities.
He smiled to himself. No matter what happened, he would ensure she didn't waste the potential she had. No longer would she be the timid, unsure girl from the original timeline.
Hinata's talent was undeniable. Among the Konoha 12, she was the only one born into a prestigious family, and with the Byakugan, she had the tools to become a formidable shinobi. All she needed was the confidence to believe in herself.
Tree Climbing and Water Walking weren't techniques that demanded immense Chakra, only a fine control over it. With her abilities and the right guidance, these techniques would be within her reach. It was just a matter of time and practice.
And Izanami was more than happy to help her with that.
The original Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha were the former, and Sakura Haruno was the latter. Similarly, Izanami and Hinata belonged to the latter group.
Hinata, who had managed to take seven or eight steps on her second attempt, didn't falter on her third try. Instead, she improved, successfully taking more than a dozen steps before losing her balance once again.
But Izanami was there, catching her steadily each time.
By the fourth attempt, Hinata no longer fell. She successfully reached the top of the tree.
"I did it, Izanami!" Hinata exclaimed, standing triumphantly at the top. Instead of admiring the view from above, she immediately turned to share her joy with him.
"Amazing!" Izanami called up with a wide smile. "You made it to the top on your fourth try, Hinata. You're much stronger than I was at your age." He gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up, his praise heartfelt and sincere.
"Hehe…" Hinata giggled softly, basking in the compliment.
Unlike her father, whose training always left her feeling nervous, and who rarely offered praise, Izanami's words felt like a breath of fresh air. At home, no matter how much effort she put into learning the Gentle Fist, there was no acknowledgment of her progress. The praise she longed for was absent, and sometimes, she was criticized for not being perfect like her cousin.
But here, with Izanami, she finally received the encouragement she craved.
The relaxed atmosphere, free from the tension she always felt at home, made her enjoy training in a way she had never experienced before. The joy of being recognized for her hard work filled her heart and motivated her to push further.
As she gracefully descended from the tree, as though walking on flat ground, Hinata turned to Izanami, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Izanami, is Water Walking like Tree Climbing?"
"Yes, but it's more challenging," Izanami replied, nodding thoughtfully. "Tree Climbing only requires you to stick to the tree trunk, but water is fluid. To stand on water, you'll need much better control of your Chakra."
Hinata's face lit up with determination. "I'm ready to try!"
Izanami smiled, amused by her enthusiasm. "I won't teach you now, but when you get home, try practicing in a bathtub or a water tank. Once your Chakra capacity improves, I'll teach you Water Walking and the Shadow Clone Technique."
Hinata nodded eagerly. "Okay, okay… I'll practice!" Her voice was filled with determination.
Izanami, pleased with her response, finally allowed himself to show a softer smile. "Now, let's move on to something else. I'm going to teach you taijutsu combat. And by the way, I'd like to learn more about your Hyuga Clan's pressure point techniques."
Hinata, ever trusting and eager to learn, nodded without hesitation. She was completely unaware of Izanami's true intentions.
Having sparred with her cousin at home many times, Hinata didn't find it strange that they would practice taijutsu combat, especially since it wasn't something the school had taught yet. To her, it felt like another part of her training that she needed to master.
... hello readers, get your hands on more chapters on my patreon Seasay, it is at chapter 50.