Time flew by; during those four years Hinata had been cultivating, and just like in the original story nothing major happened—everything stayed calm.
By now Hinata could fully control her body, far earlier than most children.
At that moment some noise and voices drifted in from outside: a maid was cautiously making a report.
'Clan Chief, the delegation from Hidden Cloud Village has arrived in the Village.'
Hinata sat cross-legged on the tatami in her room, eyes closed, a faint red-and-violet aura circling her body.
It was the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of her fire-and-lightning dual Spiritual Root, drawn in by the Basic Qi Introduction Art.
After four years of cultivation she had reached the third level of the Qi Refinement stage and could cast minor Spells—little bursts of flame or lightning.
[System Notice: Key plot node—Hidden Cloud's dirty deal has been triggered.
Risk level: High. host survival rating: C+. Recommendation: increase strength or avoid the risk.]
Avoid it? She needed to grow stronger as fast as possible.
She would use this incident to test her power.
Hinata ignored the message, closing her eyes again and sinking her consciousness into the Legacy space to keep sharpening her offensive methods.
She had to be sure that when trouble came knocking she could crush it.
What must come, will come.
The night was thick, even the moonlight seemed stingy.
A black shadow, like a viper fused with the darkness, slipped silently into the depths of the Hyuga Main Family, its goal clear: the room of the clan's Miss.
The instant the intruder set foot in the courtyard Hinata opened her eyes.
The Byakugan needed no deliberate activation; its perception far beyond the norm already showed her the newcomer—a Ninja whose movements were agile and whose Chakra was perfectly concealed.
'Here he comes.'
She did not move, still sitting cross-legged as if completely unaware.
The door slid open without a sound.
Seeing the small figure seated on the tatami, the shadow flashed a triumphant grin, shot forward, fingers hooked into claws wrapped in sharp wind-nature Chakra, aiming straight for Hinata's throat—blindingly fast!
At the instant those claws were about to touch her skin—
'Crack!'
A thin yet blinding arc of lightning erupted without warning from Hinata's body like a thunderclap in the dark!
The bolt flashed once, striking squarely at the Kumogakure Ninja's wrist Chakra node.
'Argh!'
The Hidden Cloud Ninja felt his entire arm go numb, the gathered Chakra scattering in an instant; his attack broken, he stared in shock at the tiny figure still seated in meditation.
Hinata slowly lifted her head; the white eyes gleamed in the darkness, showing no fear or panic, nothing like what a four-year-old should display.
The Kumogakure Ninja was both startled and furious; he could not understand how a child of four or five possessed such ability.
A veteran, he instantly changed tactics: the other hand flashed toward a Kunai!
That did not escape Hinata's eyes.
She did not even rise.
She simply lifted her other hand; at her fingertip danced a small, bright orange flame.
The flame was tiny but looked bizarre.
'That's a Fire Release? Impossible—her hands never formed a single seal.'
The Kumogakure Ninja frowned; this defied everything he knew.
According to intel she should be a helpless child.
'Hmph, the First Hokage could pull jutsu from nowhere—why can't I?'
He had no idea what the little girl was muttering, only that the intel was wrong and the situation had spiralled; he leapt backward, preparing to retreat.
By now Hyuga Hiashi arrived, sensing the intruder just in time to witness what followed.
Hinata flicked her finger; the flame shot out like a living thing, curving in an unnatural arc toward him.
She murmured under her breath,
'No way I'm letting you run…'
Seeing the flame approach, the Ninja twisted to dodge, but no matter how he moved the fire stayed locked on.
It finally caught the sleeve of the arm holding the Kunai.
'Boom!'
The blaze erupted, clinging like gangrene, racing up his limb in fierce combustion.
At the same time the lightning that had numbed his arm had not faded; instead it resonated with the flames, tiny electric snakes darting through the fire, compounding agony and destruction.
'Aaaargh—!'
A shrill scream tore through the night.
The commotion roused the entire Hyuga Clan Compound.
Urgent footsteps and shouts closed in from every direction.
When the first Hyuga guard burst through the door he was greeted by this sight.
A faint scorched smell filled the room; Miss Hyuga Hinata still sat serenely in place, not a speck of dust on her.
In front of her a Kumogakure Ninja lay on the floor, one arm charred and twisted, convulsing, face contorted in pain and disbelief.
Hinata didn't even glance at him; her gaze passed over the guard who had rushed in.
It settled on Hyuga Hiashi, whose face was livid.
Hinata knew he had seen everything.
Hiashi looked at the Ninja—clearly crippled by a combination of fire and lightning—then at his daughter, safe and sound, her breathing still steady, and even his composure shattered into shock and disbelief.
What on earth had happened?!
She was only four—how could she defeat a trained Ninja?
And what were those flames she had just used?
He had taught her no Ninjutsu; if anything, it should have been Gentle Fist.
The surrounding guards were equally stunned, their eyes filled with doubt and awe.
Ignoring them all, Hinata slowly rose and brushed non-existent dust from her clothes.
'Father, I'm a bit tired and sleepy. I'm going to bed.'
She yawned, stood, and walked back into the room.
He watched her: she looked adorable and obedient, exactly what a child should be—
—if not for the wretched state of the man on the floor.
With that she threaded through the dumbstruck crowd toward her bed, leaving everyone staring at her back.
Hiashi did not stop her; with an incident like this the Third Hokage must already know, and he would have his hands full tonight—sleep was out of the question.
Hinata's thinking was simple.
Show your fangs and no one will treat you as a gentle lamb.
As for the trouble ahead? Let Hiashi and the Konoha Leadership worry about it.
Right now she only cared that, after this real battle, her control of lightning and fire had improved a little.
[Ding! host has successfully counter-killed the Hidden Cloud infiltrator, displayed extraordinary potential, and intimidated the Hyuga Clan. Points gained: 200.]
[System evaluation: Clean and decisive—full of style! That's how a Cultivator should be.]
Hinata smiled; she had her plans, and if all went well, perhaps Hizashi would not have to die.