Hinata's mind, which had only just managed to clear up a little, suddenly felt like someone had smacked it with a blunt weapon.
How did Father know about this too?
Th-this... how am I supposed to answer that? And there are outsiders here!
Seeing Tsunade and Hoshiyomi smiling faintly on the other side, Hinata's face immediately turned back into a fully ripened tomato.
"Th—That, um…"
Hiashi understood that Hinata was simply being shy, but he couldn't help feeling anxious.
This wasn't a trivial matter of young love — if Hinata and Naruto were truly fond of each other, then once they were together, the Hyūga clan might very well rise along with that connection.
The current position of the Hyūga clan in Konoha was actually quite awkward. Their long-time rivals, the Uchiha, had produced a super-genius like Kuugetsu, and their relationship with the village leadership was improving day by day.
The once-declining Senju clan had begun to revive dramatically.
And the new Uzumaki clan had emerged in the village as a rising clan.
Compared to the rapidly growing three great clans, the Hyūga had stayed completely stagnant.
No super genius had appeared in their main line, and their relationship with the leadership remained stiff. If not for Neji and Hanabi being born as prodigies, Hiashi truly feared the Hyūga might fall into mediocrity within fifty years.
But now, the connection between Naruto and Hinata showed him hope — a chance to use Naruto, his potential future son-in-law, as a bridge to reconnect the Hyūga with Konoha's center of power.
With that thought, Hiashi became visibly impatient:
"Well? Say it already! Stop hemming and hawing — is this how I taught you to speak?"
Hinata, always raised under her father's strictness, trembled at his tone.
His urgent voice made her think her father did not approve of her being with Naruto.
H-How could this be…
She had only just learned today that Naruto-kun liked her back, and now her father was already trying to stop them!?
Thinking of her father's stern face, she felt a natural fear…
But then, in her mind, Naruto's bright, cheerful smile appeared.
Naruto-kun is so warm; he warms me like the sun.
Hinata, you decided on Naruto-kun when you were so young. How can you waver now because of a few words from Father?
Even if Father doesn't support me and Naruto-kun, I must strive tirelessly for love!
As long as I work hard enough, Father will surely recognize my love with Naruto-kun.
Never give up! That is my Ninja Way, Hinata Hyūga's Ninja Way!
Be brave, Hinata!
Staring straight at her father, Hinata declared — louder than she had ever spoken in her life:
"That's right, Father — I like Naruto-kun!
I want to be with him.
No matter what hardships I face, I will never change my feelings!"
Silence.
The entire room fell into deathly silence, as if all five people had stopped breathing at once.
The four adults stared at tiny Hinata, eyes wide with disbelief.
Tsunade, watching the still-shaking Hinata, poked Hoshiyomi and whispered:
"What just happened? Since when does that brat Naruto have anything that special? How did he manage to fluster this little girl this badly?"
Even Hoshiyomi was stunned.
He originally thought Hinata wouldn't show this kind of firm resolve until after the Chunin Exams.
The result was… somehow Hinata suddenly launched into a full-blown love declaration!?
Hiashi and Hizashi were both utterly stunned.
What was going on?
Was this really their timid daughter/niece?
They could swear they had never heard her speak that loudly in her entire life.
But after the shock faded, all that remained in their hearts was exploding joy.
So everything was true.
Naruto liked their daughter, and their daughter also liked Naruto.
In that case… wouldn't the Hyūga clan's long-held ambitions finally have a chance to be fulfilled!?
If Hinata dared to lift her head at that moment, she would've immediately noticed that her father's expression basically had the words "I approve of this marriage" stamped across it.
Hinata's trembling body suddenly felt her father's hand settle on her shoulder.
She jolted, fully expecting a storm of anger to come down on her.
Just the thought made her eyes sting with tears…
But instead, the next second, she heard her father speak with a face full of relief and encouragement:
"Since that's the case, you must work hard — in everything.
I mean it: whether it's your training or your relationship, you must put in effort.
As the eldest daughter of the Hyūga, you must show the dignity of our clan!"
"…????"
Hinata.exe has stopped working.
What is going on today? Am I dreaming?
...
Meanwhile, while Hinata questioned reality, the four kids in the courtyard were still staring at each other.
Well—more precisely, Rinne and Hanabi were staring each other down.
Ever since Hinata left, the two had fallen into a silent eye battle.
Hanabi puffed her cheeks slightly and glared at Rinne, using this wordless resistance to express her dissatisfaction.
Today's "make friends" mission had completely failed to go according to Lady Hanabi's plan—and the culprit was Naruto.
And second culprit: the girl named Rinne.
Because of her comments, Hanabi's dream friendship plan had evaporated.
Honestly!
Hanabi had been so excited earlier—after hearing that guests were coming and that she was supposed to get along well and make friends.
After all, ever since she was born, she never had any friends besides her sister.
In the Hyūga clan, people either avoided her or bowed their heads into the dirt when speaking to her—boring!
And at the academy it was the same.
She was the Hyūga heiress, so girls avoided her.
The boys who originally wanted to bully her… well, after receiving a "Gentle Fist warning," they didn't dare approach again.
Hanabi Hyūga wanted friends too!
She truly thought today she would finally gain the first friend of her life…
But instead—THIS happened.
Hanabi was angry, but she couldn't do anything, since the other girl hadn't technically done anything wrong.
So she chose to express her frustration with a silent glare.
She thought the other girl would quickly fold under Lady Hanabi's pressure…
But unexpectedly, Rinne did not back down at all.
She held her ground and matched Hanabi look for look.
Damn it—what a tough opponent!
But Lady Hanabi would never lose!
Just as Hanabi had steeled herself for a long duel, suddenly a bell-like laugh sounded:
"Hehehe~ You win!
Staring contest are really hard!"