It had been some time since her Breakthrough to the fourth layer of Qi Refining; Hinata's cultivation had completely stabilized, her spiritual power growing purer and denser.
Combined with the Breath Concealment Technique, she could now perfectly disguise her aura as that of an inconspicuous Hyuga girl with faint Chakra.
The after-effects of the last Cloud envoy's visit had almost vanished; everyone had noticed the Miss displayed nothing out of the ordinary and seemed perfectly normal.
Konoha Village still looked peaceful on the surface.
Uchiha clansmen appeared now and then, their faces as dour as ever.
Uchiha Fugaku, however, was harassed to the point of headaches.
Pressure on him was immense; the public outcry this time was serious. Already under surveillance and suspicion, the clan's discontent had reached the point where talk of forcing a coup had been going on for days.
He had even arranged for Itachi to join the Anbu as a spy for the Uchiha, but obviously the time was not ripe—he had to withstand the pressure... Inside the Hyuga compound, Hinata practiced the basic Gentle Fist stances as usual.
Hiashi had assigned someone to teach her Gentle Fist so she could lay the foundation early.
Hinata's movements were textbook and meticulous, yet they lacked the true "intent" of Gentle Fist.
Her mind wasn't on the martial art; she was using it to refine her minute control of spiritual power, trying to thread a sliver of lightning-attributed energy into her strikes so that, without provoking obvious Chakra fluctuations, they gained greater penetration and paralysis.
"Miss Hinata."
Hyuga Neji's voice sounded beside her.
He had just finished his own practice, fine sweat on his forehead, his gaze several months less sharp and resistant than before.
After Hinata had passed by a few times and accurately pointed out tiny flaws in his training, he could no longer maintain the simple aloofness and defiance he'd first felt toward the younger clan heiress.
Hinata finished her form and looked at him with pale eyes, waiting.
Neji hesitated, then spoke.
"The Clan Chief and Father seem troubled lately."
As relations between the Uchiha and the Village grew tenser, the Hyuga—one of Konoha's great clans—naturally felt the pressure too, especially Hizashi, who handled some of the Family's external affairs.
"The situation is what it is; it's not for us to worry about."
Hinata's tone was flat, betraying no emotion.
Neji studied her overly calm face and couldn't help asking,
"Aren't you worried, Miss? If… if the Uchiha really go against the Village…"
Hinata very much wanted to say, Relax, it won't come to that—Uchiha Fugaku can't outplay Danzo and the Third.
Fugaku possessed the Mangekyo, yet never used it to the end; he himself didn't want all-out war. Even if it came to a fight, with the Third still alive the Uchiha might not win.
Once it started, with internal strife and external enemies, outside forces would step in. The Jinchuriki Naruto couldn't be deployed, only serve as deterrence, and Konoha would truly be on its last legs.
"Worry is useless."
Hinata cut him off.
"Rather than fret over a tide you can't change, focus on strengthening the power you can control; when that power is sufficient, many problems cease to be problems."
She wasn't putting on adult airs; facing a brat like this she simply couldn't be bothered to placate him. A blunt line to shut him up sufficed.
Neji's frame shivered, once again struck by the composure—and something almost coldly pragmatic—in her words.
He fell silent for a moment, then said quietly,
"I understand. Thank you, Miss Hinata."
Tch, so as long as Hizashi doesn't die Neji stays a fairly normal kid—his eyes even look clear now.
Watching Neji walk away with a back straighter than before, Hinata mused.
With a little guidance he might avoid some detours in the future. A stronger Neji might not be hugely useful, but at least he wouldn't end up a human pincushion… "Maybe next time he'll use Rotation to swat away Obito's branch?"
Apart from clan interactions, Hinata's occasional walks had widened a bit.
She once came across Akimichi Choji, happily eating barbecue with his father Akimichi Choza.
She also saw Nara Shikamaru by the river, skipping stones with a face that said "what a drag."
And Yamanaka Ino helping in the flower shop, greeting customers with a bright smile.
These future pillars of Konoha were still enjoying a carefree childhood, utterly unaware of the approaching storm.
Of course, the one she ran into most often was still Uzumaki Naruto.
One time she saw him cornered in an alley by older kids, cursed as "demon fox" and shoved around.
"The hero's son, reduced to this."
Though frightened, Naruto still glared stubbornly and shouted that he'd become Hokage one day!
"You fox demon want to be Hokage? Hahaha!"
His words only drew louder mockery.
Looks like the Third's influence has already taken Root—Naruto now dreams of becoming Hokage to earn everyone's recognition.
Hinata didn't intervene; she sensed Anbu nearby keeping an eye on Naruto.
"That old geezer of a Third does nothing… probably spying with his crystal ball right now."
Finally, Naruto, pushed to the limit, shoved one kid back.
The child immediately screamed,
"Help! The demon fox is going to eat people again!"
All the children scattered, leaving Naruto stared at by passers-by.
Hinata frowned; if Naruto were a cultivator he'd definitely develop a Heart Demon.
Were it her, she'd probably turn rogue on the spot—none of those kids would escape; they'd all be guests in her Ten-Thousand-Soul Banner… She really couldn't keep watching; she feared she'd lose control.
She walked the streets of Konoha, listening to the chatter around her.
As the atmosphere in the Uchiha compound grew heavier, even ordinary villagers sensed something amiss and gossip multiplied.
"Did you hear? The Uchiha seem to be…"
"Shh! Keep it down, don't bring trouble!"
"Those Uchiha eyes are getting scarier…"
Listening, Hinata knew the fuse was being lit bit by bit.
She could even faintly sense the more covert surveillance posts—Anbu or Root—around the Uchiha compound.
"Danzo must be itching; those eyes have him drooling, especially Shisui's."
Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan was lethally tempting to Danzo.
Danzo would never forget the Sharingan in this life.
If he can't forget it, he can tattoo it on.
Heh, Danzo really did get it inked… She needed to go back and Cultivate.
The fourth layer of Qi Refining gave her stronger confidence and a broader view.
The System shop now displayed a dazzling array of items, but her saved points were still far from the high-level Cultivation Techniques or Magic Treasures that truly stirred her heart.
"Take it slow. There should still be some time before the massacre night; I'll go watch when it happens."