There was almost no one in the Hyuga Clan Compound at this time, as they had clearly all gone out to provide support.
Hinata returned to her room and sank her consciousness into the System interface.
The point balance of 82,050 points shone like the most brilliant stars, emitting an alluring light.
"It's time for a new round of enhancement."
She filtered out the low-level techniques and items, casting her gaze toward the highest-priced Cultivation Technique section in the System mall.
"Nine Revolutions Mysterious Art": Requires 150,000 points to exchange. (Description: The path to Physical Body sanctification; each revolution is a new heaven. When Cultivated to the limit, the Physical Body can collide with the void...)
"Chaos Primordial Lotus Art": Requires 120,000 points to exchange. (Description: Meditate on the Chaos Primordial Lotus to condense a supreme Dao Foundation and evolve Chaos power...)
"Primordial Yin-Yang Scripture": Requires 100,000 points to exchange. (Description: Reconcile Yin and Yang, derive creation, and point directly to the Great Dao Origin...)
The descriptions of these Cultivation Techniques were more astonishing than the last, but the required points were also daunting. Hinata calmly assessed her situation and remaining points.
Her spiritual power was pure and her Divine Sense was strong; what she lacked was a fundamental Cultivation Technique that could govern the whole, solidify her Dao Foundation, and allow her to continue to Cultivate to a higher Realm.
Her gaze finally locked onto a Cultivation Technique:
"Circumference of Heaven Star Art": Requires 80,000 points to exchange.
(Description: Draw upon the power of the stars to Body Tempering and Soul Refining, condensing a Star Golden Core in the Dantian. Spiritual power becomes as vast as a sea of stars, and the Divine Sense can mirror the heavens. Upon reaching Major Achievement, a single thought can make starlight fall. As long as the Golden Core is not destroyed, the Divine Soul remains eternal, the Foundation is stable, and the potential is infinite.)
This Cultivation Technique perfectly matched her current needs—a powerful fundamental method, continuous growth potential, and all-around tempering of spiritual power, Physical Body, and Divine Soul.
Although it consumed almost all her points at once, Hinata did not hesitate.
"Exchange for 'Circumference of Heaven Star Art'!"
[Exchange successful! Consumed 80,000 points! Current point balance: 2,050 points.]
A massive flood of information instantly poured into Hinata's mind. Countless profound methods regarding stellar movements, gravitational tides, Star Power channeling, and Golden Core condensation were deeply imprinted in the depths of her Soul. This was far more complex and profound than any Cultivation Technique she had exchanged for before.
She immediately immersed herself in the comprehension of this Cultivation Technique, entering the System space.
Time in the outside world passed quietly.
Konoha began its reconstruction amidst pain and busyness: compensation for the fallen, treatment for the injured, clearing of ruins, and follow-up negotiations with the Hidden Sand Village... there were a thousand loose ends.
In this process, one name was mentioned repeatedly, spreading to every corner of Konoha in a way mixed with gratitude, awe, and legendary color—Hyuga Hinata.
It was she who displayed strength that crushed her peers during the Chunin Exams.
It was she who allegedly repelled a terrifying Tailed Beast in the Forest of Death.
Most shockingly, within the Four Violet Flames Formation, she had descended like a god from heaven, breaking the Forbidden Jutsu, repelling powerful enemies, and saving the Third Hokage whose life hung by a thread, rescuing Konoha from the brink of collapse!
Although the higher-ups did not publicize the details for the sake of stability and other considerations, there were many Ninja present at the time, and the news could not be completely suppressed.
Along with the Ninja and some lucky spectators who had caught glimpses of the situation inside the barrier, their word-of-mouth accounts wove a story that was nearly mythical.
"Have you heard? It was the Hyuga Clan's Young Miss who used an incredibly powerful Lightning Release to drive away that intruder!"
"That's not all! My cousin's teammate's uncle is in the Anbu, and he said Hinata-sama easily purified the spirits of Shodai(1st)-sama and Nidaime(2nd)-sama!"
"Really? Is that true..."
"It's true! I also heard she beat the intruder so hard with just one finger that he was howling! The intruder was beaten until he knelt and begged Hinata to spare his life, and only then did she let him go!"
Orochimaru, who was hiding in the shadows disguised as a passerby:...Damn.
"Wow... so amazing. If it weren't for Hinata, Hokage-sama might have..."
"She's only twelve, right? That's truly incredible!"
"The Hyuga Clan has produced an extraordinary figure..."
After meals and in the streets and alleys, the villagers discussed and marveled at the girl with the pure white eyes who stood up at the Village's most dangerous moment to protect them.
When Hinata finished her initial seclusion and stepped out of the Hyuga Clan Compound, intending to relax a bit and learn about the outside situation, she immediately felt a completely different atmosphere than before.
The villagers she met along the way—whether it was an auntie selling vegetables, patrolling Ninja, or playing children—would unconsciously stop what they were doing and look at her when they saw her.
In those gazes, there was no longer just the detachment and curiosity toward the Hyuga Main Family's Young Miss from the past; instead, they were filled with heartfelt gratitude, respect, and even a hint of fanaticism.
"Hinata-sama!"
"Thank you, Hinata-sama!"
"You are our hero!"
A bold child ran over to offer home-made candy; an old person bowed tremulously; and a young Ninja even stood excitedly in place, giving her the most standard salute.
There was no noisy crowding or official commendation, but this silent, spontaneous respect permeating the air of the entire Village was more real and weighty than any form of award.
Hinata's pure white eyes calmly swept over all this, her heart showing little emotion. Protecting Konoha was not her original intention; gaining points and verifying her strength were.
But this unexpected "hero" treatment, along with the more stable status and influence it brought, was not a bad thing for her.
She nodded slightly, responding with smiles as she continued to walk slowly.
She could feel that the Anbu's surveillance of her seemed to have decreased significantly, or rather, it had become more hidden and... awe-struck.
Walking near Ichiraku Ramen, she saw Uzumaki Naruto helping with the reconstruction work. Naruto's eyes lit up when he saw her, and he waved vigorously.
"Hinata! Over here, over here!"
Hinata walked over.
"Hinata, I really owe you one this time!"
Naruto scratched his head, a bright and sincere smile on his face.
"I heard it all from Pervy Sage! You drove away that Orochimaru guy and saved the Old Man! You're super—amazing! In the future, I want to become a konoha hero just like you!"
His eyes were clear, without any jealousy or complexity, containing only yearning and pure joy for his comrade's strength and the Village's rescue.
"Mhm."
Hinata's gaze fell on Naruto, and she could feel that the Nine-Tails Chakra within him seemed to have become a bit more peaceful.
"By the way, Hinata, when did you become so strong? Can you teach me?"
Naruto asked expectantly.
Hinata glanced at him.
"I heard you have a teacher now, and he's even one of the legendary Sannin. Aren't you afraid he'll hit you if he hears that?"
Naruto curled his lip.
"That guy doesn't seem reliable at all; he's just a perverted Old Man, and..."
Hinata interrupted him then, gesturing for him to look behind him.
Jiraiya had stood behind Naruto at some unknown point, looking at him with a "kindly" gaze.
"...Uh, listen to me explain..."
Under Hinata's gaze, Jiraiya grabbed Naruto and left amidst their bickering.
After eating over a dozen bowls of ramen, Hinata returned to her courtyard, ready to continue her Cultivation.
She sat cross-legged and began to formally switch her Cultivation to the "Circumference of Heaven Star Art".
Although her points were almost exhausted, having this fundamental method that led directly to the Immortal Path meant her future was already paved with a brilliant path of stars.
The System's voice rang out again.
[Became a de facto konoha hero, gained widespread respect from the villagers, and significantly increased reputation. Gained points: 3,000.]
[System Evaluation: Sometimes an Immortal doesn't necessarily have to detach from the Mortal world; being a hero might not be bad. As the saying goes, 'come from the Mortals, return to the Mortals.']
[Current point balance: 6,050 points.]
Listening to the System prompts, the corners of Hinata's mouth curled slightly as she sank completely into her Cultivation.
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