Chapter 101 – Overlapping Timelines
On the eve of their departure from the village, the air carried a heavy silence, like the calm before a storm.
Though the alliance was only known to those with higher status, some ninjas had already noticed the subtle signs—changes in movement, unusual missions, unspoken tension. Many mistakenly believed a war was looming on the horizon.
They weren't entirely wrong.
If anything went wrong with the alliance plan, it could very well spark a full-scale war.
But while others were gripped by anxiety, Ryosuke remained relaxed. He had already made all the necessary preparations. Now, it was simply a matter of leaving the village, reaching the Land of Waves, and adapting to whatever came next.
Before they set off, Ryosuke decided to give himself a short break. He took Hinata and Hanabi out for a stroll around the village—a rare moment of peace.
"Since we're out here to enjoy ourselves, don't keep bottling things up," he said, glancing at Hinata, who held his hand with one and Hanabi's with the other. "Sometimes the best ideas come when you stop thinking so hard."
But Hinata clearly couldn't relax. The matter with Hanabi weighed heavily on her heart like a boulder. No matter how much she tried to enjoy herself, it was obvious she was carrying stress.
Ryosuke sighed inwardly. With no better option, he turned to the one thing Hinata usually loved—food.
Hanabi, likely sensing her sister's mood, behaved unusually well. She didn't throw tantrums or run off like she often did. Instead, she obediently followed along, sticking close to Hinata.
However, while they knew Hinata loved food, deciding what to eat was the real challenge.
They wandered around, checking a few places Ryosuke remembered Hinata liking. But she didn't seem interested. He kept switching to new spots, hoping to trigger a spark.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a deep-fried food shop.
Hinata stared at the sign above the entrance, eyes slightly dazed, watching the flow of people coming and going. Time seemed to rewind, pulling her back to a more carefree past.
"Can we eat here?" she asked quietly.
"Yes! I love this place," Hanabi chirped, clearly excited to be included.
They hadn't brought any guards with them today. The money, of course, was handled by Ryosuke. Whether they dined here or not was ultimately his call.
Seeing the nostalgic look in Hinata's eyes, he nodded. "Of course. If that's what you want."
He couldn't be sure what she was thinking, but that look… it was pure nostalgia.
The last time they'd come here, they were only four years old. It was shortly after he and Hinata had started training together.
Hinata led the way inside, her steps steady, and her gaze firm.
The atmosphere in the restaurant hadn't changed. The quiet murmur of diners filled the air. People lowered their voices, but their attention was clearly on the three young guests.
One familiar face stood out—an old bully of Hinata's. He was eating lunch with his father. Unlike before, he didn't so much as lift his head when Hinata passed. Her cold gaze swept over him like a blade, and he visibly flinched, eyes dropping to his plate.
He must've realized who she truly was now—what she represented in the village. Power. Nobility. Strength.
"Three Hyuga-sama, what can I get you?" the boss asked politely.
He was still the same man, and his daughter was still helping run the place.
This time, however, there was no Souji or Hoshicai to help with ordering. So Ryosuke stepped forward.
"One of everything on the menu," he said, pointing at the sign on the wall. He took out a small pouch of silver and set it on the counter.
Unlike regulars like Souji or Hoshicai, Ryosuke had only visited once. He had no idea what was good here, so he played it safe by ordering everything.
He wasn't worried about leftovers. Both he and Hinata had large appetites, and Hanabi, who'd recently started training, was catching up fast.
"Ah… understood!" the boss replied quickly after a brief pause of confusion.
"Gardenia, lead our guests to the innermost private room," he instructed his daughter.
As expected, the girl guiding them was still the same as before.
Hinata waited quietly, holding Hanabi's hand. Unlike the last time they came here, she didn't keep her head down or look timid. Her posture was straight, her presence dignified. She looked ahead without flinching—calm and composed.
They followed the girl through the narrow aisle. Just like four years ago, voices rose in whispers as they passed.
"Isn't that the Hyuga clan's eldest daughter? Just like the rumors say… cold and untouchable."
"She looked right at me and I broke out in goosebumps."
"Well, she's Hyuga after all. She's not someone to mess with."
The murmurs reached Ryosuke's ears, and he knew Hinata could hear them too. She had trained in perception ninjutsu and now kept her Byakugan active by habit. Catching whispered conversations like this was effortless for her.
The words weren't exactly praise, but oddly, they brought a sense of peace to her heart.
They meant she had changed.
Halfway through the meal, Hinata suddenly spoke, her voice soft but steady.
"So… Ryosuke, you were already protecting me back then, weren't you?"
She looked straight at him from across the table, seated beside Hanabi.
"At that time... you asked Souji and Hoshicai to help deliver that message, didn't you? Because those people said bad things. That I was weak… too cowardly to be a ninja…"
Her voice didn't waver. She wasn't asking. She was stating a truth she'd come to accept.
Hinata had heard such words for as long as she could remember. Clan members, outsiders—it didn't matter. They would pause their gossip when she walked by, but she'd already heard enough.
Yet over time, those voices began to fade. People stopped calling her weak. They began recognizing her strength, even calling her a worthy future clan head.
Ryosuke blinked. For a moment, he couldn't recall what she meant—too many memories, too many moments.
But then it clicked.
"Damn… little girl, your memory's sharp," he said, chuckling softly.
Hinata didn't respond at first. She just pursed her lips, still slick with oil from the fried food. Then, she said quietly, "Thank you."
She didn't say it as someone overwhelmed by gratitude, but more like someone who had unexpectedly uncovered a hidden kindness and didn't quite know how to repay it.
Ryosuke smiled gently.
"What are you thanking me for?" he said, voice calm. "You're my wife."
He reached out, brushing a crumb off the table.
"The seat beside me has always been yours. You said you'd stand by my side and face the future with me. I'm just making sure you do."
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