The next morning, in the dining hall of the Hyuga Residence.
The chirping of sparrows in the courtyard was crisp and pleasant. Three to five sparrows landed on the sycamore branches, flapping their wings and chirping incessantly.
However, this tranquility could not dissipate the gloom in Hinata's heart.
She tossed and turned all night, her mind filled with what Hanabi had whispered by her bedside: Sister, I want to go to Immortal Village to train. The flow of time there is different. When I come out, I can shorten the age gap with Shun-sama and marry him, and similar things.
Because she hadn't slept well, there was a faint hint of dark circles under her eyes.
For breakfast, she spent a long time stirring the plain porridge in her bowl until the grains sank to the bottom, yet she couldn't taste any flavor.
Her heart was filled with helplessness. She felt sorry for her sister's stubbornness but didn't know how to dissuade her.
Hiashi sat at the head seat, his dark kimono making him appear even more composed.
He picked up a spoon with his left hand, slowly scooped up a spoonful of plain porridge, brought it to his lips, and gently blew on it. Only when the temperature was just right did he slowly put it into his mouth.
Even his chewing movements were strictly according to etiquette, steady and measured.
His gaze appeared to be fixed on his bowl, but in reality, he occasionally swept his peripheral vision over his two daughters seated at the table. With the scrutiny and insight characteristic of an experienced person, he took in Hinata's distraction, Hanabi's nervousness, and even the subtle movements of their fingertips.
He merely pretended to be unfazed, not showing a hint of emotion.
During meals in the past, Hanabi loved to chatter and cling to her older sister, talking about the new sprouts in the courtyard one moment, and winning against her clanmates during practice the next. The dining hall was always livelier because of her.
But today, she was unusually reserved, her back ramrod straight, and her sitting posture much more proper than usual.
Her fingers repeatedly rubbed the rim of the white porcelain bowl, seemingly deep in thought. Her gaze occasionally darted toward her father at the head seat, hiding hesitation and anxiety.
Silence spread throughout the dining hall, broken only by the occasional soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks.
Finally, Hanabi took a deep breath, her chest visibly rising and falling, as if she had made a tremendous decision. Even her other hand, resting on her lap, was secretly clenched into a fist.
She abruptly put down the bamboo chopsticks in her hand. With a soft "tap," the porcelain chopsticks struck the wooden table, the sound especially clear in the quiet dining hall.
She straightened her back, her posture rigid, as if preparing for an important test.
When she looked up at Hiashi, she deliberately forced a look of obedience, but the tightly gripped corner of her clothes betrayed the tension in her heart.
"Father... I have something I need to ask your permission for."
Hiashi raised his eyes to look at her, a hint of doubt in his profound gaze. The spoon in his hand gently stirred the contents of the bowl, causing ripples to spread across the surface of the porridge before gradually settling down.
"Oh? What is it? Speak freely."
The expression on his face was steady, revealing little emotion.
"Father, I want to go to Immortal Village on Ancestral Planet to train."
Hanabi's voice suddenly became clearer, and her speaking speed was slightly faster than usual, as if afraid she might regret it if she hesitated even a little.
She deliberately avoided the gaze of Hinata next to her, focusing instead on her father's face, her eyes showing a desperate determination.
"Now that sister is about to marry Shun-sama and will live with him in the future, the clan's affairs might become heavier without her help."
She gulped, deliberately making her tone sound more earnest, her eyes reflecting a degree of sincerity.
"I don't wish to always protected by sister and father, unable to do anything. I want to go to Immortal Village to wholeheartedly practice. It has the best training resources, and it will be perfect for tempering my will and improving my strength, so that in the future, I can also contribute to the clan, protect the Hyuga's glory, and live up to father's expectations."
After saying this, she subtly raised her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering rapidly, observing her father's expression, afraid of revealing any flaws.
She secretly prayed that her father would believe this "high-sounding" excuse and wouldn't notice that the tips of her ears had quietly turned red.
Hiashi's hand holding the spoon paused slightly, and the spoon gently tapped the edge of the bowl, making a faint sound.
A clear trace of astonishment flashed in his deep eyes, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Immortal Village is a treasured training ground envied by the entire Ninja World, a place countless ninjas desperately try to enter but fail to get a chance.
But upon hearing Hanabi mention "contributing to the clan" and "protecting the Hyuga's glory," the astonishment in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a measure of gratification.
His fingertips unconsciously rubbed the whiskers beneath his jaw as he pondered for a full three seconds.
To Hanabi, these three seconds felt like half an hour. Thin sweat quietly formed in her palms, and even her breathing became shallow.
Hiashi quickly calculated in his mind: It's a good thing for Hanabi to have ambition. It's better than being spoiled and lacking responsibility. Moreover, after Hinata marries and moves to Shun's place, the Hyuga's status in the Ninja World needs to be consolidated. If Hanabi can get stronger at Immortal Village, it will be easier to stabilize the clan in the future. This is a good thing.
"It is rare for you to have such ambition and consideration for the clan. I am deeply gratified. Immortal Village is indeed an excellent place for training, and the clan has a few training quotas for Immortal Village. Hanabi, pack your things. You can depart within three days."
The moment she received the permission, a brilliant light instantly burst forth in Hanabi's eyes, and even her previously rigid back relaxed.
"Thank you, father, for granting my request."
She quickly stood up, placed her hands folded at her sides, and bowed deeply in salute, her fringe hanging down to the floor.
"I will definitely practice diligently, never slack off, and certainly live up to father's trust."
As she stood up, she secretly glanced at her older sister, Hinata, a triumphant look she couldn't hide in her eyes.
The first step of her plan was successful!
Hinata, standing nearby, heard the conversation between father and daughter, and her mind went "buzz," as if struck by a heavy hammer.
The chopsticks in her hand dropped onto the dining table with a "clatter," making a crisp and abrupt sound that instantly shattered the quiet of the dining hall.
The sparrows chirping outside the courtyard seemed to stop at that moment, and the surrounding air felt frozen.
Hinata could clearly feel her father's and sister's gazes fixed upon her. They held different emotions: her father's was doubt, and her sister's was guilt and concealment.
She raised her eyes to look at the joyful Hanabi, her eyes filled with disbelief and deep worry, and her breathing quickened.
She actually put that absurd idea from last night into action.
Last night, she had painstakingly tried to persuade her for a long time, talking about everything from the true meaning of marriage to the preciousness of affection, and from Shun's identity to the risks of unrequited love, yet Hanabi hadn't listened at all.
This morning, she even found such a high-sounding excuse, speaking so earnestly about "contributing to the clan," that even father was deceived by her.
Her so-called "contributing to the clan" was nothing more than a pretense to go to Immortal Village, shorten the age gap, and marry Shun.
Hinata's heart tightened. She was both angry at her sister's stubbornness and distressed by her foolishness.
Hanabi's obsession with an unrequited love destined to be difficult will only hurt herself in the end.
She opened her mouth, wanting to stop her, but swallowed the words back. Her throat felt as if it were choked by something.
If she publicly exposed Hanabi's intentions, saying she wasn't going to Immortal Village to train at all, but to shorten the age gap and marry Shun, it would not only cause her sister extreme embarrassment, but also incur father's displeasure.
Father values the clan's reputation the most. He would surely think Hanabi's intentions were improper and bring shame to the clan, and he might also think that she, as the older sister, was narrow-minded and couldn't tolerate her sister.
But if she allowed Hanabi to go to Immortal Village, she feared that she would suffer grievances there. She was even more afraid that Hanabi would stray further down this thorny path of unrequited love, become completely engrossed, and ultimately end up hurting herself and being full of scars.
The difficult choice weighed on her heart like a massive stone, making even her breathing feel heavy.
The morning light was still bright, yet she felt cold all over. The plain porridge in her bowl had long since cooled, just like her mood at that moment.
The atmosphere of breakfast finally concluded amidst Hinata's deep worries.
As Hiashi stood up to leave, he specifically patted Hanabi on the shoulder, the force carrying a hint of encouragement.
"Prepare your belongings well. You don't need to bring too many miscellaneous things, Immortal Village has shops. Hanabi, when you get to Immortal Village, you must be cautious in words and actions, seek advice from seniors often, and don't be willful like you are at home."
Hanabi nodded vigorously, her face full of excitement, and repeatedly said, "Father, don't worry, I have noted everything."
After seeing her father off, Hanabi immediately stood up and ran out of the dining hall barefoot.
Hinata quickly caught up with her sister and forcibly dragged her into the secluded osmanthus grove in the courtyard.
The osmanthus flowers had not yet bloomed, but the branches and leaves were already lush. Layers of green leaves interwoven to form a natural barrier, blocking the view of outsiders, with only occasional scattered sunlight filtering through the gaps and falling upon the two of them.
"Hanabi, are you truly going to Immortal Village?"
Hinata's expression was full of urgency, and the hand gripping Hanabi's wrist tightened slightly.
"I know you're not going there to train at all."
She really couldn't bear to watch Hanabi jump into a pit of fire, the corners of her eyes were slightly red.
"Hanabi, Shun is truly not suitable for you. You deserve someone better, someone whose heart and eyes are completely focused on you. Don't sacrifice your entire life for a momentary obsession, it's not worth it."
Hanabi stumbled from her pull, nearly falling. After steadying herself, she forcefully pulled her hand free from Hinata's grip. Her hand was slightly red from being squeezed, but she dared not meet her sister's gaze.
"Sister, I just want to go and train. Father has already agreed. This is my own decision, so stop trying to stop me."