Making a friend right at the start of the semester was certainly something to be happy about. Naturally, Inuzuka Kiba took the seat next to Hyūga Seimi.
A middle-aged man wearing a chunin vest pushed open the classroom door. Seeing only three students inside, he couldn't help feeling a little surprised. Umino Iruka's gaze swept across their faces as he recalled the student files he'd read through several times the night before.
Hmm… A Hyūga arriving early was perfectly normal. And the Inuzuka Clan, given their need to care for their ninken, were also early risers.
Nodding to the three children, Iruka sat down behind the lectern.
"He came early too—looks like he's going to be a really responsible teacher," Kiba whispered.
Not wanting his new friend to feel ignored, Seimi nodded along politely.
Just then, Hinata—still holding Akamaru in her lap—lifted her head and spoke softly. No, actually, her voice was always that soft.
"Why?"
Kiba blinked. "Huh? Why what?"
"…Nothing."
Hinata shook her head and looked back down at the little dog curled up on her knees.
"Hinata was asking how you got 'responsible' from just 'came early,'" Seimi said, resting his chin in his hand and translating Hinata's question into plain speech.
Kiba stared at her in astonishment, completely unaware that under his gaze, Hinata's head sank even lower.
"Hey, come on, that's just common sense—"
"Woof!"
Akamaru suddenly barked, cutting him off.
Kiba frowned in confusion. "What is it, Akamaru?"
"Woof! Woof!"
"What!?" Kiba's eyes went wide, and he pointed at himself in disbelief. "You're saying I'm an idiot?"
Akamaru nodded solemnly, then squinted contentedly and rubbed his head against Hinata's hand.
Seimi let out a sigh and shook his head helplessly.
Well, what can I say… Some people still haven't gotten married even by the time of Boruto for a reason.
He turned toward Hinata and said quietly, "There isn't actually a direct link between 'coming early' and 'being responsible.' Kiba's answer comes from his own everyday experience."
Psychology says that maintaining eye contact helps people feel respected—it makes communication smoother.
Cradling Akamaru, Hinata murmured, "Everyday experience?"
Seimi rubbed his temple. Explaining that concept to a six-year-old wasn't going to be easy.
Sensing his hesitation, Hinata lowered her head again. "Did I make things difficult for you?"
"That's not it," Seimi replied, shaking his head. But for a moment, he too fell silent.
Before crossing into this world, he'd just been a fourth-year education major at a teachers' university—not some miracle worker.
He'd met all kinds of kids during his student-teaching practicum, but none quite like Hinata.
Compared to the curse mark on his forehead, she was the real caged bird.
Then a quote from the godfather of dogs popped into his head:
"You know how many power lines I bit through? One! Because that one nearly killed me."
And there was another saying from education theory—one that never made it into textbooks:
"It's not logic that teaches children, but the brick wall they run into."
Most ordinary families couldn't afford to let their children crash into too many "walls," so they focused on teaching principles instead.
But Hinata wasn't ordinary.
So Seimi lifted his gaze to meet her perpetually downcast eyes and said, "Everyday experience comes from living—really living. As long as you go out and experience enough of life, and find meaning in it, you'll understand what it means one day."
A faint, almost imperceptible sparkle flickered in Hinata's eyes. "Then… what's a meaningful life?"
"I don't know either," Seimi admitted with a small shrug. "I'm only about your age, after all. The things you don't understand—I might not understand either. But if there's something I understand that you don't, it's probably because I've experienced something you haven't. Just think about the differences between my life and yours."
Hinata thought for a moment, remembering that morning. "Then… does someone wake you up every day?"
Seimi nodded.
"Do they help you dress and wash your face and brush your teeth?"
He shook his head.
This time, instead of lowering her head to think in silence, Hinata gathered her courage and looked straight into Seimi's eyes.
"Why not?"
After a brief pause, Seimi asked in return, "Does anyone help Lord Hiashi wash and dress every morning?"
Hinata shook her head. "No."
And without him saying another word, she already understood.
"I see. Then starting tomorrow, I'll get up on my own—and wash and brush my teeth by myself."
In the past, whenever she met her father's gaze—filled with expectation—Hinata had always felt like she couldn't breathe.
Because she had never known what kind of person he expected her to become.
But now… maybe she understood, just a little.
A true heir in her father's eyes was someone who could stand on their own—like him. If that was so, then she would work toward that image, step by step.
There was a new light in her eyes now—focused, determined.
Seimi didn't know what she was thinking, but seeing her expression, he figured she'd understood what he'd wanted to say.
Some caged birds, once freed, are no longer suited to life in the wild.
Humans are the same.
Just then, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
[Hinata Hyūga has found resolve through your careful guidance. Freedom Attribute +1.]
[You have accumulated 5 unallocated Freedom Points. Please assign them to your training subject.]
Silently, Seimi thought: Open panel.
[The "Girl Training System" is at your service. Please select an operation.]
He still didn't know why this system had chosen him—but he could swear on his life, he was treating it as a "Teach-the-Next-Generation System," nothing more!
[Target: Hinata Hyūga]
[Age: 6]
[Chakra: 3]
[Ninjutsu: 1]
[Taijutsu: 4]
[Genjutsu: 0]
[Knowledge: 2]
[Affinity: Acquaintance]
[Evaluation: A child weighed down by heavy expectations and responsibility. Prone to self-denial, she urgently needs to build confidence.]
[Achievement: A new milestone has been reached. Please claim your reward.]