Hyuga Kiyonari received the invitation and went to sit down at Ichiraku Ramen.
Teuchi brought over two steaming bowls of rice noodles. The white noodles rolled in a red, oily broth, topped with chopped scallions and crushed peanuts, the aroma rising temptingly.
"Kiyonari, I tried making this based on the sour-and-spicy flavor you described. Give it a taste?"
"Time to eat!"
Kiyonari nodded and picked up his chopsticks.
Hinata also lifted her chopsticks, picked up a few strands of noodles, and slowly brought them to her mouth.
Kiyonari noticed she seemed distracted, but he didn't interrupt. He simply waited quietly for her to speak first.
At the same time, he was thinking: did Hinata invite him out this time because the "Ultraman" story finally worked?
That story had been written specifically for Hinata.
As for Kurama Yakumo… it was a bit embarrassing to admit, but she really was an added bonus. If the story could give her strength too, then even better.
In the worldview of Seven X, the defining feature was the sheer number of alien races and the constant conflict filling the universe. In a world without Ultraman, could humanity really fight off so many alien invaders?
The answer: from the very beginning of the story, humanity had already been ruled by the invaders.
But the invaders called "Gurashie" were different. Under their rule, humans still lived as usual, completely unaware that Earth was occupied.
The protagonist J's special agent unit fought invaders to the death every day, never realizing the "higher-ups" giving them orders were the invaders themselves.
"Gurashie" hid in underground caverns. By controlling the spread of information, they controlled every move of human society through an information network—what appeared in the story as the "narrator."
This was a modification Kiyonari made to help people in the ninja world understand certain concepts, but the core story and meaning were the same.
For example, under the "narrator's" rule, the world had several "benefits":
First, there was no war. Humanity lived in total peace—something countless shinobi dreamed of.
Second, people didn't need to think. The "narrator" wasn't only visible to readers outside the story; people inside the story could see it too. It told them what they should or shouldn't do, and as long as they followed it, everyone could live with food and clothing without worry.
Third, the "narrator" created an intelligence agency. The agents secretly eliminated invaders and protected global peace and security.
Fourth, the "narrator" also planned for humanity's future by launching the "AQUA PROJECT," intending to create controllable, infinite energy.
So we learn that these rulers were eager to maintain a peaceful, stable society, and they protected Earth from other invaders as well. Seen that way, calling them humanity's guardian gods wouldn't even be wrong.
In a world filled with brutal invaders, being able to live on Earth like a sleeping child was, in a sense, an incredible happiness.
They created a utopia—and "Gurashie" hid their contributions, never letting humanity even know they existed.
What a great race.
Until the red giant appeared and killed every last one of them.
And if you look at the background of this story… how similar it was to the Hyuga clan.
If you were a branch-family orphan, the clan would give you a stipend every month and guarantee your survival. If you had no talent to be a ninja, the clan would provide you work—for example, becoming a maid.
And as branch family, you didn't need to think. You only needed to obey the main family's orders. The main family would worry itself sick over the clan's future—your mission was simply to protect the main family.
Those are the benefits.
So then… what is the price?
After finishing a bowl of noodles, Hinata took a small sip of broth and finally called softly, "Kiyonari."
"Mm. I'm here."
Hinata gripped her chopsticks tightly. "If… if I want to go to the border, but Father won't allow it… would you… be willing to secretly go with me?"
After asking, Hinata lowered her head, unable to look at him.
It felt like all surrounding sounds vanished. In her ears there was only her heart pounding wildly against her ribs, as if it were trying to break free of her body.
"I will," Kiyonari answered.
Just two words—but to Hinata, they were more precious than any ornate speech.
Even though, given Kiyonari's personality, the answer would probably always have been this… hearing it with her own ears still felt different.
"Okay."
Hinata nodded, picked up her chopsticks, and started on the second bowl of noodles. Her movements were noticeably lighter than before.
She didn't need Kiyonari to act right now—what she needed… was simply that answer.
Afterward, Hinata said goodbye to Kiyonari, returned to her room, and opened the black notebook—Life Simulator.
Two months had passed since the last simulation, and the cooldown was finally over. If she waited a few more days, summer would arrive.
[…]
[Year 56 of Konoha.]
[Father tells me I will soon have a younger sister or brother. At the same time, next year I will enter the Ninja Academy to study.]
[At year's end, the second group of clan members stationed at the border also return, and the third group is about to depart. Unexpectedly, Uncle Hizashi—who wasn't on the list this time—volunteers to go to the border. Father refuses. The two argue fiercely and part on bad terms.]
[I notice more and more clan members are changing. Unease rises inside me. I can vaguely feel that something big is about to happen.]
[Now, I have three options.]
[1. Go find Kiyonari-kun and investigate in private.]
[2. Inform Father and launch an open, thorough investigation.]
[3. Go find Neji-nii and ask him face to face.]
Without hesitation, Hinata chose the first option and also used the "Designated" function to add her request.
[I leave Father a letter, then find Kiyonari and ask him to take me to the border.]
[Just as I expected, Kiyonari has a way. He uses Summoning Jutsu to summon a slug and asks Katsuyu-sama to use reverse summoning to bring us to Tsunade-sama.]
[The branch-family members are shocked when they see me appear. They urge me to return to Konoha, saying that in such a dangerous place, they cannot guarantee my safety.]
[I tell them I only want to take a look and will return soon. Only then do they stop trying to dissuade me.]
[I stay here for about a week, but… I don't discover anything particularly special.]
[So what exactly is the reason the clan members changed?]
~~~
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