Chapter 429: Use Titles While Working
Knock, knock, knock.
The crisp, rhythmic knocking broke the rustling sound of a pen gliding across paper inside the Principal's office.
Behind the desk, Hyuga Hiashi was buried in a pile of documents. His expression was focused and serious, his pen moving quickly and steadily as he reviewed them.
Looking closely, those documents weren't just limited to the academy's teaching arrangements, student evaluations, and budget applications; quite a few from the Hokage Office were clearly mixed in.
Yes, even in the relatively quiet academy, Hiashi still couldn't truly "escape into leisure." Work from the Hokage Building was often shared with this Principal, who was known for his rigor and efficiency.
Hearing the knock, Hiashi remained busy with his work: "Come in."
Before coming in this morning, Hanabi said she wanted to try cooking tonight. At the thought of being able to eat the dinner prepared by his younger daughter, Hiashi wanted to finish his work quickly and leave as early as possible.
The office door was pushed open gently.
A small head peeked in first, with smooth black hair flowing down. On her fair and delicate face, a pair of clear and pure white eyes carried a hint of excitement and anticipation—it was Hyuga Hanabi.
Behind her followed a golden-haired youth with a bright smile.
The youth wore a smile that seemed capable of dispelling all gloom, naturally holding Hanabi's hand as he walked in.
"Father!"
Seeing her father, Hanabi immediately called out sweetly.
However, Hiashi's gaze remained on the documents, and the pen in his hand showed no intention of stopping. He simply corrected her in a businesslike tone without looking up: "Hanabi, this is my working time. Please address me by my title."
This wasn't because Hiashi was rigid or heartless, but rather his consistent style of conduct, especially in professional settings where he emphasized rules.
"Alright, Principal Hyuga."
A cheerful, hearty male voice full of laughter took over the conversation, responding on Hanabi's behalf.
As soon as this voice sounded, the tip of the pen that Hiashi was writing with smoothly came to an immediate halt.
He reflexively frowned slightly.
He was all too familiar with this voice.
Familiar enough that just hearing it immediately brought to mind that "bastard brat" who had "stolen away" his two precious daughters, who was also his current superior, the Sixth Hokage.
Hiashi finally looked up, those white eyes as sharp as an eagle's accurately locking onto the two people who had walked in through the door.
Sure enough, it was that golden-haired brat, holding his younger daughter's hand, with that bright smile on his face that made him feel both relieved and inexplicably a bit furious.
"Principal Hyuga, good afternoon."
Naruto greeted with a smile, his attitude natural, even carrying a bit of the closeness of a Junior.
Hiashi didn't respond to the greeting, but simply scanned his gaze between the two, finally settling on Naruto's face. He asked in a deep voice, "Hokage-sama, at this hour, bringing Hanabi to the Principal's office, is there something the matter?"
Naruto was somewhat puzzled by Hiashi's unusual attitude, but he still maintained his smile and got straight to the point:
"I've come because I want to request a leave of absence for Hanabi. It will probably take a few days."
"A leave of absence?"
Hiashi's frown deepened, his gaze looking sharply at Naruto. "The academy curriculum hasn't ended, and Hanabi isn't sick or having an urgent family matter. Even if you are Hokage-sama, I will never allow it!"
He actually already had a faint suspicion in his heart.
Naruto scratched his head, his smile unchanged, but his tone became a bit more serious: "Not in the capacity of the Hokage, but as... well, as family. There really is an important matter that requires Hanabi's assistance."
Hiashi's heart sank; he was almost certain of his guess.
He put down his pen, leaned forward slightly, and crossed his hands on the desk in a defensive and opposing posture. His voice grew even lower:
"No."
"Rest assured, I can protect them well."
They?
Meaning he was going to take Hinata along too?
Hiashi looked directly into Naruto's eyes with an unquestionable firmness:
"In your dreams!"
Realizing his wording was too harsh, Hiashi quickly adjusted and continued:
"Cough... I mean, Hokage-sama, please consider this calmly."
He weighed his words, his gaze moving between Naruto and Hanabi:
"The matter you are going to handle is surely no small thing, and might even be accompanied by extremely high risks. Hanabi isn't even a Genin yet; I don't think she can go on a mission with you."
"Uncle Hiashi, I understand your concern. No father in the world wants to see his children in danger. Hinata and Hanabi are more important to you than anything; I completely understand that feeling."
He first acknowledged Hiashi's worry, then changed the subject:
"But, Uncle Hiashi, Hidden Leaf Village... is not the whole world."
Naruto continued, his gaze seemingly penetrating the office walls and looking toward a more distant place:
"This world is very large. There are places we haven't set foot in, ancient wisdom we haven't yet understood, power systems and ways of life similar to ours, and potential threats and opportunities far beyond our imagination.
If they are always protected in the relatively safe 'greenhouse' of Hidden Leaf Village, their horizons, their perceptions, and their future possibilities will be invisibly limited."
Hiashi didn't know about the secret existence of Isshiki, but Naruto did.
Therefore, he had to find ways to improve the strength of those around him, not asking them to be able to deal with incoming enemies alongside him, but just enough so they could protect themselves.
Only possessing the Tenseigan would allow Hanabi and Hinata to have the ability to protect themselves in the future.
Naruto looked at Hanabi, who was listening quietly beside him, his eyes gentle and full of expectation:
"Hinata and Hanabi both have extraordinary potential and talent. What they need is not just the step-by-step cultivation and learning within the clan and the academy.
Only by increasing their strength can they have the confidence and ability to independently respond and make the right choices in crises that may arise in the future, even those we cannot predict."
"You're right..."
To Naruto's surprise, Hiashi responded to him after a moment of silence.
His voice was somewhat low.
Hiashi slowly leaned back against his chair, moving his gaze from Naruto's face to the young figures running and playing on the Konoha Ninja Academy's training ground outside the window, as if looking back to a more distant past.
He thought of his own training when he was young, the cruelty and growth during the war years, and the difficult choices he had to make as the Clan Chief...
He had to admit that Naruto's words indeed made sense.
Overprotection is sometimes just another form of restraint and harm.
"Hidden Leaf Village is indeed not everything... Insight and experience are crucial for a Ninja's growth. I cannot deny that."
"But... Naruto."
He no longer used the title "Hokage-sama," but called him by name. At this moment, he was more like simply the father of Hanabi and Hinata.
"I understand the logic. Insight is important, growth requires tempering, and the future might need them... I understand all of this."
He paused, his hands on the desk slowly clenching into fists, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. His voice carried a hint of suppressed trembling and an unalterable determination:
"But, like you said, what father would willingly watch his daughters go into danger?"
Loving Book So Far? Check Out 30+ Advanced Chapters At PA Treon
patreon.com/FictionOP