It was a clear, cloudless afternoon a few days later. Warm sunlight bathed the streets of Konoha Village, chasing away the last of the morning chill.
Perfect weather for relaxing. Tenten had just returned from a mission and arranged to go out and have fun.
The moment Hyuga Hinata stepped outside the Hyuga Clan Compound gate, she spotted Tenten bouncing at the corner, waving excitedly.
"Hinata! Over here!" Today Tenten wore her usual neat outfit, her twin buns jiggling with every move, brimming with energy.
"Tenten." Hinata quickened her pace, a faint smile on her lips; being with Tenten always brought simple ease.
"Hurry, hurry! That shop is super popular—if we're late we'll be stuck in a long line!"
Tenten grabbed Hinata's hand and jogged toward the shopping district.
Watching Tenten's impetuous enthusiasm, Hinata felt a bit helpless but followed willingly.
Sunlight spilled over the two girls, sketching silhouettes of running maidens and drawing kindly glances from passers-by.
Inside the imposing gate of the Hyuga Clan Compound, a tall figure stood quietly in the shadows.
Hyuga Hiashi kept his hands inside the wide sleeves of his kimono, his face as stern and rigid as ever, but his Byakugan eyes—sharing the same bloodline as Hinata—followed his daughter until she and Tenten vanished round the corner.
"Clan Chief." A branch-house Hyuga appeared behind him and bowed respectfully.
"The Young Miss has gone out. Assign two men to tail her at a distance. Ensure her safety but do not disturb her."
"Yes, sir." The clansman turned and left.
Hiashi remained where he was, his gaze seeming to pierce through the buildings toward the shopping district.
Now his daughter had grown up; her strength had reached a Realm even he could not fathom, and she had become a hero of Konoha. Since her graduation he had rarely sparred with her.
He dared not use his full power, fearing he might hurt her—even though he suspected she might already be stronger than he was.
Still uneasy, every time Hinata went out he had people follow from afar...
As Tenten expected, a sizable queue had formed outside the little shop, mostly young kunoichi and parents with children.
"Good thing we came early!" Tenten patted her chest, pulled Hinata to the end of the line, her small face full of relief.
The wait wasn't dull; Tenten, ever chatty, began praising every dango flavor to Hinata.
"Listen, Hinata, the red-bean paste is made from special Akimichi-supplied beans—sweet but not cloying! The matcha powder is top-grade from the Tea Country, super fragrant! And the white dango dipped in black-sugar syrup—out of this world!"
She recited details like a walking encyclopedia, clearly having done her homework.
Hinata listened quietly, nodding now and then.
She wasn't picky about food; ever since acquiring the heaven and earth primordial qi pot, anything she cooked tasted delicious.
Yet hearing Tenten's enthusiastic descriptions, she too began to look forward to the dango.
After about a quarter of an hour, it was their turn. The tiny shop exuded the sweet aroma of rice flour and sugar, making mouths water.
They ordered the signature tri-color dango set, plus an extra skewer of red-bean and one of matcha, then carried the wooden tray to a small table under a parasol outside.
"Let's eat!" Tenten clasped her hands, declared energetically, and bit a huge mouthful of red-bean dango.
The soft, chewy skin and sweet, silky filling melted on her tongue; she squinted in bliss, cheeks puffed out, mumbling praise.
"Mm! Super good, as expected!"
Hinata picked up a matcha skewer and took a small bite. Fresh tea fragrance spread; the slight bitterness balanced the sweetness perfectly, layers of flavor unfolding.
"Mm, it's delicious," she agreed softly, her gaze gentle.
Sunlight filtered through the parasol, dappling the table with shifting shadows.
The two girls savored their sweets, chatting quietly now and then.
Tenten recounted amusing mission anecdotes and the antique weapons she'd unearthed in remote shops.
Hinata mostly listened, occasionally laughing.
After finishing every last dango, Tenten patted her still-flat stomach contentedly.
"Ahh~ so full! Hinata, let's walk to the training ground to digest!"
Hinata had finished too, but felt no fullness; to her this didn't even qualify as an appetizer.
They strolled to the training ground, far quieter than the shopping street, with only rustling leaves and the distant thunk of shuriken hitting targets.
They found a clean patch of grass beneath a huge tree and sat down.
Tenten leaned back on her hands, gazing at the golden shards of sunlight filtering through the leaves, and sighed contentedly.
After a quiet moment she suddenly spoke, her tone less lively than usual, carrying rare earnestness and yearning.
"Hinata... what kind of adults do you think we'll become?"
Hinata tilted her head, puzzled by the sudden reflection.
Tenten turned back, eyes sparkling, and began counting on her fingers.
"Look, the Village has so many legendary Ninja. The Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya's books are super popular! Orochimaru… uh, never mind him."
She stuck out her tongue and skipped the Rogue Ninja.
"And Tsunade! Lady Tsunade is the one I admire most! The greatest Medical Ninja in history, with monstrous strength! She's saved countless lives—she's every kunoichi's dream!"
In truth, Hinata wanted to say that Orochimaru was actually more formidable.
Tenten's tone brimmed with worship and longing, as though describing a radiant idol beyond reach.
"And someone like Kakashi, whose name resounds across the Ninja World! He's carried out countless S-rank missions." Her eyes sparkled with hunger for strength and fame.
Then she turned to Hinata, voice turning tentative yet hopeful.
"Hinata, do you think… I could ever become a legendary Ninja like Lady Tsunade—powerful, famous, helping so many? Even if I only reached half—no, a tenth—of her level?"
Her dream was direct and pure, a girl's bright longing for the future mixed with self-appraisal and hope.
Hinata listened quietly, watching the sunlight-bright glimmer in Tenten's eyes.
She recalled Tenten's tireless training and unique gift with Ninja tools, her ever-vibrant optimism.
"Why couldn't you?" Hinata answered with a smile.
"Your Ninja-tool control is amazing and unique—it's a path that belongs only to you. Keep walking it, and you might just make it."
Her words weren't empty praise; grounded in observation, they pointed out Tenten's potential and direction.
Tenten froze, staring at Hinata, stunned by such direct affirmation.
A warm surge of courage flooded her; a radiant smile brighter than the sun bloomed as she nodded vigorously.
"Yeah! You're right, Hinata—thank you!" Fists clenched, she brimbed with renewed fight.
"Then I'll invent even more powerful, unpredictable tool techniques! Combine exploding tags with Seal jutsu? Or a self-tracking flying weapon? When I'm a Jonin and famous, I'll open a huge Ninja-tool shop in the busiest part of the Village, displaying every awesome tool I collect! I've even got the name: 'Tenten-tastic!'"
Watching her friend's glowing eyes map out the future, Hinata couldn't help but smile; such vigor and resolve felt wonderful.
She felt Tenten and Obito lived in entirely different worlds—different universes altogether.
"You'll do it," Hinata said again, voice firm.
"Heh, I'll take your lucky word! When that day comes, pick any tool you want from my shop!"
Tenten scratched her head, cheeks flushed with excitement, then leaned in curiously.
"By the way, Hinata, what's your dream? Someone as strong as you must aim even higher—maybe Hokage?"
Hinata's gaze drifted to the distant horizon where clouds drifted boundless.
Her dream? Traverse the myriad worlds? Transcend the Reincarnation cycle? Attain the Primordial Dao?
Those goals felt too remote; once she'd entertained them, but cultivating immortality had changed her heart.
She looked back at the curious Tenten and offered an answer both true and understandable.
"Well… I just want to keep walking and see the scenery of ever higher, farther places," she said softly.
Tenten blinked, half-comprehending. Wasn't becoming Hokage the highest view a Ninja could reach?
She nodded firmly.
"Yeah! Someone like you will definitely see amazing sights none of us can imagine!"
The setting sun painted the sky warm orange and stretched their shadows across the grass.
"Ah—no!" Tenten sprang up. "I lost track of time! I promised Mom I'd buy groceries and help cook—I'm doomed!"
She hurriedly brushed off grass. "Thanks for today, Hinata—for the food and listening to my rambling! Next time, my treat at Ichiraku Ramen!"
"Okay." Hinata stood and smiled.
"I'm off—bye!" Tenten waved and dashed away like the wind, vanishing beyond the training field.
"I'll give her a gift next time…"
Hinata murmured, already decided.
She would gift the kusanagi sword seized from Orochimaru—a top-grade blade Tenten would love.
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