Hinata Hyuga's POV
The girl stared into the mirror. Blue hair. Lavender eyes. Pale skin. She rubbed her face and looked again, but the reflection stayed exactly the same. What? The last thing she remembered was standing on a busy road. Something massive had slammed into her, and then... everything just went blank.
She looked around. Tatami mats, paper walls, a beautiful garden outside, and a servant standing quietly in the corner. It all looked like she had been dropped onto the set of a Japanese period drama. But no, she knew exactly where she was, and the reality was a whole lot worse. She was in Naruto, and she was Hinata Hyuga.
The girl who lost her heirship, couldn't save her cousin, and ended up marrying Naruto Uzumaki. And she had all of her memories. She remembered the sheer abuse suffered at the hands of Neji and her father. But she also felt the deep kindness that radiated through her very bones, along with a desperate hope to save her clansmen from their abominable slavery.
Her hands were coarse, and she could feel countless bruises throbbing beneath her skin. When she activated her Byakugan, she could see countless veins of chakra moving through her tenketsu in an ever-flowing river of energy.
Her last life had been a lonely one. Aashi had only ever wanted to live her life to the fullest. She wanted to be rich, to have good friends, and to build a happy family. She was selfish, in a way. Her dreams only really extended to herself and the few people she kept close.
Hinata was her complete opposite. Hinata, who had only ever received scorn from her clansmen and what should have been her family, only wished for them to be happy. She didn't hold a single ounce of anger for how they had treated her.
From an outside angle, Aashi could understand it somewhat. To the clan, a weak leader would only ever lead them to their destruction. And in a time like this, right after the Nine-Tails' attack when Konoha itself was weak and wounded, they would never accept Hinata as their Clan Head. To Hinata, the abuse felt deserved. She blamed her own existence the most.
If I weren't born, my sister would have been the heir. If I weren't born, Neji wouldn't hate me the way he does today, and my father wouldn't feel the crushing burden of the Hyuga Clan's future.
But the soul who now inhabited this body wasn't entirely Hinata, nor was she entirely Aashi. She was a messy, brand-new confluence of desire. She might have to answer to the name Hinata now, but at her core, she held her own values. Values that were completely different from the timid girl who had come before her.
And if she had to drag her clansmen, screaming and screeching, toward a better future, she would do it.
Hinata was born blessed. Hinata was born kind. Hinata would never take the ruthless steps necessary to fix her family. She was too scared of hurting others, and too hurt herself to be of any real help.
Aashi, on the other hand, absolutely despised the Hyuga Clan's Main Family. How could anyone allow this to happen? How heartless do shinobi have to be to just ignore the glaring injustice right in front of their eyes? Hinata never could have changed the Hyuga for the better, because she lacked the resolve and the power to actually pull it off.
But Aashi hadn't been isekai'd here alone. Like every cliché protagonist, she too had received her golden finger. Her lifeline. The raft she would hold onto until she could learn to stand on these unsteady waters.
It was just the weirdest thing she had ever seen.
[ Have you been kidnapped from your home reality without your permission? Have you suffered a fatal injury from a large moving object such as a truck? Is the world that you have arrived at a Deathworld where your chances of dying are extremely high? ]
[ Fear Not! For you! Yes, You! The one with the lavender-colored eyes! You have received the Celestial Gambler! Achieve Feats! Earn Tickets! Cash in those Tickets to receive powers beamed to you straight from the Multiverse!]
[ For taking a new step in your life, you have been given One Bronze-Tiered Ticket for free! ]
It seemed sketchy as hell. It truly sounded like a snake-oil salesman had been put in charge of peddling multiversal powers.
But it was something. It was definitely better than her own lack of talent. It gave her a tiny spark of hope that she could actually survive Madara, Kaguya, and eventually the Otsutsuki.
Please roll my first ticket.
Dynamic Vision
The shape of the target, the expansion and contraction of their muscles, the movement of their joints, and their breathing. From every piece of information gained, you can easily predict the next move of your opponent. Things like roulette machines are a joke, and it's possible for you to follow an arrow in flight with your eyes. With enough training, you can even see bullets and more esoteric projectiles coming at you.
Counter Hit
A counter is a very simplistic maneuver; you're probably already aware of how they work. You attack an enemy when they open up their guard to attack you. This isn't that. Upon purchase, you gain the ability to "counter hit" enemies. If you strike someone while they're attacking you, your own attack becomes more intense, causing it to deal more damage and potentially even send them staggering.
Pilgrim Fist
Not a martial art in the strictest sense, but you become much better at exploring places, and it is hard to get lost barring sabotage. You also seem to have an extensive amount of contacts for traveling; while you might not get the strongest weapons available, you will still get what you need to survive when exploring.
Choosing between these three was incredibly easy, though she had a sinking feeling the choices would get a lot harder in the future. Counter Hit and Pilgrim Fist were both good, but they paled in comparison to the sheer utility of Dynamic Vision. Especially when combined with the Byakugan, whose ability to spot detail was literally peerless. She could already imagine herself predicting moves just like a Sharingan user.
She chose Dynamic Vision.
Turning around, she looked at her attendant. Immediately, she noticed that the woman's muscles were relaxed. There was a distinct lack of physical tension, but her chakra flow indicated... anticipation? At least, that's what Hinata understood it to be. The only way to know for sure was to ask.
"Is something wrong, Kumiko?" she asked softly.
"My lady, Lord Hyuga has called for you in the main courtyard. He has also asked the other clan members to arrive. I believe it is something related to your graduation," Kumiko replied with a slightly strained smile. "Maybe he wishes to congratulate you? I would suggest we hurry, or else he might end up in a worse mood."
Oh, crap. This is the day he throws me out of the heir's position, isn't it?
Shaking off the nerves, she slipped into her training clothes and hurried out to the courtyard.
The Hyuga Compound was breathtaking. She could only dream of ever living in a place this scenic in her last life. The servants, the constant pampering, the stunning beauty of the koi ponds and the drifting sakura leaves. There was a profound sense of peace and tranquility here that you could only achieve when you wielded incredible amounts of money or power.
But today, the courtyard was packed to the brim with clan members. Her father stood dead center. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his eyes were terrifyingly sharp. He noticed her the second she started making her way toward him, and his gaze didn't waver once. With how intense he looked, she could swear those Byakugan eyes were made solely to stare people down.
Her younger sister stood to their father's right. Hanabi looked conflicted, but utterly resigned.
Fate, her father would have said in another timeline. He honestly believed she lacked the fate to be powerful, to be a leader, to make something of herself in life.
What utter nonsense. If fate actually led people, Rock Lee would have never become the successor of Might Guy. If fate had its way, Hinata would stand here today and let Hanabi win. But she wasn't going to do that. What was fate supposed to do when she simply refused to be a pawn on the board? Only I am here. And I will never give up the power needed to improve this clan.
"Hinata and Hanabi. You two will participate in a mock battle today. I wish to see your prowess and the skills you have gained so far. Do not go easy on each other. Fight with the intent to kill," Hiashi commanded, turning his piercing gaze to her. "Hinata, you are my heir and successor. This is your chance to show me you are worthy of your position."
They took their stances ten feet apart and formed the Seal of Confrontation.
The Hyuga prided themselves on close-quarters combat. The Byakugan made it easy to pinpoint a person's tenketsu, and the Gentle Fist taijutsu style allowed them to inflict debilitating damage that basically rendered limbs useless.
But when two Byakugan users fought, the most important aspect was the ability to block and counterattack. They could both see the tenketsu, and they had both learned the exact same style. The only difference should have been the few extra years of experience Hinata had over her little sister.
Hanabi moved first, lunging with a sharp strike aimed at Hinata's left hand. Hinata blocked it effortlessly with her right and retaliated with a quick sweep of her left leg. Hanabi backflipped away, trying to center herself. But Hinata was already there. She closed the distance in a blink, slamming her fingers into the major tenketsu of Hanabi's right arm.
With her right arm completely disabled, Hanabi desperately tried to counterattack Hinata's left side. But Hinata had already pivoted out of reach.
"Hanabi, I do not wish to hurt you any more than necessary. Will you forfeit?" Hinata asked, keeping her voice steady.
"Big sister, I... I want to finish the fight. Even if it is with a single hand," Hanabi replied, panting slightly.
"So be it."
Hinata surged forward. With a quick block to Hanabi's remaining arm and a precise, open-palm strike to her stomach, Hanabi collapsed to the dirt.
Hinata sighed. This really couldn't have ended any other way. The old fogeys believed her to be weak-willed. And while that was entirely true of the old Hinata, this new one would sooner burn the clan compound to the ground before surrendering her birthright. Dynamic Vision ensured that Hinata would always know where Hanabi was going to move before her sister's body could even finish twitching.
She turned to look at the Hyuga Elder. He was her grandfather, and coincidentally, the only other clan member in the Main Family besides her father, her sister, and herself.
"Are you satisfied?" Hinata pitched her voice softly, molding her chakra so only her father and grandfather could hear her words. "Does this satiate your need for entertainment? Treating my sister as your pawn in politics she doesn't even understand? Neji is older than me, yet you both made me fight him until I was bruised and battered. And now you do the same to my sister with me. What do you actually hope to achieve? Ninja survive because we trust each other, and all you have managed to do in your entire life is slowly break this clan apart. You treat Neji like dirt beneath your feet. He cannot fight back, but that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve respect. I am done here."
"Child, you lack the will to lead this clan!" her grandfather hissed, his tone sharp and biting. "Even now, when we told you to fight as if your life was on the line, you gave Hanabi a chance to surrender! You, who has not stepped outside the comforts of this village, who has not bled for those around you... what would you know of trust and cooperation? Do not speak to us as if you have any say in our decisions. You live this life in such peace because of our traditions. The Hyuga have reached such a high position of power because of the decisions we have made. Neji is a servant, and he must serve. It is his fate. Just as it is our fate to serve and die for the village."
"Father, she is just agitated. Forgive her," Hiashi intervened. He turned to look at her with an unreadable expression. "Hinata has proven today that she has what it takes to lead this clan. Even if it is just a small glimmer of hope, I believe that in the future, she will be capable. She just needs to grow up and face real battles. And you witnessed her fight today. She had impeccable control over the flow of the battle. If that is not talent, I do not wish to know what is."
"Fine. I agree," the Elder muttered, shaking his head in disgust. "She is lacking in intellect, but her skill has improved sufficiently. She may, in the future, be able to lead this clan. I will make my final decision after her Chunin Exams. You have exactly that long to become better than Neji. And, as you have satisfied both your father and me today, you may ask one boon of us."
Hinata hadn't known what to ask for at first. But suddenly, one thing came to mind. It was something the previous Hinata had hoped for with all her heart. Aashi wanted it to happen for entirely different reasons, but it would help immensely in the long run.
"Our exams have ended, and as you know, we will be assigned teams in a few days," Hinata said calmly. "I know for a fact that they plan to assign Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno together. I wish to replace Sakura Haruno and be assigned to Team 7."
Her father rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You wish to be assigned with both of them, you say? Why is that?"
"Aside from the obvious political advantage of being teammates with both the last heir of the Uchiha Clan and the village's Uzumaki? It would be highly convenient, as I have heard Kakashi Hatake is to be assigned as their Jonin leader. It will give me a good avenue to get closer to the village leadership for the future."
"Girl, how exactly have you acquired this intel?" the Elder demanded, his pale eyes narrowing. "It isn't normal to know so much about the actions of a former ANBU captain."
Hinata mischievously tapped her chin.
"Ah, now that would be telling, wouldn't it, Grandpa? Not quite something you'd expect from a failed heiress, yes? Maybe I will tell you someday, but as they say, a ninja should keep their cards close to their chest," she replied, offering a saccharine smile. "Anyway, please make it happen! I do not think you should have much trouble replacing Sakura. After all, she doesn't have any political power, now does she? I will be taking Hanabi to get some rest. Bye-bye now!"
Without waiting for a dismissal, she scooped Hanabi up in a princess carry and walked all the way back to her room.
After tucking Hanabi into bed, Hinata decided to spend some time relaxing near the pond outside.
It was sunset when Hanabi finally woke up and wandered out to the koi pond.
"Big sister?"
"Yes, Hanabi?"
"Why are you playing in the pond with your legs?"
Hinata smiled softly. "Ah, come try it with me. The fish always get close to my legs and try to nibble on my feet when I stay still. It feels really tingly."
"Okay! I will try." Hanabi sat down beside her and carefully lowered her bare legs into the cool water. "Ow," she giggled. "It really feels like they are tickling me."
"Doesn't it? Did you know koi fish are my favorite kind of fish? They all have such beautiful patterns, and each one flows through the pond as if they are performing their own unique dance. They are free to live their life as they please."
"I suppose it is their fate," Hanabi said innocently.
"Yes... fate." Hinata sighed, looking up at the orange sky. "Hanabi, do you know why Father asked me to fight you today?"
"Hmm? I thought they just wanted to see my progress."
"Well, that is true, I suppose. But it's not the whole truth." She took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "This world, Hanabi, is in a constant flux for power. And this struggle for power is what defines the shinobi life. The shinobi villages vie for power. The clans vie for power. The individuals within those clans vie for power. At the end of the day, power just changes hands again and again. It is a snake eating its own tail. It is a cannibalistic war that chips away pieces of ourselves until nothing is left standing. Until all is ash, and death reigns supreme."
Hanabi kicked her feet slightly, sending ripples through the water. "I suppose you can look at it that way. But, big sister, isn't that just too sad of a way to look at our life? We get to use chakra, perform feats a civilian could never dream of, achieve miracles! The First Hokage created this village to help us live peacefully, didn't he? You can't just claim that our way of life is entirely absent of happiness."
"Yes, I guess that's true," Hinata conceded gently. "But what I am trying to get at is that Father has an obligation to produce a successful heir. Someone able to take up his mantle when he retires, or if he is slain in battle. The fight today was about ensuring that people don't challenge my leadership when the time comes for me to take his place.
"Our clan is not perfect, Hanabi. In fact, it is so imperfect that I have this burning urge inside to burn it to the ground and build something new atop the ashes. But I promise you, and I promise Neji, that I will make sure this clan never takes your freedom from you. They would have to walk over my grave before they ever accomplish it. If they ever ask you to let someone draw a seal on your forehead, immediately run to me, okay? Big sister will handle everything."
Hanabi looked at her with wide, trusting eyes. "Okay."
"Good. That's good. Now, let's get you to your room so you can get ready for dinner, yes?"
"Carry me again, big sister!" Hanabi demanded, already trying to climb onto her back.
"Okay, okay! I'll carry you," Hinata laughed, the sound ringing bright and clear across the water.
[ You have earned 1 Bronze-Tier Ticket for winning against Hanabi and securing your Heirship for a while! ]
Please use it.
Particularly Exalted
Normally an individual that is Exalted tends to excel at one of the three attribute groups of physical, mental, or social. The second group is slightly above average, and the final category is merely average. You, however, are particularly multi-talented, and have the good fortune to excel at the physical, mental, and social aspects all at the same time, with no functional difference between them.
Iron Body
While it's possible to advance to Iron without obtaining a specific Iron Body, it puts you at a significant disadvantage compared to the majority of other Sacred Artists. By purchasing this, you may create a custom Iron Body ability without having to suffer through whatever it takes to get said body. Examples include: Extreme Regeneration and Poison Immunity, Scaling Strength, Perfect Kinesthetics allowing for Advanced Acrobatics, or Supremely Enhanced Reflexes such that you "can step into a storm without a raindrop touching you."
Power of Rage
An animal fights at its strongest when cornered. When pushed to your limits and nearing defeat, you find your rage giving you strength. Your attacks will be more powerful than before in this state, and you can focus all your energy into a final attack to take your opponent out.
The Exalted perk would be incredible if it actually made her an Exalt, but it seemed to only boost her baseline affinity for physical, mental, and social experiences. Power of Rage would have been cool for a dramatic shonen moment, but the Iron Body perk was infinitely better.
Fortunately, Aashi had read the Cradle series in her past life. She knew all about the different Iron Bodies. And she knew the absolute perfect one for herself.
The body of the Grim Reaper himself, Eithan Arelius's Iron Body. The Raindrop Iron Body.
Eithan had possessed a bloodline power remarkably similar to the Byakugan, and his main limitation had always been his reaction time. Put simply, the Raindrop Iron Body improved a person's reaction time to an almost inhuman degree. It guaranteed that anyone who could see an attack coming would have the physical time to actually react to it.
It was flawless for someone with the Byakugan. Paired with Dynamic Vision, it would make her practically untouchable to anyone slower than herself. And, honestly, it fit her new personality perfectly.
A body that regenerated would have been nice, but she could only hope she'd roll a regeneration perk in a future ticket.
Without hesitation, she purchased the Iron Body.
Hiashi Hyuga's POV
Time: Moments after Hinata's departure from the Main Courtyard.
Hiashi watched in heavy silence as the child skipped away from the courtyard, her little sister in tow.
"She is hiding something, Hiashi. Her personality is completely different from what it used to be. But her chakra remains the same," the Hyuga Elder determined, his pale eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"She is still my daughter, Father. I do not know what has occurred to cause such a drastic change in her attitude. But... after so many years of fearing for the future of our clan, I feel happy for this change," Hiashi replied, his voice uncharacteristically weary. "Do I really need to investigate this matter? Isn't this exactly what we have hoped for since her birth? She has grown a spine. Kami knows I have prayed for less."
"Hmph! Do not let sentiment affect your judgment," the Elder snapped. "You are her father, but before that, you are the Head of the Hyuga Clan. We pride ourselves on our ability to uncover secrets from others. To understand others completely. Our eyes allow us to witness the absolute truth of the world. We were born following the path of the Shinobi. To turn from it now for mere sentiment is foolish."
The older man took a slow, rattling breath. "The girl has clearly changed for the better. But it would be a fool who wouldn't try to understand who she is now. Increase her hidden guards. Make sure they catalog her mental state. A sudden shift in personality can be caused by anything; that isn't the issue here. If her mind is fragile, she cannot lead the clan."
"Yes, I understand," Hiashi agreed with a resigned nod.
"Oh, and look into putting her with Team 7 as she asked," the Elder snorted, turning away. "If the girl wants to play politics, let her. Her demeanor may not be suited to the battlefield, but it would be fine for making connections. She is not so incompetent as to mess it up."
Hiashi Hyuga's POV
Time: The day after the duel.
Location: The Hokage Residence.
The Hokage Residence was the tallest building in Konoha, and perhaps the tallest in the entire Fire Nation. Hiashi entered through the main double doors. Inside the bustling reception hall, countless ninja waited to receive missions and directives. He walked smoothly up to the receptionist and informed him of his scheduled meeting.
Lord Hokage worked from the highest floor of the building, and it didn't take Hiashi long to reach it. He was at that stage of his life where his knees ached on the stairs, but not quite enough to act unbecoming of a shinobi. After a brief knock, he was granted entry.
"Ah, Hiashi. It has been a while since we have sat down together to share some tea, hasn't it?" Lord Third said warmly. He was sitting on a plush sofa near a window that overlooked the Hokage Monument.
"Yes, my lord, it has been quite some time, I believe. The last time was before... before Hizashi's death," Hiashi said, the words heavy on his tongue. It hurt, but he had to remind the Hokage of the terrible sacrifice the Hyuga Clan had made if he wished to ask for a favor today.
"Listen to an old man ramble. I apologize for reminding you of such terrible memories, Hiashi. My wit has gone down the drain with time," the Hokage frowned, pouring two cups of steaming tea.
"No, no, it is fine, Lord Third. The Hyuga remember my brother's sacrifice with pride, and I am sure that Konohagakure does too," he replied respectfully.
"So, let's get to the gist of this meeting. Why have you asked for me, Hiashi?"
"You must be aware of the factions forming within my clan over the last few years. Hinata had been losing the respect of our clansmen due to her merely average skills in the shinobi arts. More and more people had been pressuring me to declare Hanabi as the heir. I had no choice but to allow a fight to occur between them to choose a successor, otherwise the resentment of the Branch Family would grow too large to ignore."
"Yes, the ANBU have been keeping me abreast of the situation," Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Hinata is a very kind young lady, but her performance in the Academy exams was said to be only adequate."
"Yes. As ashamed as I am to admit it, I fully expected Hanabi to win. Hinata, her whole life and especially since the kidnapping, had been too... soft. She refused to fight with the intent to hurt anyone. I tried to break her of that habit. Countless times I made her fight Neji, knowing full well that he would take his anger out on her. But she never broke. She took every beating without complaint and still acted exactly as she wished."
Hiashi took a sip of his tea, his eyes distant. "But yesterday, when she stepped into the main courtyard, she had this fiery glare in her eyes. A fierce determination that had been lacking for years. Yet, I still didn't allow myself to hope. I have learned to regret it.
"When I explained the duel and its purpose, she seemed so sure of herself. Not arrogance, but the kind of quiet confidence that comes from a place of true strength. She soundly defeated Hanabi, who had been sparring regularly with Neji and holding her own. Her victory silenced the entire clan."
"Ho! Such a drastic change in personality?" Hiruzen mused, puffing thoughtfully on his pipe. "I suppose receiving an ultimatum can force one to change. It is only when placed under immense pressure that you find out whether a person's heart is made of coal or an uncut diamond."
"Exactly. And with this, I believe I can rest assured the clan will be in good hands in the future."
"I see. But what is the true cause for this meeting, Hiashi? It couldn't be just to regale me with tales of your clan, however entertaining they may be."
"I know that Kakashi Hatake will be coming out of ANBU to train Sasuke Uchiha."
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. "Ah. How did you discover that?"
"It is a simple inference to make, knowing he is the only loyal shinobi with a Sharingan who can teach Sasuke Uchiha how to utilize his own. What I wish to ask for is to place Hinata on the same team as the Uchiha, under Kakashi."
"Hmm. Are you not worried she will fall behind in taijutsu if she is trained by the Copy Ninja?"
"Hah! Do not make me laugh, Lord Third," Hiashi scoffed lightly. "We both know Kakashi will not be teaching a group of genin many jutsu. They lack the chakra capacity to utilize them anyway. Besides, taijutsu is something that I and my clansmen can teach her perfectly well here. Neji will be there to train her too. What she truly needs is to learn how to be an exemplary ninja, and to learn how to cooperate with others on the battlefield. I can think of no one better to teach her that than the son of Konoha's White Fang."
"Yes, I think I understand what you wish for," Lord Third agreed, looking out the window toward the carved stone face of the Fourth Hokage. "It will be hard to convince Kakashi, but I am sure he will eventually come to see it as the boon it is. The boy lacks any solid connection with the noble clans anyway; bringing him closer to the Hyuga is not something I am opposed to. But know this, Hiashi: Kakashi has never passed a single student in his genin test. I have no control over whether he chooses to keep them or send them back to the Academy."
"It is fine. I believe in my daughter to pass his test."
"Then it is settled. Good."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
Third Person POV
Time: Six days after the duel.
Location: Konoha Academy.
The classroom was buzzing with nervous energy as the teams were settled, erupting into scattered cheers only when their own names were declared. Eventually, Iruka-sensei reached the bottom of his clipboard.
"Team 7 will be comprised of Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuga, and Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Yes!" Hinata pumped her fists under the desk.
"I'm gonna be Hokage! Believe it!" Naruto screamed at the top of his lungs, leaping out of his chair.
"Why am I stuck with the fool?" Sasuke whispered to himself, glaring at the chalkboard.
And so began Hinata's new journey: to learn to kill with kindness.