Later that day, after Hinome had time to settle into her designated living space within the Third Estate, and the afternoon had given way to the early evening, they reconvened.
This time, their meeting place was one of the estate's spacious training fields, a serene spot that contrasted with the flurry of activities that had marked their day.
"How have you settled in?", Hikari asked, his voice expressing a genuine concern for her comfort and adaptation to the new environment.
"It's all right...", Hinome replied, her response brief yet carrying an undertone of appreciation for the efforts made to accommodate her.
The simplicity of her answer belied the significant change she was undergoing. She was adapting not only to a new physical space but also to the strange implications she had heard earlier today.
"That's great... You are my most important and closest partner so far in this clan, and you know that...",
"As my chief assistant, it's not only your research skills that matter. Growing stronger and being able to protect yourself is crucial too...", Hikari began, his tone underscored by the seriousness of his words.
"Here's a collection of some advanced Wind Release and Lightning Release ninjutsu that I've compiled from within the clan during these days. You must master these techniques now. After ascending to this position, it wasn't that hard for me to get them, so don't worry...",
Hikari's commitment to Hinome's safety and development was evident, "I know I'm also not an expert in these types of ninjutsu, so I've arranged for specialists to come and train you.",
"They're experts in their fields, and they'll start working with you occasionally from tomorrow...", He continued, revealing his proactive approach to ensuring Hinome had all the resources she needed to grow, not just intellectually, but as a shinobi as well.
Hinome accepted the sealing scrolls containing Hikari's ninjutsu techniques, a wave of gratitude washing over her.
She felt a profound sense of appreciation, recognizing the lengths to which Hikari went to ensure her safety and development.
For Hinome, Hikari's significance in her life transcended the professional realm. While Hikari might view her as a vital partner in their shared endeavors, to Hinome, he was the most important person in her life.
His actions—protecting her, supporting her, and fostering her growth—highlighted a level of care that no one else had shown since her parents passed away. This realization deepened her respect and affection for him, further solidifying the unique bond she shared with him.
A few years earlier, Hikari had taken the initiative to determine Hinome's chakra affinities, which revealed her unique twin affinities for wind and lightning release.
Since that discovery, he had dedicated himself to nurturing those affinities, sharing with her the methods and practices he had used to enhance his own wind release capabilities earlier.
Over time, Hikari introduced Hinome to a variety of lower-level jutsu, focusing on C and D ranks, to build a solid foundation and gradually increase her mastery over her affinities.
"Come on, show me your progress in our clan's advanced techniques...", Hikari's voice broke through the air, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he assumed a Gentle Fist stance opposite Hinome.
Hinome nodded in acknowledgment and mirrored his stance, her expression a mix of concentration and determination.
Then she launched into her attack. She executed the '64-Palms' with precision, her movements a blur as she moved from one strike to the next.
This was followed by the 'Vacuum Palms', which sent a forceful burst of chakra towards Hikari. He expertly dodged, his smile widening in approval.
Lastly, she performed the 'Rotation', creating a protective barrier of chakra around herself. This technique required a deep understanding of one's chakra flow and control.
Each technique Hinome displayed was a testament to Hikari's meticulous teaching and her innate intelligence and adaptability. The success of her execution confirmed that their training sessions had been fruitful, showcasing an impressive level of mastery, especially considering her Side Branch origins.
Hikari's decision to teach Hinome these advanced techniques, traditionally reserved for Main Branch members, was a bold move. However, he was unfazed by the potential controversy.
His status as Third Elder now afforded him a certain level of autonomy and authority, and he was prepared to leverage it to support Hinome's development.
In his view, Hinome's mastery of these techniques could be justified by her observational learning during their shared training sessions, a plausible explanation that would likely quell any significant objections.
Of course, Takumi's and Patriarch's techniques weren't taught to her, as they were more personal to their lineages.
Hikari considered Hinome invaluable, primarily because of his deep trust in her. This trust was rooted in their history, starting when Hinome was very young and vulnerable, and it has been nurtured by Hikari's continuous guidance and care ever since.
He believed these years of constant support and his 'influencing' made the likelihood of her betraying him very slim.
Her significance to him was further amplified by her exceptional abilities in research and her unique Byakugan microscopic vision, which were critical for achieving his objectives. That was why he was determined to ensure her safety at all costs.
Hinome's prowess in medical ninjutsu, augmented by her specialized microscopic Byakugan vision, had allowed her to excel in some areas even beyond Hikari, particularly in self-healing.
This skill set placed her performance around the Special Jonin level, quite unusual for a Side Branch member of her age.
During this spar, Hinome also demonstrated her mastery of conventional techniques and innovative approaches to combat.
She had developed unique techniques that leveraged her medical ninjutsu affinity and Gentle Fist training in offensive capacities, such as chakra pathway severances and clotting.
By using her Yang Release, she could also induce cellular overgrowth in her opponents, an effective way to incapacitate them.
However, due to the difference in strength, she didn't get a chance to use this against Hikari.
After offering Hinome numerous pointers throughout their spar, they eventually concluded their short session.
Hikari, with a smile of approval, complimented Hinome on her progress, acknowledging the strides she had made in her training,
"You are developing your strength quite well, Hinome...", He remarked, his words carrying a tone of genuine praise and satisfaction.
"However, I feel that Hinome would truly experience a great breakthrough in strength only after focusing on successfully mixing those two nature release affinities of yours together and creating your own unique, entirely new pseudo-Kekkei Genkai elemental release from the mix, as we discussed before...", Hikari suddenly added.
In the past few years, Hikari had shifted his research focus mostly towards a deeper understanding of chakra as an energy source after learning basically everything else there was to learn about this world over the years.
That was why he also now knew so much about stuff like 'chakra potency' and the development and growth of the inner chakra pathway system, among other aspects.
This extensive research had equipped him with a profound knowledge base, which he was eager to share with Hinome, especially given her unique talents, insights, and abilities.
Hikari proposed that Hinome could achieve unprecedented growth by combining her Wind and Lightning affinities to forge a new elemental nature release unique to only her.
This innovative approach, leveraging her distinct Byakugan 'micro' vision and her prowess in cutting-edge research, held the promise of creating something truly exceptional that could redefine her capabilities and offer surprise advantages over all of her potential enemies.
"I read over the literature regarding that, and I felt that it is truly possible but extremely hard to achieve. However, I also feel that I have to do this for myself if I want to gain a foothold in this cutthroat world like you always say...",
Hinome, still catching her breath and a bit sweaty from their duel, was now dressed in more formal white robes styled for female Hyuga members but of a more noble kind of origin, sent to her by Hikari himself through his servants. She expressed her determination. The conviction in her voice and the resolve on her face underscored the depth of her commitment.
Over the years, Hinome's desire for knowledge and power had grown, fueled by the insights she shared with Hikari about the realities of their world.
However, this desire was not entirely about personal ambition; it was also driven by her wish to remain valuable to Hikari and ensure she never became a liability or irrelevant to him.
The thought of a future without Hikari's presence, guidance, and support was unimaginable to her, highlighting the profound impact he had on her life and aspirations.
Confidence brimmed within Hinome, bolstered by the knowledge of Hikari's own daring achievements.
She believed in her capacity to create this new elemental release, seeing it as a challenge within her reach, especially given the innovative breakthroughs Hikari himself had accomplished.
However, after suddenly seeing Hinome's determined expression, which he found unexpectedly 'endearing', Hikari couldn't help but smile, and in a rare departure from his usual demeanor and in a moment of uncharacteristic spontaneity,
He stepped forward and affectionately ruffled her hair, an act of encouragement and approval for her bold words and the confidence she just displayed. This gentle gesture left her hair even more tousled than before.
Caught off guard by his own actions, Hikari then stared at his hand as if it belonged to someone else, his mind racing with thoughts that clashed with his typical cold and calculated approach.
Hinome's reaction was one of sheer surprise; her face flushed with a deep red, her usually neat and dense bangs now disarrayed, inadvertently revealing the faint, ominous mark of the Side Branch beneath.
Hikari was momentarily taken aback by his impulsiveness, reflecting, 'It seems that after becoming an Elder, I've become looser and bolder than before. What was I doing? I can't afford to waste time and focus on such matters; I need to be completely focused on my goals...',
This introspection led Hikari to recognize that his recent rise in status might have loosened the reins on his suppressed instincts, particularly his subtle and strange affection for Hinome, a realization that caught him by surprise.
At that moment, Hikari acknowledged the complexity of his feelings related to Hinome, thankfully still in their 'infancy', recognizing them as a potential huge distraction from his ambitions and the strength he sought to achieve.
Despite the warmth of the interaction, he resolved to firmly reign in these initial impulses, believing that such vulnerabilities could not be afforded in his quest for power and influence, especially not while he was still this relatively 'weak' in comparison to many potential threats.
Unbeknownst to Hikari. However, Hinome was watching him closely at this time, her gaze hidden beneath her disheveled bangs. The unexpected warmth of his gesture left her with a racing heart; her cheeks flushed even more deeply from the brief but impactful contact.
Yet, as she witnessed Hikari's immediate shift towards regret for his previous action, a twinge of disappointment flickered within her entire being.
However, Hinome's keen observation also led to a pivotal realization. As she saw Hikari grapple with his actions, her initial disappointment gave way to a deeper understanding.
She also recognized the complexity of her feelings toward him now, feelings that had evolved and were finally openly realized by her.
She also sensed a faint mirror of those emotions in Hikari, too—albeit restrained by the ambitions that weighed heavily on him and possible hidden fears.
'So that is it... I finally understand those feelings slightly... His feelings for me are somewhat similar. It is just that his ambitions probably prevent them from growing more and prevent him from being more open to facing them.',
'Then I also won't be the one to distract him, and will silently grow in strength and assist him more, in various ways, until that day finally arrives in the future...', This epiphany brought a sincere smile to Hinome's face next, even as they stood together in an awkward silence.