Was this… a dream?
Hinata stared blankly at her long, slender arms and shapely legs, then instinctively touched her cheek.
Her face… and her body… how had they become so mature? Not only was she taller, but she also had beautiful, waist-length hair. Before, with effort, she could just barely see her toes if she looked down; now, they were completely out of sight. Her chest felt heavy, her shoulders ached.
What a strange dream.
And wasn't this the family training grounds?
Looking at the wooden training dummies and the open practice area, Hinata instinctively began practicing her Gentle Fist taijutsu. She continued until startled by the sound of the courtyard gate opening and a pleasant male voice—
—
—
"Just as I thought, it's Baby Hinata."
Uchiha Ying pushed open the gate and immediately spotted Hinata practicing her taijutsu on a wooden dummy. But unlike the girl from the Academy, this Hinata was much older.
Well, literally much more developed.
And somehow, cuteness, innocence, and maturity blended perfectly within her. Compared to Tsunade, whose beauty was almost overwhelming, this mature young woman stirred a gentler affection within Uchiha Ying.
She really had become even more beautiful…
"Especially those clear, sparkling eyes. Truly beautiful."
Having already encountered Tsunade, Uchiha Ying felt a stirring just looking at Hinata.
But why was there suddenly a Hyuga compound here? Could it be that more Konoha buildings and more… NPCs would appear in the future? He had a feeling that revitalizing the Uchiha clan would really fall on his shoulders…
Of course, that assumed these NPCs could become real people.
Uchiha Ying shook his head, dispelling these fanciful thoughts, and walked straight towards Hinata. To be safe, he decided to observe her and figure out what was going on.
Just in case she wasn't an NPC…
—
Ying… Ying!
Why… why was he in her dream…?
And… and calling her… Baby?
Hinata's face flushed crimson. And…
How could Ying possibly compliment her eyes? Even if this was a dream, wasn't it a little too… shameless?
But, hmm… so deep down, she had always longed for Ying to call her "Baby," to praise her eyes, which others often dismissed…
It was… so embarrassing! If it were possible to faint in a dream, Hinata would have collapsed from the chaotic jumble of thoughts swirling in her mind.
I…
Hinata watched Uchiha Ying approach. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't seem to fully control her actions, or even her speech—
"This is the Hyuga training ground. Care to spar?"
It was meant to be a simple greeting, but why did it come out as an invitation to spar?
Hinata wanted to cover her mouth, but as soon as Ying said, "Sure," her body moved involuntarily to the center of the training ground and assumed a Gentle Fist stance. Her Byakugan also activated.
—
Huh?
Why were there dialogue options?
Uchiha Ying, who had been contemplating what to do with Hinata, hadn't expected dialogue options to appear. But judging by her tone and actions, she was definitely an NPC.
Out of curiosity, Uchiha Ying selected "Yes."
"Alright. After absorbing your fragment, I seem to have learned a bit of Gentle Fist. A good chance to practice."
Byakugan!
Although his appearance didn't change, an invisible pressure emanated from Uchiha Ying, just like when Hinata had activated her Byakugan.
"…"
This really was a dream! Seeing Ying mirroring her Gentle Fist stance erased Hinata's last shred of doubt. Although this dream felt strangely real, it could only be in a dream that Ying, an Uchiha, would use the Hyuga's Gentle Fist.
And…
It truly was a case of daydreams becoming night dreams. She had been thinking about letting Ying hit her as punishment, and now she was dreaming about it.
But before Hinata could dwell on it further, her body lunged towards Uchiha Ying as the spar began, moving on its own.
—
"She's fast."
Compared to the Hinata he'd sparred with at the Academy, this Hinata's Gentle Fist attacks were much faster. Fortunately, Uchiha Ying had also grown stronger. Even using the less familiar Gentle Fist against Hinata, he wasn't outmatched.
However…
As expected, even as an NPC, Hinata was still Hinata. Each of her strikes seemed hesitant and restrained, as if she were afraid of hurting him.
"Too weak."
Gradually adapting to Hinata's attack rhythm, Uchiha Ying mastered the Gentle Fist he'd acquired from absorbing her ninja fragment.
Gentle Fist! Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!
He used the same techniques as Hinata, but his execution was far more fierce and aggressive. Unable to defend herself, Hinata was forced back after a few exchanges, her chest left vulnerable.
*Thud… Thud… Thud…*
With each strike from Uchiha Ying's palms, Hinata's body swayed and trembled until she finally collapsed.
—
"Too weak!"
In a daze, Hinata thought she saw her father in Uchiha Ying, especially in that disappointed, mocking tone. It pierced her heart.
I…
For some reason, even though this was a dream, seeing Uchiha Ying's disappointment made Hinata feel even worse than when her father criticized her.
No, I can't…
I refuse to show such a pathetic side of myself to Ying. Absolutely not!
Hinata, who had initially resigned herself to being beaten, found renewed resolve after seeing Uchiha Ying's disappointed expression.
That's right, this body can mimic Father's techniques. I'll use Father's methods against him to make Ying take back what he said!
Remembering that Uchiha Ying was using her own techniques, Hinata decided to use her father's methods against him.
"Again!"
—
Uchiha Ying had thought the spar with Hinata was over, especially after hitting her chest so many times. He was worried he might have hurt her…
He intended to help Hinata up and check on her, but she struggled to her feet and once again assumed a Gentle Fist stance.
"Indeed, even if Hinata isn't suited for combat, her persistence and refusal to give up are admirable."
Watching Hinata, ready to continue, Uchiha Ying also resumed his stance, filled with admiration. This NPC was incredibly lifelike, both in fighting style and personality. It felt like he was sparring with the real Hinata.
This 'dream,' or rather, this system, was remarkable. Besides acquiring ninja fragments, he could probably use it to train his ninjutsu and taijutsu.
"Hmm? Her technique changed?"
Hinata, who had been on the offensive earlier, now focused on defense, her counterattacks remarkably skillful. Caught off guard, Uchiha Ying was sent flying.
"This NPC's techniques are evolving quickly."
But that just made it more interesting.
Uchiha Ying changed his tactics and began to match Hinata move for move. Treating Hinata like a boss, he quickly deciphered her new techniques.
Defeated once more, Hinata finally stopped, seemingly returning to her initial state—
The sweat-drenched girl stood there, chest heaving, her face blank. Her clear Byakugan reflected the image of the boy approaching. He reached her, untied her jacket, and tossed aside the fishnet lining underneath…