Chapter 12: The Other Observer - The White Eyed Princess of Konoha

Chapter 12: The Other Observer Hinata had effectively claimed the space above the Hokage Rock as her own turf and was unapologetically issuing an eviction notice to Sasuke. Sasuke turned away with an air of indifference, walking off without so much as a backward glance. "Mm!" Hinata nodded in satisfaction. Despite being future saviors and esteemed figures of the ninja world, Sasuke and Naruto often grated on Hinata's nerves with their presence, thanks to the principle of like repelling like. Keeping a respectful distance was best; growing too close might invite significant trouble. Wait a minute! Why hasn't Naruto left yet? How utterly oblivious can he be? Staring! Hinata took a bite of her dango only to realize that Naruto's gaze wasn't on her, but rather fixated on the very piece of dango she had just eaten, chewed, and finally swallowed. Hinata: "..." I'll have another bite... Mm! So delicious! Another bite... Hinata finally couldn't stand Naruto's gaze any longer. When teasing Naruto, he was usually quite bashful, but at times, his nerve seemed even tougher than Gaara’s sand shield. "Want me to treat you to some dango?" Naruto beamed ear to ear and dashed over eagerly. Huh! No hesitation at all, is there? Seating himself beside Hinata, Naruto casually picked up a skewer of dango and began eating with a look of pure satisfaction. Now that they were in school, the young lady never lacked for pocket money. Treating the future Seventh Hokage to a meal wasn't such a bad deal after all. After all, he was the future leader! Growing up in a challenging environment had made Naruto particularly sensitive, giving him an acute awareness of others' emotions. Perhaps it was also due to the influence of the Nine-Tails chakra. Naruto could sense that Hinata neither disliked him nor pitied his circumstances; she merely regarded him as a regular friend, treating him no differently than anyone else. Of course, "anyone else" referred to the other key figures, not the nameless characters whom Hinata could care less about. Like Sasuke, Naruto didn't seek others' pity but rather their recognition. Being a fan of the Hokage series meant knowing the characters' personalities was mandatory, right? "Thank you, Hinata!" Naruto finally remembered his manners after finishing his skewer and expressed his gratitude. Hinata glanced toward the village, responding calmly, "No need for thanks." Curious, Naruto asked, "Hinata, what are you looking at?" "It's the village," Hinata replied flatly. Naruto scratched his head, puzzled, "What's so interesting about the village?" Hmph! I'm trying to understand the mindset of the four Hokages as they overlooked the village from here. What would a kid like you know? The view here is excellent, with an expansive vista. Even before Konoha was established, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had stood here to survey the earth. It’s the mindset of the powerful, understand? Hinata might not share the profound aspirations of past Hokages, but as the heiress of the Hyuga clan, even idling away in this life meant she had to at least feign concern for her village. For now, as a child, there weren't any major issues. But when Hinata matured and her psyche became more "developed," not loving the village would brand you as an outcast. After a moment's silence, Hinata asked, "Hey, Naruto, do you have any dreams?" As soon as the topic of dreams was mentioned, Naruto's enthusiasm surged, and he earnestly declared, "I want to become Hokage and surpass all the previous ones." Hinata smiled encouragingly, "Mm! Good luck!" Bringing up the topic was also Hinata's way of strengthening her friendship with Naruto. At this time, Naruto couldn’t comprehend what the title 'Hokage' truly signified. He hadn't endured nearly as much; his desire to become Hokage stemmed mainly from a need for everyone’s acknowledgment. Tears instantly welled up in Naruto's eyes, and even the tasty three-colored dango seemed to lose its flavor. So touched! "Sniff sniff~" Naruto turned his head, tears streaming down, and looked at Hinata. Though he uttered no words, his eyes seemed to convey some hidden emotion. Hinata shivered slightly, stuffing another piece of dango into Naruto's mouth, and retorted, "Just eat your dango!" In the Hokage's office. With rare free time and no paperwork to tackle, the Third Hokage pulled out his crystal ball, readying himself for his usual routine. Spying! As the Hokage known as the 'Professor of Ninjutsu,' he wouldn't stoop to Jiraiya's level of peeping in the women's bathhouse. He used ninjutsu for his surveillance. Just like how using jutsu to cheat during the Chunin Exams is what makes a competent ninja. However, today the Third Hokage wasn't interested in peeping at the bathhouse. Instead, he observed Naruto and Hinata atop the Hokage Rock. The Anbu had just reported that Naruto had gone to Hokage Rock with Sasuke Uchiha and Hinata Hyuga, which piqued his interest. The growth of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was critical to the future of Konoha. Kumogakure already had a perfect Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, who had even fought in the Third Ninja War. If not for Kumogakure being somewhat cautious, preventing Killer Bee from fully transforming into a tailed beast on the battlefield, it was likely that Konoha’s losses against Kumogakure would have been even greater. Kirigakure remained too enigmatic, its sea separating it from the Land of Fire making it harder to gauge the situation with their tailed beasts. On the other hand, Iwagakure's Jinchuriki had matured, and Sunagakure was researching Jinchuriki too. Information suggested they were experimenting with new containment methods. “What is the Hyuga clan planning? Is it intentional? Or merely coincidental?” The Third Hokage couldn't help but ponder. The Uchiha clan had been wiped out, and Sasuke’s existence served only to tether Itachi and to potentially continue the Uchiha lineage in Konoha. Moreover, at just seven years old, Sasuke wouldn't likely have many complex thoughts. Yet the Hyuga clan was powerful, and with Hinata mingling with Naruto, it led the Third Hokage to suspect that the Hyuga clan might be deploying a beauty trap. Was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki set to marry into the Hyuga family? The Third Hokage felt a headache coming on. Although the Hyuga clan never engaged in inter-clan marriages, if it were with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki... Was the Hyuga clan planning rebellion? There are always those who want to harm me! The Uchiha massacre had deterred many ninja families in the village and consolidated power within the Hokage's faction. However, from an outside perspective, it seemed as though Konoha's strength had declined. Furthermore, Hiashi Hyuga had always known how to gauge the situation. Although the Hyuga clan maintained its autonomy, it was practically allied with the Hokage faction. The Third Hokage had no desire to interfere with the Hyuga clan; the Byakugan’s strategic advantage in warfare was just too valuable. Almost all major ninja nations coveted the Byakugan, with few casting an eye toward the Sharingan. It had been several decades since the Mangekyo Sharingan had been seen in the ninja world, turning it into something of a legend to many. Whatever had crossed his mind, the Third Hokage’s furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, his wrinkled old face breaking into a lotus-like smile. It’s time to head to the ninja academy for some brainwashing.