Chapter 19: The Troubled Little Chubby - The White Eyed Princess of Konoha

**Chapter 19: The Troubled Little Chubby** Idiot? Watching Sasuke's retreating figure, a wave of defiance surged within Hinata. Should she silence Sasuke right here and now? How dare he insult her? He's really asking for it! It was almost unbelievable to Hinata. Despite having bullied Sasuke at school for over three years, how did he find the courage to call her an idiot? Who gave him that audacity! Originally, Hinata thought of letting Sasuke off on account of Ino and Sakura for the coming three years. But now, Sasuke's behavior reminded Hinata of the saying: "Spare the rod and spoil the child." Shortly after Sasuke left, Ino and Sakura rushed over, eagerly asking, "How did it go? Did you talk to Sasuke, Hinata?" "I did!" Adjusting her mood, Hinata reassured the two girls, who were deeply infatuated with Sasuke, "Don't worry! I've passed on the message. Sasuke will think it over. Once he opens up to girls, you'll have your chance!" "Mm-hmm!" Ino and Sakura nodded vigorously, faces beaming with joy. This annual drama of girls chasing a boy finally seemed to have a hopeful turn. As for whether Hinata's words would sway that stubborn boy Sasuke, well, they might have some impact! Reviving the Uchiha clan indeed hinged on the next generation. However, Sasuke had other thoughts. He envisioned an Uchiha not to be trifled with, one whose very name would cause the entire ninja world to tremble. To Sasuke, that was the true Uchiha. Hinata's talk of having dozens of sons and hundreds of grandchildren, though significant, wasn't what Sasuke desired. A large clan stood no chance against formidable adversaries if it were just a paper tiger. Thus, life at the ninja school remained unchanged. Girls continued to shower Sasuke with affection, and he remained indifferent to them, even to beauties like Ino and Sakura. The sole change lay in Hinata. Sasuke, though always keeping an eye on Hinata, noticed that the other girls no longer viewed her with hostility. Hinata had explained that she had no romantic interest in Sasuke and that they could never be together. With that, the other girls accepted her. Sasuke's routine also shifted slightly. He couldn't tell if Hinata had lost her mind; she would beat him up for no apparent reason. Eating, sleeping, and hitting Sasuke seemed to be her daily ritual. Naruto, on the other hand, remained the same, leading his easygoing life in the regular class. Yet, a few days ago, he excitedly informed Hinata that he'd finally earned a second person's acknowledgment. Naruto was genuinely happy, it seemed. Iruka Umino, Naruto’s homeroom teacher, also taught specialized classes to Hinata's group, and she remembered him well. Iruka was, after all, the only teacher whose name she bothered to remember. Of course, there was also Mizuki. Truth be told, every villain in the Naruto universe had their own ideals and pursuits, except perhaps for Mizuki, who was a true villain in every sense. A hypocrite rotten to the core. As tranquility settled in, Hinata grew another year older. They were now in the fourth grade and had matured considerably, yet Hinata struggled to tolerate the peculiar thoughts Choji seemed to harbor lately, his glances towards her full of oddity. Oh~ Hinata clearly understood. It was puberty, after all. It's entirely normal to develop a fondness for the opposite sex! Moreover, Hinata was adorably cute and the only girl in the class willing to hang out with Choji, so it would be strange if he didn’t have any thoughts. In the midst of class, Hinata intended to glance at the clock on the wall behind her, only to catch Choji sneaking a look at her back. Upon meeting her gaze, Choji's face turned a deep shade of red as he quickly averted his eyes. Tsk, tsk, tsk, spring had arrived, the season for all things to awaken. As a close friend who grew up with Choji, Shikamaru had noticed Choji's unusual behavior long ago. Shikamaru was intelligent, far more mature than Choji. He knew very well that Hinata and Choji were an impossible match. Hinata was the prestigious heiress of the Hyuga clan, destined to be its future head. Her future husband must be a talented young man from the Hyuga clan, ensuring the purity of the family lineage. To even consider joining the Hyuga kin, one must have exceptional qualities, bringing immense benefits to the clan, besides gaining the acceptance of Hiashi and Hinata herself. And if Hinata were to marry outside her clan, she'd forfeit her right to be the head. That's a hefty price to pay. Choji clearly stood no chance. To cut short his friend's unrequited infatuation, Shikamaru decided to give him a hand. As soon as class ended, Shikamaru called Choji aside to a secluded place, straightforwardly asking, "Choji, about Hinata..." Choji lowered his head, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Shikamaru sighed, trying to offer advice, "If you have feelings, you should confess them bravely." "But...but..." Choji hesitated, feeling utterly mortified! Shikamaru patted Choji encouragingly. "Look at Ino and the others. They boldly express their feelings to Sasuke. Even if they get rejected, it's no big deal!" "No! I'm not..." Shikamaru continued, "How about after school today, I go with you to talk to Hinata?" Choji looked at Shikamaru gratefully, surprised, "Really?" Shikamaru smiled, "Of course, we're friends, right?" But he did feel a bit sorry for Hinata! The reason Shikamaru wanted Choji to openly confess to Hinata was because he knew she would certainly turn him down. While Choji might feel heartbreak for a while, Shikamaru would be there to support and console him, helping him move on swiftly. However, from then on, the friendship between Hinata and Choji would likely become awkward. Hinata had always been on good terms with Choji, but after this, they might struggle even to remain friends. If Shikamaru didn’t act, he feared Choji's feelings might deepen, making it harder for him to disentangle himself later on. And at that point, Choji would suffer even more. "Alright, let's head back! After school, I'll be with you!" With an encouraging smile, Shikamaru turned and nonchalantly walked away. Meanwhile, what was our story's heroine, Hinata, up to? Hinata was quite troubled! Being too popular wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Finally, she understood what it was like for Sasuke to be persistently chased by a swarm of girls. Just moments ago, a girl from the neighboring class had delivered a love letter to her, though she was merely the messenger. But Hinata felt exasperated. Thankfully, the boys weren't as fervent as the girls. Otherwise, Hinata might have had to activate her ultimate move to fend them off.