Chapter 28: Little Wings Flutter - The White Eyed Princess of Konoha

### Chapter 28: Little Wings Flutter Seated in the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage massaged his temples in frustration while surreptitiously observing the class where Naruto was assigned. To satisfy the demands of the Hyuga clan, Hinata's teammates couldn't just be ordinary civilian ninjas; the Jonin in charge had to be among the elite. Currently, only Kakashi, Asuma, and Guy fit the criteria and had the availability to lead a genin team. Guy, with his straightforward martial arts approach, was not considered, given his hard-hitting taijutsu style that greatly differs from the gentle fist technique, providing little guidance for Hinata. Asuma had already been designated to lead the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, a combination set by the Third Hokage long ago. Whether or not they formed an effective scout unit was irrelevant; separating Ino-Shika-Cho was not an option. Thus, Kakashi emerged as the most suitable candidate. It seemed Hiashi Hyuga also favored Kakashi. Just as Kakashi was reassigned from the Anbu to mentor new recruits, Hiashi approached the Third Hokage with his request. Kakashi, not only a potent ninja, was a disciple of the Fourth Hokage—a true descendant of the Hokage's line. Putting aside Danzo Shimura, the most likely successors for the position of Hokage among the younger generation of Konoha were Kakashi and Asuma. The Third Hokage held a certain bias, supporting Asuma by assigning him the Ino-Shika-Cho combination, and even going so far as to entrust the heirs of the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans to Asuma's partner, Kurenai Yuhi, as indicated in the narrative. Despite this preference, among the general populace of ninjas, there was a stronger call for Kakashi to become Hokage. Hiashi's intent to have Hinata team up with Kakashi was motivated by political considerations. Whether Kakashi became Hokage was indifferent to the Hyuga clan, but aligning with the Hokage's faction was imperative. This idea was solid; if not for Naruto, the Third Hokage might have already taken such actions. After contemplation, a revelation struck the Third Hokage: Naruto and Hinata had been close from the start. Regardless of their current association, their future relations wouldn’t be impacted. Thus, placing them on the same team was harmless. While teammates often risked life and death together, forming bonds by entrusting their lives to each other in combat, aligning their paths wouldn’t disrupt things too much. Realistically, the Hyuga’s intent was just self-preservation, eliminating any concerns of a power struggle. With this perspective, the Third Hokage felt more at ease. Hiashi, after all, had the Hyuga's and Hinata’s best interests at heart. Hinata’s exceptional talent posed a challenge. Were she to become a true Kage-level powerhouse, there was concern that some older clan members might foster ambitions. Some of these elders predated the founding of Konoha, harboring tepid loyalties. If a coup seemed plausible, it raised the specter of the Uchiha incident’s repetition within the Hyuga. Hiashi wished to avoid a factional split within the clan. Integrating Hinata within the Hokage’s circle, while potentially inviting ambition, allowed for a legitimate channel to compete for the Hokage’s mantle instead of conspiratorial rebellion, like the Uchiha. Having finalized his decision, the Third Hokage shifted the crystal ball’s view from Naruto to see what Hinata was up to. "Hmm? Doesn’t Hinata usually prefer sitting in the front row?" After a thorough search, he finally spotted Hinata in the back row, currently sharing snacks with Choji. Snacks always tasted better when savored amidst playful competition. "As rumors suggested, though talented, her disposition seems somewhat unreliable…" Hinata, like a small butterfly content with its lethargy, had finally begun to flap her wings. The first to be affected by her was Sakura. Sakura, despite her civilian background, excelled academically even better than Sasuke. Naturally, she attracted the Third Hokage’s attention as a prodigious talent emerging from a non-ninja family. Even in the narrative, Kakashi had observed that Sakura was well-suited for genjutsu training. Under Kurenai Yuhi’s guidance, Konoha could boast another powerful genjutsu user in the future. While originally placed with Kakashi’s team to mediate between Naruto and Sasuke due to their complex relationship, if Naruto didn’t prioritize Sakura, neither would the Third Hokage. The Third Hokage contentedly finalized the team compositions, finally at ease after handling this long-standing concern. This batch, holding the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, an Uchiha survivor, and other prominent clan heirs, demanded a carefully considered balance. The Hokage’s office would soon bustle if any faction was left dissatisfied. ... Hinata hadn’t anticipated her arrival would displace Sakura from Team 7, but it made sense. Whether considering Naruto and Sasuke’s dynamics or the Hyuga clan’s stance, the Third Hokage’s decision was inevitable. While snacking with Choji, Hinata pondered her future. In the fifth grade, self-reflection about her path ahead was necessary for Hinata. "I can’t remain carefree forever!" Hinata felt satisfied with her strength. Despite not training diligently, her abilities were nearing the level of a Jonin. By graduation, she was confident of matching a Jonin in battle, albeit not elite like Kakashi. Her shortcoming was not raw power but combat experience. After a few genuine battles, her strength would naturally increase. Hinata’s chakra reserves were vast, noticeable even under Byakugan’s scrutiny, slightly trailing Hiashi Hyuga’s but poised to surpass him by the following year. Her chakra control surpassed even Hiashi’s. In terms of the gentle fist, she mastered all the clan’s secret techniques and even created the "Twenty Heavenly Strikes." With substantial clan resources, this technique had taken shape, enabling her to form chakra fists with both hands, supported by a network of four pairs of chakra pathways. This allowed her to unleash eight air palms or four mountain-shattering strikes simultaneously. A flurry that dispersed in a fan-shaped barrage, ensuring escape was virtually impossible unless opponents could vanish entirely. In the past six months, sparring against Hiashi Hyuga, she could render him disheveled but ultimately always lost. According to Hiashi, Hinata needed to perfect her gentle fist technique for real combat scenarios. In the face of an opponent’s sudden change, she fumbled with defense. Moreover, when crises loomed, panic would eclipse her calmness. Such flaws, in true battles, could prove fatal.