Hinata: I'm in charge of Konoha.

Hinata left, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi standing there questioning his existence.

He was thinking about a very important question at that moment.

Is the local customs in Konoha really that bad?

Hinata had already left, and Hiruzen Sarutobi sat alone by the river, silently taking out his pipe, which had been with him for many years, and lighting it to smoke.

As he carefully recalled everything that had happened in the village over the years, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but look distressed.

When Kushina came to Konoha, she was ridiculed by the villagers because of her Uzumaki clan's naturally red hair.

Sakumo Hatake was criticized and ridiculed by the villagers because of his failed mission.

Kakashi was discriminated against by the villagers because of his father's failed mission and suicide.

Might Guy was ridiculed by the villagers because of his mediocre ninjutsu talent.

Hinata is now being bullied by her peers because of her Byakugan.

As for Naruto...

Needless to say...

Hiruzen Sarutobi was very melancholy, and his pipe never went out.

Back when the First Hokage founded Konoha, it was a time when no one would pick up lost items and doors were left unlocked at night.

During the Second Hokage era following the First Hokage, the people of Konoha were considered to be simple and kind.

Why does it turn out like this when it comes to me?

I have failed the First and Second Hokage...

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked worried as he thought about this, and added another pinch of tobacco to his pipe.

-

Hinata strolled leisurely through the streets of Konoha after leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Having already reported back to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hinata naturally felt no psychological burden.

Or rather, the concept of psychological burden simply doesn't exist for Hinata.

With that thought in mind, Hinata hurried home.

only……

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a flower shop in the Konoha district, where a small figure was holding a pot of blue flowers and placing it at the shop entrance.

That's...Ino?

Hinata remembered that the Yamanaka family owned a flower shop.

"Hinata!"

As if noticing Hinata's gaze, Ino put down the flowerpot and waved vigorously at Hinata, shouting.

Ino.

Hinata saw Ino greeting her and walked over with a smile without hesitation.

"Mother!"

"My friend is here!"

"I want to go out and have fun with her!"

Ino saw Hinata walk up to her, and excitedly grabbed Hinata's hand, shouting loudly towards the flower shop.

Ino's shout brought out a beautiful woman wearing an apron with several bouquets of flowers in the pocket.

"Hello, Aunt Yamanaka, my name is Hinata Hyuga, and I'm Ino's classmate."

Seeing Ino's mother come out, Hinata introduced herself with a smile.

"Oh, it's from the Hyuga family. How cute."

"Go ahead, go ahead."

Ino's mother walked up to Hinata, bent down, and gently touched her head. Her gaze lingered on Hinata's smooth forehead for a moment before she took out the most beautiful lily from the flowers in her apron pocket and handed it to her.

"Thank you, Auntie."

Hinata accepted the flowers from Ino's mother and thanked her.

"And you, don't think I don't know what you're up to."

Ino's mother playfully tapped her daughter's forehead with her finger.

"Hehe, I'm off then!"

Ino chuckled and touched her forehead, then grabbed Hinata and fled from her mother's sight as if they were escaping.

Thank goodness, she finally has a weekend off, and she doesn't want to waste such precious time on her mother!

Honestly, this little thing could have been solved in no time, but Mom insisted that I do it. This is exploitation and oppression!

My mother is exploiting me, her child laborer!

I'm going to tell Dad that Mom bullied me!

Well, never mind, Dad will definitely side with Mom...

While Ino was internally complaining about her mother, she unknowingly dragged Hinata to the lakeside of a park.

"Hehe, it's all thanks to Hinata."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to escape my mother's clutches."

Ino turned around, looked at Hinata, reached out and patted Hinata's shoulder, and said with a grin.

When Hinata saw Ino like this, a gentle figure subconsciously came to mind.

"Ino's mom is so kind~"

Hinata looked at the flower in her hand and smiled as she looked at Ino.

"Eh?"

"No, Mom is so mean, she never lets me go out to play."

Ino tilted her head and retorted.

"Yes, yes, Ino is right."

Hinata obediently followed Ino's lead.

"That's great! It's a rare day off, let's go out and have some fun!"

Ino looked at a few children her age playing not far from the park and made a suggestion.

"I won't go, Ino. I need to go home and train later."

"Today's training hasn't even started yet."

Hinata shook her head and handed the lily that Ino's mother had given her to Ino.

"Huh? What happened?"

When Ino saw Hinata's rejection, her frustration was practically written all over her face.

"However, if Ino asks me for help, I might consider spending some time with her."

Hinata, seeing Ino's expression, couldn't help but tease her.

"Hmph, who wants Hinata to stay with me? I'll just go find Sakura."

Ino snorted, crossed her arms, and turned her head away, looking like she was saying, "I'm not going to talk to you anymore."

"Speaking of which, it seems Sakura has someone she likes lately~"

"I don't want Ino anymore~"

Upon seeing this, Hinata's eyes revealed a hint of cunning.

"really!"

"It's Sasuke, right!"

Upon hearing this, Ino reacted like a cat with its fur standing on end, and her previous "I'm ignoring you" attitude vanished instantly.

Hinata smiled without saying a word, her face showing amusement.

"...But Sasuke likes Hinata, right?"

Seeing Hinata's state, Ino, who had been so aggressive just moments before, suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon.

Ino witnessed Sasuke blushing in front of Hinata last time.

"Sasuke is nothing but a slingshot, Hinata, you just wait!"

"I definitely won't give Sasuke to you!"

Ino immediately cheered herself up, rubbing her hands together with great enthusiasm, which made Hinata's smile even brighter.

"But what if I don't like Sasuke?"

"And compared to Sasuke, I think Ino is cuter."

Hinata's words made Ino's eyes light up. She put the lilies in her hand into her pocket, placed her hands on Hinata's shoulders, and leaned closer with a hopeful look, asking:

Really?!

"Hinata really doesn't like Sasuke?!"

Compared to the excited Ino, Hinata's face showed a hint of helplessness as she said:

"Yeah, yeah, I don't like Sasuke who always has a long face."

"Ino and Sakura are definitely cuter."

Ino got the answer she wanted and immediately beamed with joy, automatically ignoring Hinata's comment that she and Sakura were cuter.

She's the eldest daughter of the Yamanaka family, and she's naturally the cutest!

Hehe, Hinata is the best!

"Besides, if Ino likes it, why would I compete with her for it?"