Chapter 120: Jiraiya and the Hyūga Clan

After the dismissal, the supervising jōnin took their respective teams away.

Team 7 followed Kakashi out.

They left the tower, exited the Forest of Death, and returned to Konoha.

Kakashi turned around and said,

"For the next month, I’ll be training you. You’d better prepare yourselves mentally.

"Your performance in the Chūnin Exams has been excellent so far. Among all the teams, Team 7 has performed the best.

"But no matter how well you did before, that was only the preliminary stage.

"What truly matters is the third round."

As a first-time instructor, Kakashi also had his own ambitions.

He hoped that all three members of Team 7 would be promoted to Chūnin through this exam.

If that happened, then as a teacher, he would have no regrets.

Hinata raised her hand and spoke.

"Teacher Kakashi, I... I have to undergo clan training for the next month. I might have to be absent."

Hearing this, Kakashi nodded.

"I understand. Hiashi has already spoken to me about it."

For a shinobi like Hinata, who primarily practiced her clan’s secret techniques, there wasn’t much Kakashi could teach her.

At most, he could share some of his own experience.

Of course, Kakashi’s experience alone was enough to benefit her greatly.

Naruto’s mind stirred. He was just about to come up with an excuse to get out of the training when—

Suddenly, a powerful voice came from a tree beside them.

"Kakashi, leave Naruto to me for the next month."

Kakashi looked up.

A man wearing brown clothing underneath a red outer robe was crouching on the tree. He had armor-like equipment covering both hands, long white hair reaching down to his waist, and red markings beneath his eyes.

A forehead protector bearing the kanji "Oil."

A greasy-looking middle-aged man.

Recognizing him, Kakashi nodded.

"Then I’ll leave Naruto to you, Jiraiya-sama."

Naruto’s eyes flickered.

Jiraiya came back after all.

A smile appeared on his face.

"Uncle Jiraiya."

Hinata also remembered Jiraiya and greeted him politely.

"Jiraiya-sama."

Sasuke glanced at Jiraiya, his thoughts stirring.

Jiraiya returned to Konoha at this time. Will that interfere with Naruto’s plans?

As he thought this, he couldn’t help looking toward Naruto.

He should have anticipated this already.

Seeing that Naruto’s expression remained completely normal, Sasuke relaxed.

Jiraiya jumped down from the tree with a laugh.

"Long time no see, Naruto! Hinata!"

As he spoke, he glanced at the hands the two of them were holding.

Then he raised his eyebrows suggestively.

"Oho! You two... I really didn’t expect this!"

Deep down, he thought,

I never expected those two unfortunate children from the war back then to really end up together.

Perhaps this is Heaven’s blessing for them.

Naruto simply smiled.

At a time like this, he couldn’t be bothered to tease Jiraiya, a lifelong single man.

Hinata’s cheeks turned bright red.

Although she was somewhat embarrassed, she didn’t let go of Naruto’s hand.

They might not have another chance to see each other for the next month.

Hinata wasn’t going to waste such precious time just because someone teased them.

Kakashi looked at Sasuke.

"Sasuke, then you’ll train with me for the next month."

Sasuke nodded.

"Okay."

Naruto had already warned him about this back in the Forest of Death, so Sasuke didn’t refuse.

Kakashi still had quite a few things worth learning from. Sasuke hadn’t even learned his signature techniques yet.

Kakashi then turned to Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya-sama, now that you’ve returned to Konoha, have you met with the Third Hokage?"

Jiraiya shook his head.

"Not yet. Since we’re here, why don’t I go see him with you?"

Kakashi nodded slightly before turning back to Team 7.

"As for the second exam, you all... well, you’ve worked hard.

"That’ll be all for today. Sasuke, meet me at Training Ground Seven tomorrow.

"Hinata, I’ll approve your leave until the third exam. Work hard on your training at home.

"As for Naruto..."

As he spoke, he looked toward Jiraiya.

Jiraiya immediately said,

"Naruto, I’ll come find you after I’ve met with the Hokage."

"Okay."

Naruto nodded.

Kakashi then said,

"Alright. Team 7 is dismissed."

With that, Kakashi and Jiraiya exchanged a glance before both disappearing in a flash.

...

At the entrance of the Hyūga clan compound.

After escorting Hinata home, Naruto said,

"Hinata, I’ll be going now. Good luck!"

"Mhm, I will. Naruto, good luck!"

Hinata nodded and reluctantly waved goodbye.

She kept watching until Naruto’s figure disappeared from sight before finally stepping through the gates of the Hyūga compound.

"Hinata-sama."

Along the way, the Hyūga clan members she encountered respectfully greeted her.

Hinata smiled and called each of them by name in response.

Hinata had always performed quite well. It was only her somewhat gentle personality that had drawn criticism from some clan members.

However, after she graduated from the Academy, reports of her performance during missions gradually made their way back to the Hyūga clan.

And now, during the Chūnin Exams, Team 7 had completely dominated the other teams in the second exam.

Instead of treating it like an examination, they had practically turned the Forest of Death into a wilderness survival camp.

The news that any team encountering them would be wiped out had already spread throughout the Hyūga clan.

At this point, the members of the Hyūga clan had all acknowledged Hinata’s position as the heir of the main family.

After returning home—

"Sister, you’re back!"

Hanabi, who had been eagerly waiting at home, immediately ran over to Hinata.

With excitement written all over her face, she said,

"Quick, tell me about the Chūnin Exams! I heard that if you hadn’t shown mercy because the other teams were also Konoha genin, those two teams wouldn’t have been able to pass the second exam at all!"

A gentle smile appeared on Hinata’s face as she rubbed Hanabi’s head.

"Hanabi, I just got back. I need to greet Father first. I’ll tell you about it afterward, okay?"

She looked around before asking,

"Where is Father?"

Hanabi pouted.

"Father is discussing something with the clan elders. I don’t know what they’re talking about. They’ve been holding meetings quite often lately."

Then, as though she suddenly remembered something, Hanabi said,

"Oh, right. Father said that once you came back, you were supposed to go to the council chamber."

Hearing this, Hinata’s heart tightened.

A trace of pity appeared in her eyes as she looked at Hanabi.

She forced a smile.

"Okay. I’ll go there first. I’ll tell you all about the Chūnin Exams afterward."

"Mhm! Then hurry up and come back."

Hanabi excitedly nodded and gently pushed Hinata in the direction of the council chamber.

Hinata sighed inwardly and slowly walked toward the council chamber.

Behind her, Hanabi remained completely unaware of what was happening, still excitedly looking forward to hearing about the exam.

Meanwhile—

Inside the Hyūga clan council chamber.

Hiashi Hyūga sat in the seat of honor.

On either side of him sat the elders of the main family and branch family.

At this moment, one of the main-family elders, who had previously disliked Hinata’s personality, spoke.

"Clan Head, Hinata isn’t as weak-willed as we imagined. I agree that she should inherit the main family."

Another branch-family elder on the opposite side, who had also once disliked Hinata’s personality, nodded.

"I agree as well. Hinata’s current teacher is Kakashi.

"Our Hyūga clan finally has someone who has entered the Hokage’s circle.

"With that connection, Hinata’s position as the heir of the main family will be of great significance to our Hyūga clan."

After the two elders spoke, the remaining elders also voiced their agreement one after another.

Even some of the elders who had previously disliked Hinata’s personality had changed their stance.

Ultimately, it came down to one thing—

The Hokage’s circle.

Did the Hyūga clan really want to remain content with doing nothing?

No!

Even during the era of the Second Hokage, the Uchiha had Uchiha Kagami become one of the Second Hokage’s disciples.

Yet the Hyūga clan had never received the favor of the Hokage’s faction since the founding of Konoha.

Without becoming part of the Hokage’s circle, they would ultimately have no real voice.

Unless they were willing to become a subordinate clan.

Just like the Ino–Shika–Chō trio’s families had remained loyal to the Sarutobi clan.

But the Hyūga clan had its own pride.

Hinata was the Hyūga clan’s first successful entry into the Hokage’s circle.

This was an opportunity for the Hyūga clan.

An opportunity to strengthen the Hyūga clan’s political influence within Konoha.

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