The Hyuga clan was one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Konoha—an elite bloodline with deep roots in the village's history.

In front of the grand gates of the Hyuga estate, a small, pouty girl stood with her arms crossed, clearly annoyed.

This girl was none other than Hinata Hanabi, the younger sister of Hyuga Hinata. Her frustration was aimed entirely at Uzumaki Naruto.

Hanabi had known for years that her sister had long harbored feelings for Naruto. As a self-declared protector of her sister, she used to follow Hinata, who in turn secretly followed Naruto. It had become a silly little chain of shadowing back then.

But yesterday, everything changed.

Hanabi had witnessed something that shook her to her core—Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, holding hands and walking together through the village as a couple.

Two men. Together.

She was still in disbelief.

Outraged on her sister's behalf, Hanabi had been wondering how best to console Hinata when, to her surprise, she spotted Hinata walking toward her with a soft smile on her face.

Beside her was someone even more unexpected: Arakawa Zenkichi, the man who had once saved Konoha.

"Sis!"

Hanabi ran up cheerfully and threw herself into her sister's arms, her curious eyes darting toward the tall figure next to her.

"So, this is your younger sister—Hinata Hanabi, right? What a lovely girl," Zenkichi said with a smile, playfully ruffling Hanabi's hair.

"Z-Zenkichi-sama..." Hanabi blushed, her usual attitude dissolving into a flustered daze.

"I'll leave you two to catch up," Zenkichi said with a grin, giving a polite nod before walking away.

"Aww~ Onee-sama is amazing. You're actually close with Zenkichi-sama now," Hanabi whispered, clinging to Hinata's arm like a playful octopus.

"Hanabi..." Hinata's cheeks turned pink, slightly embarrassed by her sister's teasing.

—

Not long after parting ways with Hinata and Hanabi, Zenkichi bumped into Konan from the First Ninja World. She seemed distant, her aura shrouded in quiet sorrow.

"You don't look too happy," Zenkichi said gently as he appeared beside her.

"I was just talking to the version of me from this world," Konan replied softly. "There's so much tragedy in this timeline... more than I expected."

Zenkichi nodded, his voice calm. "That may be true, but your fate has already changed. You're not bound by what happened here."

"You're right." She turned toward him, her gaze softening. "If I hadn't met you, I might have ended up like her... lost."

She looked at him with something deeper—admiration, perhaps longing. "There's no one like you in this world. That's why everything fell apart."

Zenkichi held her gaze, offering a quiet smile.

With a steady breath, Konan leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. Then, without another word, she kissed him.

Some time later, Zenkichi lifted her gently into his arms and walked toward a nearby hotel.

When fate delivers something to your door, sometimes it's best not to refuse.

Watching from afar, the Konan of this world—Konan No. 2—turned red as she witnessed the scene. Flustered, she quickly spun around and fled.

—

The next day, Zenkichi strolled through Konoha with Konan, enjoying the village's peace.

Back at home, Hinata Hinata was lost in thought.

What would she do if Zenkichi came to see her again?

Should she act reserved? Was she reading too much into it?

But the day passed... and Zenkichi never came.

On the third day, Zenkichi was still with Konan. Hinata's thoughts shifted. Maybe she had overestimated things. Maybe he was just being kind.

The fourth day came. Still no visit.

Now she was restless. Should she go to him?

And Konan No. 2 couldn't take it anymore. Watching Zenkichi and her other self parade through the village like lovebirds stirred something within her.

On the fifth day, Konan finally left.

That morning, when Zenkichi appeared before her, Hinata didn't hesitate. She mustered up courage and threw her arms around him.

"Hinata?" Zenkichi blinked, surprised. "You're... this bold all of a sudden?"

He had expected her to grow calmer with space, not more forward.

Still, as he held her in his arms, he didn't question it any further.

---

Inside the Hyuga estate...

Hiashi Hyuga's Byakugan was active. From a distance, he saw Hinata embracing Zenkichi in public.

A rare smile formed on his face.

"Hinata really is lucky."

This outcome was ideal for both Hinata and the Hyuga clan.

Between his two daughters, Hanabi had the greater potential. She was expected to become heir. Without intervention, Hinata would have been moved to the branch family and subjected to the Caged Bird Seal.

But with Zenkichi beside her, no one in the clan would dare speak out.

What were the Hyuga's traditions compared to godlike power?

—

Meanwhile, far beyond Konoha, a rift in space tore open.

From it stepped a boy—young, pale, and emotionless. His eyes were blank.

He looked toward Konoha from a distant peak.

"The world built by Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo is a failure," he murmured. "I will obtain the purest Byakugan, awaken the Tenseigan... and with the Moon's Fist, bring this world to ruin."

He clenched his fist tightly.

"Only then will I remake the world—together with the Princess of the White Eye."

---

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