22 chapter 19~ part 3

--Rewritten--

.

She snapped out of her stupor and gazed into emptiness. "Thank you, Naruto-kun. You've always been in my heart – my light in the darkness. Thank you for reminding me of this once more," she whispered to herself.

She couldn't quite fathom what this was – perhaps her inner self surfacing, or a feeling buried deeper in her heart than she had realized. How did Naruto manage to appear in front of her like that?

What lay deep within her heart during the times she suppressed her true self—was it her authentic essence pushing through the constraints? Was her repressed identity attempting to lend her a hand? She couldn't quite grasp it, but this brief encounter with Naruto instilled a newfound confidence within her.

she needed this to encounter the upcoming meeting, she slightly smiles seeing his face, and ready herself for the meeting.

After 30 minutes.

In a well-lit chamber, eleven individuals were seated, all dressed in pristine white kimonos adorned with the emblem of the Hyuga clan.

They exuded an air of nobility and grace. Arrayed around a waist-high table, five of them occupied the left while the remaining five took their places on the right.

At the heart of this assembly sat Hiashi Hyuga, the esteemed head of the clan. Positioned opposite him was Hinata, her head bowed, unable to meet the gazes of those assembled.

To her left sat her sister, Hanabi, radiating confidence with a smug grin directed at Hinata.

The elders' gazes fixed upon the two young Girls before them. As their eyes shifted between Hinata and Hanabi, a transformation played across their faces.

Disgust and disappointment metamorphosed into pride and approval as their attention settled on Hanabi. Meanwhile, Hinata, her head still bowed, could keenly sense the weight of their stares.

"Do you know the reason for your presence here?" one of the elders inquired, their tone icy and distant. Hinata shivered, feeling the chill in their words, and shook her head in negation.

The truth was, she was genuinely unaware of why she had been summoned to this gathering.

"Today, your actions have brought disappointment upon us all. You, in our estimation, are ill-suited for the role of clan heiress. The qualities requisite for leading our clan seem to elude you," another elder declared.

Hinata's head drooped even further, her awareness of her shortcomings accentuated. She was acutely aware of her inherent shyness and perceived lack of leadership traits.

Despite her genuine kindness towards everyone, it seemed that blame was placed squarely on her shoulders.

Their verdict was formed without any earnest attempt to guide her. It felt unjust that they rendered judgment based on mere sparring sessions against her sister. It was as if her occasional defeats were all it took to pass judgment, without considering that perfection wasn't an innate birthright.

"Your little sister is more talented than you, more confident, more fit to be the next head of the clan, on this, we were declaring her to be the clan heiress," one of the elders speak.

Hinata's gaze fixated on them, struck by shock. Her sister, perceived as more gifted in the eyes of the clan, achieved that distinction deliberately by allowing herself to lose to Hinata.

This facade granted Hanabi a false confidence, basking in the acclaim of their father's praise and the elder's nod of approval as the future leader of the clan.

The first instance she was defeated by her sister, she began to stifle her genuine self to shield her family from any disappointment.

It was a conscious effort to spare her father from looking at her with the very expression he wore now. And her sister's attitude remained untarnished by resentment for her defeats. Yet, for all her sacrifices, what did Hinata receive in return? Nothing.

"You've heard it, Hinata," Hiashi's words came without remorse or sympathy.

His tone was as if he were discussing a matter concerning someone other than his own daughter.

This callousness shattered Hinata's already fragile heart. Her father's detachment was like a knife twisting within her.

She looked at her father, tears brimming in her eyes. Her gaze shifted to encompass everyone in the room, then finally settled on her sister, whose triumphant grin pierced her soul.

The feeling of being looked down upon, as if she had lost everything, was a blow that went beyond mere disappointment.

The sisterly bond had vanished, replaced by arrogance and a victory that shouldn't have existed. Her family, the clan she'd always seen as her haven, had cast her aside, seizing this opportunity as if it were a goal they'd pursued all their lives.

"Upon achieving the rank of Jonin, the ceremony for the selection of the next clan heiress shall transpire. Following this, you shall be marked with the curse seal, signifying your position as a member of the branch family," one of the elders pronounced.

Hinata's heart shattered into even smaller pieces, her tears flowing unabated.

She gazed at her father, his expression an emotionless mask, now treating her as if she were already relegated to the branch family.

The elders bore the same indifferent countenances. Her eyes then turned to her sister, who retained her arrogance and dismissed Hinata with barely a glance, tears stinging in her eyes.

The more she remained in that room, the more her heart splintered. Unable to bear the weight of it all, she rose abruptly from her seat and ran to her room, her tears trailing behind her.

"You... strive diligently... do not let us down," Hiashi directed his words to Hanabi.

"Yes, Father," she responded with cheerful compliance, seemingly unaffected by her sister's plight.

Hinata slammed the door shut, collapsing onto her bed. Her tears poured forth like a breached dam as she stared at the ceiling, her eyes red and swollen.

"Why did you abandon me to this wretched world, Mother?" Memories of her mother resurfaced, intensifying her pain.

"My father, my sister... they've forsaken me. Why, Mother? What have I done to deserve this? Was my kindness meaningless? Have they ever truly seen me as their daughter or sister?" The more she pondered, the deeper her heartache became.

"This world is unbearably cruel." Her heart, already fragile, began to splinter further. All the anger, hatred, and negativity she had repressed for over a decade started to seep through the cracks in her heart.

Her chakra gradually shifted from its usual blue hue to a deep black, reflecting the turmoil within.

"Will anyone reach out their hand to me? Will anyone truly love me? Can I find solace in someone's embrace, free from any regret? Will someone stand by my side, and provide their unwavering support? Will someone ever look at me with genuine affection, someone who will hold me for all eternity?

Or is daring to hope for such a dream a curse in this merciless world?" Hinata murmured to herself in the solitude of her room.

"You are not alone in this world," his voice again heard from her heart.

He responded to every query that had haunted her, and once again, she found herself standing before his gentle, reassuring smile.

His crimson hair danced in the air, and his red eyes gleamed like the most exquisite and flawless gems, radiating warmth.

His arms stretched open, and without hesitation, she leaped into his embrace, holding him with all her might. "You don't have to restrain yourself anymore. I'll be by your side, always," he assured her.

"If someone doesn't cherish you, then it's best to let them go. If anyone bears hatred or disdain for you, you need not continue to be kind to them. I am here, by your side, unwavering. Let your true self emerge; I will accept every facet of you, regardless of your actions or the depths of your being. My arms are open, always ready to welcome you. That's my promise," Naruto's words enveloped her with a sense of security.

Upon absorbing his words, the boy she cherished the most stood there, ready to embrace her regardless of the form she took.

This marked the ultimate catalyst for change. The barriers encasing her heart crumbled, unleashing the torrents of anger, and hatred that accumulated over the years, the sea of negative emotions she had harbored.

The revulsion towards those who had belittled her, including her teammates and her sensei, the hurtful words others had uttered about her, all of it surged forth.

At this moment, a transformation occurred within her – a metamorphosis of mind and personality toward everyone she encountered.

A transformation was undeniable. Her chakra signature, once serene blue, had transformed into an intense black, mirroring the darkness of her emotions.

This change in her heart resonated in the inky hue of her chakra, and a dark ring encircled her otherwise pristine Byakugan.

Years of suppressed spiritual energy surged into her, fusing seamlessly with her physical energy, a harmonious synergy achieved at last.

Unleashed from the constraints that held it back, her chakra surged forth uncontrollably.

Hinata, with her uniquely pure Byakugan in the annals of the Hyuga clan's history, had shattered every seal that once bound her.

Now, her chakra, her body, her potent lineage—all synchronized in perfection.

Yet, this sudden surge in her chakra wasn't without its cost. The expanded chakra pathways brought a wave of excruciating pain, a testament to her swift and monumental growth.

Lying upon her bed, she lifted her hand toward the ceiling, tears mingling with her genuine smile.

Her chakra swelled, saturating the room, and her body convulsed with the pain of her rapid transformation.

But none of that mattered; her pain was eclipsed by the authenticity of her smile.

Amid the agony, she found solace, clenching her fist in a symbolic gesture of newfound liberation.

"At last, I am truly free. Thank you, Naruto-kun," she whispered before succumbing to unconsciousness.

Her body, ill-prepared for the immense surge of power and the toll it took, gave in to the agony, and she lay there, smiling even in her unconscious state.

.

.

A|N~ how do you like the chapter, I tried to write my best,

What do you think about it, tell me in the comments, and if you have some idea about my story, share it in the comments, if I like your idea I will put it into my story to the best of my ability.

Give me some power stone, or I will brand you with a curse seal, hehe... Just joking. See you in the next chapter

—---------------------------your dear author san]