Seeing Hyūga Hinata pull herself back together, Hikaru Uchiha gave a subtle nod, inwardly giving himself a mental thumbs-up.
'I really am amazing. Always there to help others at just the right moment,' he thought to himself with pride.
Then he reached out, gently patting Hinata on the head as he said softly,
"Hinata, what you've gone through isn't your fault. There's no need to punish yourself for it."
"Come with me for now. I'll make sure you get to take revenge yourself."
Hinata was caught off guard by Hikaru's sudden display of affection. She froze for a moment, then her face flushed with a shy pink.
She felt her heart race, steam practically rising from the top of her head, and her eyes grew dazed.
Overwhelmed with embarrassment, she fainted on the spot.
Hikaru stared, stunned. He had always assumed those exaggerated anime reactions were just fiction.
But apparently not.
Looking at Hinata collapsed on the ground, he couldn't help feeling a little awkward.
Still, he quickly came to his senses and gently lifted her up, a hint of helplessness in his heart.
Luckily, Hinata soon regained consciousness. But the moment she realized she was cradled in Hikaru's arms, her shyness surged again—and she fainted a second time.
This repeated fainting was starting to give Hikaru a headache.
To stop her from looping into an infinite faint-respawn cycle, he activated his ability and instantly transported them back to the mansion of the Daimyō of the Land of Snow.
Since Hikaru had left, Tsunade, Chiri, and Nonō Yakushi had clearly lost interest in continuing the banquet.
They were all worried for his safety. But not wanting to add to his concerns when he returned, they chose to stay and wait for him at the banquet table.
Their minds, however, were far from the food, their thoughts entirely with Hikaru.
Suddenly, Hikaru reappeared in front of them—carrying a girl.
The three women blinked in surprise and confusion, their minds briefly short-circuiting, before narrowing their eyes in suspicion.
"Weren't you going after Madara Uchiha? Why'd you bring back a little girl?" Tsunade asked, frowning.
Nonō Yakushi and Chiri also shot him questioning and dissatisfied looks.
Seeing their reactions, Hikaru hurried to explain:
"Don't misunderstand. This is Hyūga Hinata."
Then he quickly told them what had happened after he arrived on the scene.
Of course, he left out the details of Hinata's lineage.
That was something Hinata would need to explain herself. Otherwise, he'd have no way to justify how he knew about it.
While Hikaru was explaining, Hinata began to stir.
She opened her eyes and looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings—and at Tsunade, Nonō Yakushi, and Chiri, whose eyes were all fixed on her. Unease flickered in her heart.
But when her gaze fell on Hikaru, that unease eased just a little.
"You're awake, Hinata," Hikaru said gently.
Hinata nodded and asked quietly, "Where are we? And… who are they?"
"This is the Daimyō's mansion in the Land of Snow. And they're my girlfriends," Hikaru explained.
Hearing that, smiles bloomed on the faces of Tsunade, Nonō Yakushi, and Chiri.
Although they had already confessed to Hikaru, this was the first time he had acknowledged them like this in front of someone else.
That made them feel both happy and deeply satisfied.
Hinata, on the other hand, looked visibly dimmed by the news.
Her painful experiences had led her to place immense hope and fantasy in the one who saved her.
Now that those fantasies had come true and Hikaru had indeed rescued her, her admiration for him had only grown.
But now… knowing he already had girlfriends left her feeling quietly heartbroken.
Still, she knew she couldn't show it, so she forced herself to remain composed and nodded in understanding.
The other three women observed the subtle shift in Hinata's expression, and all felt their hearts skip a beat.
They exchanged glances, each reading the same thing in the others' eyes:
'Looks like another girl's fallen for Hikaru-kun. He really is a butterfly magnet…'
But even they had to admit—Hinata's current appearance tugged at the heartstrings.
Her long period of wandering had left her clothes tattered and stained with grime that wouldn't wash out. She looked utterly filthy.
On top of that, malnutrition and the immense drain from using the Rinnegan had left her even more frail than in the original timeline.
Her body looked so light, it seemed a breeze could knock her over. It made people want to shield her without even thinking.
The three women, all being female themselves, found their maternal instincts awakened at the sight.
They quickly surrounded Hinata, chirping at once as they began to get her cleaned up and settled in.
Faced with this sudden attention, Hinata's shy personality couldn't handle it—her head practically began to smoke again.
Hikaru, standing to the side, simply smiled as he watched the scene unfold, munching on some snacks.
When Hinata looked toward him with a pleading gaze, he deliberately turned his head away, pretending not to see it.
He knew full well—Hinata needed this distraction right now. She needed something to help her shift her focus and find hope in life again.
So, under the lead of the three women, Hinata was taken away to be washed and freshened up.
Meanwhile, Hikaru resumed enjoying his lunch.
It didn't take long before the women returned—bringing with them a brand-new Hinata.
She had been completely transformed.
Dressed in clean, well-fitted clothes, there was no trace of dirt or rags left on her. Her hair had been carefully combed, now smooth and draped gently over her shoulders, carrying a light fragrance.
Her face had regained a bit of color too, making her look more lively and adorable.
The three women looked at her with satisfied expressions—clearly proud of the results.
Hinata no longer looked like a lost, worn-out wanderer. Now, she stood tall and elegant, brimming with youthful vitality.
Seeing her, Hikaru also smiled.
He nodded in approval, then gestured for her to come join him at the table to enjoy the feast together.
As for Fūka Seiyuki, she had found an excuse to leave shortly after Hikaru's departure.
At the table, Hikaru and the three women took turns serving Hinata food and drinks, doing everything they could to make her feel welcomed and cared for—like she was truly home.
Though still a bit stiff and unsure, Hinata could clearly feel their warmth and kindness. Gradually, she began to relax and enjoy the meal.
But as she continued eating, her eyes began to well with tears.
She tried to hold them back, but in the end, they still trickled down her cheeks.
She couldn't even remember the last time she had eaten a meal in peace like this.
In the past, her days had been filled with constant drifting and loneliness. Every meal had only been about survival.
But today, not only had her long-held wish been fulfilled—Ōtsutsuki Isshiki had been defeated…
She had also found a place that felt like home, and that moved her more than words could say.