When Hyuga Shin finally returned to his residence, he found Hinata Ayari lying lazily on the sofa, a pure white dog nestled in her arms.
She was several years older than Shin, already an adult. Her features bore a strong resemblance to Hinata Ayano, though her temperament was softer.
Shin walked over, poured himself a glass of water, and sat down on the opposite side of the sofa.
"I remember locking the door."
"Am I not welcome?"
Ayari glanced at him with a calm expression, idly stroking the dog's soft fur with one hand.
That white dog had once been Shin's. Ayari had often visited his house to play with it because she liked it so much. Before heading to the battlefield, Shin had given her the key to his home, asking her to help tidy up occasionally.
In his memories, the two of them had been close, living next door to each other. Back then, he had harboured a quiet admiration for this beautiful "older sister." But that admiration could only remain as such—Ayari, like her sister, was already engaged, her fiancé being the younger brother of Hinata Hizuru.
It was normal for a young man to admire an older, accomplished woman. Perhaps Ayari had noticed it long ago, but she'd never taken it seriously.
There was a clear age gap between them. In two years' time, Ayari might already have a child, while Shin was still a boy in everyone's eyes.
"Spee."
At Shin's call, the dog in Ayari's arms leapt down and trotted over to him, rubbing against his legs in a fawning manner. Shin scooped it up with one hand and set it on his lap.
Seeing the dog taken away, Ayari gave a helpless smile and slowly sat up, brushing her long hair back over her shoulders. She watched as Shin quietly stroked the dog, her gaze tinged with something complicated.
The once-lively boy next door had returned from the battlefield with a completely different air—silent, withdrawn, and a little unnerving. Since coming back, he hadn't sought her out, barely spoke to her, and never said a word about the battlefield.
She had learned from the clan that all of Shin's teammates had died on one mission, leaving him the sole survivor—his own eyes destroyed in the process.
Had the blow been too great? Ayari couldn't help but feel pity.
War was cruel and merciless.
She decided to break the silence."Did you meet Lord Minato?"
"Yeah."
"How was he?"
"Just like the stories."
"I hear he's very likely to be the next Hokage."
"I've heard the same."
"… Is Lord Minato easy to get along with?"
"He's kind."
The conversation petered out in a few short exchanges. With Namikaze Minato's reputation in Konoha, most people would chatter endlessly about his heroic deeds. But Shin seemed uninterested in continuing.
Ayari hesitated, wondering if she should leave. Then, out of nowhere, Shin asked, "Are there many Byakugan [White Eyes] left in the clan?"
The sudden shift in topic caught her off guard. "Quite a few…"
After thinking for a moment, she added, "When past clan heads died, they often left their Byakugan intact. Some exceptional members of the branch family also had their Byakugan removed by the previous clan heads before passing. These eyes are sealed using a special method. After so many generations, there must be a considerable number stored away."
"Where are these eyes kept?" Shin asked.
"How would I know? Only Hizuru-sama and whoever's in charge of managing them would," Ayari laughed.
But then she frowned slightly. "Why are you asking about this?"
Although replacing the Byakugan was rare, it wasn't unheard of. If a clansman suffered an eye injury in battle or developed a serious eye disease, the clan would arrange a transplant. As such, no Hyuga had ever been left blind—until now.
This was the first time a Byakugan had been destroyed because of the Caged Bird Curse Seal.
Shin replied evenly, "It's nothing. It's just that I'll be getting a transplant soon, but I don't know whose eyes they'll be. It feels strange. I was wondering if I could see them beforehand."
Ayari chuckled. "What's there to see? They're just human eyes—probably creepy-looking, too."
Realising how her words might sound to someone in Shin's position, she softened her tone. After a pause, she said, "You'd need Hizuru-sama's permission for that."
She thought Shin's concern was simply about the transplant itself. But his thoughts were far darker.
The Hyuga were a prestigious clan in Konoha, their pride symbolised by their unique dōjutsu, the Byakugan. To them, it was an honour.
To Shin, it was a shackle.
They wanted to restore his Byakugan so they could once again brand him with the Caged Bird Curse, binding him to their will. Otherwise, why would a branch member of average strength and talent prompt Hizuru to summon the clan's high council?
How could he escape this fate?
Alone, he couldn't hope to defy the entire Hyuga clan.
If only this were one of those third-rate novels where sleeping with a woman unlocked hidden powers. But he had no such system—only his knowledge of the world and where history was headed. Could he turn that to his advantage?
"Shin?"
He looked up, meeting Ayari's gaze. Her Byakugan eyes were warm as water, fixed intently on him.
"What are you worried about?" she asked.
What was he worried about? The clan had plenty of spare Byakugan—surely they would choose one that suited him. Shouldn't he be flattered by their concern? Ayari couldn't understand. She looked into his dark eyes, wondering if it was because they weren't truly his own that they seemed so alien.
Spee, sprawled across Shin's lap, glanced up briefly before settling back down to enjoy the petting.
The room was quiet, the ticking of the wall clock audible in the stillness.
Shin exhaled softly. "Sister Ayari."
Ayari was slightly startled—he hadn't called her that since returning from the front.
"I just don't know what the future will look like," he said evenly.
Ayari said nothing at first, studying this young man so full of hidden thoughts. After a long pause, she replied, "Don't worry. There'll be a Byakugan that suits you… If you really want to see them, I'll ask the clan messenger to keep an eye out for you."
"Thank you, Ayari-san."
She gave a faint smile. "Don't think too much. Just rest for now."