Chapter 24C24

The butterfly effect tells us that a tiny variable can trigger a huge chain reaction throughout the entire system. Even a very small thing can lead to catastrophic consequences.

In order to prevent the main storyline from collapsing, the system will restrict some of her actions to minimize the impact of this little butterfly.

Even so, some things are still different.

For example, Neji, Shikamaru, and Choji met earlier because of her existence. Ever since she successfully avoided the Caged Bird Seal, the system has been wearing some kind of incredible filter, always feeling that every step she takes is carefully planned and meticulously arranged—the Nara and Akimichi families are the mainstay families of Konoha in the future, and Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji, as heirs, can provide Neji with some political support when needed in the future.

But in reality, Kana only asked Shikari and the others to introduce the children of similar age in the clan to each other so that Neji would have something to do and someone to look after him, thus freeing herself up. If she had to plan ninety-nine steps ahead for every one step she took, her hairline would recede at a young age. Kana, whose personality is partly influenced by her appreciation for good looks, felt that such a life would be too tragic.

However, Neji, who was focused on training, did not become very close friends with Shikamaru and Choji. After all, the latter had a relaxed and loving family atmosphere, with family and friends, material things and emotions. They had everything they should have at their age and had never tasted loss, pain, or despair. Therefore, they had no motivation to train hard day after day and could not understand Neji's belief that he would rather work himself to death to become stronger. Naturally, they did not have any common ground to deepen their relationship.

Kita touched the rough surface of the wooden stake, which had been repeatedly struck, and his expression was indescribable. "Kana, don't be so strict with Neji."

"I've said it a hundred times, I've said it a hundred times." Kana, who was wiping the wakizashi with a cloth, paused when she heard this and rolled her eyes inwardly.

Neji is different from Sasuke. Sasuke wanted to gain his father's approval, to become Itachi, and even to surpass Itachi. Whether it was out of pride or self-esteem, these were all spiritual pursuits.

Only when people have enough to eat and drink can they learn etiquette. Many people will only pursue higher things after they have survived.

Neji's actions were merely a desperate act of resistance after knowing his fate early on, simply to survive; it had nothing to do with her.

"The pressure is immense..."

Kana turned her head and glanced at Shikatori, who had been upholding the virtue of "silence is golden" until just now.

"You're completely oblivious." Where there's light, there's shadow. Those geniuses who so blatantly shine their light on others seem oblivious to the fact that innocent people who get too close for various reasons are easily blinded by their talent. The closer they get, the brighter the light, and the stronger the fear and unease of being "left behind" becomes. If he felt this way, how much more so would Neji, who regarded her as his guiding light?

“Praise him occasionally,” Ji Tai suggested. Even though Neji is no longer as soft and obedient as he was when he was young and has learned to suppress his emotions, Ji Tai’s first impression of him still lingers, so she feels a bit more pity for him.

The clear-headed Shikato immediately cast a dissenting vote—the praise from Hyuga Kana was utterly unconvincing.

Asking someone who mastered the Shadow Clone Technique without hand seals at age eight, graduated early at age nine, and became a Chunin at age eleven to praise Neji's achievements, which are far inferior to hers, is not only unbelievable but also sounds like a consolation born of pity, and will most likely backfire.

Kana, who practices laissez-faire parenting, feels that the two of them are even more worried than she, their older sister who shares the same household registration.

Later, when I casually mentioned this to Itachi, I was lectured with a disapproving look because of my nonchalant attitude.

Oh, I forgot, Itachi Uchiha was the ultimate brother complex guy.

Goodbye.jpg

But many things remain unchanged.

For example, when Itachi Uchiha was ten years old, he became the first ninja in Konoha to participate in and pass the Chunin Exams on his own. In the same year, the five great ninja villages, which were still in constant conflict after the Third Shinobi World War, reached a written agreement to cease hostilities and begin to recuperate. Large-scale and direct conflicts on the surface decreased, and the hatred that had not been extinguished was transferred to covert confrontations during missions. Now, there was no longer a shortage of people as during the war. As a result, the Hokage announced the rule that early graduation would no longer be allowed.

Upon hearing this news, Neji only ate two bites of dinner that day before running off to throw shuriken.

The sound of metal weapons being thrown at the target was like a woodpecker pecking at a tree, a thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud, not much better than the noise he made when practicing his soft fist and palm techniques on the wooden stake.

Neji was grabbed by the back of his collar by Kana, who complained that he was disturbing the peace, and placed in front of a full-length mirror to practice controlling the flow of his chakra while being required to remain as quiet as a chicken.

For example, the protagonists of this world, Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, undoubtedly entered the Ninja Academy when they were six years old.

Because Itachi was exceptionally recruited by the Anbu, a move that would be too idealistic to describe as "007," he had no choice but to stand Sasuke up, and she ended up going in his place for the parents' visit day.

The villages were generally in a period of peace. Compared to when Kana was in school, the Ninja Academy had started many new and more heartwarming activities. It was no longer just a hasty effort to fill the ninja gap caused by the war. Parent Visit Day was one of them. Students would have simple taijutsu duels and shuriken competitions, similar to a mini sports meet, but it wasn't very formal. To adults, it seemed like playing house. Fugaku, who was busy with the guard duties lately, naturally wouldn't go.

But Sasuke was clearly not happy to see her, even though he had won first place in both taijutsu and shuriken.

The chubby cheeks that still remained were tinged with pink from the strenuous exercise. Sasuke frowned like a little adult, "Why is it you?" His displeasure was evident and undisguised.

"He has an urgent mission and asked me to tell you."

Sasuke lowered his head, crumpling the small certificate he had won in the competition. His voice was a little muffled, but Kana still recognized the muttered words: "Not again, you big liar."

I suddenly remembered a few years ago when she held Sasuke, who was still drooling, and told him that his brother was a liar.

It seems she had great foresight.

Even with a fleeting memory, is Kana the kind of person who would soften her heart just because a child is unhappy?

Obviously not, the system says she's a heartless person.

So she put her hands in her pockets, showing no intention of coaxing anyone, and said, "I'm done reading, I'm leaving."

As she turned around, someone grabbed the hem of her clothes.

Kana turned around, her cat-like eyes, which bore an eight-tenths resemblance to her brother's, shining frighteningly bright. "You're very strong, aren't you?"

"It depends on who you're comparing me to. If it's Shisui or the Third Hokage, I'm no match for them right now." Kana was honest about this. "But if it's compared to people my age, I think I'm pretty good."

Sasuke Uchiha's standard for measuring strength so far has been Itachi Uchiha. Anyone who can fight him to a standstill is definitely not weak.

At this time, Sasuke was not yet the resolute and lonely avenger he would become later. He could see everything he wanted to say clearly in his eyes, and Kana understood without him having to say it.

She didn't want to take on this trouble, but then she thought that since she was going to train Neji anyway, having the two of them practice together would save her some time, so she agreed.

She opened her palm and handed it over.

Seeing Sasuke standing there dumbfounded, he said, "Aren't you going to hold hands?"

Neji really enjoys holding hands. She's seen Itachi sometimes carry Sasuke on his back, and Shisui sometimes taps Itachi's forehead with his finger. Kana, who has zero experience raising children and can only rely on imitation, thought that all little brothers like this kind of physical contact. In order not to be accused of "ignoring the value and emotions of children," she tries her best to overcome her psychological resistance.

"You don't like it..." She wasn't disappointed. Instead, she admired Sasuke for being more mature than Neji, who was a year older than her, in this respect, and gracefully withdrew her hand.

Sasuke's ears, hidden beneath his black hair, began to heat up. He awkwardly reached out his hand, turning his head away to avoid her gaze. "If you want to hold my hand... then hold it."

What's with this magnanimous demeanor of someone who's ready to die for their cause?

And, didn't she "think" it through?

If it weren't for the system notification that simultaneously rang in her mind, "Uchiha Sasuke's favorability +5, congratulations to the mission taker for completing the decomposition mission," Kana would have almost thought he was really reluctant.

She had been putting off this task for several months because she was lazy, but she unexpectedly completed it today.

System: How dare you say that?

System: "His initial level of affection for you was already quite high."

Can the arrogance of the Uchiha clan be curbed? Kana's expression was complicated, but she stopped abruptly, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

She looked down at Hinata, who was finally approaching step by step with her fists clenched tightly in front of her chest, expressionless. Hinata looked like a timid little bird that was powerless to face the wind and rain because she had been so pampered.

Hinata mustered her courage and spoke to "Kana," the girl whom the adults always talked about to spur her on and hoped she would surpass: "Hello, Kana-neechan."

"Oh." Kana deftly used her strength, flipping Sasuke's hand from her wrist into her own and holding it tightly. "What is it?"

Noticing Hinata's stunned gaze, Kana looked down at their clasped hands and recalled the teacher with a horizontal scar on her face who had just assumed she was visiting as Hinata's parent based solely on her Byakugan eyes, and the misunderstanding where she had kindly pointed out that Hinata had signed in the wrong place when Kana was about to sign for Sasuke.

"I won't tell them."

Shuriken fighting is one thing, but he was eliminated in the very first round of the physical combat. If those old guys from the main family found out, they'd be furious.

Kana does dislike Hinata, but there are just too many things she dislikes, so it's not worth her going out of her way to tattle on her.

"I came to see Sasuke." His attention isn't on you at all; you can rest assured.

To Hinata's surprise, she didn't breathe a sigh of relief after hearing this. Instead, she lowered her eyes, nervously clenching the hoodie strap of her dress, her eyes slowly welling up with tears. "I'm sorry..."

How did the main family, so ruthless in inscribing curses and merciless in driving people to their deaths, raise such a cowardly person like her? Hinata cried even though she hadn't said anything harsh; anyone who didn't know better would think she was bullying the younger one.

But that's not something she should worry about.

The second-year students' visit is next week. Neji got out of school earlier than Sasuke today and should be waiting at the training site now. "Let's go, Sasuke."

Hinata looked up at the departing figures of the two, one big and one small. Despite having no blood relation and different surnames, she was willing to come to watch his match and hold his hand.

They were more like strangers brought together by a single bloodline.

Through her tear-blurred vision, she didn't look back until she shrank into two tiny black dots and disappeared into the distance.