Naruto: Rise of the Fallen Princess

In Yumegakure, Hinata stood under the silver canopy of sky, awaiting the familiar presence of her old teammates. Kiba and Shino soon approached, their steps light but expectant.

"So," Kiba said with a grin, hands resting behind his head. "How did the meeting with the Hyūga go? You looked pretty tense about it before."

Shino adjusted his glasses, ever calm. "I admit I was curious as well. I know this reunion mattered to you."

Hinata smiled gently. "It went… better than I hoped. I think Hanabi and I might finally have a chance to truly know each other. I felt something in her… a bond forming, tentative but real."

Kiba gave a low whistle. "That's great news, Hinata. I always thought she was kind of... distant. Glad she's warming up."

"She's changed. Or maybe… I have."

Kuro rested at Hinata's side, her ears twitching. Mitsue lay coiled nearby, half-listening.

"There's something else," Hinata added, her voice softer. "I fought Kakashi-sensei. It was… unexpected. A result of Kuro's little incident."

Shino's brow lifted. "Kuro's incident?"

Hinata turned her face slightly, expression sheepish. "She tried to kidnap Pakkun to learn how to talk."

Kiba's laugh burst out. "What?! That's insane—and very her."

Kuro let out a short bark, as if proud. Hinata knelt and sighed. "I shouldn't have raised my voice at you earlier… I'm sorry."

Kuro approached her and gently licked her cheek. Hinata embraced her tightly, forehead resting on soft black fur. "I'm glad you're always yourself."

Kiba, folding his arms now, nodded thoughtfully. "Actually… I've been thinking about that. Our clan's goal is to reach a level where our ninken can speak. It's not easy—it takes time, effort, chakra bonding… but one of our ancestors created a method."

Shino tilted his head slightly. "Are you suggesting…?"

"I'll talk to the elders," Kiba continued. "If I tell them you were the one who introduced me to samurai breathing and helped me evolve my style, they might let us show Kuro the way."

Kuro's tail wagged vigorously. Mitsue watched in silence, unreadable, her gaze fixed on the exchange.

Hinata smiled deeply. "That would mean the world to her, Kiba. And to me."

"Consider it done," he said with a smirk. "Besides… I owe you more than one."

The four of them stood in quiet camaraderie beneath the shimmering expanse of Yumegakure's sky, bound by old bonds and new promises.

<<<< o >>>>

Kakashi Hatake stood at ease before the Hokage's desk, his arms loosely crossed as he met Tsunade's sharp gaze. The mid-morning light cut in through the tall windows, streaking golden across the stone floor.

"I might've pushed her a little hard," he admitted. "But thanks to that, I was able to gather some valuable information."

He paused. "Hinata Gin has retained the foundation of her old style—reliance on illusions, substitutions, and redirection. But now, she's elevated it significantly. Her kenjutsu is precise and unmistakably rooted in Iron Country techniques. I'm fairly certain she's not just using samurai breathing methods—she's altering them, adapting them into something personal."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "Her own style?"

"Exactly. The base speed and strength she demonstrated were on par with taijutsu specialists. She performed what could be considered Shunshin no Jutsu, but with exact control and frequency. I'd wager it's a side effect of her breathing focus. On top of that, she has a burst technique—short moments where she pushes beyond normal limits. Even my Sharingan couldn't follow her completely."

Kakashi continued. "She can differentiate between shadow clones and originals—possibly by sensing intent or chakra flow. But more than that, she anticipates movement in a way not unlike the Sharingan. She even adapted mid-battle: once she realized I was tracking her real self by observing the ground, she altered her footwork to leave no trace."

Tsunade leaned back, arms folded.

"She has a strong affinity for Genjutsu. Her usage is delicate—subtle enough that I only noticed because of the Sharingan. And she's highly resistant to Genjutsu as well. In addition, she used a way to destroy one of my clones that I couldn't notice, even with my sharingan.."

He hesitated, then added, "Her blindness is genuine. But the way she moves, you wouldn't think so. Her weapon, Shinsei, is a reverse-blade sword. It matches the kindness Kurenai once spoke of when Hinata was still a genin."

Tsunade tilted her head. "And the… wolf?"

"Kuro is highly intelligent. When she realized Pakkun could speak, she tried to kidnap him to learn how. Nothing serious happened, but it gave me a perfect reason to challenge Hinata and evaluate her in a controlled setting."

He lowered his voice slightly. "The serpent—Mitsue—seemed deeply affected. I think she's just as intelligent as Kuro, but unable to speak. And I believe… she wants to."

"And her entourage?"

"The samurai she travels with are no joke. I'd say all of them are capable of facing a jōnin one-on-one. One of them—Emi, if I'm not mistaken—is in a relationship with Ino Yamanaka. They're integrating into the village more than I expected."

He took a breath. "As for Hinata Gin… if someone underestimates her, they'll lose. She has the explosive strength and spiritual clarity to defeat a seasoned jōnin. What unsettled me most, though… was how easily she could read me. Her intent was calm, peaceful… but focused. Unshakable."

<<<< o >>>>

The afternoon air was soft and warm as Hinata walked quietly through the outer courtyard of Konoha's hospital. Mitsue slithered at her side, her body low and slow, as if doubting every motion. Her silence was heavy, not lazy.

Hinata paused at the gate and looked down. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Mitsue didn't answer with a sound—she rarely did—but the way her body shifted, the way her gaze remained fixed ahead, made her intent obvious.

Hinata smiled softly. "I'll stay with you."

Together they entered through the side corridor, where familiar scents of antiseptic and steamed herbs filled the air. The staff at the reception desk froze for a moment when they noticed Mitsue's long dark form. One young medic even stepped back, murmuring something about Sannin summons.

Before anyone could act, Hinata stepped forward. "It's alright. She's with me. Mitsue is harmless. She's here because she seeks treatment."

The head nurse, recognizing Hinata, bowed lightly and gestured toward a quiet examination room. "We'll inform Lady Tsunade."

Mitsue coiled in the center of the room, tense but still. Hinata sat beside her, placing a hand gently over her coils.

"I think it's beautiful that you want to heal… to find your voice." Hinata whispered, "I'll be with you through every step of this. Just… let me know if it becomes too much."

Mitsue pressed her head lightly against Hinata's arm in silent agreement.

Outside the room, Tsunade had already begun walking down the corridor, summoned by a curious report: Hinata Gin had brought a serpent to the hospital. And the serpent wanted to be healed.