The Villainous Rebirth of an Anime Heroine | naruto

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First, lower your center of gravity, step forward with your left foot, rotate your right fist back to build power—then, step forward forcefully with your left foot! Use the momentum from landing and unleash your fully charged right punch forward!

"HAAH!!"

With a sharp shout, Hinata's right fist swung heavily toward the tree in front of her. A loud, crisp crack followed—wood splintered and burst apart as if it were nothing but a brittle biscuit. Her seemingly delicate right hand had punched straight through the thick trunk, leaving a clean, gaping hole.

"Wha—?!"

Sasuke and Naruto, standing nearby, instinctively widened their eyes in shock. They could tell just how terrifying that punch had been. If a single strike could pierce through a tree… then breaking through a human body wouldn't be much harder.

So, gathering chakra into a fist and striking with full force really could produce this level of power?

A small, satisfied smirk appeared on Hinata's lips. She knew she had succeeded again. More importantly, this proved that the path she was following was the right one.

Sure, Sasuke's Great Fireball Jutsu could probably cause even more destruction. But it required hand signs and consumed a lot of chakra.

Meanwhile, this move—Aragami Bite—needed no hand signs, used barely any chakra, and still had devastating power.

"You see?" Hinata pulled her arm from the tree, turning back toward the two boys with a fierce glint of confidence—and a hint of something almost… wild.

"Our ancestors were right to create Nanto Seiken."

"Now then! Let's train these techniques properly!"

"I can't wait to master them and start learning the true ultimate techniques!"

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It turns out, when it comes to learning something new, there really is a difference between a genius and an idiot.

Hinata wasn't trying to single anyone out—just stating a simple fact.

"GYYAAAH—!!"

Naruto screamed for the tenth time that day. And the reason was obvious—Sasuke had just slammed him into the ground again with a spinning kick, Dokuraku Tsu.

Since Hinata had only introduced four seemingly simple techniques, Sasuke had already mastered them after two days of training. He was even starting to modify them, adapting them to his own style.

The most obvious proof?

Naruto could no longer rely on sheer stamina to outlast Sasuke in a taijutsu fight.

"Hah—dead last, with skills like that, you'll never beat me."

Even as he taunted Naruto, Sasuke was breathing a little heavier than usual. Sure, he had knocked Naruto down ten times in a row—but even a punching bag takes energy to keep hitting. And this particular punching bag was a lot tougher than most.

"D-damn it…! I'm not done yet…!"

Bruised and frustrated, Naruto clenched his fists and tried to push himself up again. But even a Jinchuuriki's stamina had limits. After struggling for a moment, he finally collapsed flat on his back with a defeated groan.

Seeing this, Sasuke instinctively let out a quiet breath before flopping onto the ground himself.

He might've been in control of the fight, but he was completely drained. If Naruto had managed to stand up one more time… Sasuke wasn't sure he had enough strength left to keep going.

"That's enough."

Hinata, sitting cross-legged on top of a wooden training post, finally spoke. She released the Ram hand sign she had been using to focus her chakra, her voice blunt and direct.

"Sasuke-kun, you've clearly mastered the techniques well enough."

Then, she turned toward Naruto, her expression sharpening.

"But Naruto-kun… are you struggling to understand the techniques, or did you just not bother learning them at all?"

Her words were merciless.

"To me, it looks like you didn't use any of the techniques properly. You were just running in and throwing yourself at Sasuke-kun's fists like you always do. Or… do you think Nanto Seiken isn't worth your time?"

That hit a nerve.

"SHUT UP!!"

Naruto shouted, clenching his fists in frustration.

"I did try! But there's no time to use those moves in a real fight!"

His blue eyes burned with determination—but also, unmistakable frustration. He had noticed the difference. He could feel the gap in talent between him and Sasuke.

The same amount of time. The same training. And yet, Sasuke had already mastered the four moves, while Naruto was still struggling to execute them properly.

"Stop making excuses."

Hinata's voice was cold as she stared down at him.

"If you know you're not as talented, then stop complaining and put in even more effort. That's the only way you'll ever catch up."

Hinata had no intention of going easy on Naruto. Her white eyes carried a cold, almost merciless sharpness.

"A genius can memorize a technique within ten punches. An idiot might need a hundred, or even a thousand, to do the same. Since you're not a genius, you should already know what you need to do. I don't need to say it." She turned away, her voice unwavering. "Training is over—dismissed."

From his perch in a nearby tree, Kakashi rubbed his forehead as he watched the three young shinobi leave the training grounds one after another.

"Hmm… how should I put this?" he muttered to himself. "That Byakugan girl… she's strict. Strict in a way that makes it impossible to argue back."

He thought about everything he had observed throughout the day. The four taijutsu techniques Hinata had been teaching weren't complicated—anyone with a solid foundation should be able to pick them up. But that was exactly what made them so effective. Their simplicity meant they were practical, adaptable, and fundamental. If mastered properly, they wouldn't turn someone into a taijutsu master, but at the very least, they'd ensure that person wouldn't lose easily in hand-to-hand combat.

Unfortunately, it was obvious Naruto wasn't a genius. If he wanted to catch up to Sasuke and Hinata, he'd have to put in much more effort.

As night fell over Konoha, another peaceful day was coming to an end. Walking through the village streets, Hinata was in a good mood. Overall, her plans were progressing smoothly, even if there had been a few minor setbacks.

The film project was now running well, thanks to Shikamaru and the others joining in. She barely needed to do anything aside from writing scripts and overseeing things from afar. Plus, with Kakashi and the others providing security in the background, there was no real danger. She just had to wait for the money to roll in.

Her training was also on track. The techniques and philosophy of her "Seiken" (Holy Fist) were proving effective. Naruto was struggling, of course, but that wasn't surprising. He was the hard-working type, after all. If he could learn techniques like the Rasengan and Shadow Clone Jutsu in a short time, there was no reason he wouldn't eventually get the hang of these taijutsu moves too. Right now, he just wasn't focusing enough.

Still, while things were looking good, Hinata knew there was one major flaw in her Seiken.

So far, she had incorporated techniques from the Kusanagi-style ancient martial arts—moves inspired by old-school arcade fighting games. But there was something missing. Something that would make all the difference.

In those fighting games, the Kusanagi Fist was known for its fire-infused punches, capable of igniting opponents with every strike. But in this world, without the ability to manifest flames, her version of the Kusanagi Fist was nothing more than a hollow imitation.

In the world of shinobi, elemental chakra transformation typically required hand seals. Fire users performed seals to create fire techniques, water users shaped their chakra into water jutsu, and so on.

But that wouldn't work for her. The whole purpose of developing Seiken was to bypass hand seals and unleash elemental damage instantly. Speed was the key. If she had to stop and weave signs mid-fight, the entire concept would be pointless.

That meant she needed to find another way—something that could convert chakra into elemental energy without the use of hand seals.

At that moment, Hinata's steps came to a sudden halt.

She had unknowingly walked past a brightly lit shop. Unlike the usual stores in Konoha, this one had shuriken, explosive tags, and fūma shuriken neatly displayed behind its counter.

The sign above was simple but direct—Tenten's Ninja Tools Shop.

Hinata's brows arched slightly. That name… she recognized it immediately.

Tenten. The ninja weapons specialist from the original story.

And if she remembered correctly, her family owned a weapon shop. This must have been one of their branches.

After a brief moment of thought, Hinata pushed open the door.

"Welcome~! Can I help you with anything?"

A bright and friendly voice rang out from behind the counter.

Standing there was a black-haired girl with her hair tied up in twin buns. Without a doubt, this was Tenten.

Her gaze quickly landed on Hinata's pale, pupil-less eyes. She blinked in surprise. "Oh—those eyes! You're from the Hyūga clan?"

Hinata ignored the small talk and got straight to the point. "Do you have a wide variety of ninja tools here?"

Tenten hesitated for a second but quickly nodded. "Ah, yes! This is the most well-stocked ninja tool shop in Konoha! Is there something specific you're looking for?"

"…What I'm looking for…"

Hinata's eyes scanned the shop. Something had been on the edge of her mind for a while now. A vague thought, just out of reach.

Then, her gaze landed on a pair of metal knuckles displayed on a nearby shelf.

And just like that, the realization struck her like lightning.

"That's right," she whispered to herself. "I need to ask you something—do you have any ninja tools that can directly convert a shinobi's chakra into an elemental substance?"

"Huh? But you're from the Hyūga clan—ah, never mind. Ahem. Yes, actually." Tenten tilted her head. "Are you talking about Hoshōgan Metal?"

Hinata's expression remained neutral, but internally, she felt a surge of excitement.

So it really does exist in this world!

Hoshōgan Metal.

In the original story, Asuma Sarutobi wielded a pair of trench knives made of this rare metal. When infused with his wind chakra, they extended into deadly cutting blades. Later, Shikamaru even used them to manipulate shadows, proving that they could channel different chakra types.

"Go on," Hinata said, eager to hear more.

"Ah… well, ninja tools are made from different materials, and Hoshōgan Metal is one of the rarest and most valuable types. You can think of it as a material that absorbs the user's chakra nature and amplifies it. For example, if you have wind chakra, it can extend your attacks into cutting blades. But… are you seriously thinking about buying a weapon made from this?"

Tenten eyed her suspiciously.

After all, she was well aware of how the Hyūga clan fought. Gentle Fist didn't rely on weapons—it was all about precision strikes using chakra. There shouldn't be any reason for someone from the Hyūga clan to need something like Hoshōgan Metal.

But Hinata only smirked.

"Heh… I want three pairs of gloves made entirely from Hoshōgan Metal." She locked eyes with Tenten. "Can your shop handle that request?"

Hinata could finally feel the barrier in her mind completely shatter—she had found the key to advancing her Seiken!

A material that could absorb chakra and manifest its nature! That meant that if she had a pair of gloves made from this material, they could absorb her fire-natured chakra and unleash flames through her fists, truly becoming the real Kusanagi Fist!

Of course—thinking back, in the arcade game, the heir of the Kusanagi fighting style was always wearing a pair of gloves embroidered with a blazing sun emblem.

"Huh?? Are you serious? That stuff is crazy expensive!"

Tenten looked shocked. As if to emphasize her point, she leaned forward over the counter and stared at Hinata. "Let me put it this way—if you want to make three pairs of gloves, it'll cost at least one million ryo!"

"Money isn't an issue."

Hinata also leaned in slightly, meeting Tenten's gaze with a faint smile. "I'm just asking—can your shop handle the order?"

"Uh… If it's just that… then, yeah, we can… But because the material is really rare, you'll have to wait about half a month. Also… at least a third of the payment needs to be made upfront."

Tenten swallowed hard. By now, she'd already guessed who this white-eyed girl was. In a same clan as Neji, spending money so freely—she could only be the rumored eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan.

"I already said—if money can solve it, it's not a problem."

Hinata swiftly took out her wallet, signed a check for three hundred thousand ryo, and handed it to Tenten. That was her current personal savings in the bank. As for the remaining six hundred thousand, she was confident she could earn it within the next two weeks.

"In that case, please rest assured. We'll have the order ready in two weeks. You can bring the remaining payment when you come to pick up your gloves."

Tenten double-checked the amount on the check, still feeling stunned. As expected of the Hyuga heiress—throwing around such a huge sum of money like it was nothing.

"Good. I'll be waiting patiently and looking forward to it."

Clenching her fists in satisfaction, Hinata's pale eyes gleamed with excitement. Yes—what separates humans from beasts is their ability to use tools.

Honestly, even though the way she ended up in this world was kind of disgusting, the fun she was having made it all worth it.

Even though her wallet was nearly empty again, this expense was completely worth it.

This world's power system had proven to be capable of fulfilling her ideas. That meant that the day her martial arts reached their peak, she might finally break free from the cage she despised.

She shoved her hands into her pockets, her white eyes flashing with rare exhilaration. But just as she was about to leave Konoha's shopping district, she instinctively stopped in her tracks, then let out a sigh and turned toward a small shop at the street corner that sold cotton candy.

Yeah, she knew those things were for the future. But for now, she still had to live day by day.

Soon after, with a stick of cotton candy in her hand, Hinata returned to the Hyuga estate. As expected, a small figure was already waiting at her door.

"Nee-san!"

Hanabi ran up to her, eyes sparkling with excitement. Hinata's lips twitched, but she still forced a smile and handed her the cotton candy. "Here, Hanabi. Did you train properly today? This is your reward."

"Yes! Father praised me again!"

Hanabi eagerly accepted the cotton candy, her little face full of anticipation. "Father said my Gentle Fist has improved again. If—"

"Alright, alright, I get it. Hanabi is a Gentle Fist prodigy, after all."

Forcing a grin, Hinata reached out and ruffled Hanabi's hair, trying to appear as kind as possible. "But Nee-san is a little tired. Let's talk next time, okay?"

"Uh… okay. Good night, Nee-san."

Hanabi nodded disappointedly, holding her cotton candy as she walked away. She kept glancing back, clearly eager to share her progress, but unfortunately, Hinata had already run out of patience for the day.

"Annoying little brat. I really wish she'd learn to read the mood already."

With a sharp thud, Hinata slid her door shut. Frowning, she quickly stripped off her clothes and slipped into bed. She needed to fall asleep immediately—to wash away the irritation lingering in her heart.

"Hmph. That idiot Naruto… He'd better take his Seiken training seriously tonight. If he keeps slacking off, I won't go easy on him anymore."

Lying on her futon, Hinata flexed and clenched her fingers, mumbling to herself. Soon, a wave of drowsiness washed over her. Her breathing steadied, her pale eyes slowly shut, and she drifted into sleep.

The ticking of the clock echoed softly in the silent room. Minutes passed. Then—suddenly—Hinata's closed eyes snapped open. Without hesitation, she sat up.

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Not far away, in her own room, Hanabi lay curled up in her blankets, sulking. She had been so eager to get her sister's approval, only to be brushed off completely. The rejection left a bitter sting in her heart.

"Nee-san… You never used to push me away like that…"

She was still young, but she wasn't stupid. She could tell when someone was forcing a smile. She knew—deep down—that Hinata hadn't really been listening.

No, if she was being honest with herself… she had noticed her sister's change a long time ago. She just never wanted to admit it.

Just then—footsteps echoed in the hallway outside her room.

Hanabi flinched, sitting up in alarm. Her white eyes sharpened as she focused on the sounds outside her door.

"Hanabi… It's me."

Hanabi froze.

That voice—

"Nee-san? Is that you?"

"Mm… Don't open the door. Just stay where you are."

Hanabi was just about to get up and slide open the door when Hinata's voice stopped her.

"Just stay there… and talk to me."

"Huh? But—"

"Hanabi. Listen to me."

Hinata's firm tone made Hanabi hesitate. She could see her sister's shadow reflected against the door. It was definitely her. And that voice—there was no mistaking it.

"…Yes, Nee-san."

Even though she was confused, Hanabi could hear something different in her sister's voice. It wasn't cold or distant like before. No—this voice was just like the old Hinata's. Gentle. Soft. Almost fragile.

"Just like that… Father praised me again today! I know I can protect the Hyuga clan."

Hanabi repeated the words she had wanted to say earlier, hoping for a proper response this time.

Sure enough, the shadow outside the door shifted slightly, and Hinata's voice replied, gentle as a breeze.

"Mm… Hanabi, you're a genius of the Hyuga clan. I know you'll do great things."

Hearing the praise, Hanabi's cheeks flushed with happiness. But she couldn't hold back the question she had been meaning to ask.

"Nee-san… why have you changed so much lately?"

She hesitated, then continued.

"I mean… your clothes, your attitude… It's like you're a completely different person."

She bit her lip. "And I heard you've been skipping classes a lot… Did something happen?"

"Hanabi… listen to me."

Hinata interrupted her, voice suddenly filled with urgency—and something else. Sadness?

"You have to take care of yourself, okay? Father can be strict sometimes, but don't argue with him. He's already dealing with a lot. And… always protect your body. If training gets too hard, don't push yourself too far."

A pause.

"…I'm sorry, Hanabi. I have to go now."

Hanabi stiffened.

There was something… wrong.

A bad feeling crept up her spine.

"Wait—Nee-san, what's happening?"

Ignoring the warning in Hinata's voice, she rushed forward and yanked open the door—

But the hallway was empty.

Her sister was gone.

Like a ghost. Like she had never been there at all.

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'…Huh…? What is this?'

Somewhere in the haze of her mind, Hinata felt her body moving.

Like a dream.

She could hear herself talking to that annoying brat Hanabi. Could feel herself walking out of the Hyuga estate.

And now, her legs carried her toward the training grounds—where she had sparred with Naruto and Sasuke earlier that day.

'Is this… a dream?'