Chapter 10: Outer Gentleness, Inner Steel – Izayoi's Triumph

Chapter 10: Outer Gentleness, Inner Steel – Izayoi’s Triumph

December 21st, Konoha Year 541.

The second semester had quietly drawn to a close.

This term had transformed the first-year students dramatically. Compared to the first semester, which focused solely on academic and physical education, this one introduced practical combat training—a harsh but necessary awakening. Students had shed much of their innocence through bruises and exhaustion.

Yet this progress came with a downside. Some students now viewed violence as the default solution to conflicts. Minor disputes often escalated into fistfights, mutual beatings, or targeted bullying. Teachers and staff rarely intervened, believing weakness had no place in the ninja world. They saw bullying as a natural filter: better to quit as civilians than die helplessly on missions later.

This mindset fueled recurring incidents of lower-performing students targeting high-achievers—students like Itachi Uchiha, Neji Hyuga, or Sasuke Uchiha. These prodigies shared striking similarities: exceptional talent, coldly aloof personalities, and overwhelming popularity with girls. Yet they rejected social circles entirely, treating peers of both genders with equal indifference. This isolation bred resentment. Many boys yearned to “teach them a lesson,” though such attempts invariably backfired—ending in painful defeat and subsequent ostracization by female classmates or anti-bullying campaigns from seniors.

Today, under a sky of falling snow, Hinata Hyuga stepped briskly from her clan’s estate in a white snowsuit with a red scarf fluttering at her neck. Her hair, grown to shoulder-length at Izayoi’s suggestion, was tied in twin tails with ribbons. Her round, rosy cheeks flushed faintly in the cold—a picture of innocent charm.

She deliberately avoided visiting Izayoi’s home directly. Instead, they’d formed an unspoken habit of meeting outside the Ninja Academy grounds.

“Is that Neji’s relative?”
“Those white eyes—no mistake.”
“Let’s show her what we think of Byakugan freaks!”

The approaching voices halted her. Three older boys—students from higher grades—surrounded her, smirks twisting their faces.

“Um… is there something you need?” Hinata asked, tilting her head. Her voice was soft, yet her pale eyes met theirs steadily.

“Hateful eyes—just like Neji’s!” one snarled, his face darkening with remembered grievances. “You Byakugan monster! Know your place! Apologize—on your knees—or we’ll beat it out of you!”

“Neji-niisan’s… friend?” Hinata ventured cautiously.

“Friend? We’re his enemies!” another spat. “Apologize for him! Bow now or we’ll—”

The third boy lunged, reaching to shove her shoulders. But Hinata’s gloved hand shot out—two fingers stabbing his chest with clinical precision.

“Agh!” He screamed through the thick coat, collapsing backward as if struck by invisible needles.

Before the others could react, her hands blurred—two more strikes to their chests. They crumpled too, clutching their ribs as pain seared through their bodies.

“M-Make it stop…!”

They scrambled away, sobbing, their terror mirroring their earlier arrogance. Hinata simply tilted her head, puzzled. They ran off even without me channeling chakra?

Clapping echoed through the clearing. Izayoi approached in a matching snowsuit, grinning.

“You were amazing, Hinata!” He gave her a thumbs-up. “Never hesitate to stop bullies. Letting them slide only makes them worse.”

“Mm!” Hinata nodded, beaming.

Izayoi felt a surge of satisfaction. The Hinata from the original storyline endured relentless bullying despite learning Gentle Fist techniques early—her passivity made no sense. Now, she’d flipped the script.

Under his guidance, her innate kindness remained, but she’d grown resilient. She defended herself instinctively, her spirit tempered steel beneath soft manners. A far cry from the delinquent-turned-enforcer he’d once been under Tsukuyomi’s influence.

Six months ago, this shy girl would’ve crumbled. Now, she stood tall—proof his training worked. Better to shape her early than fight the damage caused later by Hiashi’s harshness and Neji’s bitterness.

“Let’s train!” Izayoi said.
“Okay!”

Two snow-suited figures trudged toward the abandoned training ground.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end