The Villainous Rebirth of an Anime Heroine | naruto

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Now she realized something—so that gentle face could also look so distant and cold. And those white eyes, just like hers, now held only an icy gaze and detachment.

"Sorry~"

Hinata suddenly smiled, then reached out and patted Hanabi's head. Her voice was soft and full of apology. "I've been training really hard lately, trying to get stronger. That means I have to push myself, no matter how tough it is. But don't worry, as a reward for making you worry about me, I'll secretly bring you a cotton candy tomorrow~ So don't be mad at me, okay?"

"Eh? Really?"

Hanabi was still just a little girl, not even seven years old. Even though she sensed that Hinata felt different from before, there was no way she could see through Hinata's true self. And the moment she heard about cotton candy, all the fear she had earlier was instantly replaced by excitement.

"Of course~ Your big sister would never lie to you! Now tell me, do you want banana flavor or strawberry flavor?"

Hinata's eyes curved into little crescent moons as she smiled warmly. Her promise made Hanabi try to contain her excitement before she finally spoke up in anticipation. "Then… I want banana flavor! But you have to keep your promise, onee-san!"

"Of course, of course~ Now, go to bed quickly. If Father finds out you're still awake, you're going to get scolded~"

Hinata gave Hanabi's head another pat, and the little girl blushed slightly before obediently leaving Hinata's room. Once she confirmed that Hanabi had disappeared down the hall, Hinata finally stood up and shut her door. Her smile vanished like a reflection in water, leaving behind only a cold expression.

"...Disgusting..."

She muttered to herself, knowing full well that acting like this was the smartest choice.

Even if she had taken over Hinata's body, that didn't change the fact that she had to be careful with her every word and action. The Hyuga Clan had already given up on her, ignoring her training and future. But if she suddenly started acting too differently, it would raise suspicions.

Especially when it came to that girl—Hyuga Hanabi, her so-called little sister.

Hanabi was being raised as the future heir of the Hyuga Clan. If she started acting strangely or made mistakes in training because of her "loser" of a big sister, the elders of the Hyuga Clan would never let it slide. If that happened, the punishment and extra attention would be the last thing she needed.

So, maintaining a good relationship with that annoying little kid was just part of the act.

At least… until she had the power to leave this clan—no, leave this entire village. Until then, she had to stay as "Hyuga Hinata."

"Well, I'll just treat it as another side quest—handling kids has become a daily routine anyway~"

She unrolled a blank scroll and picked up a brush.

Naruto and Sasuke—the two main characters of this world. Everyone always talked about how determined and talented they were. If that was true, then she'd prepare something for them—a so-called "Secret Fist Technique." She had already promised, so now she just had to make up three martial arts techniques on the spot.

After all, the hardest part of martial arts wasn't flashy moves or natural talent—it was persistence. Any technique, even something as simple as a basic punch, would become powerful if practiced long enough. If those two idiots couldn't get stronger, she could just blame it on them not working hard enough.

Hinata smirked as she looked at the words on the scroll. Of course~! If they didn't even have the guts to try the training, then that wasn't her problem, was it?

As the night passed and the sun rose in the east, a new day began.

With her backpack slung over her shoulders, Hinata walked out of the Hyuga residence, her steps sluggish from exhaustion. Dark circles hung under her eyes as she made her way to the Ninja Academy.

The Academy was basically a mix between elementary and middle school but with extra combat training. Other than normal subjects, students also learned shuriken throwing, basic fighting techniques, and the three essential jutsu for a ninja.

Classes were held Monday through Friday, with weekends off. That meant Hinata had to attend regularly, but since the school hours weren't too long and students brought their own lunches, there was still plenty of free time.

Sasuke and Naruto were clearly restless. Sasuke handled it better, keeping his usual cool attitude during class, but every now and then, he'd glance at Hinata. It was obvious he was waiting for that so-called "Lightning Burial Fist Manual."

Naruto, on the other hand, wasn't subtle at all. He fidgeted non-stop during class and kept sneaking glances at her. Luckily, they didn't usually interact much, so no one paid attention.

Finally, after three hours of morning classes and two and a half hours in the afternoon, school was over.

After packing her things, Hinata strolled over to the meeting spot they had agreed on the day before. As expected, Naruto and Sasuke were already there, both looking impatient.

"You're so slow, Hinata~~!"

Naruto whined loudly, frustration clear in his voice. Sasuke just gave a small "hmph," making his stance known without saying much.

"What's the rush? I stayed up all night copying scrolls, so I'm still super sleepy."

Yawning, Hinata casually pulled two scrolls from her bag and tossed them to the boys. "Catch~ These are the first steps of the Holy Fist training. I couldn't write everything at once, so you'll have to start with these."

"Alright, alright! I'm here, I'm here! I'll definitely learn this in no time!"

Naruto eagerly unrolled the scroll with clumsy hands, his face lighting up with excitement. But the moment he actually read the contents, that dumb, overjoyed grin of his completely froze. His eyes scanned the words again and again, and soon enough, the sound of him swallowing hard echoed in the air.

Beside him, Sasuke had the same reaction. After confirming what was written, his usually cool expression darkened a bit. There was no doubt—the techniques described in the scroll were downright brutal.

"I know you're scared. After all, these are techniques that even the geniuses of the Hyūga Clan wouldn't dare to touch. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been sealed away as forbidden techniques."

Hinata's voice was understanding, but deep inside, she was smirking. Yes, this was exactly the reaction she expected. These two idiots were just eleven-year-old kids. If she, someone who had lived two lifetimes, couldn't manipulate them, then she would have failed miserably.

"...The secret training method for Fūjunken: The first stage requires you to jump across a twenty-meter-wide cliff... This..."

Naruto's forehead was covered in sweat. As a student at the Ninja Academy, he could already use chakra to perform some basic jutsu, and thanks to chakra, his physical abilities were far beyond normal people.

But to jump across a twenty-meter-wide cliff in one go? That was absolutely impossible for an Academy student. And to make matters worse, the scroll specifically stated that this had to be done over an actual cliff. In other words, if he failed, he'd fall to his death.

"Raizanken training method: Endure a 500-volt electric shock..."

Sasuke muttered as he read his scroll. He knew that for the human body, even 220 volts could be fatal—especially for an adult. And now, they were talking about enduring 500 volts? That kind of voltage was enough to kill someone instantly.

Enduring a direct 500-volt shock with his body... That was basically just another way of saying "commit suicide."

"I understand how you feel, because I feel the same way. Nanto Seiken relies on the body itself to unleash elemental power, so the first step for any practitioner is to use chakra that matches their natural affinity. For example, wind chakra to enhance speed and air resistance, or lightning chakra to neutralize external electrical currents. Only after mastering this can you move on to the next stage of training."

As a liar, Hinata wouldn't forget to act like she was struggling too. She calmly unrolled her own scroll and said in a neutral tone, "As for my Enshaken training, I have to walk on burning coals while balancing upside down, without getting burned. No matter how you look at it, it's not something that can be easily mastered. So, if either of you wants to give up, I won't mock you."

Both Sasuke and Naruto remained silent. The rare struggle and fear on their faces said it all. Just as Hinata had told them before, this so-called Nanto Seiken really was a life-threatening training method.

After about thirty seconds of silence, Hinata smiled slightly. She rolled up her fake Enshaken scroll and said in a satisfied tone, "Alright, then. We'll meet back here in three days. Even if you can't become stronger overnight, earning some money is still a good thing. See you later."

At the end of the day, they were just two dumb kids. Of course, they'd be terrified of training methods that were basically suicide. Not that she really cared. They'd get stronger eventually, one way or another. She just needed to focus on making money and improving her Bakusai Tenketsu.

But really...

Whether it was her so-called little sister Hanabi, Naruto with his dream of becoming Hokage, or Sasuke with his endless thirst for revenge...

"They're all the types of brats I hate the most."

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Pill Pills, or "Soldier Pills," were a highly useful ninja medicine. Their main function was to temporarily double the user's chakra reserves, allowing them to perform jutsu beyond their usual capabilities. They could also help restore lost chakra and quickly regain combat strength.

But of course, such a powerful medicine came with a price. Soldier Pills had two major side effects.

First: Since they worked by forcing the body's cells to convert energy into extra chakra, Soldier Pills acted similarly to stimulants. While they provided a temporary power boost, they also caused permanent cellular damage. The harm was minimal in small doses, but it was irreversible. That's why most shinobi avoided using them unless absolutely necessary.

The second issue was the cost. Just like how high-quality stimulants were expensive, Soldier Pills weren't cheap either. They were considered premium ninja tools, just like explosive tags. In a stable economy, a single pill usually cost around 1,000 ryō.

Compared to Soldier Pills, explosive tags were seen as more valuable. Not only could they directly injure or kill enemies, but they were also useful in traps and battle strategies. That's why most ninjas preferred carrying explosive tags instead of Soldier Pills. Even in the original story, only certain shinobi, like Inuzuka Kiba, used Soldier Pills regularly due to their clan's special techniques.

But if one could somehow bypass the aging damage caused by these pills, they could provide an incredible short-term boost. Doubling one's chakra reserves in an instant could make a huge difference in battle, whether it was for enhancing ninjutsu or simply recovering lost stamina.

And right now, Naruto was holding a small bag of these very pills.

He had bought them from a drugstore owned by the Akimichi Clan. After a discount, the total came to 8,000 ryō—an amount that would have taken him months to save up in the past. Luckily, Hinata had at least enough conscience to pay him for his "performance," or else there was no way he could have afforded these.

"No choice... I have to go all out."

Lifting his head, Naruto stared at the waterfall before him. This was the western waterfall of Konoha, the same place where he had trained under Jiraiya in the original story. It was over twenty meters wide, with a height difference of nearly a hundred meters.

For training, it was perfect. The width met the challenge's requirements, and if he failed to make the jump, he'd just end up falling into the pool below. At the very least, he wouldn't die from the fall.

Of course, that was just the most basic safety measure. If he failed to jump across and got slammed into the water from a hundred-meter-high waterfall, the impact wouldn't be something he could just shake off. At best, he'd end up with broken bones; at worst, his internal organs would be crushed. Just like the Southern Fist Scroll had warned over and over again—this was training that could cost him his life.

"I won't give up..."

Holding the soldier pills in his hand, Naruto's young face showed a rare moment of determination. As if hyping himself up, the blond-haired boy threw his head back and swallowed the pill, then took off running straight for the waterfall's edge.

"Because—I'm gonna be Hokage!!"

Even with the temporary chakra boost from the soldier pill, jumping a full twenty meters in one go was still beyond Naruto's ability. He barely made it halfway before gravity took over, and the next second, he was helplessly plummeting into the raging waters below, crashing straight into the waterfall's forceful stream.

"AAAHHHH!!!"

Naruto screamed instinctively as the violent current slammed into him. The impact felt like he was being pounded by a thousand fists. With the added force from the waterfall's height, his small body had no way to defend itself. Every crashing wave felt like it was tearing his muscles apart, like his bones were slowly being shattered piece by piece.

The water carried his limp body downward, dragging him deep into the pool below. As his body sank, the dim, broken light filtering through the water looked almost like the gaze of the Shinigami staring down at him.

It hurts...

But there's something even more painful than this...

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but what flashed through his mind wasn't the pain of his current situation. Instead, it was all the memories from his childhood.

Loneliness. Hatred. Disgust. Rejection. Mockery...

They had followed him like a curse, clinging to him since the very beginning. Compared to that pain—compared to the pain of having absolutely nothing...

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Sasuke's face was just as serious. Like Naruto, he had also prepared his own soldier pills.

However, what lay before him was not a waterfall, but a setup of batteries and a chair wrapped with conductive wires. In other words, an electric chair.

Based on his calculations, this chair could generate up to 500 volts of electricity. He had rigged a system of five battery packs, each producing 120 volts. That meant even at the lowest setting, the chair would output 120 volts. If he could withstand that, he would gradually increase the power until all five packs were activated.

But even with that gradual increase, there was no guarantee that someone who survived one battery could endure the next. According to the switch mechanism he had designed, once activated, the electricity would flow continuously for five minutes—without any way to stop it manually.

That meant that once someone sat in the chair and turned it on, they would be electrocuted for a full five minutes, no matter how much pain they were in. And if they couldn't endure it...

Death.

That word clutched at Sasuke's throat like an icy hand, making it hard to breathe. It wasn't until he heard the quiet sound of sweat dripping onto the floor that he realized just how afraid he was.

Cold sweat and trembling—his body was instinctively warning him, screaming that this training meant facing death head-on.

But... there was something even scarier than death...

Slowly, Sasuke raised his hand and swallowed the soldier pill. Then, with measured movements, he sat down on the electric chair, strapping the electrodes onto his arms and head.

"I won't forget... I won't forget..."

The bonds he once had, the memories of family, the hatred and resentment left behind... and most of all, the unbearable loneliness of being the only one left alive.

Like a mantra, he repeated the words to himself before suddenly slamming his finger down on the switch. Instantly, the dial spiked, and a surge of electricity shot through his body.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"

A scream tore from Sasuke's throat as the current ripped through him. He could feel it burning into his organs, piercing through his muscles, searing into his very bones. The pain wasn't just something he felt—it was something that consumed him entirely.

Thin wisps of white smoke began rising from his clothes and hair. Five minutes—it was only five minutes. But in this moment, time stretched endlessly, turning pain into something absolute, something that threatened to tear his body and mind apart.

Sasuke's screams had already stopped. He knew that screaming for too long would only hurt his body more. His dark eyes were wide open, his jaw clenched so tightly that not even a single sound of pain could escape. The only thing that showed his suffering was the blood trickling down from his bitten lips.

But... maybe because of the electric shock messing with his brain, the images in Sasuke's mind weren't of the present. Instead, memories from the past flickered before his eyes, like faded black-and-white photographs. He saw his family—the strict father, the gentle mother, and... the mysterious yet admirable older brother...

All of them had turned to nothing but ashes on that blood-soaked night.

This pain—compared to the pain of knowing that he had lost everything—

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What does it even matter!!

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Clatter!

The pen slipped from Hinata's fingers and fell to the floor. Her pale eyes froze in shock, her expression filled with confusion and disbelief.

"Naruto and Sasuke both skipped class?! Naruto, sure... but Sasuke too? What's going on?"

Iruka furrowed his brows as he stared at the attendance list. As a chuunin teacher, he was both kind and responsible—the only one in the entire academy who was willing to teach Naruto.

"No choice, let's just start class. When those two come back, I'll give them extra lessons..."

Iruka sighed as he looked at the two empty seats. But before he could continue, something unexpected happened.

Hinata suddenly stood up from her seat. Without a second of hesitation, she ran straight for the classroom door. Iruka, standing nearby, instinctively reached out to stop her, but she slipped past him before he could even react.

The entire class stared in shock.

Hinata—quiet, timid, always so well-behaved—was skipping class? And in front of the teacher and everyone else?

For the first time in her life, Hinata, as "Hinata Hyuga," was breaking the rules. She had spent years carefully maintaining the image of a perfect, obedient girl. But right now, she didn't care about that at all.

Did those two really... go through with such a reckless kind of training?!

Training that was basically a step away from death?!

The moment that thought crossed Hinata's mind, she couldn't think straight anymore. A fear unlike anything she had ever felt gripped her heart.

No... It wasn't supposed to turn out this way... Why...?

Activating her Byakugan at full power, Hinata ignored the burning pain in her eyes and widened her search. She didn't even know what she was hoping to find—

Two lifeless bodies?

Two half-dead, critically injured idiots?

But one thing had never been clearer in her mind.

The moment the truth was exposed, she would have to take responsibility.

And yet, she knew she didn't have the power to take responsibility for something like this.

Shame.

And... anger.

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Hinata had never fully accepted this ninja world.

Even though she had once watched this anime as an outsider, even though she knew the characters inside and out, she could never truly belong here.

So, she looked at everything in this world—the people, the places, the very air around her—with a quiet rejection.

On the surface, she acted just like the old Hinata, pretending to be the same shy and gentle girl. But in front of Naruto and Sasuke, the two people who had already seen through her act, she found it difficult to keep up the facade.

Because deep down, she was angry.

Angry at the fact that she even had to hide herself in the first place.