Here's the next chapter. Not much to say, outside of enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the show, Naruto (or character). Neither do I own Hinata, the character.
Hinata's goals were somewhat switched.
She still looked for some kind of way out, but now she also had a few more goals.
Unlocking the Tenseigan.
Finding the Tenseigan.
The latter was Hamura's request, in case she couldn't awaken her own Tenseigan on time the day Toneri decided to enact his plan sooner.
Although he insisted she should still destroy it regardless of if it's needed or not. It was time to turn to a new page, he said. And Hinata did feel inclined to agree.
Which was why she began looking for it. It wasn't even unusual of her, by now, to wander the halls of the castle for seemingly no reason.
Until she spotted just one small, almost insignificant shape of... something, that her Byakugan just couldn't pick.
And Hinata knew, if nothing else, that it must be important.
But she didn't make a move. No. She needed to awaken her own Tenseigan first. Or else, she might just be doomed.
It was why she acted like normal. Simply went out and explored. Like usual and as if things were normal.
At least, until she began to feel... bored.
It felt stupid, but she in fact just felt bored. You'd think that wouldn't be a problem, with the entire Chakra adaptation or still trying to find a way out, yes?
Wrong. So, dreadfully wrong.
Just because she was, doesn't mean she didn't feel like she wanted to change something.
She'd by now figured out whatever led out, wasn't in the palace. There were a few places where she couldn't get into. But her extended observation told her it likely wasn't... however the way off the moon worked.
It could also be the place where her Byakugan couldn't see, but if it actually was, then she was also doomed to wait regardless.
Which meant her best bet was to explore outside. To which she actually felt bored...
She knows she shouldn't, but that feeling of boredom just didn't leave her.
Still, it led her to think about something, to bind her time for the Tenseigan to awaken. At first, it was how she could get her hands on Icha Icha Paradise, because now that her curiosity was at its peak... why shouldn't she try to read it?
Then, it returned for a way out.
And then, she thought of the puppets. And then, an idea simply came to her mind.
Now could be her chance to figure out how they work.
She had figured out how they worked. At least the ones that had come to her. So she could technically replicate it.
Except she still had no clue on how they worked. The only clue she had was that they were powered by the Tenseigan. That's it.
No idea how Toneri controlled them (although she could put up a potentially accurate guess, holding for only a minute) or how the Tenseigan powered it.
So, Hinata decided to pay attention to something. Any other time, she didn't pay full attention, but now, she would. With her Byakugan activated, she gave a careful look to the marionettes.
And Hinata sees as much as any other time, even with the brief attention. She can see the Chakra inside them all.
She does notice how they do seem to have more Chakra here than back on Earth. Maybe proximity has something to do with it?
Or was Toneri more confident of giving them more chakra, while on the moon?
Well, it didn't truly matter. What did, was if she could somehow use the puppets to her advantage.
Because if she could find a way for Toneri not to notice what she's doing... well, wouldn't that be of use?
But for now, Hinata needs to wait. Hamura's Chakra would soon be done.
Sitting near a fireplace while drinking tea.
It was one of the few times Hinata interacted with Toneri. And one of the few she did enjoy.
The fireplace honestly gave the place a welcoming feeling, which might be why Toneri goes there at all.
And apparently, he also has biscuits. She's not complaining about that.
However, it did tend to lead them to philosophical questions, at times.
''Have you ever questioned if it was right, to use Chakra as a weapon?
Like now, for example. They'd began small, but as time passed, as the month she spent here passed, he began to make those talks bigger.
And Hinata answered back.
''Honestly? No. I never questioned if it was right to use Chakra as a weapon.''
It was so integral, a part of her life that she'd never forget. Hinata never actually questioned if it was right or not. She had other things to worry about, and no one else, as far as she was aware, questioned it either.
It didn't mean they didn't see more uses than just weapons. But when you've lived in a village where using Chakra as a weapon is a normal thing? Questioning if it was right or not never crossed hers, or anyone else's mind. At least, not anymore.
Toneri sighed in a disappointed manner.
''And that only strengthens that the Sage of Six Paths world is a failure.''
He took a sip of his tea while Hinata remained impassive at these words.
''Why do you keep calling Earth a failure?''
''Because it is. You saw it for yourself, what war has caused. What weaponizing Chakra has done. And the end result? The freedom of the Ten-tails.''
Hinata had something to say about that. Because Earth wasn't the only one who did that. But, she wasn't supposed to know, now was she? So, she stayed silent.
And yet, a part of Hinata didn't completely blame Toneri for saying that. They went through 4 wars. And the fourth simply brought the end of humanity along with it.
She was alive, sure. But she didn't amount to humanity. And with how separate Toneri made it seem, he himself didn't consider himself human.
The last human alive... Hinata Hyuga.
Why was it her?
And that question always led back to how she even got freed to begin with. It always mixed with her own depressive thoughts.
Something Hinata realized, she couldn't let it take root. So, she shifted her thoughts. At least tried to.
And then, she caught sight of something peculiar.
He grabbed ahold of a book that was in his sleeve pocket. And apparently, he usually knew where he placed what, because he didn't even check to see what the book was about.
He must have made a mistake somewhere, because he was holding Icha Icha Paradise.
Or maybe he actually was bold enough to read this in the same room as her? When she made it clear she wanted to read it as well?
It was already opened when he laid his eyes, and then, he read.
Hinata was confident he only read about... 5 pages before realizing what he was actually reading. Well, likely 4 pages and realization hitting halfway through with the fifth page. Which truly just said about the quality of the book if Toneri didn't even realize what it was.
But if it was that kind of book... if it didn't raise any suspicion until a good few pages...
''What have I been reading?!'' he practically cries out when he slams the book shut, flipping it to see its cover. His face showing signs of a blush.
Hinata held with a laugh, which ended up coming out as a chortle.
Snapping his head towards her, he uttered few words in his embarrassment.
''You have seen nothing.''
She laughed out loud this time.
The very next day, she can feel it.
Her Chakra, not split anymore, but fully hers, augmented in size. Where she had once reached a limit, she'd reached a new height.
And now, she needed to go on with the next step.
Now, said Chakra needed to constantly flow around her Byakugan for an unknown amount of time. So, she did that.
And soon came to realize it was going to be hard. It needed to be constant, and Hinata truly wasn't sure for how long.
So, for the first day, she went on to find a way to keep it flowing while she was moving. That proved to be harder than she'd anticipated.
Even more so when she actually was in the company of Toneri.
Both of them had sort of gotten into a comfortable routine that neither wanted to break. Loneliness tends to unite when they learn they aren't so alone anymore.
It's why Hinata has to stop any of this when she's in his company, at the risk of him noticing.
It also put a roadblock on her progress whenever he did show up. Thankfully, outside of the routine, it's not many.
But Hinata knows that she's potentially going to run out of time. Because Toneri could start this at any moment.
He said why he's been hesitant. But that's the thing. He's hesitant. It doesn't mean he won't do it.
And that, makes her realize just how dire her situation is. She was kidnapped here so that he could start this at any time. Now here, he can do it whenever he wants.
It dawns on her how important her return now is.
Because Toneri wouldn't dare to even consider it if she was on Earth.
Sure, she could use his uncertainty about Kaguya. But at the same time, he has the power. It's Kaguya (and isn't that rich) who is currently keeping Earth unharmed and even then, it's not a permanent solution.
Her returning isn't either, but a whole lot more likely to work until she can do something.
That something is the way back, which so far? Not found.
She could risk going for the one place her Byakugan didn't seem to see through, but if that failed... well, she likely wouldn't receive that freedom again.
If it wasn't the way out...
Was there another way out she didn't know about? Something else she could use?
Maybe...
Maybe...
''That's it!'' she exclaims in the confines of her room.
It felt... so easy! She had the answer!
Reverse Summoning.
And that's the chapter. With Hinata figuring out a way out through Summoning.
I cannot believe how Icha Icha Paradise is actually making me come up with successful ways of having both Hinata and Toneri interact. Bonus points for the absolute embarrassment Toneri must be going through at that moment. And I added a small bit of philosophical talking there as well.
Originally, the interaction between Hinata and Toneri was meant to go somewhere like this:
''Can I read it?''
''No.''
''Please?''
''...No.''
That dick...
But, not only was it more fitting of an Omake, but that would have been rather out of character for Hinata, especially the last sentence. Anyway, onto the comments.
LB Cat: No one expects Icha Icha Paradise... including me, for that matter. Nice to see you liked it.
kitkat: Thank you. And now, you have more.