I sincerely apologize for not posting this chapter sooner. With school and work keeping me busy, the editing of this chapter took a bit longer than expected. Chapter 4 start!

Hinata was the most talented amongst her peers. She trained regularly and had a good physique. She was his best student but only one thing kept her from growing as a kunoichi.

Hinata's fear of harming those precious to her chained her endless potential and made her vulnerable as a shinobi. I left unchecked she would hold herself back and would never become the great kunoichi he knew she would become.

Flashback - one month prior

Hinata finished her spar with Sakura and was hydrating when a Hyūga arrived on the training ground.

"Hinata-sama your father requests an audience with your sensei. Please bring him to the compound after your lessons are completed."

Hinata bowed politely and let the messenger know she would. Naruto was curious why Hiashi would ask of his presence now. He had been her sensei for a month now and not once had the Hyūga clan head spoken with him.

The dinner was just as Naruto believed: a somber affair. No one spoke as dinner was served by the branch members. Naruto gave his server a smile and a nod as she served him a helping of sukiyaki.

"Naruto-san, I have heard you have been assigned as my daughter's sensei."

"Yes I am her sensei. I am not a jounin but the Sandaime saw it fit that I lead a team. I made it very clear to the old man I would take a team on my terms."

'Hinata's father is rather stiff for her father.'

"Hiashi-dono how is Hinata doing in her studies of the clan style? I noticed she is quite talented."

Hiashi quirked an eyebrow as he took a sip of his drink.

"She has shown not much talent in the style. Hanabi on the other hand is quite talented."

'Ah I see now. Hiashi sees Hinata's unwillingness to harm her sister as weakness. Such a pity he does not see her potential.'

"Ah I see. Perhaps You are looking through rose tinted glasses Hiashi-dono. How about a wager amongst clan heads?"

Hiashi dabbed his mouth with a napkin before finishing his drink.

"What did you have in mind Naruto-san?"

"You let me train her in a taijutsu form of my choice and in two weeks time we will have Hinata face her little sister in a spar. Should Hanabi prove to be her superior, I will concede an S ranked jutsu from my vault. Should Hinata win this spar, I want you to sign over your rights as her father to me."

Hiashi face was so red the flowers on the table were pale in comparison.

"Why you!"

"You are a sad excuse for a father and nothing more than a puppet of your clan council. Your wife would be rolling in her grave if she saw the way you treat your oldest daughter."

Naruto stood up and pushed in his chair before smiling at Hinata.

"Do not fret Hinata, I will help you show the man who pretends to be your father your talent. Hiashi remember the terms. I will coming collecting when she wins."

Hiashi shook with unbridled fury as the blonde hanyou left his home.

'You know nothing of Hanabi's talents. She will crush Hinata with ease.'

For two weeks, Naruto trained Hinata after his lessons, bringing in Anko Mitarashi, Maito Gai and others to help him train Hinata into a seasoned kunoichi. His efforts proved fruitless initially due to her low self-esteem but words from Anko resolved the issue.

"Hinata, Naruto is doing his best to help you defeat your sister and shut up the old fart that question your ability as well as reforging your image in your father's eye. He even made sure to include the condition that when you win, he will release you from the Hyuga family into his care. Has Naruto's hard work and preparation been for nothing?"

Hinata fiddled with her fingers while muttering her response. A glare from Anko made her response die in her throat and restarted, a bit louder.

"I appreciate what Naruto-sensei is doing for me but I cannot bring myself to harm my sister."

Anko bit back a scream and debated if lighting the Hyuga heiress on fire would better solve the issue. A thought popped into her mind and a sly smile made its way across her face.

"So you want your sister to hurt you, leave you in the dust with bruises and slander you to anyone who will listen? I see you wish to wait for your dream to be given to you on a platter and will even let the council of old farts convince your father to brand you with that blasted seal then? How will you pursue your dream from the sidelines, as a branch member? You will be no more than your sister's servant at best. You have everything to your disposal and yet you wish to squander our best efforts to help you overcome the council and help you erase the caged bird seal from existence. You have little drive and you waste my time and everyone's time. I do not know what Naruto sees in you."

Subtle cracked appeared in Hinata's quiet demeanor as she struggled to suppress her building outrage at Anko's caustic words. Her unbridled rage in consciously activated her byakugan as she glared at Anko.

"I'll make you eat your words Anko-san!"

'That's it focus your anger and control it. Do not let it control you.'

Hinata's training with Maito Gai and Anko was on full display as she twisted and turned her body, striking at Anko's chakra and pressure points with pinpoint accuracy. Anko parried every strike with grace but stayed vigilant as the Hyūga clan was well known for their debilitating strikes.

Naruto stood on the sideline, observing her movements and nothing her progress. As long as she could harness the grace and flexibility he was seeing, she would win.

"That's it Hinata. Remember your goal and those greedy and selfish old fools who mock your dream. Remember the dismissive attitude your father had when he spoke of you. Remember that tomorrow when you face your sister: it is your dream against all of the Hyūga bigotry."

The day of the spar, the elders sat on one side of dojo while Hiashi and Naruto stood on the other side. A branch member read the rules and conditions of the spar and the stakes. Hanabi crossed the room in a few swift movements as soon as she was allowed. Hinata stood in a formless stance, not favoring either foot.

A smile crept onto Naruto's face as Hanabi entered into Hinata's proximity. The younger Hyuga fingers pierced nothing but air as Hinata drifted across the dojo, light as a fallen leaf. The light strikes made to Hanabi's frame seemed to be futile but Hiashi's trained eye saw past the deceptiveness of the blows.

"You had Anko teach Hinata her flexibility and Gai his power. I sense a third teacher but the influence is something I am unfamiliar with."

Naruto merely smiled without taking his eyes from the battle before them. Hinata's perseverance and tenacity paid off. He watched as she danced across the space, dodging and redirecting blows with ease. The strikes she lands began to show their true strength as Hanabi's response time plummeted.

Hanabi could not understand why her older sister was able to keep up with her. In prior spars, Hinata moved too rigidly and awkwardly to do much damage. All of a sudden, she was able to hold her own and the movements made no sense to her.

The elders were talking amongst themselves. Those who supported the old traditions spat insulting words at the heiress while those who believed a change was necessary sat silent. Hiashi was proud of his eldest daughter but was puzzled why she decided to showcase her talent so late.

"Hinata was always a prodigy. You only saw what you wished and judged her unfairly."

Hiashi was jerked from his thoughts by Naruto's voice. His daughter's jounin-sensei had remained silent until just now and the words he spoke shattered his preconceptions. He now understood why his eldest performed inadequately. He had judged her skillset with a biased mind. Instead of cultivating the talents she had, he had dismissed their value. He had failed as her father and the clan head.

Hinata's deceptive strikes rendered her younger sister unable to read her attacks. Hanabi found herself overwhelmed and getting more exhausted by the passing moment. Moments later, the younger Hyuga found herself unable to control her limbs and breathing hard. In a last ditch attempt, she forced her body to lunge forward. Hanabi looked up from the floor to find Hinata looking down at her in confusion.

"Imouto, are you unwell? We can continue this at a later time if you are feeling ill."

Hinata's concerned tone only served to enrage Hanabi even more. She was unable to capitalize on her anger however as her body no longer responded to her demands. The branch member gave the final countdown while Hanabi attempted to regain control over her body.

The announcement that Hinata had won the spar and successfully defended her title as heiress shocked everyone present, except the blonde Uzumaki. The elders who favored the younger daughter shouted in protest. Hinata's voice silenced all the chatter.

"The last time I read the clan bylaws, the elders are to give counsel to the clan head. When did it ever read 'The elders have the authority to change the bylaws as they pleased?' I am sure my father humors you only as you have given adequate counsel in the past. My words hold weight with him and I am sure he will amend his leniency with you. You all have taken his leniency for weakness."

The fire in Hinata's eyes and the conviction in her voice shook the very fiber of every Hyuga present. Naruto gave a subtle nod of approval in Hinata's direction. She had blossomed into a beautiful young woman whose kindness and conviction set her apart from her peers. All Hyuga have named this event The Blossoming.

Flashback end

The spar with her sister increased her confidence by leaps and bounds. She was no longer holding back during spars with her fellow peers. She began to develop techniques with Naruto's help and greatly improved overall. Naruto couldn't wait for their first official C-rank mission. The ninja world would be torn asunder by his team.

What did you guys think of this chapter? I encourage all reviews as constructive feedback is just as good as praise is. However all flames will be used to fuel my stove to cook my ramen. Any who can guess the reference in the title of this chapter will get a sneak peek at the next chapter! Good luck and see you soon, Irondragon out.