After nightfall, I decided to visit an old friend.Without my new seventh-level spell, I would never have dared. Though calling her a friend was quite a stretch.
In my memories, Hinata was a young girl who had been saved by her brother… and who was trying to steal him away. But on the other hand, because of my own experiences, I could be even shyer than she was.
So, whenever we met without Naruto around, it was Hinata who took charge, playing the role of the older sister. I hoped that had helped her become more assertive in life.
Instead of my old spell combo (Invisibility + Odorless + Rabbit Foot), I set up a new one: Faceless + Rabbit Foot + Invisibility.
At this point, the ninjas of Konoha already knew that an intruder was roaming inside the village. If the incident with Hana hadn't been enough, then my former shell might have finally betrayed me.
That was why I used the fifth-level spell, Faceless. It made the affected person unrecognizable in all forms, though it didn't make them invisible.
This spell was almost a pure concept… if not for the fact that someone powerful enough could see through it.
I then teleported to the outskirts of the Hyuga residence, staying far enough away not to attract attention.
The spell I was about to use would allow me to enter the subconscious of a person whose mental defenses were weakened and affect them almost absolutely, as long as my mind remained the stronger one.
With this, a complete brainwashing was possible, and no one would notice. Even a mental probe wouldn't detect anything. It was even possible to permanently possess the victim's body after destroying their psyche.
This spell bypassed even immunities. Once targeted, it became a battle of minds.
But that also meant the caster could lose.
— Wandering Conquering Soul.
Stepping into an alley, I used the sixth-level spell, Earth Surge, to bury myself instantly.
As an undead, oxygen wasn't a necessity."I still breathed, but only out of habit".
I focused and cast the spell.
I felt myself rising… leaving my prison.
As I passed near the guards, one of them shivered, perhaps more sensitive than the others. He activated his Byakugan, prompting his comrades to do the same.
But they saw nothing.
The poor guard became the target of his comrades' mockery. Unfortunate for him… but reassuring for me. My imperceptibility was working.
I moved closer to the patriarch's house and witnessed the encounter between Hinata and Neji.
I shouldn't have been surprised by what happened. But the little Narume inside me rebelled at the sight of Hinata's treatment.
I followed her to her room and watched as she lay down and started sobbing.
I wanted to comfort her.
But the moment I touched her…
I felt myself being irresistibly pulled into her body.
Suddenly, I found myself once again at the entrance of the Hyuga compound. Behind me, a strange mist, and I knew that trying to cross it would be harmful.
I started walking through the compound. As I passed through its various sections, mirages appeared before my eyes, showing Hinata's interactions with others.
These weren't complete memories. Just fragmented parts… and I could feel that I had the power to influence them, but I chose not to.
As I approached her room, I saw her interaction with Neji and felt relieved. She had only heard one sentence from his entire tirade.
That confirmed it—things were only seen and perceived through Hinata's point of view.
Entering the room, I found it empty.
I began wandering through the compound. I was sure I could find her… or at least one of her manifestations. I had questions to ask her.
As I passed by the garden, I heard laughter.
I opened a door… and found myself standing before an artificial water source.
A grown woman was playing with a child while holding her in her arms.
The scene was so joyful… The pure emotion began to overwhelm me, and before I even realized it, I had ended up in the water as well.
Just as I was about to leave, a voice called out to me:
— "Narume?"
I instinctively curled up. After all, by entering the water, I had felt all of Hinata's emotions tied to this place. I knew I wasn't supposed to be here.
Slowly, I turned around…
And I saw Hinata, ten years old.
— "Uhh… Hi?"