The Battle Continues! Trouble?

Hinata's confession left Issui blushing from ear to ear. Has this girl gotten carried away with excitement? It's the first time I've seen her take the initiative like this. Is my happy life finally about to begin?

Standing nearby, Haku lowered her head in dejection, her pretty face filled with anguish.

Hinata knew she had gotten excited and said something terribly embarrassing, so she buried her little head in Issui's arms, too shy to show her face.

Sharp-eyed Issui suddenly noticed Haku's expression. Knowing she was jealous of Hinata, he smiled and said, "Haku, are you upset because you lost? Actually, that's not how it is. Ever since you came to my side, I've considered you one of my own, and I swore I'd protect you for the rest of my life. You're actually very strong, but you overlooked the advantage Hinata's Byakugan gives her in close combat. If you attacked from a distance, Hinata would have a hard time dealing with you. Besides, I've already optimized Hinata's bloodline, which is part of why her abilities have improved. It's just that I can only use my ability to optimize a bloodline once every three years. I'm saving the next chance especially for you. If you think I've done anything wrong, you can tell me. You girls are the people closest to me in this world. If even you can't trust me, I'll be very sad."

Hinata also turned to Haku and said, "I'm really sorry, Sister Haku. I didn't notice how you felt. Issui-kun optimized my Byakugan, so it's much stronger than an ordinary Byakugan. But you're very strong too, Sister Haku. I had to work hard for a long time before I finally beat you once, and the Tai Chi Secret Technique helped too. You're actually much stronger than I am. And didn't Issui-kun say he's saving the next chance to optimize a bloodline especially for you? Besides, true power comes from Issui-kun and our ninja way. Everything else is just support. As long as we stay true to our beliefs and bring out the power of our feelings in battle, we can become very strong."

The power of feelings. That's right. Hinata brought out her strongest side through Issui-kun's love. Battles between ninjas are always full of ruthlessness and cruelty, but when we truly have feelings, we become much stronger than usual. It seems I didn't understand Issui-kun's love, and I haven't completely fallen in love with him myself, so I couldn't draw the power of love from our love for each other. It seems I was wrong. Issui-kun, my love isn't strong enough. Haku thought silently.

Issui looked at Hinata and nodded in satisfaction. "Hinata is right. What's powerful isn't the Tai Chi Secret Technique I taught her. It's that I entrusted my feelings to Hinata, and she expressed my feelings for her through her own strength, proving that she feels the same way about me as I do about her. Ninjas are a group of people active in a dark world, but when they fight with their hearts full of feeling, they gain the true power of a ninja. This power is extremely strong and more than enough to defeat an opponent. Anyone who has this firm belief can be called a powerful ninja."

Hinata gave an emphatic nod. We've always had this power, actually. We just hadn't noticed it before. Issui-kun was the one who discovered it. Just as I thought, my beliefs and my ninja way are the same as his.

Haku raised her head and smiled faintly. "I think I understand. To express someone else's love for you, you have to have a love that matches it. Feelings are equal in value. If only one person gives, there won't be any reward. I've been blaming others all this time, but in the end, I was the one who was wrong."

Issui nodded, then shook his head. "You were never wrong, Haku. You just took a wrong turn on this ninja way, and you lacked someone to guide you. No one can walk the whole ninja path alone. It takes all of us working together. Hinata and I are your guides, and you're a guide for both of us too. We all have to hold hands and walk this path together. There are many difficulties along the way, but as long as we're filled with love for ourselves and others, we'll have the strength to walk it to the end."

Hinata gazed at Issui with admiration. Wow, Issui-kun explained it perfectly. I'm so moved. That's exactly right, Issui-kun. I'll always support you.

Haku also placed a hand over her chest, trying hard to feel the driving force of Issui's love.

Issui looked at the perfect scene. I understood it correctly. This must be what the ninja path is like.

Fini watched Issui, Hinata, and Haku exchanging charged looks, and felt deeply uncomfortable. What about me? Where do I fit in? This is too much! You can't steal Fini's prince! "Hey, Prince, it's almost dark. Aren't we going back to eat and sleep?"

Fini's question cut off the circuit between the three of them as they exchanged high-voltage looks. The girl had interrupted and ruined a perfectly good scene. Sure enough, dragons couldn't understand human feelings. Issui had even been planning to give Hinata a wet French kiss, but now that was out of the question. Boo-hoo, Fini, I hate you so much, even though you look like that beauty Demon Mirajane.

Haku smiled and said, "Come on, let's go back. I'm going to make a whole table of delicious food today. Hinata, come help me. As for you, Fini, you and Issui-kun can just wait for the food."

Well, Haku and Hinata had formed a united front and were preparing to fight Fini to the death. Fini had been isolated.

Fini didn't care about any of that. She said smugly, "Of course. The princess and prince only need to wait for dinner. You two go cook."

Several black lines appeared over Issui's head, while Hinata and Haku turned to stone on the spot...

In the first exchange, Fini KO'd Hinata and Haku!!! The second battle had yet to begin, but the fighting between the two sides was growing fiercer, back and forth in a splendid display...

After dinner, Issui was getting ready for bed when a huge problem arrived. What problem?

Fini had been assigned a guest room.

As soon as Issui lay down, he heard someone knocking at the door. Who was still in the mood for this in the middle of the night?

Issui had no choice but to open his bedroom door. When he did, he saw Hinata holding a quilt. This girl knows how to take the initiative now! I'm so happy.

"Come in quickly, Hinata. It's cold outside. Don't catch a chill." Issui ushered Hinata into the room, then poked his head out to scout for enemies. OK, nobody had noticed. Mission accomplished.

Issui quickly locked the door, then climbed into bed. Hinata had already slipped under the covers—her own covers, though, since she had brought her quilt with her.

Rubbing his hands, Issui asked, "Um, Hinata, how about we share a quilt? It'll be warmer that way. It usually gets pretty chilly at night."

Blushing, Hinata said, "Okay, but you can't move around. If you want to move, you have to get my permission first, or I won't speak to you anymore."

Issui said happily, "Yes, Lady Hinata. Your humble servant obeys. Don't worry, I have impeccable habits and absolutely no indecent thoughts. Add the words 'impossible' to that."

Victory is in sight! I'm about to reap the fruits of victory. Yay, I'm so happy. Oh, oh...

"Bang..."

Just as Hinata and Issui were becoming one, the ill-timed noise pulled them back from their world of spiritual union.

Hinata fainted on the spot, and Issui was so frightened he nearly ended up half-paralyzed. Who is this? How can they be so inconsiderate, interrupting a young husband and wife's intimate exchange? A sudden scare like that could kill someone!

Fini couldn't sleep, so she followed her nose to Issui's room. But the door was locked from the inside, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't open it. She had no choice but to use force and push it down. Come to think of it, the door really was light. Fini had only given it a gentle push with the strength of a flying dragon, and it had broken. It wasn't sturdy at all. Good grief, is your strength anything like a human's?

Seeing that it was Fini, Issui's pounding heart finally returned to normal. He nudged the unconscious Hinata and said, "It's okay. It's just that little rascal Fini."

Hinata slowly came around. Seeing that Fini was the one causing the trouble, she rolled her eyes at Issui. Look what you've done. Why did you have to bring a female dragon home? She nearly scared me to death.

Seeing Hinata with Issui, Fini was extremely jealous. She shouted, "Prince, how could you have an affair? If you're going to have one, it should be with me!"

What? Have one with you? Issui was stunned. Good grief, Hinata is my wife. Why would I have an affair with you instead of her?

Hinata was even more confused. Can a human and a beast have an affair too? You've got to be kidding. Is something wrong with this female dragon? You might be Issui-kun's ninja beast, but that doesn't mean I can tolerate you having a human-beast romance with him.