Watching Hanabi gaze at him with her big, sparkling eyes, Naruto smiled, crouched down, and hooked his pinky around hers.
Just as he was about to let go, Hanabi said in a crisp voice, "Brother Naruto, we haven't sealed it yet, have we?"
"Oh, right... I forgot for a moment. Sorry, that was my mistake..." As he spoke, Naruto moved his thumb and gently pressed it against Hanabi's thumb, sealing the promise.
"Go on, go get your sister..." Naruto said, lightly tapping Hanabi's nose.
"Mm." With the promise sealed, Hanabi was finally at ease. She skipped back into the house to find her sister, Hinata.
Naruto waited in the open space outside the gate.
Before long, Hinata came slowly over, holding her younger sister Hanabi's hand as she stepped over the threshold. When she reached Naruto, she happily called out in her heart, "Naruto-kun."
Naruto looked up at Hinata. She was over five feet tall, dressed in a sakura-patterned kimono with her hair styled in a princess cut. She wore light makeup, and her cheeks carried the rosy flush of a young girl. At nine years old, Hinata was already beginning to develop feminine curves.
"Naruto-kun, what are you looking at?" Seeing Naruto gaze at her appreciatively, Hinata immediately blushed and asked with her head lowered.
"Nothing..." Naruto also felt a little embarrassed for staring at a girl like that.
"Brother Naruto, I brought my sister out for you. I want to fly..." Hanabi let go of her sister's hand, hugged Naruto's leg, and cried out.
"Alright, alright." Naruto smiled and lifted Hanabi over his head. Hanabi spread her arms and kept shouting things like, "I'm flying, I'm flying..."
The scene was filled with joy!
Watching the two play, Hinata smiled as well.
On the second floor of a pavilion