Warmth

"Nini! Nini!"

Neji called out loudly, jumping into Yuzuru Hyuga's arms.

Yuzuru Hyuga quickly crouched down and hugged the little guy who seemed to have grown significantly in the blink of an eye. Just a few days ago, he was stumbling with every step, but now he could jog smoothly towards Yuzuru's legs in a suicidal charge.

He picked up Neji, and the little hands smelling of milk flailed wildly at his face. It was unclear if Neji wanted to hit him or caress him, but in the end, Yuzuru Hyuga tilted his head back helplessly, "Be good, Neji."

Neji smiled, letting out a tender, cute giggle, and managed to snatch his glasses. Yuzuru Hyuga sighed, letting him play. He looked up, and his mother was smiling as she sat at the low table.

"Welcome home, Yuzuru. Have you eaten?"

"Yes, I ate ramen with Senior Kakashi before coming back." Yuzuru Hyuga sat on the other side of the low table with Neji in his arms and asked with concern, "How have you been feeling lately?"

"Same as always. Don't worry, as long as you are both well, Mom will live to see you holding your grandchildren." She seemed to be in good spirits, perhaps because Hizashi Hyuga had been unusually 'home-loving' lately, often staying at the Branch Family compound and not going out.

Or perhaps it was because both her sons were growing up, filling her heart with strength.

Yuzuru Hyuga smiled slightly, "Then Mom will have to wait a long time. Let's have a medical ninja check on you again in a while, okay?"

"Mom is naturally frail, not sick. As long as you don't make Mom sad, Mom is very healthy!"

His mother appeased him with a hint of helplessness, feeling that this little guy seemed to misunderstand her health. She was indeed not very strong, but she wasn't terminally ill. As long as she lived a stable, happy life like she was now, she should be able to live to sixty or seventy without any problems.

Yuzuru Hyuga felt a little relieved upon hearing this, "That's good."

The reason he was worried about his mother's health was that in the original story, Neji seemed like an orphan after Hizashi's death. He never saw his mother in the anime, which made him worry if his mother had any hidden health issues.

But now, his mother seemed to be in good condition.

He couldn't do anything about her general frailty. His mother didn't have the talent to be a ninja, and the Life Return technique, the only secret art that could currently help her, was very complex and difficult to learn. Even though Yuzuru Hyuga understood all the key points of this secret art, according to his mother, she struggled to learn even the basic Chakra Refining Technique since childhood.

In short, Yuzuru Hyuga made up his mind that no matter what, he would think about how to develop a Curse Mark Technique in the future.

The purpose of the curse mark would be to strengthen the body and improve his mother's health issues.

Curse marks didn't require learning; as long as he knew how, he could apply them to his mother.

Or perhaps develop and research some other unconventional methods.

Time waits for no one.

Yuzuru Hyuga sighed slightly, feeling that there was never enough time. Even now, he still felt very insecure about the power he possessed. Not to mention facing Obito and the Akatsuki Organization lurking in the shadows, or even Madara Uchiha and the Otsutsuki clan. Even some seasoned low-level Jonin had the ability to pose a fatal threat to him.

Focusing entirely on improving his combat knowledge and strength was already pushing him to his limits.

He simply couldn't spare any mental energy for research and development.

If he could resolve the issues within the Hyuga Clan and stabilize their situation before the Uchiha's explosive outburst, then there should be a period of stability where he could safely develop and improve his abilities in various aspects.

Seeing Yuzuru Hyuga lost in thought, with a hint of fatigue visible between his brows, his mother simply smiled gently, "Neji, come to Mom."

Neji, still clutching Yuzuru's glasses, climbed onto the low table and hopped over to his mother. His mother picked up the glasses, bent down, and personally put them back on Yuzuru.

She said softly, "Mom doesn't know what you're thinking or what you're troubled about, but Mom believes in you. You can do anything."

Yuzuru Hyuga was stunned for a moment, then smiled gently, "It's just that there are too many things I want to do, and I'm still too young, so I'm a little troubled. If only I could grow five years older overnight."

"No, Mom wants to see more of your cute side. When you grow up, you'll definitely look fierce like your dad."

She said with a knowing smile. Yuzuru Hyuga turned his head and saw Hizashi Hyuga standing at the doorway.

Hizashi Hyuga's face was cold. He was clearly displeased that his son hadn't greeted him first upon returning home. With a snort, he walked in and unceremoniously kicked Yuzuru Hyuga's backside, snatching his seat.

Yuzuru Hyuga moved aside helplessly and sat on the side of the table, "Childish."

"This is my seat," Hizashi Hyuga said righteously.

"Alright, alright, Yuzuru just got home, can't you stop bullying him?" His mother, accustomed to the father and son's childish bickering, covered her mouth and chuckled.

Hizashi Hyuga quietly looked at Yuzuru Hyuga, and seeing no injuries, he finally relaxed. He picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, brought it to his lips, hesitated for a moment, then placed it in front of Yuzuru Hyuga before pouring himself another cup.

"How's life in the Anbu?"

He asked.

Yuzuru Hyuga smiled with a sense of ease, "It's good. It's just a shame that Senior Kakashi is still a strict rule-follower. It's a pity we can't just wander around when we're out on missions."

"It seems you're adapting quickly." Hizashi Hyuga could tell that his son genuinely didn't find Anbu life difficult, which finally put his mind at ease.

However, he couldn't help but caution him, "Don't let your guard down. While your strength is considerable, in the Ninja World, any Jonin from any ninja village has the power to kill you. No one in the Ninja World will fight you fair and square. One moment of carelessness, one mistake, could lead to you losing to an opponent far weaker than yourself."

"Moreover, your strength lies in close-quarters combat, but the Ninja World is filled with bizarre Bloodline Limits and complex secret arts. If someone can counter your strengths and exploit your weaknesses, don't hesitate, just run."

Hizashi Hyuga said with considerable reassurance, "You've trained your Body Flicker Technique so well, isn't that what it's for? Run when you need to, don't be burdened by fame or anything else. As long as you're alive, there's hope."

His mother couldn't stand it any longer, "Hizashi, he just got home."

Yuzuru Hyuga lazily rested his chin on his hand, tucking his legs under the low table, looking lethargic. "It's okay, Father is making a lot of sense. Don't worry, when I'm out there, being cautious is my ninja way."

"Mm." Hizashi Hyuga could tell that his son genuinely believed that.

His heart was greatly reassured.

If nothing else, he had experienced his son's Body Flicker Technique firsthand.

He didn't know how this kid trained to achieve such a bizarre state with the Body Flicker Technique. The linear acceleration, he thought, was comparable to Shisui, the genius of the Uchiha clan. Perhaps only ninjas like the Raikage, who mastered Lightning Style secret arts, could have an advantage in speed.

"When is your next mission?"

"Tomorrow, or rather, tomorrow afternoon, we'll have half a day of vacation," Yuzuru Hyuga said.

"How long will you be gone?" Hizashi Hyuga asked casually.

"I don't know, a few months? Half a year? A year?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the air in the room seemed to still slightly.

"You might not be back for my birthday too?" his mother asked, astonished.

"Yes, it's possible," Yuzuru Hyuga replied to his mother.

Yuzuru Hyuga didn't dwell too much on whether going on a long-term mission would disrupt his plans.

Stepping onto the battlefield was also the reason he joined the Anbu.

He yearned for battle, hoping to grow faster and gain free experience points more quickly through one brutal fight after another.

"I'm really looking forward to it~ the journey that begins tomorrow."

"Yuzuru! Are you even listening to your mother? This isn't a game!"

"Yes, yes."

Yuzuru Hyuga had no choice but to obediently lower his head, letting his mother repeatedly tell him not to be careless, to be safe, and that if necessary, he could even offer to be a hostage, as long as he wasn't killed outright, he would definitely be able to return.

In short, it highlighted his mother's overthinking.

But he cherished this warmth.

Hizashi Hyuga watched Yuzuru Hyuga being lectured with a calm and composed demeanor, chuckling as if thoroughly enjoying it.

The tea tasted even more fragrant.

Only when his mother finished speaking did Yuzuru Hyuga get to excuse himself. He walked out of his mother's room with Hizashi Hyuga and strolled down the long corridor.

The conversation between father and son would not be as heartwarming.