Hinata: In his arms, I feel so happy. Hiashi: My Byakugan is about to turn into Sharingan!!

Hearing this, Hinata Hyuga's tightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed, and her tone turned teasing: "So the only problem now is that Konoha might ramp up the bounty on Orochimaru before long."

Roman nodded with a smile: "I doubt Orochimaru will mind, nor will he die... after all, his immortality and escape techniques are maxed out. Aside from his weakness to genjutsu, he has no other vulnerabilities."

Hinata Hyuga couldn't help but laugh at that, then thought of something and spoke with a serious expression: "By the way, if they stubbornly try to use the Ninja Art: Mind Reading Technique to pry into your memories..."

"Then I'll formally declare, as the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Main Family, that I've got your back and will take you into the Hyuga Clan as a son-in-law."

"Once you're officially a member of the Hyuga Clan, they won't be able to use the Ninja Art: Mind Reading Technique on you!"

"The Hyuga Clan still has that much face."

"If you really do that in front of a crowd of ninja, Old Man Hiashi will probably blow his top."

Hinata Hyuga stared straight into Roman's eyes, laying out every thought in her heart: "You and I share the same soul, and together we can use Soul Resonance to rapidly boost our strength!"

"I can't do without you anymore—I'm already your shape."

"So don't worry about my father."

Through Hinata's eyes and the emotional resonance of their souls, Roman grasped her true feelings and burst into laughter: "Then when push comes to shove, I'll just cling to your thigh, Lady Hinata."

"And become your child husband."

Hinata Hyuga nodded her little head seriously and said:

"Mm, you can actually start clinging now."

"Alright."

With his Byakugan active, Roman noticed the chakra clusters rapidly approaching from a distance, then scooped up Hinata's soft little legs, lifting her entire plush body into his arms.

Swoosh, swoosh...

A gust of wind swept by.

The Third Hokage, clad in battle armor, led a group of Konoha jonin to the heart of the Forest of Death, taking in the now-ruined landscape and Roman, who stood trembling slightly on shaky legs, clutching Hinata with a look of fear.

The attacker was gone.

Just as Hyuga Clan head Hiashi had said—they must have escaped via Reverse Summoning Jutsu or some Space-Time Ninjutsu, the Third Hokage thought, his gaze settling on Hinata Hyuga's eyes. Seeing the Byakugan still intact, he breathed a long inward sigh of relief:

At least the Byakugan of the Hyuga Main Family's Hinata Hyuga is still here, not stolen by that unknown ninja.

That way, other villages won't think Konoha's war potential is exhausted and we're all bark—they'll believe we're still at our peak!

And that civilian Roman did well, holding Hinata close to soothe her fear. A proper Konoha villager.

Too bad he has no chakra talent and can't become a ninja... otherwise, he'd be a perfect fit for the Ninja Academy, a ninja who'd give himself to Konoha!

The Third Hokage's thoughts trailed off, a flicker of regret passing through his eyes as he looked at Roman.

Behind the Third Hokage, Danzo scanned the scene with his lone eye. Seeing no trace of Orochimaru or his master Tobirama Senju in Impure World Reincarnation form, he finally let out a heavy sigh of relief:

Good—Orochimaru still knows his limits.

He understands that researching the forbidden Impure World Reincarnation can't be exposed.

Otherwise, it'd be a real mess.

Unlike Danzo's finally relaxed state, Hyuga Hiashi felt joy at first that his daughter was alive and hadn't even lost her Byakugan, a smile creeping onto his lips.

But the next instant, he noticed Hinata in Roman's arms and a flicker of surprise hit him:

Roman's alive?

But my Byakugan only saw two people—two chakra signatures!

Right—the Byakugan's long-range perception can only see chakra... it only saw that mysterious water-style ninja and Hinata's chakra.

Roman's just an ordinary man, naturally invisible to my Byakugan.

Just as Hyuga Hiashi reached this conclusion, his keen Byakugan caught that Hinata, held in Roman's arms, had not only a layer of moisture in her eyes but also wet marks on her face—clearly not tears.

And more crucially, Roman's face bore the same wet marks. All of this sparked a suspicion in Hyuga Hiashi:

When Hinata was discovered by that powerful water-style ninja and about to have her Byakugan taken... that powerless pretty-boy blond Roman probably shot his mouth off, claiming he'd protect her.

That led his love-struck daughter Hinata Hyuga to offer a kiss... and that blond pretty-boy even gave one back.

At that thought, the rage in Hyuga Hiashi's heart shot up, instantly maxing out.

His fists clenched tight, the veins on his forehead bulging and pulsing more visibly.

A furious roar erupted in his mind:

Damn it, how old is Hinata!

You animal, you already made a move.

Why didn't that outsider water-style ninja take you out?!

Driven by sheer fury, Hyuga Hiashi's face shifted like a Sichuan opera mask.

From the blooming smile of joy at seeing Hinata safe, it twisted into a dark, stormy scowl as he barked at Roman: "What are you doing so close to my daughter? Put her down now!"

"A really strong guy showed up just now, trying to hurt Hinata, even take her eyes... She was terrified and curled into my arms. I was calming her down, Uncle Hiashi."

Hyuga Hiashi's face darkened as he barked, "Who's your uncle?"

Hiashi hadn't forgotten—the first time he'd laid eyes on this brat, the kid had called him "father"... No doubt about it, even back then, this little punk had designs on his daughter.

Hinata Hyuga stepped forward, defending him: "Father, don't be mean to Brother Roman~"

"He was protecting me, and I was the one who leaned into his arms, who asked him to hold me!"

"Besides, he really did save me from that powerful ninja!"

"Right now, in his arms, I feel a strange sense of peace and happiness!!"

Hiashi's face turned even darker at that:

My daughter Hinata, do you even hear what you're saying?

That blond Roman protected you?

That blond Roman can't even condense Chakra, can't even become a ninja—how could he protect you?!

With his mouth, with his hands?

His mouth is only good for kissing.

His hands are only good for groping you!!

My daughter, my daughter, you've been fooled by his sweet talk!

Fooled completely!!

Tuesday—begging for follows, begging for monthly tickets!!