The Confused Tetsu

"Dong~"

The door closed softly.

His fiancée's joyful figure disappeared within the cramped apartment.

Hyuga Yu sat silently before the low, round table. The pale incandescent light reflected off the three scrolls before him, his elongated shadow pressing down on his shoulders like a massive counterweight.

But, Hyuga Yu showed no sign of dejection.

When he came to his senses, as if by some compulsion, he glanced at the mirror beside him and found himself smiling.

The smile was both moist and perverted, startling Hyuga Yu himself.

He instinctively thought he absolutely couldn't let this dreadful, "sneaky" perversion infect his mind, but after a moment's thought, he felt he was being a bit too sensitive.

He spread his arms and lay back on the tatami, the tension in his heart finally easing slightly.

Hyuga Yu wasn't some savior, nor did he bear the heavy responsibility of saving the world.

He simply thought that since he had a second chance at life, he should strive to live well in this world, to live like a "proper person."

Then, as a person, making a couple of friends shouldn't be an unforgivable sin, right?

Thinking this cautiously, Hyuga Yu sat up, reached out, and untied the cords of the three scrolls on the table one by one. He unrolled them, formed the hand seals for Summoning Jutsu with both hands, and pressed them down.

"Bang~"

Amidst swirling smoke, a pile of supplies appeared on the low table.

Leading the pack was a set of ninja tools forged from a hundred layers of steel, including three kunai, thirty-two shuriken, a coil of steel wire, four smoke bombs, and a stack of explosive tags.

This was the standard equipment a ninja should possess.

In addition to the ninja tools, there was also a finely crafted ninja sword about 1.2 meters long, a set of ninja combat attire, and a package containing military rations pills sufficient for about half a month's survival.

Looking at the pile of items, Hyuga Yu's eyes lit up. He picked out the combat attire and held it up.

Ninja clothing was quite particular. Carrying a large amount of ninja tools to support combat consumption wouldn't be possible with just one or two tool pouches, and adding more would affect a ninja's balance and mobility.

The ugly green Chunin vest and inner lining worn by most Chunin and above in Konohagakure were actually the most expensive items of a typical ninja's equipment.

And the one in Hyuga Yu's hand was undoubtedly a higher-grade, specially made combat suit.

Its overall appearance resembled a black, stand-collar, one-piece undershirt.

The collar could be pulled up to cover the nose and mouth. A tool pouch was attached at the waist, and each leg had a gaiter, which could hold a shuriken holster and a scroll storage pouch, respectively. The inside of the combat suit was a finely woven chainmail that could effectively defend against sword and axe blows. Combined with the standard Chunin gloves, leg straps, and a headband with a forehead protector...

Considering its appearance, functionality, and powerful protective effects far exceeding the Chunin vest, the cost of this combat suit was likely no less than seven hundred thousand Ryo.

Having experienced two years of war, Hyuga Yu naturally understood the role such equipment played in ninja combat and had long wanted a similar ninja tool.

However, He was a Genin and didn't qualify for the Chunin vest issued by the village.

At the same time, the exorbitant price of this custom protective gear made the penniless Hyuga Yu hesitate.

He hadn't expected Hyuga Natsu to give him such a precious gift.

Thinking of this, Hyuga Yu's heart began to feel uneasy.

Hyuga Natsu wasn't from a wealthy family. Like him, she was an orphan of war. She even lacked his original family background, which allowed him to interact with elders of the Hyuga Main Family.

So, where did this combat suit come from? Hyuga Yu immediately had an idea.

Hyuga Natsu, who had become a Chunin and was employed by the Main Family, had a monthly salary of three hundred thousand Ryo. As far as he knew, she had only been working there for less than three months...

Now, Her entire salary was here.

Hyuga Yu couldn't help but take a deep breath, his knuckles gripping the combat suit turning slightly pale.

In the end, He said nothing, nor did he take the scrolls and chase after her to refuse her kindness. He simply silently changed into the equipment Hyuga Natsu had brought.

Then, He heavily closed his white eyes, which had become even sharper.

Sitting quietly on the tatami, he waited for time to tick by, and more importantly, for the moment that was like a verdict on his fate--

Rejected from joining the Main Family's guard, Hyuga Yu could not shake the Hyuga Main Family's decision and could only wait for the transfer order in a few days.

But by then, it would be too late.

Hyuga Yu had no interest in the life or death of that young master of the Hyuga Main Family. However, he absolutely had to ensure that the people he cared about could survive safely in the upcoming incident!

And if he wanted to override this decision and secretly protect Hyuga Natsu by leaving the village tomorrow, Then he would need a transfer order issued from a higher level of Konoha!

And at this moment, Hyuga Yu only felt the light source he perceived when he closed his eyelids flicker a few times, Immediately after, "Snap!"

With that sound, the apartment plunged into darkness.

In the silent darkness, a low voice, difficult to discern its distance, suddenly sounded indifferently beside Hyuga Yu's ear, "So--"

"This is why you actively sought us out?"

"Lion... Lord?"

Outside the apartment, The sun was setting, and night was falling.

Hyuga Tetsu, who had personally witnessed Hyuga Yu enter the apartment under the serene and sweet gaze of Hyuga Natsu, felt quite dejected.

This wasn't heartbreak, nor was it jealousy.

It was just that for a moment, he couldn't understand why he was standing there, like a kite with a broken string, his thoughts drifting further and further away.

He was pacing in the middle of Konoha Famous Tea Street, not far from the apartment building.

The lights of the shops on the street flickered on, reflecting on his stern face.

Groups of people passed by, carrying laughter, silence, dejection, and clear directions for their own lives, pursuing fleeting pleasures without any confusion.

In such an environment, Hyuga Tetsu felt a sudden thirst. He wanted a drink, but bound by the three ninja prohibitions, and not yet an adult, he could only go into a shop and get a cup of milk.

He squatted by the roadside, drinking the milk intermittently, His gaze, however, involuntarily drifted towards the brightly lit apartment building.

Yes, Between Hyuga Tetsu and Hyuga Yu, there wasn't a clear relationship like [friend], [brother], or [best friend] in the traditional sense.

Their conversations never even reached ten sentences.

According to sociological definitions, They were more like [familiar strangers].

But after hearing that Hyuga Yu had rejected the Main Family elder's appointment that afternoon, Hyuga Tetsu had immediately dropped everything and rushed here, wishing he could dunk Hyuga Yu's head into a water tank to make him sober up!

Was it for Hyuga Natsu?

It didn't seem like it. He did like Natsu; who wouldn't like a beautiful girl like Natsu? But Natsu liked Hyuga Yu more. Rather than snatching Natsu away, he preferred to silently wish her happiness.

Then, it couldn't possibly be for that self-righteous idiot, Hyuga Yu, could it?

Thinking this, Hyuga Tetsu startled himself, jumping up abruptly, spilling milk all over the ground.