Departure

"Master, aren't we moving out of here?"

After some time had passed, Hinata suddenly noticed Uchiha Jie taking out quite a few scrolls and beginning to pack their belongings from the hot spring inn.

"You help too. Sort your things and pack them neatly. I'll seal them later," Uchiha Jie instructed without looking up.

"Oh, okay." Hearing this, Hinata turned and returned to her room.

This place had changed a lot compared to when they first arrived.

The orchids and jasmine on the windowsill had been moved, and a large tatami mat had been placed there instead. Hinata liked to sit there like her master, reading scrolls in the sunlight and meditating.

The flowers had been moved to the small courtyard, clustered together—white, pink, and yellow. Hinata wanted to take them with her, but Uchiha Jie told her that sealing scrolls couldn't hold living things.

She had finished all the books on the small table. Her master had always explained them to her, and she learned quickly. Besides, these introductory textbooks specifically for young ninja were indeed very simple.

Most importantly, she didn't have to memorize that heavy book, the Will of Fire, anymore.

Now, her flower arrangement works were displayed on the small desk. The flowers, which would normally have rotted away, seemed to have been preserved by her master's Ninjutsu, still blooming and emitting fragrance.

She took the bouquet she liked the most with her, leaving the rest behind. She thought the next guest would surely like them.

Most of the bedding was provided by the inn, but some items belonged to her. The large white bear plushie lay quietly in the corner of the wardrobe, and the koi fish pillow had been replaced by a large pink rabbit.

There were also other clothes in the wardrobe. She had put away all the old clothes belonging to Sister Yue that Uchiha Jie had brought with him initially.

Those clothes were almost all in vibrant colors, and she felt a little shy wearing them out.

Her current clothes were purchased later—pale purple, pale pink, with a few other colors, mostly light and leaning more towards white.

But the styles were much more varied than before, ranging from elaborate long dresses to simple shirts, though she no longer had the thick coats and pants that could wrap her up completely.

Some were bought by her master when he took her to the shopping street, and some she bought herself.

But more of them were the outfits worn by ninja during combat.

There were inner linings for chainmail of different weights and thicknesses. One of them had quite a few scratches on it, left from her first battle. Her master had lectured her about it for a long time, and she had learned her lesson.

There were also neatly arranged open-toed boots, leg wraps, and bandages for her forearms piled nearby. On the shelf were loose white and black tops, and tight-fitting long pants with many buckles, to which different items could be attached depending on the mission.

She decided to wear one set and pack the rest. She chose the lightest outfit to wear, and according to her master, they should be heading towards the sea.

The room also contained various decorations, some placed by Uchiha Jie initially, and others she had bought herself because she found them attractive and put them in various places.

During her time with her master, she had also earned quite a bit of pocket money. Each time her master assigned her a mission to train her combat skills, he would give her a good portion of the spoils.

In a small cabinet next to the desk, there were many gold and silver ornaments, from earrings and hairpins to anklets and foot rings, with all sorts of glittering treasures from top to bottom.

She had initially wanted to sell them, but her master told her:

"Every girl should have several sets of accessories. If you don't keep them now, you might not be able to buy the same style later when you want them."

"This is Sister Yue's lesson. She sold a pearl necklace back then, a rare item. I heard some nobleman bought it for a hefty price. Now, no matter how hard she looks, she can't find pearls that big anymore."

However, Hinata only wore a pair of emerald green jade earrings at most, and applied a little nail polish, not doing any further adornment.

She looked at the other items in the cabinet—her ninja tools. Although not as expensive as jewelry, these items were also quite pricey. She was very frugal; after every battle, she would clean up the battlefield and pick up her kunai and shuriken.

Her master praised her actions, but only because cleaning the battlefield could conceal information about their presence.

The cabinet also contained some Ninjutsu scrolls, mostly for the taijutsu and swordsmanship Uchiha Jie had taught her, and a small number of practical Ninjutsu. Only one scroll was tattered and stood out conspicuously; it was her spoils of war.

In the last mission, among the ferocious bandits, there was a Rogue Ninja from Takigakure. Fortunately, he was a Genin, and even within Konohagakure, his combat ability wouldn't be considered that of a Genin.

However, this Rogue Ninja had learned a Lightning Style Ninjutsu from this scroll. With a surprise attack, he had put her in a very difficult situation, but in the end, she had won by luck and obtained this spoil.

It was just that she hadn't learned it yet.

As she was reminiscing about that battle, Uchiha Jie's voice came from outside the door: "Hurry, hurry! Check-out is before noon!"

She quickly took out the storage sealing scroll from the bottom drawer of the cabinet and packed everything in the room, which was filled with memories, into categories.

Yes, she suddenly felt that the events that had happened during this period were more numerous than those from her birth until she left Konohagakure.

More importantly, it was more fulfilling and happier.

Perhaps it was because her father was no longer constantly watching her, and there were no longer the hushed criticisms from others behind her back. Perhaps it was also because she had left the familiar Konohagakure and environment.

Or maybe it was because she had found her goal?

But regardless, they were about to depart. Her master's destination seemed to be the sea, and she didn't seem to have seen the sea yet.

"So, so expensive!" Hinata followed Uchiha Jie, watching him pay at the inn's front desk. They had stayed here for a long time, and the accumulated sum was staggering.

Comparing it to her earnings from missions during this period, she estimated she could only afford it if she sold all the jewelry.

And from what she understood, ninja bound by a village couldn't keep all these ornaments. The village not only took a cut from mission commissions but also took a portion of the spoils obtained by the ninja.

But Uchiha Jie paid without batting an eye. After leaving, they boarded a luxurious carriage. Hinata asked softly in the carriage, "Master, how do you have so much money?"

"A little money, a little money. It's not as much as raising you," Uchiha Jie replied with a playful smile.

Hinata's mouth fell open, her small face turning red. Had she eaten that much during this period?