In the evening, after dinner.
Neji took off his goggles, put them in a drawer, and looked at Samui.
"Big Sis, let's go fishing tomorrow."
"Fishing?"
Samui asked in surprise, "You're a training maniac. What made you want to go fishing all of a sudden?"
"I can't train all the time. It's best to balance work and rest."
Neji offered another reason. "Besides, in a little while, Captain Yugito and I might leave the village on a mission. We could be gone for months. I'd miss you, Big Sis."
"Okay."
Hearing that, Samui remembered the days when Neji wasn't home and she had to live by herself. She nodded firmly.
"I was the one who suggested fishing, so I'll make the arrangements tomorrow, okay?"
Neji said excitedly.
"That works."
Samui agreed casually, without giving it much thought.
They went back to their rooms to rest. The night passed peacefully.
The next day, Samui was about to head out in a black jacket when Neji stopped her.
"I told you, you have to let me make the arrangements."
"Big Sis, I had this specially made for you in Kusagakure."
Neji took a white qipao out of the Sealing Scroll.
Samui glanced at the qipao, then at Neji, who was looking at her expectantly.
She wasn't especially fond of qipaos.
But this one was a gift from the little brat.
If she turned it down, he'd be disappointed.
Samui picked up the qipao and looked at Neji's excited face. With a scowl, she knocked him on the head.
"What are you standing there for? Do you want to watch me get changed?"
"..."
Neji immediately ran outside.
A moment later, Samui stepped out of the house. Neji looked up and his eyes lit up at once.
A slender waist and a generous bust.
The qipao showcased Samui's perfect figure to the fullest.
Her hairstyle could use some work, though. It made her face look less flattering.
"Big Sis, let's change your hairstyle."
Neji led Samui to the vanity.
"You know how to do that?"
Seeing Neji act as if he knew exactly what he was doing, Samui asked curiously.
"Doing Big Sis's hair is a really enjoyable thing, so I took some time to teach myself a few tricks."
Neji smiled and spoke with a straight face, making things up as he went.
Samui was in a good mood.
Never mind his hairstyling skills; she was already quite pleased by the thought behind it.
Neji gathered Samui's short hair, pulled it up, and tied it into a bun.
Then he took out a makeup case and gestured for Samui to tilt her head back.
Neji studied her cool, delicate face up close, gently applying makeup.
After a while, Neji let out a satisfied breath.
A faint blush had risen on Samui's cool cheeks. Her alluring lips glistened, and the stunning curves accentuated by the white qipao gave her an air that was both aloof and seductive.
"One last step: put on these black stockings."
"Black stockings?"
Samui furrowed her brow.
Black stockings were a major taboo for female ninja.
For one thing, they made it harder to move.
For another, they boosted the enemy's fighting spirit during a battle.
"Neji, just this once."
"Okay, just this once."
Neji was overjoyed. He crouched down and helped Samui put on the thigh-high stockings.
Her long, fair legs held Neji's gaze. He couldn't bear to look away.
"Neji."
Samui's lovely face showed a hint of embarrassed anger as she smacked him hard on the head.
"Are you a leg man?"
Neji coughed twice. "I'm not into legs. You're just beautiful, Big Sis."
Samui looked down at Neji with disdain.
Since when did the little brat learn to talk so smoothly?
He never used to be like this.
Yugito must have corrupted him.
Samui reached out and pulled Neji to his feet. In a gentle voice, she said, "All right, let's go."
She walked to the entryway and bent over to change her shoes.
The qipao made changing shoes awkward.
Neji had wanted to help.
But Samui had just scolded him, and he'd missed his chance.
After Samui finished putting on her right shoe, she noticed Neji's gaze and narrowed her eyes slightly.
She lifted her left foot, and the stocking-clad heel pressed against Neji's chest, pinning him to the wall.
"Kid, what are you looking at?"
Neji sucked in a sharp breath, barely able to take it.
Big Sis, that pose is too dangerous!
"Hey, what are you two... doing?"
Mabui had just entered the yard when she saw the bizarre scene.
"Hmph. I'll let you off this time."
Samui muttered, then put on her shoe and said loudly, "Mabui, Neji and I are going fishing. We won't be back all day."
If an ordinary girl had been caught in such a situation, she'd probably have died of embarrassment on the spot.
But Samui remained perfectly composed, as if nothing had happened.
That made Mabui think she'd imagined things.
"Can I come with you?"
"No." "No."
"..."
Mabui's face stiffened slightly. She gave an awkward laugh. "Well, have fun, then."
The two left and headed for the nearest reservoir.
Halfway there, several figures dashed out of the woods and blocked the road.
There were six women in all, with dark skin and sturdy builds. They were obviously from the Yozuki clan.
The tall woman in the middle stared coldly at Neji. "Samui, this brat is Hyuga Neji, right?"
Samui stepped in front of Neji. "Yozuki Rei, what do you want?"
"Then it is him."
Yozuki Rei folded her arms across her chest and said, "Samui, I came to challenge him today. This brat is arrogant and has trampled on the Yozuki clan's pride. I have to teach him a lesson."
Samui glanced at the ill-tempered women beside her and narrowed her eyes. "I doubt you're here just for a friendly spar."
Yozuki Rei snorted. "If the brat wins, I'll turn around and leave, and I promise I'll never bother him again. But if he loses..."
Yozuki Rei paused, then broke into a vicious grin. "We'll hang the brat up and leave him hungry all night."
Samui knitted her brows.
They're actually going to starve the little brat. How cruel.
"Yozuki Rei, if Lord Raikage finds out you're doing this in secret, he'll punish you."
Yozuki Rei shrugged indifferently. "The Yozuki clan cannot be insulted. Even if I get punished, I'm still going to teach the brat a harsh lesson."
"You..."
"Big Sis, let me handle this."
Neji stepped out from behind Samui and cut in.
Samui took Neji's hand and spoke quietly. "This woman is one of the Yozuki clan's few elite fighters. She was promoted to jonin last year, so she won't be easy to deal with. Can you handle her?"
"Don't worry."
Neji nodded, reassuring her.
"Kid, you've got guts."
Before coming, Yozuki Rei had guessed Neji would probably use the Fourth Raikage's favor to avoid fighting.
She had already made up her mind to accept whatever punishment the Fourth Raikage gave her.
She hadn't expected Neji to accept her challenge.
Yozuki Rei said, "There isn't enough room to fight here. Let's go to the training ground."
But Neji shook his head and said seriously, "Why go to the training ground? It's too much trouble. I'm in a hurry, so let's spar right here."
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