Kamizuki's first time had been taken by Uzumaki Naruto. Ah! Sorry, I didn't make that clear. I meant Kamizuki's first mission ever—the mission to capture Uzumaki Naruto.
After completing the mission to capture Uzumaki Naruto, Genma Shiranui took the captured Naruto to the Third to report in and turn in the mission.
Taichi, Mangetsu, and Kamizuki didn't go with him. Before leaving, Genma had told them to rest where they were. It was still early, and they had a few more missions to do later.
The three of them waited for almost half an hour before Genma returned. He brought a few low-level D-rank missions with him; these were all the missions their team needed to complete that day.
Next, veteran Genma gave his three very young, fresh-faced subordinates a brief rundown of the things to watch out for on these ordinary D-rank missions. Finally, he told them the missions had to be finished by five that afternoon, and that he'd come back then to collect them.
Then veteran Genma, with his senbon—the one he could use to look cool as well as wield as a weapon—held in his mouth, turned around with a flourish and left without a trace.
Genma knew these ordinary D-rank missions posed absolutely no danger. They all took place inside the village, so he decided to be a hands-off manager.
The three kids looked at the missions left behind by their veteran leader, who'd vanished without a trace. "Seriously, what kind of missions are these...?"
The three kids said in unison.
It turned out that these D-rank missions were things like weeding Grandpa Yamamoto's garden, catching Grandma Ito's dog, walking Uncle Kurosaki's cat, and helping Aunt Ida find her keys.
Kamizuki's first day as a Genin ended in the midst of these boring D-rank missions, exhausting yet strangely satisfying.
Kamizuki returned home utterly worn out. The moment he stepped through the door, he spotted a cute little figure dashing out of the main hall, scampering along with a sort of devilish dance.
As soon as the cute little figure reached Kamizuki, she wrapped both arms around his leg.
Looking down at the little figure clinging to his leg, Kamizuki felt all his exhaustion vanish in an instant.
The little figure hugging Kamizuki's leg wasn't some kind of ghost. "Uh! That doesn't sound quite right..." She was none other than Hinata and Kamizuki's little sister, Hyuga Hanabi, who had just turned three that year.
With an indulgent smile, Kamizuki gently rubbed the little girl's head.
Hanabi lifted her cute little face, just a bit round and dumpling-like, and looked at Kamizuki as if to say, "If you don't pick me up, I'm going to cry."
Looking at her increasingly adorable little face, Kamizuki couldn't resist pinching her cheek before scooping her up.
As soon as he'd picked up the little girl, Hinata came hurrying out after her. Seeing Hanabi enjoying herself in Kamizuki's arms, rubbing against him like a little cat, Hinata seemed reassured and let out a sigh of relief.
Maybe it was because Hinata was always so gentle and timid, and got embarrassed so easily.
Ever since little Hanabi had become aware of the world around her, she'd strongly disliked her eldest sister!
She much preferred her second brother, the one people called a "prodigy," and she loved playing with him most of all.
As long as Kamizuki was home, little Hanabi loved clinging to him.
Actually, a lot of these things had been deliberately orchestrated. That's right, you guessed it: only our Kamizuki would go to such lengths.
Back in his previous life, when Kamizuki watched the anime, he hadn't liked the personality AB had given Hyuga Hanabi. So, after coming to the world of Naruto in this life and, by chance, becoming Hinata's younger brother and Hanabi's big brother, he'd started planning how to raise his little sister into a "well-rounded little cutie" as soon as she was born.
Hey! You wicked people, don't get the wrong idea. By "well-rounded little cutie," I don't mean what you're thinking: light, soft, and easy to push over.
A well-rounded little cutie meant someone who could act adorable, be affectionate, and be considerate.
And Hanabi had already started to show the makings of one. After all, she was still so little—she hadn't even reached the age to be considered a Lolita.
Kamizuki's plan would have to proceed gradually!
Back to the scene: Kamizuki carried Hanabi into the main hall, with Hinata following behind.
As soon as Kamizuki entered the main hall with Hanabi in his arms, he and Hinata were chatting and laughing about the amusing things that had happened on his first day of missions.
Then they saw Hyuga Hiashi sitting in the seat of honor in the main hall.
He sat there with a stern, unsmiling expression, watching his three children. No one knew what he was thinking.
Seeing Hiashi like that, Kamizuki and Hinata immediately stopped chatting and laughing. They walked up to him, bowed together, and said, "Father, good evening."
Seeing his children act so respectfully, Hiashi's usually stern and imposing expression softened a little. He gave the two of them a slight nod to show he'd heard them.
Only then did Kamizuki, still holding Hanabi, and Hinata stand properly and wait for Hiashi to speak.
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