Hyuga Neji's Three-Person Squad

Uzumaki Naruto stared blankly at the petite figure standing in front of him after hearing those words...

"Hinata... you..."

Yet, the usually timid Hyuga Hinata spoke with unprecedented resolve at this very moment.

"Naruto... you might have forgotten, but that day, you protected me! So... today, let me protect you!!!"

Uzumaki Naruto froze upon hearing this, as memories from many years ago surfaced—it was a night of wind and snow...

That little girl had been getting bullied, and he had stepped forward to help, only to end up getting a brutal beating himself.

So that little girl was... Hinata!!!

The few drunks surrounding Naruto and Hinata burst into raucous laughter!

"Hahahaha... did you hear that just now?! This Byakugan freak actually said she'd rather get beaten than leave this demon fox brat's side?!"

"It's hilarious! Byakugan freak and demon fox brat, what a match made in heaven!!!"

"Since they want a beating so badly!! Let's satisfy them!!! They're just two monsters anyway!!!"

"That's right, and look, this Byakugan freak has a ten-thousand-ryo banknote in her hand! She must have stolen it from somewhere! We might as well reluctantly keep it safe for her!!! Hahahahahaha..."

As the drunks spoke, they began shoving Hyuga Hinata, who was blocking the path in front of Uzumaki Naruto!

Seeing this, Uzumaki Naruto scrambled to his feet!

"Damn it!!! You bastards!!! Stop that right now!!!"

Just then, a group of three arrived outside the barbecue restaurant.

One wore the attire of the Hyuga Clan, one had a bowl cut and wore a green spandex suit, and the third was a pretty girl with her hair in buns.

These three were Hyuga Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten, who had just finished a mission and were planning to grab some barbecue!

The three had graduated from the Ninja Academy last year and become genin, assigned to the same squad under the leadership of Konoha jonin Might Guy.

Tenten looked curiously into the noisy restaurant.

"Neji, Rock Lee... look, what's happening in there? Why is it so loud?!"

"Let me see, let me see!!!"

Rock Lee hopped around, curious to see what was going on inside.

Hyuga Neji, however, remained expressionless...

"It's too noisy here, we should go to another place."

Just then, Rock Lee let out a loud exclamation...

"Eh?!!!! Isn't that your cousin Hinata, Neji!!! And that Uzumaki Naruto who's a grade below us!!!"

Hyuga Neji frowned upon hearing Rock Lee's words.

Why would his cousin be here?!

And that Uzumaki Naruto?!

Hyuga Neji was no stranger to Uzumaki Naruto; in fact, he was quite familiar with him...

Because of Ito Hirofumi, he had grown accustomed to Uzumaki Naruto. Although the guy seemed like a total idiot, he wasn't the "demon fox brat" everyone claimed him to be!

That's right—after Ito Hirofumi arrived in this world and before he bound his system, he had already begun befriending Hyuga Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten back at the Ninja Academy.

While they weren't as close as Uzumaki Naruto, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Choji, they were certainly friends...

Hyuga Neji hadn't wanted to pay Ito Hirofumi any mind at first, but they gradually grew familiar, even having a few simple dinners with the squad Ito Hirofumi belonged to.

Without a second thought, Hyuga Neji pushed through the crowd and walked inside...

The next moment, veins bulged around Hyuga Neji's Byakugan!

His cousin Hyuga Hinata was actually being bullied here?!

She was being called a Byakugan freak!!!

Heh...

These guys had gone too far!!!

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!!!!

Hyuga Neji instantly sent the few drunks flying with a series of strikes...

"Brother..."

Hinata finally let out a sigh of relief upon seeing her brother.

"Are you alright, and... Uzumaki Naruto?" Hyuga Neji looked at Hyuga Hinata and Uzumaki Naruto with a cold face.

"I'm fine... brother..."

Hinata reverted to her timid self the moment she faced her brother.

Uzumaki Naruto, meanwhile, looked at the three people in front of him with immense surprise.

"Neji! Rock Lee! Tenten!!! Why are you all here?!"

Seeing Uzumaki Naruto looking rather disheveled and covered in a mess of muddy footprints, Rock Lee stepped forward to help him up.

"We just finished a mission and were planning to grab some barbecue here, but we never expected to stumble upon something like this!"

"Those guys are just going too far!!!" Tenten said, her brows furrowed in anger.

Meanwhile, the few drunks who had just been sent flying by Hyuga Neji struggled to their feet on the street...

"Damn it!!! How dare you hit me?! Another Byakugan freak, is it?!!"

"Oh! This time there's a green-skinned freak too!!! Look at that ridiculous bowl cut?! It's hilarious!!!"

"Hmm... that girl with the buns actually looks pretty decent!!!"

"..."

Hearing the shouting outside, Hyuga Neji, Rock Lee, Tenten, as well as Uzumaki Naruto and Hinata all walked out.

The rest of the group, who had been shopping elsewhere, also noticed the commotion and gathered around...

Upon seeing the disheveled state of Uzumaki Naruto, everyone immediately guessed what had just happened.

One by one, they glared at the drunks with icy, murderous eyes...

Uchiha Sasuke, in particular, upon seeing the messy footprints on Uzumaki Naruto, reached toward his lower back and drew a kunai in a flash!

Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Kiba also subtly shifted their positions, forming a perimeter that surrounded the drunks.

"Hey!!! What do you brats think you're doing?! What's with those looks?! Are you trying to pick a fight with me?!!"

"Tch!!! Don't you know who I am?! What are you brats posturing for??"

"I can tell you're all friends with that demon fox brat and the Byakugan freak! Piss me off and I'll take care of you all together!!!"

Each mention of "Byakugan freak" and "demon fox brat" made the eyes of the group grow even colder!

Hyuga Neji began gathering chakra in his hands, ready to strike, and instantly assumed his Gentle Fist stance!

But the next moment, a hand reached out and gripped Hyuga Neji's arm...