Happy Birthday

The Hyuga Clan was decked out in festive decorations, the air filled with the sound of celebratory fireworks.

Hyuga Hiashi stood at the entrance, greeting guests as they arrived. His eyes caught sight of Naruto and Hinata, and he walked over, reaching out to stop Naruto. "The Fourth Hokage hasn't arrived yet, and you've come alone?"

Naruto stopped in his tracks. "Uncle Hiashi, I didn't come through the main gate, so I won't be causing any trouble for everyone. Besides, you know what I'm like—I've never been one for all those rigid formalities. That's why I planned to enter through the side gate with Hinata."

Fearing her father's reprimand, Hinata hid behind Naruto and whispered, "Father, Hinata and Naruto will head inside right away."

Hyuga Hiashi didn't particularly care for Hinata's timid nature, but since it was Hyuga Hanabi's birthday, he decided not to lose his temper. "Fine, go on in. But Naruto, don't you go stirring up any trouble."

Seeing Hyuga Hiashi let go, Naruto immediately pulled Hinata toward the side gate, silently cursing the stifling rules of these prestigious clans.

Free from Hyuga Hiashi's constraints, the two chatted and laughed as they made their way to Hyuga Hanabi's room.

The young girl's room was filled with the fragrance of flowers.

Hyuga Hanabi was dressed in a purple birthday gown, her bangs swept to one side, her lips as red as cherries.

"Little Hanabi, happy birthday." Naruto beamed, holding up a stuffed doll in front of her and giving it a slight shake.

Hyuga Hanabi pouted, clearly unimpressed with the doll Naruto had bought. "Brother Naruto, you promised to teach me the Eight Inner Gates, didn't you?"

Naruto said softly, "As long as you can persevere, I promise."

"Thank you, Brother Naruto. This is the best gift I've received." Hyuga Hanabi looked at Hinata. "Sister, what about your gift?"

Hinata took out a pair of gloves she had knitted herself. "Happy birthday, little sister."

The gloves were a pale yellow with Hyuga Hanabi's name embroidered on them, and they felt exceptionally soft to the touch.

Hyuga Hanabi accepted them happily.

As the birthday party was about to begin, the guest of honor, Hyuga Hanabi, parted ways with Naruto and Hinata; she had to emerge with Hyuga Hiashi to greet the guests.

Naruto felt a bit hungry and told Hinata he was heading to the snack area to grab a bite, adding that if she needed anything, she could reach him via the Red Thread of Fate.

"Naruto, over here!" Lee jumped up and down, calling out to him.

Naruto walked over with a smile. "Lee, want to have a contest to see who can eat faster? You take that table, and I'll take this one."

Lee's eyes lit up with excitement. "Naruto always finds the perfect way to train. I'm ready."

"3, 2, 1! Start."

Naruto and Lee moved with such speed that they were a blur; ten seconds later, every snack on the tables had vanished into their stomachs.

"Just a hair's breadth behind," Lee said, sounding frustrated.

Naruto patted his stomach. "Not bad at all. Lee, I opened the Sixth Gate a few days ago. How is your progress?"

Lee worked even harder than Naruto, and just as Might Guy had predicted, thanks to Naruto's refinements, Lee's mastery of the Eight Inner Gates was now on par with Naruto's, though he lacked Naruto's stamina.

After all, Naruto's chakra was evolving toward a massive scale, a natural gap that was truly impossible to bridge.

"Naruto, please teach me the pulse flow for opening the Sixth Gate. I want to surpass Master Guy," Lee said, full of ambition.

The final two gates followed a single path; once the body's limits were broken, they could be opened directly.

With the Eight Inner Gates no longer causing massive damage and their power doubled, in terms of taijutsu, they were already standing on a platform that surpassed the Kage level.

Naruto bumped fists with Lee. "The chakra flow path is like this. I feel like your body hasn't reached the limit required to open the Sixth Gate yet. Don't force it, or you'll end up damaging your body!"

"Whoever runs into Master Guy first will be the one to teach him!" Naruto added.

Lee nodded.

Neji walked over holding a glass of fruit juice. Since Sasuke had left, Neji had become the school's heartthrob, and the constant stream of letters from girls every day had become such a nuisance that he had to avoid school and train alone with Lee more often.

"Why are you two here?" Neji asked. "We're all heading to the front to scatter flower petals for everyone."

Lee asked, "Can I use Leaf Whirlwind to scatter the petals?"

Naruto asked, "Who made these arrangements? It's too stupid."

"Lord Hiashi." Neji really wished he could have let Hyuga Hiashi hear Naruto's assessment in person.

The three of them walked toward the front and bumped into a strange ninja from Kumogakure.

Naruto took an extra look. "Neji, have you seen him before?"

Neji thought for a moment and said, "He's probably a ninja sent from Kumogakure to exchange with us. There are clansmen specifically assigned to watch him, so don't worry."

Lee let out a huff. "Could Kumogakure still have designs on the Hyuga Clan? Naruto, the moment for us to show our stuff has arrived."

Naruto just kept a closer eye on him. "He's a sensitive figure. As long as he doesn't do anything out of line, there's nothing we can do about him. Let's just focus on making sure the birthday party goes well."

The party proceeded smoothly. Under everyone's well-wishes, the adorable Hyuga Hanabi even performed a dance, and the sound of laughter never ceased.

Lee danced along in the background to the music using Leaf Whirlwind, his movements so fast they stirred up the ribbons on the ground.

The party remained lively until the moon hung high in the sky.

"Hinata, we're heading back now." Naruto and Lee waved goodbye together.

Hyuga Hanabi stood beside Hinata, cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone. "Brother Naruto, remember to teach me tomorrow!"

"I remember!"

In the forest outside Konoha.

The moonlight was bright and clear.

Uchiha Sasuke's expression was as cold as ice, his right hand resting on the hilt of the Kusanagi Sword at his waist: "Mizuki, have you managed to scout out the task Orochimaru entrusted to you?"

Mizuki knelt on one knee, his white hair obscuring his eyes, which were filled with jealousy.

Just because you defected to Lord Orochimaru a few days earlier than me, what is there to be so arrogant about?

Mizuki said: "My lord, the Scroll of Seals that Lord Orochimaru desires is in the bookcase at the Third Hokage's residence. I have no way to enter the Third Hokage's home; please forgive my lack of strength."

Sasuke said coldly: "I will handle the rest. The power you desire will be bestowed upon you by Orochimaru very soon."

Using the moonlight as cover, Sasuke used a Body Flicker technique to slip into Konoha.

A small white snake dropped from a tree, crawled onto Mizuki's shoulder, and bit him, causing the black Earth Curse Mark to manifest on his skin.

The intense pain caused Mizuki to curl into a ball and collapse to the ground.

Mizuki dug his fingers into the soil: "I must obtain this powerful strength."

"Endure it and you shall gain power; fail to endure it and you shall be consumed by it." Orochimaru's voice emanated from the snake's belly.

Hyuga Clan.

"Hanabi, what are you still doing over there? Come back to the room with your sister to sleep." Hinata shouted from the corridor, seeing Hanabi holding the hand of a stranger.

The stranger suddenly turned around, revealing a deathly pale face before opening his mouth wide, droplets of fresh red blood dripping from his fangs.

Hinata hurriedly formed hand seals, the turbulence of her chakra breaking the illusion before her.