Happy Birthday

The Hyuga Clan was decked out in festive decorations, and firecrackers boomed in the sky.

Hyuga Hiashi stood at the entrance, greeting guests as they came and went. When he spotted Naruto and Hinata, he walked over and grabbed Naruto by the arm. "The Fourth Hokage hasn't arrived yet, and you came by yourself?"

Naruto stopped. "Uncle Hiashi, I'm not going in through the main entrance, so I won't cause any trouble for everyone. Besides, you know me best. I don't like all those stuffy rules, so Hinata and I were planning to use the side entrance."

Worried that her father would scold her, Hinata hid behind Naruto and said quietly, "Dad, Naruto and I will go right in."

Hyuga Hiashi really didn't like how reserved Hinata was, but it was Hanabi's birthday today, so he shouldn't get angry. "All right, go on in. Naruto, don't cause trouble."

As soon as Hiashi let go, Naruto pulled Hinata through the side entrance, cursing the annoying rules of the great clans under his breath.

Free of Hiashi's restrictions, they chatted and laughed as they made their way to Hanabi's room.

The little girl's room was filled with the scent of flowers.

Hanabi wore a purple birthday dress, her bangs swept to one side, and her lips were as red as cherries.

"Little Hanabi, happy birthday!" Naruto beamed as he held up a cloth doll in both hands and gave it a little shake.

Hanabi pouted, clearly unimpressed with the doll Naruto had bought. "Brother Naruto, you promised to teach me the Eight Inner Gates, right?"

Naruto answered gently, "As long as you can stick with it, I promise."

"Thank you, Brother Naruto. This is the best present I've ever received." Hanabi turned to Hinata. "Sister, where's your present?"

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

The gloves were pale yellow, with Hanabi's name embroidered on the surface. They felt especially soft.

Hanabi happily put them away.

The birthday party was about to begin. The guest of honor, Hanabi, parted ways with Naruto and Hinata. She would walk out with Hiashi and then greet the guests.

Naruto was a little hungry, so he told Hinata he was going to get something from the snack table. If she needed him, she could contact him through 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 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!"

"Three, two, one! Go!"

Naruto and Lee moved so fast they were a blur. Ten seconds later, every snack on the tables had disappeared into their stomachs.

"I was so close," Lee said, disappointed.

Naruto patted his stomach. "Not bad. Lee, I opened the sixth gate a few days ago. How's your progress?"

Lee trained even harder than Naruto, and just as Might Guy had predicted, thanks to Naruto's improvements, Lee had managed to bring his mastery of the Eight Inner Gates up to Naruto's level. However, he couldn't sustain it as long as Naruto could.

That was because Naruto's chakra was gradually evolving into "chad-ton," and there was no way to make up for the difference in their natural abilities.

"Naruto, teach me how to open the sixth gate. I'm going to surpass Teacher Guy!" Lee declared ambitiously.

The final two gates followed a single path. Once someone broke through their body's limits, they could open them directly.

With the Eight Inner Gates causing far less damage and doubling their strength, their Taijutsu had already reached a level beyond Kage Level.

Naruto bumped fists with Lee. "That's how the chakra flows through the meridians. I don't think your body has reached the limit needed to open the sixth gate yet. Don't force it—it'll still damage your body!"

"Whoever runs into Teacher Guy first can teach him!" Naruto added.

Lee nodded.

Neji walked over with a glass of juice. Ever since Sasuke had left, Neji had become the school's most popular boy. Girls wrote him letters every day, which gave him quite a headache. He had no choice but to spend less time at school and train alone with Lee more often.

"What are you two doing here?" Neji asked. "Let's head to the front and scatter flower petals for everyone."

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

Naruto asked, "Who came up with that plan? It's so stupid."

"Lord Hiashi," Neji replied. He really wished Hiashi could hear Naruto's opinion for himself.

The three of them headed toward the front and bumped into an unfamiliar ninja from Kumogakure.

Naruto took another look at him. "Neji, have you seen him before?"

Neji thought for a moment. "He might be a ninja Kumogakure sent here to meet with us. One of our clan members is keeping an eye on him, so there's no need to worry."

Lee gave an eager shout. "Could Kumogakure still have designs on the Hyuga Clan? Naruto, this is our chance to show what we can do!"

Naruto was only keeping an eye on the man. "He's a sensitive figure. Unless he does something out of line, there's nothing we can do about him. Let's focus on making the birthday party a success."

The party went smoothly. With everyone cheering her on, the adorable Hanabi even performed a dance for the guests. Laughter filled the air throughout.

Lee danced along to the music, using Leaf Whirlwind to send the ribbons on the floor spinning.

The party stayed lively until the moon had risen high in the sky, and only then did it come to an end.

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

Hanabi stood beside Hinata, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Brother Naruto, don't forget to teach me tomorrow!"

"I won't!"

In the woods outside Konoha.

The moonlight was bright and clear.

Uchiha Sasuke's expression was icy. His right hand rested on the hilt of the Kusanagi Sword at his waist. "Mizuki, have you found out what Lord Orochimaru asked you to investigate?"

Mizuki knelt on the ground, his white hair hiding his jealous eyes.

He only pledged himself to Lord Orochimaru a little earlier than I did. What's he got to be so proud of?

Mizuki said, "My lord, the Scroll of Seals that Lord Orochimaru wants is on a bookshelf in the Third Hokage's home. I couldn't get inside. Please forgive my weakness."

Sasuke said coldly, "I'll handle things from here. Orochimaru will grant you the power you want soon enough."

Sasuke used the moonlight to slip into Konoha with the Body Flicker Technique.

A little white snake fell from a tree, crawled onto Mizuki's shoulder, and bit him. A black Earth Curse Mark appeared on the skin of his shoulder.

The intense pain made Mizuki curl up and fall to the ground.

Mizuki dug his hand into the soil. "I have to get this powerful strength."

"Endure it, and you'll gain power. Fail, and the power will control you." Orochimaru's voice came from the snake's belly.

At the Hyuga Clan compound.

"Hanabi, what are you still doing over there? Come back to your room with your sister. It's time for bed!" Hinata called loudly from the hallway. She saw Hanabi holding the hand of an unfamiliar figure from behind.

The unfamiliar figure suddenly turned around. It had a deathly pale face. Then it opened its mouth, fresh blood dripping from its sharp fangs.

Hinata quickly formed Hand Seals. The chakra inside her surged, shattering the genjutsu before her.