Daily Public Displays of Affection, Wow... Youth is Great

"Are you okay? Do you want me to blow on it for you?" Naruto asked with concern.

This was a matter of his future happiness! Not a single mistake could be afforded.

Little Hinata's face turned even redder! She shyly said, "I... I'm fine... I just need to rest for a bit..."

Several gazes fell upon them from the shadows. More accurately, they were mainly focused on Hinata. After all, Hinata was the future family head of the Hyuga! She was still young, so extra protection was only natural.

"Wuwuwu... Young Miss, you must seize this opportunity properly!"

"That's right... Build a good relationship with Naruto. For the future of our clan, you must hold onto Naruto tightly."

"I really didn't expect Naruto to be the Fourth Hokage's Son."

"The more I look at them, the more I feel that young Naruto and our young lady are quite a good match. I'll report this to the Patriarch when I get home and have this marriage settled early."

"Indeed. I heard that among other major clans, if they have daughters of suitable age, those old fogeys are all trying to swallow their pride and send them to get together with Naruto."

"Pah... How shameless! After finding out young Naruto is the Fourth Hokage's Son, these old guys have gone mad!"

"Young Naruto is the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki. If it were any other jinchuriki, others might have objections. But as the son of that person, one day, he will surely be able to make the Nine-Tails submit, achieving the perfect jinchuriki!"

"If that's the case, his future achievements will be no less than any genius ninja, and it's possible he might even surpass those before him."

"..."

Several guards from the Hyuga clan, secretly protecting Hinata, chattered incessantly. The Naruto they used to look down upon had, at some point, become someone they could no longer reach.

A ninja who could hold the position of Hokage was by no means an ordinary person. And Naruto's father, Minato Namikaze, occupied that position. Both in terms of strength and achievements, he had gained everyone's recognition and affirmation. Furthermore, he was very popular with the people. As the saying goes, "He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world." They, as ninjas, weren't like clueless idiots fighting and killing all day. They had to eat too, didn't they? Besides eating, they also needed lodging. These matters were naturally left to ordinary civilians. It could be said that without those ordinary civilians, they wouldn't have any business. Cultivation and warfare were not small expenses. If everyone refused to pay taxes, there would be no money or food. No money to purchase the various ninja tools needed for war. ... Who could handle that??

"You still say you're fine... Let me see." Naruto's tone was full of concern. The two were quite close, even able to feel each other's breath.

"N-no, that's not good..."

"What's not good about it? If a wound isn't treated promptly, it might get infected."

"Ah... It's that serious?"

"Of course. Alright, don't be shy, I just want to check on you."

"Oh."

Under Naruto's repeated coaxing.

Little Hinata parted her thin lips, sticking out her small, fragrant tongue.

There was a small patch of broken skin on her tongue.

The wound wasn't very large, and the bleeding had already stopped.

"Hoo... pain, pain, fly away."

Naruto blew on it gently a few times.

Feeling the faint, cooling breeze.

Little Hinata's body stiffened.

Bang.

She turned as red as a boiled lobster.

Wisps of white steam began to rise from the top of her head.

Th-this... isn't this a bit inappropriate?

Hinata's heart was in a chaotic flutter.

She remained frozen in that adorable pose, tongue still slightly extended.

To the eyes of others, the scene between the two looked like a sweet couple flaunting their affection.

"Wow... youth is truly wonderful."

"Isn't that the Hyuga Clan's Young Lady? She and the Fourth Hokage's Son are such a perfect match."

"I agree. Keep at it, Brother Naruto, we're all waiting to drink at your wedding."

"Waaah... I want to fall in love, too."

"..."

Several Hyuga Clan Members were moved to tears.

"Naruto is clearly interested in our Young Lady; this is a massive stroke of good fortune."

"The one closest to the water gets the moon first. We should hurry back and have the Patriarch finalize this marriage. A man should marry and a woman should wed; we can't drag this out."

"They're thirteen already, not exactly young. In a few more years, they can get married."

"Exactly... the current policies are good. It would be best if the Young Lady has several children; the future prosperity of our Hyuga Clan rests entirely on them."

"I recall the romance of the Fourth Hokage and his wife was as enviable as a fairy tale. It's just like our Young Lady; the two are a match made in heaven."

"I'm going home right now to report this to the Patriarch."

"Hold on, don't rush this. The Patriarch and the Second Boss have been having disagreements lately, and they're in the middle of a cold war."

"What's there to discuss? Shouldn't they be swearing loyalty to the Patriarch to the death? That's been the rule all along."

"Sigh... rules are rigid, but people are flexible. I don't know when this damned, broken rule will ever be abolished. I hope the Young Lady can dismantle this unreasonable rule in the future; it's just too disheartening."

"I don't think counting on the Young Lady will necessarily work. Counting on the future son-in-law seems more promising. After all, he is the son of that man. If that man were still alive, so many things wouldn't have happened in the village."

"..."

These guards were all from the Branch Family.

In the Main Family, they weren't even considered people.

They were merely viewed as tools to protect the Main Family.

Whether they lived or died was entirely up to the Main Family's whims.

To put it bluntly, they were treated like dogs, and they weren't even allowed to have a temper about it.

After doing this for so long, it was inevitable that resentment would grow!

Why should you be the Main Family while we cannot?

Isn't it just because you were born a few days earlier than us?

Being born early is absolutely useless!

Your strength is far inferior to ours.

If it weren't for the Caged Bird curse mark carved onto their foreheads.

The curse mark would destroy their cranial nerves and cause them excruciating pain if activated.

Otherwise, they would have rebelled long ago!

Whoever wants to put up with this cowardly humiliation can have it.

In any case, they were reaching their limit.

Therefore, they desperately hoped that someone could break this unfair situation.

Relying solely on the high-ranking members within the Hyuga clan.

The probability of accomplishing this was infinitesimally small.

In their eyes, there was only profit; they cared nothing for the life or death of the Branch Family.

Why wouldn't they be comfortable having free, docile labor and cannon fodder at their beck and call?

Why would they ever want to change the system?

Therefore, the only possibility lay in pinning their hopes on a powerful outsider.

Only then would it be possible.

"How is it? Do you feel a bit better?"

Naruto's smile was as gentle as a spring breeze.

Hinata dared not look Naruto in the eye; her small face was flushed red, and her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum.

"Mu... much better."