A World for Just Hinata and Me

"Ryusuke, should we come up with a battle plan or set traps here?"

After Yuhi Kurenai left, Aburame Shino took the initiative to ask Ryusuke for his opinion.

This also meant that Aburame Shino had yielded Team 8's captaincy to Ryusuke.

In the original Team 8, Inuzuka Kiba looked like the captain.

But in reality, Aburame Shino was Team 8's backbone.

For unimportant matters, Aburame Shino let Inuzuka Kiba make the decisions.

But when it came to critical moments, Aburame Shino would not yield in the slightest, and his presence alone could intimidate Hinata and Inuzuka Kiba.

Yet now, Aburame Shino had proactively yielded authority and was willing to serve as Ryusuke's deputy.

It was not because Ryusuke was the Top Student, but because... he had no choice!

Unless Aburame Shino wanted to be isolated.

The trio of Ino and the other two girls was well-known throughout the school. They were the main reason Ryusuke's Support Group could not compare to Sasuke Uchiha's Support Group.

Since Ryusuke and Hinata had been assigned to the same group, Hinata would definitely follow Ryusuke's every word.

Two against one. If Aburame Shino wanted to remain in Team 8, he had to yield.

Ryusuke was also very satisfied with Aburame Shino's tactfulness. Smiling, he said, "It's still early. Teacher Kurenai not starting immediately probably means she's giving us time to prepare."

"However, the three of us are just genin. Even if we join forces and set all kinds of traps, we can't possibly be a match for Teacher Kurenai, a jonin."

"So, just as Teacher Kurenai said, the main purpose of this Survival Exercise is simply to assess our strength and ability to cooperate."

"There's no need to set traps. If we fall under Teacher Kurenai's genjutsu, those traps might end up harming us instead."

"Let's talk about the characteristics of our respective ninjutsu, then come up with a battle plan and give it our all."

Unlike Kakashi Hatake, Yuhi Kurenai had not used the threat of being sent back to school for remedial training if they failed the Survival Exercise to scare the three of them.

Only those with terrible strength and ability, who were also unwilling to cooperate with their teammates, would be sent back to school for remedial training.

Outstanding students like Ryusuke and the others would not be sent back for remedial training even if their teamwork was poor.

Because the school no longer had much it could teach them.

So unlike Kakashi Hatake, who had scared Team 7 with the threat of remedial training, Yuhi Kurenai had not used it to frighten Ryusuke and the others.

Besides, she treasured these three promising students too much to send them away.

Having seen through this, Ryusuke had nothing to fear.

"Alright."

Aburame Shino agreed with Ryusuke's words.

Thus, as the three of them headed back along the path they had come from, they described their respective ninjutsu abilities.

After Ryusuke finished talking about his ninjutsu, Hinata's eyes, which were secretly glancing at his profile, were filled with admiration.

Although Aburame Shino showed no change on the surface, if he took off his Sunglasses, one would surely see his pupils contract sharply.

A stormy sea was already raging in Aburame Shino's heart.

He had thought that Ryusuke mastering the Rank B Water Release: Water Formation Wall in fifth grade was already outrageous enough.

He had not expected this Top Student to be hiding so much more!

No wonder Sasuke Uchiha had never been able to beat him.

Forget Sasuke Uchiha—even if all of them, the children of ninja clans, joined forces, they still could not possibly be Ryusuke's match.

Ryusuke had probably already possessed the strength to graduate in the year he enrolled.

After revealing the ninjutsu they had mastered, the three came up with a simple battle plan. If they thought of anything else after returning, they could still revise it the next morning.

When they returned to Konoha Central Street, Team 8 disbanded on the spot.

Ryusuke and Hinata walked down the street. Since they were three years old, this was their first time alone together.

There was no helping it. Ryusuke was merely a commoner without a surname, so he had no right to enter the Hyuga Clan compound.

Not even Sakura could do so.

Only Ino could freely enter and leave the Hyuga Clan compound to invite Hinata out to play.

So whenever Hinata went out, either guards accompanied her, or Ino went to find her.

Hinata looked somewhat dazed. Her Byakugan seemed to travel through time, returning to that snowy night when she was three.

That night, Ryusuke had also walked her home like this.

Before she knew it, nine years had passed.

The boy she had admired so deeply had truly become outstanding beyond anyone's reach.

Secretly looking at Ryusuke's handsome profile and recalling the moments she had spent with him over the years, the corners of Hinata's lips could not help but rise slightly. Her heart was as sweet as honey.

Just then, Ryusuke suddenly turned his head, and his gaze met Hinata's as she peeked at him.

Having been caught, Hinata lowered her head in alarm and unconsciously began twisting her fingers together.

Looking at the adorable Hinata, Ryusuke could not help but smile. "Hinata, do you want to come to my house and train together?"

"Mm."

A surge of delight rose in Hinata's heart, but she still kept her head lowered and answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

Ryusuke had long grown used to this.

For a shy girl, daring to go home alone with him already took a great deal of courage.

Ryusuke had even thought Hinata would refuse.

Seeing her agree, Ryusuke was very happy as well.

Being assigned to Team 8 was undoubtedly the greatest surprise for Ryusuke.

He had originally been wondering how he could invite Hinata out in the future without Ino's help.

Now that they were teammates, Ryusuke would have plenty of time to spend with Hinata. He could cultivate their relationship while also obtaining the Kekkei Genkai: Byakugan from her.

After bringing Hinata home, Ryusuke created a Shadow Clone and had it handle the cooking, while his real body took Hinata to the training room for a Taijutsu duel.

Only through training could Hinata quickly grow accustomed to being alone with Ryusuke.

After all, once the girl entered with Ryusuke, she realized just how bold a decision she had made. She kept her head lowered the entire time, her cheeks flushed red.

Ryusuke planned to wait until Hinata had fully adapted before inviting her out to train and engage in a No-Rules Duel.

Unless he was incredibly lucky like when the game system had just awakened—more accurately, unless it was a "newbie gift pack"—a No-Rules Duel was the only way he could hope to obtain red light orbs and above.

Sure enough...

Even after defeating Hinata repeatedly in their Taijutsu duel, Ryusuke still did not see any light flicker.

However, Ryusuke had already grown used to it over the past year.

Once the Shadow Clone finished cooking, Ryusuke invited Hinata to stay for lunch.

Hinata did not refuse. Over the past few years, Ryusuke had often cooked for the three girls, and they had eaten at Ryusuke's home more than once. They were already used to it.

Whenever Ryusuke cooked in the past, they would help him out as well.

If she had not been so flustered and irrational earlier, Hinata would have also created a Shadow Clone to help Ryusuke's Shadow Clone.

Thinking about it now, Hinata felt a burst of shame.

It was already embarrassing enough to let Ryusuke cook, yet she had actually freeloaded off him!

Ryusuke did not know what Hinata was thinking. Seeing that she kept her head lowered and was not eating as freely as usual, he assumed she still had not adapted to being alone with him and could only laugh helplessly.

After the meal, Hinata pushed Ryusuke aside and proactively gathered the dishes, taking them to the kitchen to wash.

Seeing this, Ryusuke did not force the issue.

After washing the dishes, Hinata did not leave immediately. Instead, she began helping Ryusuke clean the house.

The three girls often repaid Ryusuke this way, and it had already become a habit whenever they visited his home.

Only after finishing the cleaning did Hinata bid Ryusuke farewell and hurriedly flee.

Other than when she was focused during their Taijutsu duel, the girl had acted like an ostrich the entire time. Ryusuke only hated that technology had not advanced far enough yet and that there were no portable cameras.

Otherwise, he definitely would have taken a picture of Hinata looking so adorable.