Kumogakure Ninjas

After those damn, day-in, day-out training sessions, Ning and Yuki suddenly realized that their child was only three years old.

Was the training a little too intense? At the same time, they realized their child really was gifted.

So the two of them came to an agreement and decided to take a few days off to go out and have some fun with their child.

"Yoshi, that's enough training for today." Hyuga Ning clapped his hands, interrupting Ning Xue's practice.

"Oh, okay, Father," Ning Xue replied flatly.

But when Ning saw how nonchalant his son was, an inexplicable anger flared up inside him.

So he couldn't help going over and ruffling his hair.

"Honestly, why are you so gloomy when you're just a kid? Smile!" As he spoke, he moved his hand toward his son's face.

The couple had noticed quite a while ago that their child seemed far too mature. He didn't like to smile or talk. At first, they thought it was because some of the children in the clan had bullied him over his hair color.

But later, they realized he simply didn't like smiling. He lacked a child's liveliness and was mature in a way they couldn't quite put their finger on. Sometimes, when the couple were next door, they could even faintly hear him saying something like "Amaterasu." They had no idea what that was.

(Actually, Ning Xue had often heard his friend say it before and thought it sounded really cool, so he sometimes whispered it to himself.)

They had also noticed that he was unusually averse to certain things, such as fish and seafood. Once, when they'd forced him to eat fish, he'd thrown up for ages.

The couple were a little puzzled. They both liked those foods, so why wouldn't Ning Xue?

That was the end of the recollection.

Seeing this, Ning Xue could only manage a strained smile.

When Ning saw him smile, he stood up too, put his hands on his hips, and said,

"That's more like it. Kids should smile more. You can take a break from training for the next few days. The whole family will go out, have a meal, and have some fun. The city's lively, too. There are lots of visitors from out of town."

Ning Xue was a little surprised, but still agreed and asked,

"Okay. Where are we going?"

At the question, Hyuga Ning thought for a moment before deciding.

"Hmm... First, Konoha Plaza. Then the platform at Kage Rock, and after that, Yakiniku... place? How does that sound?"

"I don't mind."

Hyuga Ning's big hand ruffled Ning Xue's hair, turning his originally smooth white locks into a bit of a mess. Ning Xue resignedly let his father do as he pleased, and the strained smile on his face became a little more natural.

"Good, then it's settled!" Hyuga Ning stood up in high spirits and called into the house, "Yuki, get ready. We're heading out!"

Before long, the family of three had left the Hyuga Clan Compound. Since arriving in this world, this was the first time Ning Xue had been able to relax and take a good look around this ninja village called Konoha.

It wasn't that he'd never been outside before; he was simply a homebody. When he was little, he'd always been carried around.

Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy overhead. The streets were full of people: ninja in green flak jackets hurried along, while civilians and merchants went about their business, filling the village with the bustle of everyday life.

Ning Xue's pale eyes curiously took in his surroundings.

First, they arrived at the bustling Konoha Plaza.

The statues carved into Kage Rock stood imposingly at its center. Ning Xue tilted his head back and looked at the faces of the First through Fourth Hokage.

He couldn't help staring a little longer at Minato Namikaze's face in particular. So this was the Minato Namikaze his friend had talked about—the one with not a speck of manliness?

"Look, those are the Hokage of each generation," Hyuga Ning explained beside him, his voice full of respect.

Ning Xue nodded, though his mind was on something else entirely. This had to be that "perpetual damage-taker," right? Then his gaze shifted to the right. The god of land battles, the Third Hokage? He'd never seen his friend play that one.

Next, they followed the mountain path up to the platform above Kage Rock.

From there, the whole of Konoha lay before them. Rows of buildings, enormous training grounds, the forest in the distance, and the cliffs beyond... It was a real, vibrant world.

A breeze passed by, carrying the fresh scent of the distant woods.

Hyuga Yuki gently held his hand and pointed out some of the notable buildings, while Hyuga Ning stood behind them with an unusually relaxed smile.

This place looked much bigger than it did on the game screen.

Finally, when it was time for dinner, Hyuga Ning waved his hand grandly.

"Let's go! We're having yakiniku!"

The Yakiniku Q restaurant was packed with people, and the rich aroma of grilled meat instantly captivated their senses.

They found a table, and Hyuga Ning confidently ordered plenty of meat and vegetables.

When the grill heated up and the fat dripped onto it with an enticing sizzle, Ning Xue's eyes lit up a little. In his previous life as a shut-in, yakiniku had been one of the best ways to treat himself.

"Here, Ning Xue, try this. This grilled pork belly tastes best dipped in this sauce." Hyuga Ning picked up a piece of sizzling meat and placed it on Ning Xue's plate.

Hyuga Yuki carefully blew on it to cool it down and said gently,

"Careful, it's hot."

Following his parents' example, Ning Xue wrapped the meat in a lettuce leaf, dipped it in a little sauce, and took a cautious bite.

In an instant, the rich meat juices, the savory-sweet sauce, and the crisp lettuce burst across his palate. It was a simple, perfect kind of happiness.

"Is it good?" Hyuga Ning asked expectantly.

Ning Xue's cheeks were puffed with food as he nodded vigorously. This time, he wore a genuine, satisfied smile, the kind that belonged to a three-year-old.

"Mmm! It's good!"

Seeing their son finally smile like a child his age, Ning and Yuki exchanged a smile. The weight on their hearts eased a little. At least their child seemed normal enough.

Just then, the curtain at the restaurant's entrance was lifted, and several muscular, dark-skinned ninja wearing the distinctive attire of Kumogakure walked in.

They chatted and laughed in loud voices. They stood out from the other Konoha patrons, immediately drawing Ning Xue's attention.

"Those are ninja from Kumogakure," Hyuga Ning explained in a low voice. "They're here to hold peace talks with the village."

Ning Xue didn't know anything about Kumogakure, but he understood that they were visitors from out of town, here for negotiations.

(If you'd said the Land of Water, he would definitely have known it, but Kumogakure? Sorry, he had no idea.)

He secretly sized them up and couldn't help marveling. What excellent prospects for picking cotton.