Zhihui's Home

"It must have hurt business to close for the day. I told Natsu you didn't have to, and I didn't really help with anything."

Hyuga Gen could tell that this family wasn't well-off. Losing a day of business must have had a big impact on them. In his previous life, as a wage slave, he'd understood that just getting by was already hard for ordinary people.

On top of that, they were a widowed mother and daughter, and the Uchiha had been extorting them for protection money. Thinking about it only made their lives seem harder. It was as if fate always picked on those who already had it rough.

"Young master, please don't say that. You helped us a great deal. Ever since then, the village has been cracking down, and no one dares collect protection money anymore. It's all thanks to you."

Zhihui's mother thanked him sincerely.

"Besides, business hasn't been very good lately. Compared with not having to pay protection money, losing a day of business doesn't make much difference." She explained again.

"My doing?"

Hyuga Gen was a little confused by her words.

"Yes. I heard Lord Hokage gave the order himself. Maybe someone in your family told Lord Hokage about it, young master."

Seeing Hyuga Gen's puzzled expression, Shuishu Ling realized he might not know, so she told him what she'd heard.

Shuishu Ling figured that the matter of Hyuga Gen getting beaten up had reached Lord Hokage. Lord Hokage had looked into it, which was why they'd later announced a strict crackdown on protection rackets.

Thinking of his grandfather's earlier expression as he'd promised to get justice for him, Hyuga Gen understood.

"Auntie, you can just call me Gen. I'm not some young master."

"Gen? I'm Zhihui's mother, Shuishu Ling. Just call me Aunt Ling."

"Okay, Aunt Ling."

Hyuga Gen thought Shuishu Ling was quite pretty, though her clothes and hairstyle didn't suit her very well.

"Brother Gen, we're back."

Just then, Hyuga Natsu and Yu Zhihui came in and handed the things they'd bought to Shuishu Ling.

Shuishu Ling had realized she'd forgotten something and sent her daughter out to get it. Hyuga Natsu had gone along with Yu Zhihui.

"Thank you, Natsu," Shuishu Ling said with a smile.

"All right, go play. I'll call you when the food's ready."

Shuishu Ling gently patted Hyuga Natsu's head as she spoke with a smile. She had to start preparing lunch, too.

"Mom, I'll help you."

"No need. Spend today with Gen and Natsu. I can manage on my own."

With that, Shuishu Ling headed into the kitchen and got to work.

"Her figure's not bad, though she doesn't quite measure up to Natsu's mother."

Hyuga Gen compared her to Natsu's graceful figure as she walked away.

"Zhihui, your hair is so pretty. You'd look even prettier if you grew it long."

Hyuga Natsu looked at Yu Zhihui's lovely purple hair with envy.

"Really?"

Yu Zhihui still wasn't very confident after hearing Hyuga Natsu say that.

"Mm-hmm. If you don't believe me, ask Brother Gen," Hyuga Natsu said, tossing the question to Hyuga Gen.

"Mm-hmm. Purple hair is pretty unusual, and it does look lovely. Natsu's right—maybe it'd look even better long."

Seeing the hopeful look in Yu Zhihui's eyes, Hyuga Gen answered sincerely. Her mother had purple hair, too, so she'd probably inherited it.

Looking at Yu Zhihui, Hyuga Gen thought of Uzuki Yugao, a character who, like Uchiha Izumi, had very little screen time in Naruto Shippuden but left a deep impression.

He remembered her for her striking purple hair and goddess-like beauty—and, of course, for her boyfriend, Gekko Hayate, who'd aged prematurely.

With Yu Zhihui's short purple hair, though, something seemed a little off. Maybe purple hair really did look best long and flowing, on a gentle girl.

That was what Hyuga Gen thought. The Yu Zhihui in front of him clearly wasn't the gentle type. Well, right now, she seemed to have some--

"Ah! Natsu, why'd you pinch me?"

"Hmmph."

Hyuga Natsu turned away without saying a word.

Seeing Zhihui's reddened face, Hyuga Gen realized he'd been staring at her so intently that he'd made her uncomfortable.

"Come on, Zhihui. Let's go look at your room. Ignore this rude guy."

With that, Hyuga Natsu pulled Yu Zhihui away. Hyuga Gen rubbed his nose, then shamelessly followed them.

"Bang!"

The door shut, leaving Hyuga Gen outside with the door in his face.

"Fine. I'll take a look around nearby."

So Hyuga Gen wandered around the area. The house was a little out of the way, but it was quite close to the Hyuga Clan compound.

He spotted a blacksmith's shop nearby and immediately grew interested. When it came to weapons in the Naruto world, the Kunai was the undisputed king. Not because it was especially powerful, but because so many people used it—almost everyone had one.

Hyuga Gen had one himself, and it was quite handy. Small but sturdy, it was useful both in close combat and for throwing.

Hyuga Gen walked closer and saw that the smith was indeed forging a Kunai. He watched intently. The man paid no attention to him, entirely focused on his work.

Before long, he'd finished a brand-new Kunai. The smith's skill was clearly impressive; every step flowed smoothly, completed in one seamless motion.

"Uncle, you're really amazing," Hyuga Gen said, sincerely impressed.

"Haha, want one?"

The man laughed and took the opportunity to pitch his wares. Hyuga Gen struck up a conversation with him.

Meanwhile, inside the house, Yu Zhihui began whispering to Hyuga Natsu.

"Natsu, your chest is developing so well."

Looking at herself, Yu Zhihui sighed. She had nothing there, while Hyuga Natsu's figure was already beginning to take shape.

"Don't worry. You're still young. You'll develop when you're older."

Hyuga Natsu said. Hyuga Gen hadn't told her the remarkably effective dietary remedy he'd taught her, and she had her own little secret, too.

The two girls chatted and shared their secrets. From then on, they became close friends.

"Aunt Ling, you can stop now. There's already plenty of food. Don't trouble yourself any further—come eat with us. We can't bring ourselves to start without you."

Hyuga Gen called into the kitchen.

Looking at the dishes on the table, they were all practically drooling. Everything looked and smelled delicious; now they just needed to taste it.

"Go ahead and eat. I told you earlier not to wait for me. There's just one more dish."

Once everyone was seated, they began to eat.

"Mm, mm! Aunt Ling, your cooking is delicious," Hyuga Gen praised her. It really did taste great.

"If you like it, have some more."

"Okay."

Before long, they'd polished off every dish on the table. They were all sweating heavily; it was summer, and the weather was scorching.

"If only we had soda and popsicles, too. Wait, we don't? We could try making them ourselves. We could even sell them and earn some pocket money."

The more Hyuga Gen thought about it, the more promising the idea seemed.

He had nothing to do that afternoon, so he could try making some.