Breaking the Ice

With Uzumaki Menma and Naruto encouraging her.

Hinata looked Hyuga Hiashi in the eyes and firmly said, "I want to."

Hyuga Hiashi looked at Hinata like that, and Hinata looked back at Hyuga Hiashi.

This was the first time Hinata had so firmly voiced what she truly wanted in front of Hyuga Hiashi.

And this time, Hinata felt as though something was beginning to sprout in her heart.

The corner of Hyuga Hiashi's mouth curved in an almost imperceptible smile. "Since you want to, then you must also do what is required. You may only go out and play with these two brats after you have completed all your training. Understood?"

Hinata froze, unable to believe that Hyuga Hiashi had actually agreed.

Seeing Hinata standing there blankly, Hyuga Hiashi asked again, "Do you understand?"

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto, even more anxious than Hinata, urged, "Hinata, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up and agree!"

Coming back to her senses, Hinata nodded vigorously. "Yes! Father!"

Kumiko Hyuga quietly watched this scene with a smile.

The more she looked at Uzumaki Menma and Naruto, the more Kumiko Hyuga liked them.

They had only come to the Hyuga Clan today, yet they had already broken the ice between Hyuga Hiashi and Hinata.

Kumiko Hyuga had always wanted to improve the relationship between the father and daughter, but she had never managed to do so.

Hinata recalled Hyuga Hiashi's expression from earlier.

Did Father smile just now? I think he did.

Hyuga Hiashi had always faced Hinata with an extremely stern expression.

Therefore, even the slightest change in Hyuga Hiashi's expression was immediately noticed by Hinata.

Hinata's eyes reddened slightly.

Her father did not seem as cold and heartless as she had thought.

Just as Hyuga Hiashi picked up his chopsticks, his brows suddenly furrowed as he looked toward the door.

Kumiko Hyuga asked in confusion, "Hiashi, what's wrong?"

As soon as Kumiko Hyuga finished speaking, someone knocked on the door.

Hyuga Hiashi's voice was somewhat low. "Come in."

The person who opened the door was a stranger.

But Uzumaki Menma was no stranger to him. After all, he had been Menma's nightmare for quite some time.

"Uncle Yamanaka? Why are you here?"

Yamanaka Fu bowed to Hyuga Hiashi. "Clan Head Hiashi, my sincerest apologies for disturbing you at this hour. I have come to take Young Master Menma home."

Hyuga Hiashi nodded slightly. "I see. Menma, your family has come for you. You may go home now."

Uzumaki Menma stood up from the tatami. "Then I'll head back first. Naruto, Hinata, Uncle, Aunt Kumiko, goodbye."

"Goodbye, Menma."

Before leaving, Uzumaki Menma did not forget to use his chopsticks to pick up another piece of meat from the sukiyaki pot.

After leaving the Hyuga Clan.

Uzumaki Menma asked in confusion, "Uncle Yamanaka, how did you know I was at the Hyuga Clan?"

Yamanaka Fu said in an imposing manner, "Root knows everything."

After Yamanaka Fu and Uzumaki Menma left, Naruto also stood up from the tatami. "Then I'll head home too. Goodbye, Uncle and Aunt Kumiko. Hinata, see you tomorrow."

Hyuga Hiashi said to Hinata, "Hinata, escort him to the entrance of the Hyuga Compound. Otherwise, he'll get lost again."

"Yes, Father."

Hinata led Naruto out of the room.

Only Hyuga Hiashi and Kumiko Hyuga remained in the room now.

Kumiko Hyuga asked worriedly, "Hiashi, that man just now was a Root ninja, wasn't he?"

Hyuga Hiashi reassured her, "Yes, he was a Root ninja, but there is no need to worry. Since he chose to knock on the door, it means Root has not set its sights on us. He simply came to take that brat Menma home."

It was no wonder Kumiko Hyuga was so worried upon seeing a Root ninja.

After all, there was a living example right before them.

The Uchiha Clan.

The Uchiha Clan, targeted by Danzo, had been living miserably in Konoha.

To Konoha's clans, Root was synonymous with trouble.

No one wanted to be watched by Root.

Hinata had already escorted Naruto to the entrance of the Hyuga Compound.

"Hinata, then I'll see you tomorrow."

Naruto waved goodbye to Hinata.

"Wait, Naruto." Hinata called out to him.

Naruto asked in confusion, "What is it, Hinata?"

"Um... thank you for coming to the Hyuga Clan to play with me today. Thank you and Menma for encouraging me. Thank you." Hinata sincerely thanked Naruto.

"No need to thank me. You should head back too. I'm off, bye-bye!"

Naruto waved goodbye to Hinata once more, then jogged away.

After watching Naruto leave, Hinata walked back with a bright smile on her face, her steps much lighter than before.

After returning to Root, Yamanaka Fu said to Uzumaki Menma, "Young Master Menma, Lord Danzo is waiting for you in his office. Go there now."

"Grandpa Danzo is waiting for me? Uncle Yamanaka, do you know why Grandpa Danzo wants to see me?" Uzumaki Menma asked in surprise.

"I don't know either. You'll find out when you get there."

As soon as Yamanaka Fu finished speaking, he vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

Uzumaki Menma scratched his head in confusion, first trying to recall whether he had done anything bad recently.

Although Uzumaki Menma lived in Root, he actually did not see Danzo very often.

After thinking it over, Uzumaki Menma could not remember doing anything bad, and he had not been slacking much in training lately either.

After confirming that it was probably nothing, Uzumaki Menma headed for Danzo's office.

However, Uzumaki Menma was still somewhat uneasy. Danzo's face was so imposing that it made Menma nervous.

Before Uzumaki Menma could knock, Danzo's voice came from inside the office.

"What are you standing outside for? Come in."

Uzumaki Menma pushed open the office door and immediately saw Danzo sitting at his desk.

Seeing that Danzo seemed somewhat tired, the observant Uzumaki Menma jogged over to him and began massaging his shoulders. "Grandpa Danzo, is the pressure okay? Does it feel good?"

Danzo did not answer Uzumaki Menma. He let Menma massage his shoulders as he asked, "How has your training been lately? Have you been slacking off?"

Uzumaki Menma immediately said, "Of course not! I've been really serious lately! Uncle Yamanaka can vouch for me!"

Danzo emphasized sternly, "Being serious is nowhere near enough! You must be twice as serious! You must work twice as hard. Do you understand?"

Uzumaki Menma answered without the slightest hesitation, "Understood, Grandpa Danzo."

After enjoying Uzumaki Menma's shoulder massage for a while, Danzo said, "All right, that's enough. I called you here to tell you that you do not need to train tomorrow. Stay in Root. I have other arrangements for you tomorrow."

Uzumaki Menma was delighted to hear that he would not have to train tomorrow, but upon hearing there were other arrangements, he asked curiously, "What arrangements?"

"You'll know tomorrow. Just wait for it. Go get some rest."

Uzumaki Menma left Danzo's office, completely baffled.

Uzumaki Menma was very concerned about the other arrangements Danzo had mentioned for tomorrow.

What kind of arrangements could they be?