Cute Big Eater

At that moment, Hyuga Ayane was happily devouring a bowl of ramen.

Her fair little cheeks were puffed out on both sides, making her look like an adorable little squirrel.

On the two seats beside her, she had neatly stacked more than a dozen empty bowls on each side, perfectly symmetrical.

Hyuga Seisen's eyes widened in shock.

Was having a huge appetite hereditary among Hyuga Clan girls?

She ate that much!

Only now did he finally remember where that inexplicable sense of familiarity had come from when he first met Hyuga Ayane.

Wasn't she basically a younger version of Hinata, who would not be born until several years later?

It was just that Hyuga Ayane had started growing her hair long early on, and her features were more delicate than Hinata's.

That was why Hyuga Seisen had not recognized it at first.

Not until now, when he saw all those empty bowls beside her.

Only then did he remember that more than twenty years later, there would also be a Byakugan girl.

Right here at Ichiraku Ramen, she would claim the title of biggest eater.

Even the Akimichi Clan would have to settle for second place.

Hyuga Ayane was eating with great delight at the table.

Eating out was the happiest time of her day.

At home, all sorts of clan etiquette required girls to take small bites and not eat too much.

She never got full.

Eating outside was much more enjoyable, though it did cost a bit too much allowance.

She was just about to tell the owner that he could start preparing the next bowl.

Then she suddenly sensed someone staring at her.

Confused, she turned her head to look.

In an instant, her expression froze.

She even forgot to chew the noodles in her mouth.

"Se-Seisen, why are you here?"

Hyuga Ayane hurriedly bit off the noodles that had not yet gone into her mouth and spoke indistinctly.

After grabbing a tissue and wiping the broth from the corner of her mouth.

Within two seconds, her posture abruptly became poised and elegant.

"I came to try this ramen. I heard it's delicious," Hyuga Seisen said with a smile.

"Ah, ah, it really is delicious."

She shifted to the side and gestured for Hyuga Seisen to sit beside her.

Hyuga Seisen smiled and sat down next to her, ordering a bowl of miso ramen from Ichiraku.

When he turned and saw the mountain-like stack of empty bowls at his seat.

For a moment, he did not know how to deal with them.

Only then did Hyuga Ayane realize the problem.

Her face flushed red, and she immediately looked at Ichiraku, stammering:

"B-Boss, why haven't you cleared away the bowls from the previous customer?"

Her voice lacked confidence, and she was clearly feeling guilty.

Ichiraku was cooking noodles. Upon hearing that, he turned around with a baffled expression.

After his brain stalled for a moment, he finally understood.

"Ah, yes, yes."

He hurried over and took away all the empty bowls beside Hyuga Ayane.

As he collected them, he awkwardly smiled apologetically at the two of them.

"Sorry, it's been too busy. Please forgive me!"

Hyuga Seisen could not help but laugh at the sight.

Playing along, he said, "Business is good. Understandable."

Afterward, he started chatting with Hyuga Ayane.

Ichiraku quickly brought out Hyuga Seisen's ramen.

The two ate and chatted.

Before long.

Hyuga Seisen noticed that there were barely any noodles left in Ayane's bowl.

Yet she was still eating slowly, as though waiting for something.

Clearly, she had not eaten enough.

But perhaps because he was there, she was too embarrassed to order more.

He quickly finished his ramen, then packed another serving for Hyuga Kaze.

He found an excuse to slip away first, giving Hyuga Ayane room to continue showing off her appetite.

When he arrived at the hospital, Tian Lu was continuously treating Hyuga Kaze's bones according to his condition.

"All done!" Tian Lu dispersed the light in her hands and smiled happily.

Hyuga Seisen smiled as well. "Does that mean he's fully recovered?"

"Not yet. The muscles haven't been repaired yet. Let me rest for a while," Tian Lu said.

"Sorry to trouble you."

After resting for an hour, green light gathered in Tian Lu's hands once more and covered Hyuga Kaze's body.

Her control was exceptionally precise.

Her hands continuously guided pure Yang Release chakra into the torn muscle fibers, slowly permeating them.

It stimulated the satellite cells around the damaged and severed tissues to rapidly divide and regenerate, while guiding them to reconnect and realign.

She frequently glanced at the examination report beside her.

She constantly adjusted the intensity of the chakra's penetration according to the locations listed in the report.

Seeing this, Hyuga Seisen activated his Byakugan to assist with the treatment.

He was not good at judging injuries, but locating the affected areas was no problem.

About an hour later, the healing light in Tian Lu's hands slowly faded.

"Done. The muscle damage has been taken care of too!"

She wiped the sweat from her forehead, a satisfied smile appearing on her face.

"Thank you, Doctor Tian Lu!"

"What Doctor Tian Lu? Call me big sister!"

Pretending to be angry, Tian Lu stretched out her hand to pinch Hyuga Seisen's cheek.

He dodged at once. When she reached out to pinch him again.

Hyuga Seisen hurriedly called out, "Big sister! I'll call you big sister, okay?"

"That's more like it." Tian Lu put her hands on her hips.

Then she suddenly said:

"Your Byakugan's ability to see through things is really convenient. It saved us quite a bit of effort."

"Are you interested in working at the hospital after graduation? It's much better than going to the front lines to fight and kill."

"At the hospital?"

"Yes. Don't waste the talent of the Byakugan. The village intends to expand its medical ninja force this year."

Hyuga Seisen was somewhat tempted upon hearing that.

Although he wanted to be a medical ninja only so he could stay at the rear of a squad, not because he did not want to go to the front lines.

After all, killing enemies on the front lines would bring him greater gains.

Still, the hospital could serve as a stepping stone for a medical ninja. It was worth considering.

"That sounds really tempting!"

Hyuga Seisen neither accepted nor refused.

Tian Lu laughed. "Then think it over carefully."

Then she added, "Your uncle can be discharged tomorrow."

"Alright, thank you, Big Sister Tian Lu."

"I'll be going now."

"Take care!"

After Tian Lu left, Hyuga Kaze leaned closer with a gossiping look.

"That girl's not bad. Where did you meet her?"

"Dad, I'm only twelve."

"What's wrong with twelve? When I was twelve, I already had several girlfriends."

"But she's already eighteen. She's six years older than me."

"Older sisters know how to dote on people."

Hyuga Seisen rolled his eyes.

People in the ninja world really did mature early.

Still, Tian Lu's suggestion was indeed a good one.

Although he planned to become a medical ninja in a frontline squad, he could first transition through the hospital.

Accumulating more experience there was also a good path for his development.

He turned and saw that Hyuga Kaze was already able to eat on his own.

So he asked with concern, "Dad, how do you feel?"

"Better than ever. I probably won't even need to wait until tomorrow. I can likely be discharged later today."

Hyuga Seisen smiled at that.

Hyuga Kaze's recovery made him very happy as well.

He stood up and said, "Then Dad, handle the discharge paperwork yourself tomorrow."

"Grandma's been asking where you went. She said you never take two missions in a row."

"If you don't get discharged soon, I don't know how we'll explain it to her."

Hyuga Kaze smiled helplessly.

"Your grandmother is just like that. She worries too much."

The next day.

Hyuga Seisen went to school as usual.

The moment he entered the classroom, his classmates whispered among themselves about him.

He paid them no attention and walked straight to his seat.

He continued reading the school textbooks.

Before long, Inoue Lingyue entered.

A Hyuga Clan ninja in his twenties followed behind her.

However, Hyuga Seisen did not know this clansman.

"We will now have a surprise test!"

Holding a stack of papers, Inoue Lingyue spoke sternly.

"Ah, why are we having a test so soon? We've only had a few classes."

"Are you kidding? You didn't tell us the key points, and you didn't notify us in advance. Why are we taking a test?"

"Are you stupid? Didn't you hear her say it's a surprise test?"

The classroom erupted in wails of despair.

"Quiet!" Inoue Lingyue slammed a triangular ruler against the podium.

Only after the room had quieted down did she speak.

"This test is only to assess your current level. There will be no punishment, and the results will not be announced."

"You must show your true abilities during this test. Cheating is strictly forbidden."