The Cute Big Eater

At that moment, Hinata Ayane was happily wolfing down ramen.

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

At the two seats beside her, she had neatly stacked more than a dozen empty bowls at each spot, perfectly symmetrical.

Hyuga Qingchuan's eyes widened in shock.

Was a huge appetite hereditary among Hyuga Clan girls?

She ate that much!

Only then did he finally remember where the inexplicable sense of familiarity he had felt when he first met Hinata Ayane had come from.

Wasn't she practically a replica of Hinata, who would not be born until several years later?

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

That was why Hyuga Qingchuan had not recognized it right away.

It was not until now, when he saw so many empty bowls beside her.

That he remembered that more than twenty years later, there would also be a Byakugan girl.

Who would earn the title of greatest eater at Ichiraku Ramen.

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

At the table, Hinata Ayane was eating with immense delight.

Eating out was the happiest part of her day.

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

She never ate her fill.

Eating outside was still more enjoyable, though it did cost a bit of pocket money.

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

When she suddenly felt someone watching her.

She turned her head in confusion.

In an instant, her expression froze.

She even forgot to chew the noodles in her mouth.

"Q-Qingchuan, why are you here?"

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

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

Within two seconds, her posture suddenly became dignified and elegant.

"I came to try this ramen place. I heard it was delicious," Hyuga Qingchuan said with a smile.

"Ah, y-yes, it really is delicious."

She shifted to the side, signaling for Hyuga Qingchuan to sit beside her.

Hyuga Qingchuan sat down beside her with a smile and ordered a bowl of miso ramen from Ichiraku.

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

He did not know how to deal with them for a moment.

Only then did Hinata Ayane realize the problem.

Her face flushed red, and she immediately looked toward 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. Hearing that, he turned around with a baffled expression.

After his brain stalled for a moment, he finally caught on.

"Ah, yes, yes."

He hurried forward and took away all the empty bowls beside Hinata Ayane.

As he carried them away, he awkwardly apologized to the two of them with a fawning smile.

"Sorry, I've been too busy. Please forgive me!"

Hyuga Qingchuan could not help but laugh at the sight.

He played along and said, "Business is good. I understand."

Afterward, he started chatting with Hinata Ayane.

Ichiraku quickly brought over the ramen Hyuga Qingchuan had ordered.

The two ate and talked.

Before long.

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

Yet she was still eating slowly, as if she were 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 noodles, packed another serving for Hyuga Kaze, and found an excuse to slip away so Hinata Ayane could continue showing off her appetite.

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

"All done!" Tian Lu dispersed the glow in her hand and smiled happily.

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

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

"Sorry to trouble you."

After resting for an hour, Tian Lu gathered green light in her hands again and covered Hyuga Kaze's body with it.

Her control was exceptionally precise.

Her hands continuously guided pure Yang Release chakra into the torn muscle fibers.

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

She repeatedly glanced at the examination report beside her.

She continuously adjusted the strength of the chakra's penetration according to the locations listed in the report.

Seeing this, Hyuga Qingchuan activated his Byakugan to assist her treatment.

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

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

"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 reached out to pinch Hyuga Qingchuan's cheek.

He dodged her in one motion, but when she reached out to pinch him again.

Hyuga Qingchuan hurriedly shouted, "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 saves a lot of effort."

"After graduation, are you interested in working at the hospital? It's far better than fighting and killing on the front lines."

"At the hospital?"

"That's right. Don't waste the Byakugan's talent. This year, the village intends to expand the ranks of medical ninja."

Hyuga Qingchuan was somewhat tempted by her words.

Although he wanted to become a medical ninja only so he could support his team from the rear, not because he did not want to go to the front lines.

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

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

"That sounds really tempting!"

Hyuga Qingchuan neither accepted nor refused.

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

She continued, "Your uncle can be discharged tomorrow."

"Alright, thank you, Sister Tian Lu."

"I'll be leaving first, then."

"Take care!"

After Tian Lu left, Hyuga Kaze leaned over with a gossipy expression.

"That girl seems nice. Where did you meet her?"

"Dad, I'm only twelve."

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

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

"Older sisters know how to care for people better."

Hyuga Qingchuan rolled his eyes at that.

People in the Shinobi World really did mature early.

Still, Tian Lu's suggestion just now was indeed good.

Although he planned to be a medical ninja in a frontline squad, starting out at the hospital first.

And accumulating more experience would also be a good path for development.

He turned and saw that Hyuga Kaze was already able to eat by himself.

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

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

Hyuga Qingchuan smiled upon hearing that.

He was also very happy that Hyuga Kaze had recovered.

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

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

"If you don't leave the hospital soon, I don't know how we'll explain it to her."

Hyuga Kaze smiled helplessly.

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

The next day.

Hyuga Qingchuan went to school as usual.

The moment he entered the classroom, the students were whispering about him.

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

He continued reading the school textbooks.

Before long, Inoue Lingyue walked in.

Behind her was a Hyuga Clan ninja in his twenties.

But Hyuga Qingchuan did not know this clansman.

"We will now conduct a pop quiz!"

Inoue Lingyue held a stack of test papers and spoke sternly.

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

"Are you kidding? You didn't highlight the important material or give us advance notice. Why are we taking a test already?"

"Are you stupid? Didn't you hear her say it's a pop quiz?"

The classroom erupted in groans of despair.

"Quiet!" Inoue Lingyue repeatedly smacked the lectern with a triangular ruler.

Only after the room had quieted down did she speak.

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

"You must perform according to your true abilities. Cheating is strictly forbidden."