I'm Cursing the Hokage Himself

"Teacher Kurenai, look at those two! They're getting more and more outrageous!"

Kiba Inuzuka jumped up in anger.

For someone as single as him, this was a devastating blow.

"Didn't Kanami say it? We're cabbages."

"Let's go, Cabbage Number Two."

Kurenai Yuhi wore a knowing smile and took the initiative to give Kanami and Hinata some space.

"Damn Kanami, I'm going to find myself a girlfriend too!"

Kiba Inuzuka glared viciously at the intimate pair before leaving in resentment.

Kurenai Yuhi, who was walking ahead, suddenly thought of something and called out, "Cabbage Number Three, aren't you coming?"

"Did they notice me?"

With both hands in his pockets, Shino Aburame calmly stepped out from behind a tree, his expression unchanged.

After everyone else had left, the two of them still kept their foreheads pressed together.

They could clearly feel each other's breath.

"The food will get cold," Hinata said softly.

"Mm, I know."

Kanami reluctantly pulled his forehead away from Hinata's.

Since arriving in the Ninja World, this was the first time he had truly felt a sense of belonging with Hinata.

For thirteen years, he had been like an orphan wandering far from home, without any sense of belonging. Even though he knew the plot inside out, he had never tried to change anything or profit from it.

The two leaned against the large tree and sat together.

Blushing, Hinata adjusted the bangs on her forehead and shifted slightly closer to Kanami.

Her movements were slow, though. She was a little shy and afraid of disturbing Kanami while he ate.

Kanami had already noticed her little movements.

What a fool.

He took the initiative and leaned closer to Hinata.

Feeling his movement, Hinata hugged her knees and shyly buried her face against her chest.

In the quiet surroundings, even the sound of her heart pounding like a startled deer was clearly audible.

Kanami took large bites of the bento Hinata had made for him.

In truth, he was not as calm as he looked. He was merely pretending to be calm, and he did not even notice himself swallowing the vegetables he hated most.

Seeing him wolfing it down, Hinata shyly asked, "Is it good...?"

"It's good. Very good."

"I'm glad it suits your taste. I was worried you might not like it. By the way, what do you like to eat? I'll make it for you again next time."

Hinata lowered her face even further.

It was normal for good friends to cook for each other, right? Would doing this put Kanami in an awkward position?

In her understanding, one had to be at least sixteen to date. For now, she could only be good friends with Kanami.

Kanami spoke while eating, "I don't have any particular favorites. If I had to name one, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, I guess."

As for food in the Ninja World, there was nothing he particularly liked. The only exception was scrambled eggs with tomatoes, perhaps because of some nostalgic attachment to his previous life.

"Alright, I'll make scrambled eggs with tomatoes next time."

Hearing the seriousness in Hinata's voice, Kanami said with some heartache, "Silly girl, you need to rest more when you have the time."

"It's fine. I'm very practiced at it, so making a bento doesn't take very long."

"Then if there's a chance, call me over. I'll help you out."

"Okay," Hinata answered, then remembered what her father had said.

Her gaze dimmed. "Maybe not. My father is very strict."

Kanami swallowed the last bite in one mouthful and closed the lunchbox.

"People don't hit a smiling face. Next time, I'll bring a gift. Your father will surely be too embarrassed to hit me."

"But..."

Hinata could not bring herself to tell him that Hyuga Hiashi did not approve of her being close to Kanami.

She did not want Kanami and her father to become enemies.

"Don't worry."

Kanami smiled and rubbed her head.

He found that he liked touching her hair more and more. Compared to his own rough hair, Hinata's hair felt surprisingly nice.

After Hinata carefully put away the bento, the two quietly leaned against each other.

Kanami, whose mental energy had been drained too heavily, soon fell asleep against Hinata's shoulder.

Noticing this, Hinata did not dare move carelessly, afraid of waking him.

And so, Hinata remained completely motionless.

No one knew how much time passed.

Kanami's head slipped from Hinata's shoulder.

The sudden sensation of his head dropping woke him at once.

Did I fall asleep?

He looked around. At some point, the sky had already darkened.

Then he noticed that Hinata beside him seemed to have fallen asleep as well.

Her posture looked very uncomfortable. She hugged her knees tightly, her hands clasped firmly together. Normally, someone asleep would unconsciously loosen their grip.

But she had not. Even asleep, her hands still seemed to be exerting force.

Hm?

Kanami saw the red mark on Hinata's shoulder and remembered that he had fallen asleep leaning against her shoulder. No wonder he had slept so soundly.

She must have kept her hands clenched so tightly to keep from waking him, right?

"I'm such an idiot."

He suddenly slapped his forehead, filled with regret.

"Mmm... You're awake?"

Hinata rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at Kanami.

Seeing that he had woken her again only made Kanami feel more guilty.

"Get on."

He stepped forward and crouched in front of Hinata.

Still groggy from sleep, Hinata was a little confused. She did not know what he intended to do.

Then Kanami grabbed her small hands, draped them over his shoulders, and suddenly stood up.

Hinata clung to his back like a koala.

Kanami reached back again, caught her ankles, tucked them against his sides, and then held onto her calves.

Hinata immediately woke up fully, and her face instantly turned crimson.

"Kanami, what are you doing...?"

"I'm taking you home."

"Could you put me down? I can walk by myself..."

"No."

Kanami carried her toward the distance. No matter how Hinata wriggled and struggled, he would not let her go.

He liked Hinata's gentleness and kindness, but he did not like how she always accommodated others and made herself suffer.

He did not want to see her efforts constantly go unrewarded.

Even if she did not need it, he would still do it.

"Hinata."

"Mm, what is it?"

No longer struggling, Hinata blushed and shifted herself a little higher, making it easier for Kanami to carry her.

"Don't care too much about what others think. Can you just be yourself?"

"Mm..."

Kanami's eyes were firm as he walked down the road.

He knew Hinata's nature would not be easy to change, but he had already decided to help her change, at least little by little.

At the very least, he wanted her to become confident.

Since it was not too late yet, there were still quite a few pedestrians in the alleyways.

Kanami carried Hinata through the alley, and before long, they attracted countless gazes.

Hinata pressed her face into his neck and whispered, "Put me down. So many people are looking at us..."

"It's fine. I'll take a route without people."

Kanami forcefully leaped into the air and landed atop the surrounding houses, heading straight toward the Hyuga compound.

"Won't this attract even more attention?"

Kanami smiled. "But they don't know who we are."

That seemed to make sense...

The corners of Hinata's lips curled up slightly. Smiling, she hugged Kanami tightly.

After Kanami leaped away, the sound of a man cursing came from behind them.

"Which bastard is jumping around on rooftops again?! Dust fell into my soup!"

"Forget it, forget it. It must be the Hokage's people carrying out a mission."

A young woman grabbed hold of the cursing man.

The man looked displeased and cursed loudly, "So what if it's the Hokage?! I'm cursing the Hokage himself! You fucking Hokage, you fucking—"

It was clear that ninjas jumping around on rooftops was not a one-time occurrence. The man had clearly built up a deep resentment, and it had finally erupted.

"Oh, you're going to be the death of me."

The woman hurriedly covered his mouth and dragged him into the house, afraid someone else might hear him.