Hinata to the rescue

"What's got you so smug, Sasuke, you arrogant jerk?"

Naruto Uzumaki instantly lost his temper at the disdainful looks Sasuke kept throwing his way.

"Brother Mang already promised he'd take me to pick up a mission."

Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Heh, Luo Mang hasn't even said who he's going with yet."

Then they turned the question over to Luo Mang. Naruto Uzumaki pleaded with sparkling eyes, while Sasuke waited for his answer too.

His behavior confirmed that he had a Diary. Sasuke Uchiha was still relatively normal at this point, not yet so unhinged that he would stab someone who had saved his life.

Besides, unlike Naruto, he wasn't under Konoha's surveillance and enjoyed considerable freedom. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to defect from the village later.

He was half a savior himself, so there was nothing wrong with getting on good terms with him.

After all, if Luo Mang failed to draw anything good, these two would still be the ones standing on the front lines in the future.

But seeing how they still mixed like oil and water, was this the power of their inherited legacy?

"Well..."

Just as Luo Mang was hesitating, a soft voice suddenly reached all three of them from nearby.

"Mang..."

He tilted his head toward that familiar voice, and sure enough, there was Hinata Hyuga.

Her petite frame looked plump in her thick coat. She also wore a white hat, and held one little hand in a loose fist beside her mouth. Together with her shy expression, it made her look very cute.

"Hinata?"

She really had come to see him. Luo Mang found it a little odd. Her home was so far away-how early had she gotten up to make it here?

A rambling Naruto, a silent Sasuke, and finally, an adorable little girl. Luo Mang's choice seemed pretty obvious.

He went around the two in front of him and ran toward Hinata.

"Mang..."

As he approached, Hinata shyly lowered her head and called to him softly.

"Why won't you look at me?"

With the pocket world, Luo Mang suddenly had confidence and no longer needed to deliberately avoid her. If a Byakugan wielder really had been sent to assassinate him, he could retreat into the pocket world in time. At worst, he could take little Hinata and elope.

"I, I..."

Hinata lifted her head slightly, her small cherry-like lips stammering twice. She wanted to do as he said and look up, but in the end, she lowered her head again. She was afraid Luo Mang would dislike her eyes.

"Your eyes are beautiful. Would you lift your head and let me see them?"

As the clan's eldest daughter, she had considerable talent with the Byakugan. Perhaps he might draw something in the future that could help her evolve it into the tenseigan, making her a powerful ally down the line.

So Luo Mang still hoped she could become a little more confident. She didn't need to be as hot-tempered as her counterpart in the genjutsu world, but she could at least become a normal person who dared to fight and give things her all.

Still, real life couldn't be rushed. Progress had to come one step at a time.

"B-b-beautiful!"

At the blunt compliment, Hinata's face flushed scarlet at a visible speed. The praise repeated wildly in her mind, and steam instantly rose from her head.

While the two of them enjoyed their warm exchange, the pair standing behind them at the doorway felt awkward.

"What's Hinata doing here to see Luo Mang? Does this mean he won't have time today?"

Naruto looked as though he had swallowed a fly. He had been hoping Luo Mang would guide him again today.

After all, someone had specifically requested Luo Mang for a mission yesterday, and Naruto still had plenty to learn. But from the looks of it, there would be no guidance today.

"Hmm?"

Sasuke Uchiha showed no displeasure. Instead, he rubbed his chin, his gaze flicking quickly between the two.

The other party's background was not bad either; after all, she was the young lady of the Hyuga Clan, and Bloodline Sacrifice was on par with their Sharingan. Surely she could be considered a match?

Why wasn't he thinking that Luo Mang wasn't worthy of the clan's young lady? Naturally, it was because Luo Mang was a member of his own clan.

Besides, he had something like the Diary, with the ability to predict and reveal future events.

Even without any offensive abilities, once that power was publicized and verified, every village would want to recruit him.

For the Hyuga Clan to marry into their family would be a tremendous honor-that was how Sasuke saw it, anyway. Since his clansman had other plans today, he shouldn't disturb him, so he prepared to leave.

His goal today had been to build a good relationship with Luo Mang. If today didn't work, he could come back tomorrow or the day after. For now, he would head to the river again, wait for Kakashi, and practice Ninjutsu.

"Since you're busy, I won't disturb you. I'll be going."

With that, Sasuke left.

"Ah, Luo Mang, I'll head out too. See you tomorrow."

Hearing that, Naruto Uzumaki opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only sigh helplessly, nod, and leave as well.

Only Luo Mang and Hinata remained.

"I, I..."

Hinata began stammering again, her small cherry-like lips opening and closing.

Luo Mang looked a little helpless. He could tell that she was blaming herself for interrupting him.

"It's all right. What brings you here, little Hinata?"

"Mang, I, I..."

Hinata fell into another bout of stammering, leaving Luo Mang to guess why she had come.

"Never mind. You're here to see me anyway. I'm about to have breakfast. Would you like to join me?"

"Ah, ah..."

She hesitated, but Luo Mang gave her no chance to refuse. He took her little hand, ignored the way she now resembled a steam engine, and led her into the house.

"My cooking isn't very good, so please bear with me. You treated me to ramen last time, so this time it's my turn."

He spoke to Hinata as they walked, and she meekly followed him.

Once inside, Hinata looked around. The house wasn't very big: there was a kitchen to the left of the entryway and a bedroom upstairs on the second floor, and that was all. It wasn't spacious at all.

Yet for some reason, the scent of the place made Hinata feel safe as soon as she entered.

Luo Mang brought Hinata into the kitchen and had her sit on a stool. The house was so small that it didn't even have a living room.

But he couldn't have her sit in the entryway, much less take her straight to his bedroom on her first visit, so the kitchen was their only option.

It was little Hinata's first visit to a stranger's home, and she was still rather tense. Even her legs didn't swing as she sat on the stool, which said it all.

Still, her thick clothing kept her fair little legs covered.

"Have a seat for a moment."

With that, Luo Mang began preparing breakfast. He got the rice cooking, chopped the vegetables, then started stir-frying. Waves of delicious aroma drifted over.

Saliva quickly pooled in Hinata's mouth. Gulp.

She swallowed hard.

"It smells... so good."

Hinata had come so early today that she hadn't eaten anything. If she waited until after breakfast, her father would drag her off to train.

Even when she occasionally got a break, he would never agree to let her spend time with a man who hadn't even become a Genin.