Hey! Here she comes

Time rolled on, bringing them to Year 55 of Konoha.

It was Yu's fourth year with the Hyuga Clan, and his age was listed as seven on his Konoha identification card.

Over those four years, because of his origins, Yu had never taken a single step outside the Hyuga compound.

But even within that monotonous routine, life was never dull.

Because three years earlier, Hanabi had been born.

And then, quite naturally, Yu had become Hanabi's guardian.

Feeding her, playing with her, soothing her to sleep, changing diapers...

Apart from breastfeeding, Yu handled almost everything for little Hanabi~.

The only thing that gave Yu a slight headache was that, wonderful as Hanabi was, she was far too clingy!

If Yu left her side for even a moment, she would cry and fuss.

And no one but Yu could soothe her.

But the Main Family and the Branch Family did not live together. What could they do?

Hiashi had a solution.

Of the seven days in a week, Yu stayed at Hiashi's house on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, he took Hanabi home with him.

And so he shuttled back and forth!

As for training? Two years earlier, Hizashi had frankly admitted that he had nothing left to teach Yu. He would leave the rest to Yu and Neji to discuss and explore on their own, without his interference.

So for the past two years, Yu and Hanabi had been practically inseparable.

At three years old, Hanabi still had chubby little cheeks, and when she smiled, she looked like a happy bunny!

She could talk now, though her words were still babbly.

Today was Wednesday, and Yu was staying at Hiashi's house.

Hanabi lay on Yu's back, her large eyes studying the stack of white paper on the tatami in front of him with curiosity.

Strangely, although Yu never touched it, the paper began folding itself into paper airplanes that circled the room.

More and more paper airplanes took flight, never colliding or touching the floor!

"Heehee, hahaha! This is so fun! You're amazing, big brother Yu~O(∩_∩)O~~." Hanabi clapped her little hands and laughed nonstop.

This was an ability Yu had learned from the Book of the Gods a year earlier!

-Secret Technique: Michi-no-Uzunomikoto!

It allowed him to use psychic power to alter objects' shapes and control their movement.

In essence, this ability resembled psychokinesis!

Well, moving objects from a distance sounded a lot like Uchiha Shin's Dōjutsu in principle, right? But in practice, they were on entirely different levels, for three reasons.

First, Michinoue no Mikoto required no marking!

Second, with enough power, it could control any object, and even affect living beings!

Third, in theory, this technique could be used together with the Byakugan. Yu could not manage that yet, but once he could, it would be terrifying!

Yu unwrapped another piece of candy and placed it in Hanabi's mouth.

A sizeable pile of candy wrappers had already accumulated beside him!

Whoosh!

Under his psychic power, the wrappers joined together, their gaps vanished, and their corners closed up, forming a colorful "paper balloon"!

Chewing her candy, Hanabi turned all her attention to the paper balloon.

Yu blew the paper balloon round, tied its opening shut, supported its bottom with his hand, and gave it a gentle nudge. It floated up!

Hanabi reached for it but could not get it, and said in her babyish voice, "Yu~ lift me up~!"

"Hehe~!"

Yu picked little Hanabi up with both hands and raised her high~.

But who knew what genes Yu's Ōtsutsuki biological father had passed down to him?

In four years, Yu had grown only ten centimeters. He was still under one meter ten. At this rate, he would be lucky to reach one meter fifty as an adult~~!

"Damn it, the Book of the Gods has everything except a way to grow taller~~!"

How could Yu be so sure? Because over all these years, not a day had passed without him wishing he would hurry up and grow taller. Yet despite that off-the-charts desire, the Book of the Gods had never responded!

It left him in despair!

Even with Yu holding Hanabi up and Hanabi stretching out her hands, she could not reach the paper balloon floating by the ceiling!

"Ooh, ooh..." Hanabi grew anxious, tears welling in her eyes.

"Hehe..."

Yu could have made the paper balloon come down, but instead, he chose to send Hanabi up!

Whoosh! He let go, and Hanabi... floated!

Footsteps stopped outside the door!

Yu willed it.

Holding the paper balloon, Hanabi settled back onto his shoulders.

Rustle... the paper airplanes all over the room fell to the floor!

But there were too many. One slipped out of his control, spun around, and jabbed Hiashi in the forehead as he opened the door and walked in!

Plop!

Hiashi lowered his head and looked at the paper airplane by his feet, its tip bent into a hook, then at the mess filling the room. His expression was somewhat resigned.

"Yu, time to eat. Your father is joining us tonight too. There's something important we need to tell you."

Yu thought, They're being so serious. Could it be...

At the dinner table.

Hiashi said, "Yu, you're not that young anymore. Sooner or later, you'll have to become a ninja."

"To officially become a ninja, you need to study at the Ninja Academy and graduate."

"So, starting tomorrow, you'll be attending the Ninja Academy too!"

Yu thought, Ah, so it really was this?

Actually, based on his age, Yu could have enrolled last year.

But his origins were rather disreputable, after all. Hizashi had worried that if word got out, it would disgrace the Hyuga family's reputation.

Then something had happened last month.

Danzo had approached Hizashi and hinted that he wanted Yu to join Root!

Naturally, Hizashi refused. But Danzo actually threatened that if he did not agree, he would reveal Yu's background to everyone in the village-the fact that Hizashi had had an affair with a woman outside the village while on a mission-and ruin his reputation!

Hizashi was furious. Fortunately, Hiashi intervened!

The Hyuga Clan was a distinguished clan, after all, and even Danzo dared not act recklessly. The matter ended there.

But the incident also sounded a warning bell for the Hyuga Clan.

Root had already begun reaching toward them.

After careful consideration, Hizashi expressed his resolve to Hiashi. He wanted to face his shameful past, and hoped for Hiashi's understanding and support!

Hiashi said with relief that he had long been waiting for Hizashi to say that.

So he asked the Third Hokage to let word slip, allowing everyone in Konoha, young and old, to learn that someone named Yu existed.

That way, Danzo no longer had anything to hold over them.

Then Yu could openly leave the Hyuga compound, attend the Ninja Academy, and become a true ninja!

Yu had actually already prepared himself for this.

He looked at Hanabi, who had eaten her fill and was sleeping soundly with her head on his lap, and said, "Yeah, I'm fine with it, but what about the Second Miss?"

Hiashi stroked his chin. "At three years old, Hanabi is ready to start training too..."

Yu said, "But..."

Hiashi cut him off. "She's your girl. You soothe her!"

"..." For the first time, Yu was left speechless by a retort.

Oh well, that's what I was thinking too anyway. In Naruto-no, even in a certain island nation's culture-marrying cousins on either side of the family is legal...

Besides, hey! I may be in Konoha, and I may be with the Hyuga Clan, but I'm an Ōtsutsuki kid!

And so, through a mixture of coaxing and trickery, he won Hanabi over.

The next day.

Accompanied by Hizashi, he walked out through the Hyuga compound's gates.

They arrived at the Ninja Academy.

On the bustling Training Ground, children clustered together, laughing and playing. Some faces were familiar, others unfamiliar.

But the first person Yu noticed was a lonely blond boy sitting by himself on a swing.

Hizashi said, "That child is named Naruto Uzumaki. Seven years ago, the year you were born outside the village, the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked Konoha. In the end, the Nine-Tails was sealed inside that child, so the villagers see him as an ill omen..."

Of course Yu knew all about that. He had grown up watching Naruto!

Then, under Hizashi's astonished gaze, Yu walked up to the swing and spoke to the boy whose lowered head was buried in shadow.

-"Hello, my name is Yu. Would you like to be my friend?"

Stunned and bewildered, little Naruto slowly raised his bowed head. Before him was a smiling little face, and in the small hand held out toward him lay a piece of char siu-flavored candy!

"Good boy. I look forward to watching you grow!"

A breeze passed, and the astonishment on Hizashi's face turned into a gratified smile. He turned and left.

That was how Yu and Naruto met.