A Feeling

Hyuga Feng sighed helplessly as he watched the little girl hurry away.

"Today's the day you report to the Ninja Academy. Don't be late..."

Nai Hyuga paused slightly on her way out when she heard that, then turned around and replied, "I won't forget..."

With that, she ran out of sight.

"Clan head, are you really going to let that..."

After Nai Hyuga left, an elderly man stepped out from behind the curtain in the room.

"It's fine..."

"Besides, we can keep her under control, can't we?" Hyuga Feng's eyes darkened.

"Sit properly. You must all learn to be gentler from now on. You can't sit so carelessly."

Dozens of little girls dressed in kimonos knelt in the room.

A middle-aged woman struck a little girl beneath her with a ruler for sitting improperly.

Watching from nearby, Yui shrank back and hurriedly adjusted her posture.

But she hadn't slept all night. Though there were no dark circles visible on her face, she looked utterly exhausted.

"All right, one at a time. Stand up, then sit back down."

"Be more graceful..."

At her words, everyone began doing as the middle-aged woman instructed.

But Yui seemed a little too dazed to respond.

Even after hearing the instructions, she remained motionless for a long time.

"Hey, hey, hey. What's wrong with you?"

The middle-aged woman seemed to notice Yui's sluggish movements and strode over to her.

The sight of her half-closed eyes immediately filled the woman with anger.

"Yui Hyuga, what are you doing?"

The shout startled Yui back to her senses. Her wandering attention had made her doze off for a moment.

She hadn't expected to get caught.

She looked around and realized everyone else was already standing. She was the only one still kneeling.

Whoosh-

The middle-aged woman's ruler came swinging toward her thigh.

Seeing it, she resigned herself and closed her eyes, waiting for the pain. Perhaps it would wake her up a little.

Suddenly... everything around her fell silent. Even the middle-aged woman's voice disappeared.

When the pain still didn't come, Yui opened her eyes in confusion.

A familiar figure came into view.

The girl was gripping the ruler that had been about to strike Yui's thigh.

"Nai? What are you doing here..." Yui asked in confusion.

Wasn't she supposed to go to the Ninja Academy today? Why was she here?

"Lady Nai, this... this is against the rules..."

Having her strike interrupted greatly displeased the middle-aged woman, but there was nothing she could do. The girl belonged to the Main Family. A single incantation from her could leave them writhing in agony.

"Yui Hyuga has something to attend to today. The clan head's orders."

After saying that, Nai Hyuga released the ruler.

She took Yui by the arm and led her outside.

Watching the two leave the room, the middle-aged woman felt an inexplicable anger burning inside her.

She swept her gaze over the little girls in the room.

"Hmph. I can't discipline someone from the Main Family, but surely I can discipline you little brats?"

Nai Hyuga brought Yui into the shade of a tree.

"Nai, aren't you supposed to attend the Ninja Academy's welcome ceremony today?"

Yui looked Nai Hyuga in the eyes as she spoke.

But Nai shook her head.

"Yui, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" she asked, keeping her in suspense.

Yui gave her a strange look.

What was this about? Why all the mystery? Still, she didn't spoil Nai Hyuga's fun.

"Let's hear the good news first!" She wanted to find out what good thing had happened.

At that, Nai Hyuga smiled and said, "The good news! You have a chance to attend the Ninja Academy."

After saying that, Nai Hyuga kept watching Yui's expression.

She wanted to see the shock on Yui's face.

As expected, shock appeared on Yui's face, but it soon faded into dejection.

"A chance?" Yui asked.

Nai Hyuga nodded.

"Go find the clan head at the Training Ground this afternoon. He said that if you pass his test, he'll make an exception and let you attend the Ninja Academy."

"R-really?" Yui could hardly believe her ears, afraid she had misheard.

"Mm..." Nai Hyuga smiled and nodded.

With that second confirmation, Yui's heart began to leap with joy.

Only after quite some time did the excitement inside her finally settle.

"Then what's the bad news?"

At those words, Nai Hyuga's expression immediately fell.

"I'm sorry, Yui. I couldn't get you a chance to change your fate. You'll still have to return to the branch family after graduating from the Ninja Academy..."

A smile began to form on Yui's lips.

"Don't blame yourself. You must have done so much for me."

Yui drew Nai Hyuga into her arms and hugged her.

Though the two were the same age, Yui was still half a head taller than Nai Hyuga.

The sudden gesture startled Nai Hyuga. Then her cheeks began to grow warm, and Yui's gentle words reached her ears.

"Thank you, Nai. Thank you for doing so much for me. I don't know how I could ever repay you in this lifetime."

For some reason, those words made Nai Hyuga feel a tickle in her heart.

It was a strange feeling, but she couldn't explain what caused it.

The feeling grew stronger and stronger, making her uncomfortable.

She pulled free of Yui's embrace and hurried away from her.

"Yui... I have to report to the Ninja Academy... Make sure you go to the Training Ground this afternoon..." After giving those halting reminders, Nai Hyuga ran out of sight.

Watching Nai Hyuga's figure recede into the distance, a faint smile appeared on Yui's lips.

"So the little girl can get shy, too..."

After gathering her things, Nai Hyuga headed toward the Ninja Academy.

On the way, she couldn't help recalling the feeling she'd experienced while hugging Yui.

It had made her a little uncomfortable at the time, so she'd run away.

Yet thinking back on it afterward, she found it rather pleasant, even comforting.

It truly was a strange, contradictory feeling.

Lost in thought, she arrived at the Ninja Academy's plaza.

The students in the plaza who were awake stood in rows, listening to Lord Hokage's speech.

Nai Hyuga's eye twitched at the sight.

More than half the students listening in the plaza had fallen asleep. Only a small number were still listening with keen interest.

Judging by this, even though I'm this late, he still hasn't finished?

The notice said to arrive at eight, didn't it? It's almost noon now.

She'd come prepared to be punished for being late, but from the looks of things, perhaps she wouldn't have to be!

On the raised platform, the Third Hokage was delivering his speech with fervor.

"Where leaves dance, the fire burns on."

"The fire's shadow will illuminate the village."

"And allow new leaves to sprout."

"That concludes my speech. Welcome to all the Ninja Academy's new students."