"Riiing~"
As the bell rang, the sixth-year students of the Ninja Academy filed into the examination room.
Most of them were nervous.
After six years of study, whether they could become ninja came down to today.
For the top students, however, exams were nothing more than routine.
Yemu was one of them.
Having held the top spot year after year, he sparked chatter and commotion whenever he passed by.
Most people looked at Yemu with envy, wishing they could take his place.
What really annoyed them was that he was not only handsome, but also constantly accompanied by two stunning beauties.
Before long, the exam was over.
Yemu returned to his classroom and gazed at the familiar surroundings, feeling wistful.
Six years had passed in the blink of an eye.
At least in these final moments, Yemu hoped he could commit it all to memory.
"Yemu, do you want hot pot tonight? To celebrate passing our exams."
Hinata Hyuga's gentle voice reached his ears.
Over the years, Hinata had always sat to Yemu's left, while Qingxue Uchiha sat in front of him.
Looking back on their occasional laughter and fun, those were truly memories worth cherishing.
School days really are wonderful, Yemu thought.
"I don't think you want to celebrate. You just want hot pot, don't you?"
Qingxue Uchiha turned around with a smug expression.
"Uh..."
Hinata's pretty face flushed, but not because of Qingxue's words. She had remembered that Yemu had apparently carried her here on his back.
At the thought, her chest felt strangely tight and warm.
"Behave, you two."
Yemu Hyuga spoke softly, propping his cheek on one hand as he watched cherry blossoms flutter down outside the window.
Right now, he only wanted to spend these last moments in peace.
Because after today, they would have to face the cruelty of this shinobi world.
Just as Yemu had expected.
The graduation exam results came out quickly.
"Congratulations on graduating, everyone!!"
"Everyone, come collect your Genin forehead protectors."
In the Academy square, Iruka wiped tears from his eyes. Seeing the students he had taught for six years all graduate, he could not contain his emotions.
"From today onward, you're ninja. In a few days, the Academy will assign Jonin instructors to the outstanding graduates. Just wait for the notice."
Iruka began handing out Konoha's ninja forehead protectors.
"Yemu, put mine on for me~"
Holding her Genin forehead protector, Qingxue Uchiha offered it to Yemu Hyuga, a faint smile on her cool, beautiful face.
By now, Qingxue Uchiha had undoubtedly become the secret crush of countless boys at the Academy.
But when they saw Yemu Hyuga...
Their hearts filled with sorrow. They had barely fallen in love before suffering heartbreak.
There was nothing they could do. The girl of their dreams was hopelessly devoted to someone else.
"Don't you have hands?"
Yemu Hyuga tied his ninja forehead protector around his left shoulder. He was not used to wearing it on his forehead.
Doing so would only dull his perception.
"I want you to put it on. This is a historic moment."
"All right, all right."
Looking resigned, Yemu Hyuga brushed aside Qingxue Uchiha's bangs and tied the ninja forehead protector around her head.
That intimate gesture made Qingxue Uchiha's eyes soften with affection, and her body could not help trembling slightly.
Just as Qingxue Uchiha was basking in the moment...
Hinata Hyuga, standing nearby with her forehead protector clasped in both hands, quietly worked up her courage and jogged over.
"Um... Yemu, I'd like you to put mine on for me too."
Hinata Hyuga's voice was soft and shy, her head lowered as though she wanted to bury it in her chest.
Yemu's hand froze as he stroked Qingxue Uchiha's head.
He came back to his senses.
What's going on?
How did my hand end up on Qingxue's head without me noticing?
Damn it, this woman is too dangerous.
She's like a little kitten. I can't help petting her a few more times.
"Sure."
Yemu Hyuga nodded and fastened the ninja forehead protector around Hinata Hyuga's neck.
If he remembered correctly, that was where Hinata Hyuga wore her forehead protector in the original story.
Hinata Hyuga's ears turned scarlet. With Yemu practically pressed against her, she could easily smell the pleasant, fresh scent on him.
The sensation left Hinata lightheaded.
"From now on, you two are ninja. Don't go causing trouble for me, okay?"
Hands on his hips, Yemu Hyuga looked at the two girls and nodded in satisfaction.
He felt like an old master watching the disciples he had taught for years finally become ready to venture out into the world.
"Yes, Master. I won't cause any trouble~"
Qingxue Uchiha smiled faintly, a bloody gleam flashing through her eyes.
So this girl really is a romantic rival, huh?
As for Hinata, she still had not recovered from what had happened earlier and merely nodded dazedly in agreement.
That night.
Yemu Hyuga lay on the sofa, his head resting on a pair of full thighs clad in black tights.
Qingxue Uchiha reached out with her slender hands and gently tidied Yemu Hyuga's hair, her lips curving upward as joy bubbled inside her.
Hahaha.
Only at times like this, when Hinata went off to cook, did Yemu belong to her alone.
Yemu Hyuga remained expressionless. Of course he understood what Qingxue was thinking.
[Qingxue Uchiha is happy... harvested 500+ emotion points] [Qingxue Uchiha is excited... harvested 200+ emotion points]
There was no helping it. To harvest emotion points and evolve his tenseigan faster, Yemu would take the initiative to get a little closer to Qingxue in the evenings.
Of course, harvesting emotions might just have been an excuse. Yemu admitted that he might truly have fallen into the embrace of comfort and affection.
"Ah~ Open wide."
Qingxue Uchiha put a grape into her mouth, peeled it with the tip of her tongue, then slowly leaned down.
Over in the kitchen...
Yemu Hyuga's Shadow Clone was helping Hinata with the cooking.
"It's ready, Yemu! Time to eat!"
Looking delighted, Hinata Hyuga carried the prepared hot pot into the living room.
"All right, all right."
Yemu got up and hurried over.
The Shadow Clone helping carry the ingredients instantly vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Hm? Hinata, why aren't you sitting down?"
Seeing Hinata still standing where she was, Yemu felt a little puzzled.
"Um..." Hinata clasped her hands together, barely daring to look at Yemu Hyuga. "Um, Yemu, I'd like today's reward."
"Oh, that."
Understanding dawned on Yemu Hyuga's face.
He beckoned Hinata Hyuga over.
Then Yemu Hyuga reached out and patted Hinata's head.
Unlike Qingxue Uchiha, Hinata Hyuga always treated others gently. Even when she was covered in wounds herself, she remained as gentle as water.
Their years together had left Yemu Hyuga unable to bear rejecting or hurting her.
At worst, Qingxue would come at me with a cleaver someday.
I'm not weak anyway. Who's afraid of whom?
But just then...
Yemu Hyuga felt something soft press against him. Hinata had launched a surprise attack, tackling him bust-first.
"Yemu, I need to recharge too~"
Blushing, Hinata Hyuga hugged Yemu tightly, displaying a rare mixture of nervousness and boldness.
At the sight, Qingxue Uchiha, who sat beside Yemu Hyuga, raised an eyebrow. Her hand trembled, and she nearly crushed the cup in her grip.
Fine, fine, fine. I only took a couple more bites of beef, and you busty woman went straight for a head start, huh?
Meanwhile, just as Yemu Hyuga was about to meet a Nice Boat ending...
Over at the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a troubled expression as he wrestled with the Jonin instructor and team assignments.
Before you continue