Qingxue Uchiha had failed to register what was happening from beginning to end.
All she saw was Yemu Hyuga vanish before her eyes. Then the wind whistled past her ears every so often, and by the time her surroundings came back into focus, the two dark figures were already sprawled on the ground.
Overwhelmed by fear, Qingxue Uchiha quickly ran to Yemu Hyuga's side.
As she looked at the two dark figures on the ground, a flash of crimson flickered through her black eyes, and she inexplicably passed out.
Qingxue had intended to pick up a rock from the ground and smash it against their heads.
Who knew this would happen instead?
???
A little puzzled, Yemu Hyuga supported Qingxue and activated his Byakugan. The clothes on Qingxue Uchiha's body quickly became transparent...
The black-and-white view was far too stimulating.
Yemu Hyuga shook his head. Back in his previous life, this sort of thing could have landed him at least three years in prison.
Quickly shifting his gaze, Yemu Hyuga discovered that a large amount of chakra was clearly gathering around Qingxue Uchiha's eyes.
However, Qingxue Uchiha had never trained to extract chakra before.
As a result, her body's reserves had been drained in an instant. Much like someone with low blood sugar, her vision had gone black, and she had passed out.
"Wait, is she about to awaken her Sharingan?" Yemu Hyuga's eyes widened.
How old was she, anyway?
By comparison, Uchiha Sasuke next door would probably cry himself unconscious in the bathroom.
The next day.
Yemu Hyuga had only just woken up.
Boom!
An explosion rang out from the kitchen.
Yemu Hyuga instantly went on combat alert.
"What are you doing?"
Yemu Hyuga entered the already cramped kitchen. Looking at the exploded iron pot on the stove and the rice water splattered all over the walls, he felt like cursing.
"I... I wanted to make you some porridge." Qingxue Uchiha looked bewildered and completely at a loss.
"How did you manage this? I barely had any rice, and you used up all of it?"
Yemu Hyuga looked at the now-empty rice jar.
A sense of helplessness welled up inside him.
Damn it, that was my food for the entire month! Now that she's wasted all of it, am I supposed to live on thin air?
"I wanted to surprise you, so I tried using chakra to cook it faster." Qingxue Uchiha hung her little head. She had thought the energy she had just learned to extract could do anything.
Apparently, that wasn't the case.
"A surprise? You certainly gave me one." Yemu Hyuga held out his hand. "How are you going to compensate me? You broke the only pot in my house. As a young lady from a wealthy family, you ought to pay me back, right?"
At that, Qingxue Uchiha put on a serious expression and cautiously said, "Um, can I give you myself as compensation?"
"Oh, get out of here. How is that compensation? That would be a reward for you. You're dreaming, little lady."
Yemu Hyuga waved his hand, resigned himself to his bad luck, and promptly punched Qingxue Uchiha in the forehead.
Dusting off his sleeves, Yemu Hyuga left for school without looking back.
On the way.
Perhaps because she had done something wrong, Qingxue Uchiha didn't quite dare stay close to Yemu Hyuga.
She even kept a considerable distance, only trailing after him from afar.
Every now and then, she hid behind a utility pole and peeked out at Yemu Hyuga ahead of her, looking especially cute.
Naturally, Yemu Hyuga noticed Qingxue Uchiha behind him.
But he wasn't worried in the slightest.
Things were different now.
He now truly had a cheat, and no longer feared being forcibly pinned down by someone stronger.
"G-good morning."
As he passed a corner, Yemu Hyuga heard a soft, timid voice beside him.
He turned in confusion and saw a cute, short-haired girl with the Byakugan.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she seemed too shy to look directly at Yemu Hyuga.
"Good morning, young lady."
Yemu Hyuga was a little surprised. He glanced around Hinata and discovered that her guards hadn't stopped him.
Then again, that made sense. Members of the Hyuga Branch Family couldn't easily harm members of the Main Family.
"Did the sun rise in the west today? The young lady actually greeted me first?"
Yemu walked along the edge of the street, curious about Hinata's change.
What was going on?
Surely this had nothing to do with chasing off those three boys who bullied her three years ago?
"Um... thank you."
Hinata Hyuga's little face reddened as she mustered the courage to say those words.
She tilted her head slightly and looked at Yemu Hyuga's matching pair of Byakugan eyes. An inexplicable sense of disappointment arose within her.
Sometimes, she wondered.
How nice would it be if Yemu weren't a member of the Hyuga Clan?
"Thank me? What are you thanking me for?"
Yemu Hyuga scratched his head, not quite understanding.
However.
Before Yemu Hyuga and Hinata could continue their conversation, he suddenly noticed another dark figure beside him.
Just from that distinctive lavender scent.
Yemu could tell who she was with his eyes closed.
Did this girl walk without making a sound?
And that wasn't all.
Yemu Hyuga also noticed the Hyuga Clan guards nearby visibly tense up as Qingxue Uchiha approached.
As for how he could tell.
Possessing the bloodline of the Ōtsutsuki Clan had caused Yemu Hyuga's Byakugan abilities to mutate to an almost terrifying degree.
"Hello."
Qingxue Uchiha walked beside Yemu, looking straight down the street. Her delicate little face was as cold as an iceberg.
However.
After waiting a moment.
Qingxue Uchiha still heard no response.
Somewhat surprised, she turned her head and widened her eyes at Hinata, who was walking on Yemu's left.
Seeing the girl with her head lowered, remaining silent, she felt, for once, that this might be tricky.
Was she trying to put me in my place?
"Huh? A-are you talking to me?" Hinata seemed to notice Qingxue Uchiha's icy scrutiny too, and turned her head timidly to meet her eyes.
"What's your relationship with Yemu?"
Qingxue Uchiha asked coldly.
Before Qingxue could pressure Hinata any further, she felt a stab of pain in her forehead.
"Ow!"
Qingxue Uchiha clutched her forehead and looked at Yemu resentfully. "Stop hitting me like that, or I won't grow any taller."
"How tall do you want to be?" Yemu Hyuga asked casually.
"Well, just a little shorter than you. Then all I'll have to do is stand on tiptoe, and you'll be within reach whenever I want to kiss..."
Before Qingxue Uchiha could continue fantasizing about the future.
Yemu Hyuga interrupted her answer. "What nonsense are you talking about, little lady? Don't be a bad influence on the kids."
"Tch."
Qingxue Uchiha rolled her eyes.
She glanced once more at the silent Hinata Hyuga, dismissing her as a rival.
With the two girls flanking him, Yemu Hyuga entered the classroom.
"Bastard."
Sasuke Uchiha watched the girls in the classroom become noticeably livelier after Yemu Hyuga entered, his eyes filled with hostility.
He didn't particularly care about such things.
But as a proud member of the Uchiha Clan, how could he let someone from the Hyuga Branch Family outshine him?
He was the son of the Uchiha Clan's leader.
And the younger brother of the genius ninja, Uchiha Itachi!
He shouldn't lose to someone else so easily!
Before you continue