Hyuga Hiashi's sudden question left Hinata Hyuga stunned.
She had never expected her father to take an interest in Shiki-kun.
What did I think of him?
Hinata Hyuga recalled how Shihui Aburame had helped her out and taken her out to eat, and her face flushed slightly.
She hurriedly lowered her head, thought for a moment, and said earnestly, "I think Shiki-kun is amazing."
Shiki-kun?
Was she already addressing him so familiarly?
Hyuga Hiashi frowned slightly.
What could be so amazing about a little brat?
Hanabi Hyuga looked up at Hinata Hyuga.
A little curiosity showed in her white eyes.
Shihui Aburame?
I wonder what kind of person could stay on my sister's mind.
"He can use ninjutsu."
Hinata Hyuga added.
She had naturally assumed that Moon Blade was ninjutsu.
Hyuga Hiashi looked thoughtful.
Being able to use ninjutsu at six did indicate considerable talent.
But that was all.
He was no match for Uchiha Itachi next door.
As a clan as renowned as the Uchiha Clan, the Hyuga Clan had always been under considerable pressure.
The Uchiha simply had too many geniuses.
First came Shisui Uchiha, then Uchiha Itachi.
But what about the Hyuga Clan?
Apart from Neji Hyuga, the less said, the better.
And he belonged to the branch family.
"Oh, right!"
Hinata Hyuga suddenly raised her voice. "Shiki-kun became Lady Tsunade's apprentice!"
"What did you say?"
Hyuga Hiashi abruptly raised his head and asked in surprise, "Are you sure?"
"Lord Hokage and Lady Tsunade came to school together today and called Shiki-kun out in front of us."
Hinata Hyuga looked as though she shared in his honor.
"I see."
Hyuga Hiashi no longer doubted it.
Hanabi Hyuga blinked.
It was the first time she had seen her father lose his composure a little.
For a moment, she grew even more curious about Shihui Aburame.
"Hinata."
Hyuga Hiashi said with a serious expression, "He can be your friend."
The Hyuga Clan had maintained its foothold in Konoha by staying in line.
They supported whoever won.
They would not take sides lightly before the very end.
Right now, Konoha's winners were naturally the Hokage faction led by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"He already is my friend."
Hinata Hyuga tilted her head, not understanding what Hyuga Hiashi meant.
"Eat."
Hyuga Hiashi offered no further explanation.
She was still young. She would understand later.
The night deepened.
Snow began falling outside the window.
Morning came.
Shihui Aburame had barely stretched his hand out before immediately pulling it back.
After dawdling for a while, he finally broke free of the seal of his warm covers, got up, and dressed.
"Shiki."
At the front door, Shibi Aburame reminded him, "You must listen to Lady Tsunade when you're with her. Don't talk back to her."
He knew Shihui Aburame well.
Although he was usually mature and steady, he occasionally said startling things.
Shino Aburame nodded in agreement.
Growing up, he had never understood some of his older brother's actions-or rather, his outrageous remarks-but they had certainly shocked him.
"I understand."
Shihui Aburame smiled faintly.
Even if he was going to push back against her, it would not be now, but later.
"Be careful on the way."
Shibi Aburame waved and watched them leave.
Light snow drifted from the sky, adding a touch of white to Konoha.
Shihui Aburame suddenly stopped.
Sasuke Uchiha appeared at the end of the street.
Unlike his usual aloof self, he wore a brilliant smile.
The reason was the young ninja beside him, Uchiha Itachi.
"It's him."
Sasuke Uchiha noticed Shihui Aburame.
"A classmate of yours?"
Uchiha Itachi glanced over and asked.
"He's pretty strong."
Sasuke Uchiha lifted his chin slightly and said proudly, "Of course, he's still nowhere near me."
"Don't underestimate any ninja," Uchiha Itachi said with a smile.
"I know."
Sasuke Uchiha inwardly disagreed.
"Since we've run into your classmates, go to school with them."
Uchiha Itachi reached out and tapped his forehead. "Sorry, Sasuke. I've been very busy lately."
This again.
Sasuke Uchiha pouted, a little unhappy, but ultimately agreed.
"If I have time, I'll pick you up after school."
Uchiha Itachi took a step back, his body turning into crows and vanishing.
That move is so cool.
Sasuke Uchiha told himself he would learn it someday too.
He quickened his pace and walked up to Shihui Aburame.
Huh, there's someone else too. Who was he again?
Unable to remember, he simply ignored him.
"Shihui Aburame."
Sasuke Uchiha spoke first. "Be my opponent in our next sparring class."
Shihui Aburame glanced at the sky.
The sky hasn't cleared up, has it?
"Sure."
Shihui Aburame nodded calmly.
He wanted to earn achievements too.
Seeing him agree, Sasuke Uchiha put both hands in his pockets and continued walking.
"Can you handle him, bro?"
Shino Aburame asked as he watched Sasuke's retreating figure.
He could not help worrying.
That was the famous Uchiha Clan.
And he was Uchiha Itachi's younger brother.
"I've got this in the bag."
Shihui Aburame smiled faintly.
"..."
For some reason, Shino Aburame really wanted to see his older brother get beaten up.
"Shiki-kun!"
When he reached the school gate, Shihui Aburame heard a familiar voice.
He looked up to see Ino Yamanaka waving at him nearby.
Her blond bangs bounced with her movements.
"Good morning."
Ino Yamanaka's face was red.
Not from shyness, but from the cold.
Shihui Aburame casually wrapped the scarf around her neck one more time.
Ino Yamanaka froze for a moment, then suddenly lowered her head. This time, she really was shy.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Shihui Aburame said nothing and entered the school.
Coming to her senses, she hurried after him, a smile spreading across her face.
"Shiki-kun..."
Hinata Hyuga opened her mouth.
She had intended to approach him, but Ino Yamanaka had beaten her to it.
No, I have to tell him!
Hinata Hyuga's face filled with determination.
It was another dull day.
Compared with the Ninja Academy, Shihui Aburame preferred absorbing knowledge at Tsunade's place.
He wanted to improve so badly!
After school, he walked out of the classroom under his friends' envious gazes.
News that Tsunade had taken him as her apprentice yesterday had already spread.
Konoha was not very big to begin with, though it often created legends.
"Shi... ki."
Hinata Hyuga jogged up to him, then held out a folded piece of paper with both hands.
Shihui Aburame instinctively opened it and froze.
It was a bankbook.
This world had banks, so it had bankbooks too.
In the original story, Jiraiya had once shown one to Naruto Uzumaki.
Shihui Aburame counted the zeros. It was exactly one million ryo.
What did this mean?
"Shiki-kun."
Clutching the hem of her clothes, Hinata Hyuga explained, "I didn't know how to thank you. This is all my pocket money."
Pocket money?
Shihui Aburame suddenly felt his stomach acting up.
A ninja's main source of income was missions.
Missions were divided into five ranks.
D-rank missions paid five thousand ryo, C-rank missions thirty thousand, B-Rank Missions eighty thousand, A-rank missions one hundred and fifty thousand, and S-rank missions one million.
The amounts varied somewhat depending on the difficulty of the mission.
But regardless, earning one million ryo would take a Chunin or Genin a very, very long time.
[Achievement "Sugar mommy, I don't want to work hard anymore!" completed. Reward obtained: Flash Gu.] [Flash Gu: a rank-one consumable Gu insect used to emit flashes of light.]
Shihui Aburame felt the system was imprecise.
It should have been a rich little girl, not a sugar mommy.
(End of chapter)