Just as Shihui Aburame had expected, Hinata Hyuga won with difficulty.
She could have won easily, but her hesitation made the battle a close one.
Hinata Hyuga breathed a sigh of relief.
She instinctively looked toward Shihui Aburame.
But his face was calm, giving nothing away.
She could not help feeling a little uneasy.
For some reason, she cared a great deal about what Shihui Aburame thought.
As the end of the school day approached, the practical combat class finally ended.
Umino Iruka was quite pleased with their performance.
Especially Shihui Aburame and Sasuke Uchiha.
In his opinion, they were no worse than upperclassmen like Neji Hyuga.
"I'll give you a quick summary."
Umino Iruka coughed and said, "Overall, everyone did well, but certain students need to keep working hard..."
Ten minutes later, he waved his hand, and everyone scattered.
"Shiki."
Ino Yamanaka brushed aside the blond hair by her ear and asked, "Want to get barbecue with us?"
She pointed at Choji Akimichi and Shikamaru Nara.
The two of them waved at Shihui Aburame too.
Ino-Shika-Cho had always been inseparable, so naturally, they were close.
"I have something to do."
Shihui Aburame shook his head and said, "Let's wait until Sunday afternoon."
"All right."
Ino Yamanaka was a little disappointed, but she did not insist.
She left school with Choji Akimichi and Shikamaru Nara.
Sakura Haruno went with them too.
As for Sasuke Uchiha, he had been the first to leave after class.
He still could not figure out how he had lost, so he planned to ask his older brother, Uchiha Itachi, when he got home.
"Hinata."
Shihui Aburame looked at Hinata Hyuga, who seemed a little distracted.
She instinctively raised her head.
"Um..."
Hinata Hyuga lowered her head, nervously poking her index fingers together.
"I'll teach you a way to ease your nerves."
Shihui Aburame said evenly, "Think of them all as radishes."
"Huh?"
Hinata Hyuga looked bewildered.
"Are you afraid of radishes?"
Shihui Aburame asked as he walked.
"N-no."
Hinata Hyuga shook her head.
"Good, then."
Shihui Aburame said no more.
"Radishes... radishes... radishes..."
Hinata Hyuga followed behind him, bobbing her head as she repeated the word "radishes" over and over.
It was as though she were convincing-or rather, brainwashing-herself.
The two returned to the wooden cabin.
"Hinata, give me the hoe by the wall."
Shihui Aburame glanced around as he spoke.
Hinata Hyuga instinctively looked at the hoe and thought it resembled a large radish.
Shihui Aburame went to the eastern corner of the cabin, where there was a small patch of farmland.
Hinata Hyuga handed him the hoe and watched curiously.
Shihui Aburame dug two holes and took out the Wine Sack Flower Gu and the Rice Bag Grass Gu.
Both were natural Gu and could be understood as plants.
After tossing them into the holes, he extended his hand and poured in bronze-colored primeval essence.
In the blink of an eye, they took root and sprouted, growing vines along the cabin.
Soon, small flowers appeared on the vines.
"So... amazing!"
Hinata Hyuga could not help exclaiming.
No fertilizer could compare to chakra.
Of course, this was primeval essence.
"Go inside."
Shihui Aburame glanced at her and said, "I'll pick some vegetables."
Hinata Hyuga lowered her head in embarrassment.
She did not know how to do anything.
After she left, Shihui Aburame continued channeling primeval essence.
Soon, the aromas of rice and wine filled the air together.
He took a breath and immediately felt ravenous.
He did not know how they would taste, but they certainly would not be bad.
Shihui Aburame gathered them up.
He entered the cabin, placed a bowl of rice in front of Hinata Hyuga, and said, "Try it."
As for the nectar wine, she was a child and could not drink it.
Hinata Hyuga instinctively licked the corner of her mouth.
She had never smelled rice this fragrant.
"It's delicious!"
Hinata Hyuga picked up her chopsticks, took a bite, and immediately raised her head. For some inexplicable reason, Shihui Aburame thought she was glowing.
Her young face was full of collagen.
It seemed it really was delicious.
The kind of delicious that made clothes burst off.
Shihui Aburame glanced at the nectar wine again.
I'll give it to Tsunade.
She loves drinking so much. Who knows what achievement it might bring?
"I'm going to stir-fry some vegetables."
Shihui Aburame walked toward the refrigerator.
Meanwhile, at the Uchiha Clan compound.
"Mom!"
Sasuke Uchiha opened the door and called out, "When will my brother be back?"
"Itachi is with the Anbu. I'm not sure when he'll be back either."
Uchiha Mikoto came out of the kitchen.
She wore an apron and radiated gentleness.
"Is something wrong?"
Uchiha Mikoto feigned displeasure, putting on a stern face as she said, "You ask for your brother the moment you get home."
Sasuke Uchiha only knew how to care about his brother.
She, his mother, came second instead.
"It's nothing. I'm going to do my homework."
Sasuke Uchiha did not want Uchiha Mikoto to know about the setback he had suffered today.
He took his schoolbag back to his room.
"That child."
Uchiha Mikoto put her hands on her hips and puffed out her cheeks.
Half an hour later, Uchiha Itachi opened the door, looking exhausted.
The Uchiha Clan's ninja were growing increasingly restless.
He sensed that a conflict with Konoha was not far off.
What should I do?
Uchiha Itachi walked silently into the living room.
"Brother!"
Sasuke Uchiha poked his head out.
"Sasuke."
Uchiha Itachi walked over and patted his head.
"I have something to ask you."
Sasuke Uchiha recounted his fight with Shihui Aburame.
Uchiha Itachi could not help letting out a soft sound of surprise.
He lost that decisively?
He often taught Sasuke Uchiha, so he knew his strength.
It was hard to find a match for him among his peers.
But he had not expected him to be overwhelmed.
"I remember you saying he's Lady Tsunade's apprentice now?"
A possibility occurred to Uchiha Itachi.
"Yes."
Sasuke Uchiha nodded.
"It was Superhuman Strength."
Uchiha Itachi said with certainty, "It's Lady Tsunade's unique taijutsu. It allows her to unleash tremendous strength in an instant."
Sasuke Uchiha understood at once.
So the problem had not been him.
"Judging by how he sent you flying, he's only just learned the basics of Superhuman Strength."
Uchiha Itachi smiled and said, "Beating him won't be difficult. You're an Uchiha, after all."
"B-but I don't have the Sharingan."
Sasuke Uchiha was a little discouraged.
"Sasuke."
Uchiha Itachi said seriously, "The Uchiha Clan doesn't just have the Sharingan. We also have Fire Release, swordsmanship, and ninja tool throwing."
Sasuke Uchiha immediately raised his head and looked at him.
"His taijutsu is better than yours, so you need to play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses."
Uchiha Itachi paused, then said, "That means ninja tool throwing."
"Then teach me, Brother!"
Sasuke Uchiha brightened.
Uchiha Itachi hesitated.
"Itachi."
Just then, Uchiha Fugaku interrupted their conversation. "Come to my room."
Uchiha Itachi patted Sasuke Uchiha's head and stood up, his expression turning serious.
"How are things with Konoha High Command?"
After watching him close the door, Uchiha Fugaku asked directly.
"The same as usual."
Uchiha Itachi thought for a moment before answering.
"Good."
Uchiha Fugaku nodded and said, "Inform me immediately if anything unusual happens."
"Father."
Uchiha Itachi hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "You should rein in those clan members."
"I know what I'm doing. I don't need you telling me what to do."
Uchiha Fugaku frowned and said, "And remember, your surname is Uchiha."
Uchiha Itachi was left speechless.
Father, why can you only see the Uchiha Clan?
(End of chapter)