Early morning.
The Uchiha Clan.
"Sasuke, is the breakfast Mommy made not good?"
Uchiha Mikoto picked up a rice ball, took a bite, and asked in puzzlement.
"No."
Sasuke Uchiha shook his head.
"Then why are you so glum?"
Uchiha Mikoto asked with concern, "Didn't you catch any fish yesterday?"
"..."
Hearing the word "fishing" immediately triggered Sasuke Uchiha's PTSD.
He had already sworn yesterday that he would never go fishing again.
If he did, he was a dog!
"When will my brother be back?"
Sasuke Uchiha looked up and asked.
"You're already this big, and you're still so attached to your brother."
Uchiha Mikoto laughed as she spoke.
"I'm not."
Sasuke Uchiha instinctively denied it.
"Really?"
Uchiha Mikoto drew out the word, her smile growing wider.
"You're so annoying!"
Sasuke Uchiha puffed out his cheeks.
Uchiha Mikoto's eyes lit up.
That's my child, all right.
So cute!
"Your brother went on a mission. He probably won't be back for a while."
Uchiha Mikoto reached out a finger and poked his cheek.
As though deflating, Sasuke Uchiha returned to normal.
He stared blankly at his rice ball.
With my brother away, should I go to Dad?
But he didn't dare.
When Uchiha Fugaku had taught him the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, he had looked very disappointed.
Uchiha Itachi had learned it as soon as he was taught.
But Sasuke could only blow out a small fireball.
Everyone called him a genius, but only he knew that he was nothing.
"Has Dad been busy lately?"
Sasuke Uchiha asked.
"Very busy."
Uchiha Mikoto sighed softly.
"I see."
Sasuke Uchiha chewed his rice ball with dull eyes.
Dad and my brother are both busy. Who should I go to?
Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
Why not Shihui Aburame?
His brother had once said that battle was the easiest way to grow.
If he sparred with Shihui Aburame a few more times, perhaps he could defeat him.
"I'm full, Mom."
Sasuke Uchiha hopped down, grabbed his schoolbag, and ran off.
"Look at you, rushing again."
Uchiha Mikoto called after him, "Slow down and be careful."
The Hyuga Clan.
Compared to Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuga looked like a princess, neatly dressed and ready to leave.
"Bye, big sister."
Hanabi Hyuga let go of Hinata Hyuga's hand and said, "Come back early to play with me."
"I will."
Hinata Hyuga stroked her head.
Just then, Hanabi Hyuga's eyes suddenly lit up, and she dashed off.
"Hanabi?"
Startled, Hinata Hyuga was about to speak when she suddenly froze.
"Are you Shihui Aburame?"
Hanabi Hyuga stopped in front of Shihui Aburame.
She was panting from running over, her cheeks flushed.
"I am."
Shihui Aburame was a little puzzled.
How did Hanabi Hyuga know him?
He instinctively looked toward Hinata Hyuga at the entrance.
She was a little dazed.
Mostly because she hadn't expected Shihui Aburame to appear at her doorstep.
"Hello, big brother."
A brilliant smile immediately appeared on Hanabi Hyuga's little face. "I'm Hanabi Hyuga."
Big brother?
That form of address feels a little odd.
Shihui Aburame thought for a moment, took out his storage scroll, and handed her a lollipop.
"Thank you, big brother!"
Hanabi Hyuga unwrapped the lollipop and put it in her mouth, her little pink tongue licking it constantly.
Cute.
Shihui Aburame reached out and ruffled her hair.
Her hair was very soft and felt quite silky.
As expected, he preferred patting heads to having his own patted.
Hanabi Hyuga narrowed her eyes, looking thoroughly pleased.
"Shiki-kun."
Hinata Hyuga came forward and greeted him timidly.
"Big sister."
Hanabi Hyuga glanced at her and said, "With a voice that quiet, you still want to... mmph, mmph!"
"Don't say things like that."
Hinata Hyuga covered her mouth.
It was all because she liked talking to Hanabi Hyuga about Shihui Aburame.
"Hanabi."
There was a hint of pleading in Hinata Hyuga's voice as she said, "Go back and study."
"Okay."
Hanabi Hyuga winked at Shihui Aburame and said, "Good luck, handsome big brother."
Kids these days sure know a lot.
Shihui Aburame smiled and waved at her.
Hinata Hyuga breathed a sigh of relief.
She distinctly remembered her little sister not being so difficult to handle.
"Let's go."
Shihui Aburame turned and headed toward school.
"Shiki-kun."
Hinata Hyuga caught up in a few steps and couldn't help asking, "Why are you here?"
The Aburame Clan and the Hyuga Clan weren't along the same route. There was only one explanation: he had come specifically to pick her up.
At that thought, Hinata Hyuga felt her heart beat a little faster.
"Someone's targeting me, Hinata."
Shihui Aburame put on a grave expression.
"Huh?"
Hinata Hyuga's eyes widened.
"Do you remember those three boys I chased off for you?"
Shihui Aburame took out a note and handed it to her.
"Don't run off after school tomorrow. Fight us one-on-one! The Cockroach Bully Group has arrived!"
The message on the note was short and clear. Hinata Hyuga's heart trembled, and the scene from that day immediately surfaced in her mind.
Sounding a little flustered, she asked, "Th-then what should we do?"
"Our only option now is to defeat them again."
Shihui Aburame spoke in a deep voice.
Hinata Hyuga felt a little reassured.
That's right.
Shiki-kun had defeated them and saved her before.
"The three of them aren't worth worrying about."
Shihui Aburame looked worried as he said, "What concerns me is them bringing in help."
Hinata Hyuga clutched the note, her heart rising into her throat again.
She asked uneasily, "Should we tell a teacher?"
"No need."
Shihui Aburame reached out, placed his hand on her shoulder, and said, "Hinata, you go take down whoever they bring."
"Huh? Me?"
Hinata Hyuga froze for a moment, then hurriedly shook her head. "I... I can't."
"Hinata."
Shihui Aburame said earnestly, "I believe in you."
It wasn't as though she would be fighting Sukuna, just some nameless extra.
Besides, he had already tested the boy's abilities last week.
At most, he was only an ordinary Genin.
Hinata Hyuga abruptly froze in place.
Two words kept echoing through her mind: believe in.
No one had ever said that to her in her entire life.
All they ever said was, "Hinata, you're the eldest daughter of the Main Family. You must shoulder the Hyuga Clan's responsibilities."
But her father's repeated disappointment and her cousin Neji's growing distance left her struggling to breathe.
Shihui Aburame's appearance was like sunlight piercing the night.
"Remember what I told you. They're all radishes."
Shihui Aburame patted her head as he spoke.
Hinata Hyuga gazed at him in a daze, then nodded as though under a spell.
When she came to her senses, she couldn't help gripping the hem of her clothes.
I must be crazy!
But for some reason, excitement mingled with her unease.
She felt an impulse unlike anything she had ever experienced.
Shihui Aburame smiled.
This kid is so easy to fool. Maybe I could even trick her into being sold off.
She'd probably even thank me.
"Here."
Shihui Aburame produced some sushi as though performing a magic trick.
Hinata Hyuga took a bite.
Those tangled emotions miraculously settled down.