The bell rang.
Umino Iruka walked into the classroom with his textbook tucked under his arm.
He looked around and nodded.
All the students were there.
The corner of Umino Iruka's mouth suddenly twitched.
What was Naruto Uzumaki wearing?
Had this guy finally lost his mind?
"Everyone, take out your books."
Umino Iruka composed himself and began the lesson.
Hinata Hyuga stared blankly at her textbook, her mind elsewhere.
This was the first time she had lost focus.
Her head was filled with thoughts of what would happen after school.
Sasuke Uchiha was much the same.
He was waiting for Shihui Aburame to approach him.
Although his mother had already made things very clear, he was still a little worried.
Because Shihui Aburame had done nothing all morning.
Naruto Uzumaki listened for a while before his thoughts drifted to Might Guy.
He had trained for a long time yesterday, even passing out from exhaustion.
But for some reason, after a night's sleep, all his fatigue had vanished as though it had never existed.
Shihui Aburame opened his book and stood it upright to block Umino Iruka's view.
He adjusted his sunglasses and sank his awareness into his aperture.
As the number of gu increased, his bronze sea had become quite lively.
Time passed as he cultivated.
Umino Iruka glanced at Shihui Aburame, then at Sasuke Uchiha and Hinata Hyuga.
He couldn't help questioning his life.
When poor students didn't listen, it was their problem, but when good students didn't listen, it was the teacher's problem.
After class, Umino Iruka returned to the office and began reflecting on himself.
"Shiki-kun!"
Ino Yamanaka appeared in front of Shihui Aburame, holding two lunch boxes.
Another meal scored.
Shihui Aburame took them and said, "Thank you."
Shino Aburame got up and left without needing to be told.
He glanced at Hinata Hyuga and brought over a stool for her too.
"That smells so good!"
Naruto Uzumaki wiped the corner of his mouth and said enviously, "Too bad I don't know how to make packed lunches."
His lunches were all instant noodles.
"Want to learn? I can teach you."
Shihui Aburame glanced at him and said, "I'll give you some recipes in a couple of days."
"Thanks, Shiki."
Naruto Uzumaki grinned, his teeth gleaming.
"...?"
The corner of Shihui Aburame's mouth twitched.
You've completely turned into Guy now, huh?
Your dad used to be the Yellow Flash, killing without a trace. You'll be the Teeth Flash, grinning your way to greatness.
"Let's eat."
As before, Shihui Aburame gave his lunch box to Hinata Hyuga.
She had spent the whole morning in a daze, but now she finally focused.
Because Shihui Aburame was right beside her.
She didn't have to think about anything else.
After lunch came the midday break.
Everyone slept with their heads on their desks.
Shihui Aburame secretly put in extra work, continuing to scour his aperture with primeval essence.
Soon, school was over.
Sasuke Uchiha, usually the first to leave, remained in his seat.
He pretended to tidy his desk, but was actually stealing glances at Shihui Aburame.
Why hasn't he come to find me yet?
Did something go wrong on Mom's end?
"Hinata."
Shihui Aburame walked straight over to Hinata Hyuga and said, "Let's go."
Sasuke Uchiha turned to stone on the spot.
"Sasuke-kun!"
Having finally caught Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno said excitedly, "Let's walk home together!"
"Damn it!"
Ino Yamanaka instinctively clenched her fists.
No!
First I lose to Sakura, then to Hinata. If I keep losing, I'll have nothing left to lose-not even my dignity!
She had to make the first move!
"I don't have time."
Sasuke Uchiha rejected Sakura Haruno without expression.
So annoying!
He picked up his schoolbag and left the classroom.
Sakura Haruno turned to stone on the spot.
But she soon returned to normal.
She was already used to Sasuke Uchiha's attitude.
"Let's go."
Shikamaru Nara shook his head.
The troubles of being handsome.
Luckily, his dream was to marry an ordinary wife. "When are we going fishing again?"
Choji Akimichi shook the bag in his hand and discovered that there were no chips left.
He really missed Shihui Aburame's grilled fish.
"Fishing!"
Naruto Uzumaki immediately perked up. "This time, I'll get my revenge and take first place!"
"Let's ask Shiki tomorrow."
Shikamaru Nara walked out with his hands behind his head.
Within their little circle, Shihui Aburame had unknowingly taken the lead.
Although Shikamaru Nara had noticed, he hated trouble, so he was happy to let it happen.
The grove again.
Only this time, it wasn't snowing.
Hinata Hyuga followed behind Shihui Aburame.
She kept her head lowered, clutching the hem of her clothes.
The thought of the coming fight made her terribly nervous.
"It's about time."
Shihui Aburame stopped and said, "Come out."
The older student who had surrounded and attacked him before emerged trembling, along with three big boys.
Hinata Hyuga stiffened.
She felt as though she had been hit with the Body Bind Technique, her body refusing to obey her.
"Y-you... you're the kid who... who... beat them up last time, right?"
The older student's speech faculties had clearly broken down.
The corner of Shihui Aburame's mouth twitched.
What kind of acting is this?
At this rate, you'll have your boxed lunches docked.
But he couldn't blame them.
A qualified actor needed at least two and a half years of practice.
They hadn't even had two and a half weeks.
Fortunately, Hinata Hyuga was so nervous that she didn't notice anything wrong with him.
"I did."
Shihui Aburame spoke calmly.
"L-leave this kid to me."
The older student's words grew increasingly fluent, as though his speech faculties had recovered. "You three go teach that white-eyed monster a lesson."
"B-boss."
The three boys didn't dare move at all.
Because Hinata Hyuga was standing beside Shihui Aburame.
"Y-you, come over here!"
The older student took a deep breath, threw caution to the wind, and crooked a finger at Shihui Aburame.
Botching this performance could cost him his life.
Shihui Aburame had already had Shibi Aburame investigate them and put pressure on their parents.
Otherwise, the four of them would never have come to face this devil again.
"Hinata, you wouldn't want to see them bully me, would you?"
Shihui Aburame looked at Hinata Hyuga.
Hinata Hyuga instinctively raised her head.
His smile filled her vision.
Her heart trembled.
If they beat him black and blue... no, I absolutely can't let that happen!
Hinata Hyuga abruptly turned toward the three boys who had once bullied her.
The veins around her eyes suddenly bulged, chakra rapidly gathered, and a surge of power rose within her.
Byakugan!
Activate!
She suddenly charged forward.
Scenes of Hyuga Hiashi's everyday instruction surfaced in her mind.
She struck out with both palms, one to each side.
The two boys, frozen in fright, were immediately struck in the abdomen.
The tremendous force made them double over involuntarily before collapsing.
Hinata Hyuga spun and struck out with her right palm again.
The remaining boy was knocked unconscious on the spot.
She turned and stared fixedly at the older student standing in front of Shihui Aburame.
The monster called a girl had awakened!
"M-mercy..."
The older student was already scared out of his wits.
He scrambled away, stumbling and crawling.
Shihui Aburame didn't even look at him.
They were all just tools anyway.
Besides, he had already achieved his goal.
Shihui Aburame curiously studied Hinata Hyuga with her Byakugan activated.
"D-don't look... there..."
Hinata Hyuga, who had been so fierce just moments ago, suddenly returned to normal.
Remembering the three boys calling her a white-eyed monster, she hurriedly lowered her head to keep Shihui Aburame from seeing her eyes.
"They're beautiful."
Shihui Aburame spoke with a smile.
Hinata Hyuga stood frozen in place.
Her face visibly flushed red, giving off faint wisps of steam in the winter cold.
(End of chapter)