"Hinata."
Shihui Aburame called out softly.
"Sh... Shiki-kun."
Hinata Hyuga immediately stepped out from behind the tree, stopped in front of him, and greeted him timidly.
Was she still like this after awakening her eyes?
Should I give her another strong dose?
But could that break her?
Better forget it.
Shihui Aburame preferred her the way she was now.
The three of them headed toward the classroom.
There were still ten minutes before class, but the room was already full of students.
Shihui Aburame glanced around, his gaze settling on Naruto Uzumaki, who was resting with his head on his desk.
Without a doubt, he had just finished his morning training.
Might Guy's Eight Gates Released Formation was powerful. There was no question about that.
After all, he had nearly kicked the story straight into its finale.
But being a genius through hard work was definitely a lie.
Rock Lee had worked so hard, yet he had only opened the sixth gate by the finale.
That showed that the Eight Gates Released Formation required exceptional talent.
Across Japanese anime and manga, bloodlines were what really mattered.
Take Monkey D. Luffy from that other series, for example.
As for Naruto Uzumaki, his protagonist halo was maxed out, so he would most likely be able to learn the Eight Gates Released Formation.
Shihui Aburame certainly wasn't going to learn it.
Might Guy's training could only be described as the ultimate torture.
Shihui Aburame walked over and tapped Naruto Uzumaki's desk.
Seeing that he still hadn't woken up, he said, "The teacher's here, Naruto."
"Teacher, I didn't mean to fall asl... Where's the teacher?"
Naruto Uzumaki sprang to his feet and rubbed his eyes.
"Here."
Shihui Aburame handed him Minato Namikaze's recipe book.
"A recipe book?"
Naruto Uzumaki immediately perked up.
"Pick a few dishes that interest you. I'll teach you when I have time."
Shihui Aburame paused, then said, "You can also try them yourself."
He had read the recipe book. Its instructions were so detailed that it could be called a foolproof guide.
Thinking about how this had been Kushina Uzumaki's gift to Tsunade was... rather amusing.
"Minato Namikaze?"
Naruto Uzumaki froze when he saw the signature on the second page.
He felt as though he had heard that name somewhere, but he couldn't place it right away.
"The Fourth Hokage."
Shihui Aburame reminded him.
Naruto Uzumaki's eyes went as round as saucers.
His dream was to become Hokage. Now that he had suddenly received a Hokage's recipe book, he was incredibly excited.
"I've decided! I'm going to make dishes that surpass the Hokage's!"
Naruto Uzumaki clenched his fists as he spoke.
Good thing you didn't say you wanted to become the God of Cookery.
Shihui Aburame nodded slightly and returned to his seat.
"Shiki."
Choji Akimichi leaned over and asked, "Want to go fishing after school?"
Shihui Aburame instinctively looked at his potato chips.
He remembered the legend of the last potato chip.
In the original story, Choji Akimichi's first eruption of power had come because Jirobo ate his last potato chip.
In his previous life, it was only when Shihui Aburame reached that part that he suddenly realized Choji wasn't the "boar" in "Ino-Shika-Cho," but the butterfly.
"Want some?"
Conflict appeared on Choji Akimichi's chubby little face.
But considering Shihui Aburame's delicious grilled fish, he finally gave in.
"Don't eat them all. Leave me the last chip."
Choji Akimichi held the bag of potato chips out to him, looking as though he were facing certain death.
Shihui Aburame slowly reached out and took a chip under his nervous gaze.
Seeing this, Choji Akimichi let out a sigh of relief, as though a great weight had lifted from his shoulders.
It couldn't have been more obvious.
Shihui Aburame tossed it into his mouth, then reached out again.
Choji Akimichi's expression instantly changed like a Sichuan opera face-changing act. He looked deeply uneasy, but he didn't speak up to stop him.
Since he had already made a promise, there was no reason to back out halfway.
"Tastes good."
The corners of Shihui Aburame's mouth lifted slightly, and he took no more chips.
Choji Akimichi had been so frightened that beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. Shino Aburame, who had witnessed the entire exchange, adjusted his sunglasses.
That rotten brother of mine was such a menace.
He had understood this truth long ago.
Poor Choji was being played like a fiddle.
"See you at the usual spot after class."
Shihui Aburame continued.
"Okay!"
Choji Akimichi didn't mind his teasing.
Anyone who gave him delicious food was a good friend.
Besides, Shihui Aburame had only eaten one chip. He was actually pretty nice.
Just then, the bell rang.
The person who entered wasn't Umino Iruka, but a female teacher.
Her name was Haruna Yamanaka, and she taught flower arranging.
She belonged to the same clan as Ino Yamanaka, but they weren't related by blood.
Two male teachers followed behind her.
They moved the lectern aside and brought over flower stands, with all kinds of fresh flowers neatly arranged on them.
"We've already had several lessons, but they've all been theoretical."
Haruna Yamanaka smiled slightly and said, "Today, we'll be doing some hands-on practice."
"Yay!"
A chorus of excited cries erupted in the classroom.
Ino Yamanaka's heart leaped with joy.
This was her specialty.
She instinctively looked toward Shihui Aburame, whose expression was calm.
Because he was so capable at everything, she had never been able to find an opportunity.
Now, she could use offering guidance as an excuse to get close to him.
"Flower arranging is about beauty and emotion. You can't just stick flowers anywhere at random. You have to find the right positions."
Haruna Yamanaka clapped her hands and said, "I'll give you fifteen minutes to decide on a theme and the flowers you'll need. You may discuss it."
"Shiki-kun."
Ino Yamanaka asked with a hint of pride, "Do you have any ideas? I can guide you."
Her family sold flowers, so naturally, she knew a great deal about them.
"Hope."
Shihui Aburame thought for a moment before answering.
"Hope?"
Ino Yamanaka considered it briefly, then offered an answer. "Sunflowers, complemented by purple and green flowers, would be a good choice."
"Thank you."
Shihui Aburame said softly, "I'll consider it."
"No big deal."
Ino Yamanaka tried to suppress the joy in her heart, but failed, and the corners of her mouth rose involuntarily.
"I think cosmos would suit you."
Shihui Aburame looked at her radiant smile as he spoke.
Ino Yamanaka froze for a moment.
Thanks to her professional knowledge, the meanings of cosmos immediately sprang to mind.
A maiden's true heart, freedom, happiness, and a positive outlook.
So this was how he saw me?
Ino Yamanaka suddenly turned her head away, her face slightly flushed, and said, "Thank you."
Hinata Hyuga watched from a distance, unable to hide her envy.
She deeply regretted it now.
When she had enrolled, she had been too shy to choose a seat next to Shihui Aburame.
Hinata Hyuga gathered her thoughts and looked at the fresh flowers on the stands.
She didn't know what to choose.
Suddenly, she remembered meeting Shihui Aburame, and that courtyard full of Moon Orchids.
The fifteen minutes soon passed.
"Everyone, come up in order and arrange your flowers."
Haruna Yamanaka took out a vase as she spoke.
"I chose moonflowers."
With her head lowered, Hinata Hyuga said quietly, "The theme is warm beauty."
Shihui Aburame paused slightly. He more or less understood what she was thinking.
Sasuke Uchiha chose balsam flowers.
Among the Uchiha Clan's signature Fire Release techniques was the Phoenix Flower Jutsu.
Naruto Uzumaki also chose balsam flowers.
His reason was that he thought they were very red, symbolizing the Hokage.
"Sunflowers."
When Shihui Aburame's turn came, he walked forward and said calmly, "The blooming flower of hope."
Another chapter in two minutes.
(End of chapter)