Little Pig, Farewell

When Izayoi returned home, he did not immediately start cooking or take a bath.

He went into his room, then came back out carrying a locked box.

Judging by Izayoi's solemn expression, the box had to contain something extremely valuable.

Even the key to the lock had been hidden in a secret compartment in the living room.

When he opened the box, however, it did not contain scrolls or weapons, but a red ceramic... piggy bank.

"Little Pig... farewell."

Izayoi took out the piggy bank, his hands and voice trembling slightly, his expression filled with grief.

After saying that, he turned his head aside, closed his eyes, and smashed the piggy bank hard against the floor.

The ceramic piggy bank instantly shattered into pieces, spilling coins all over the ground.

Izayoi crouched down and picked up the coins one by one, the banknotes bill by bill, just as he had stuffed them into the piggy bank from childhood until now.

This money was what Izayoi had saved from his monthly survivor pension, as well as the rewards from the D-Rank Missions he had taken during this time.

As for the inheritance left by his parents, it had long since been spent.

After all, he was not only supporting himself; he also had to feed a Big Eater.

If the village had not provided survivor pension relief every month, stopping only once he became a Genin, Izayoi would have been chewing tree bark and eating wild grass long ago.

After putting the coins into a bag, Izayoi tossed the 23,000 Ryo he had just received inside as well.

Then he carried the bag out and went to a shop.

With a bang, Izayoi slammed the bag heavily onto the counter and pointed at something. "Boss, there are 388,300 Ryo in here. I want to buy a Film Camera, and exchange all the remaining money for Film Rolls and Photo Developing Materials."

"Certainly, thank you for your patronage."

The owner's enthusiastic voice rang out at once.

Before long, Izayoi walked out of the shop carrying a camera.

"I finally bought it. It's not too late yet."

Izayoi lovingly fiddled with the camera and smiled to himself. "I may not be able to record my childhood moments with Hinata, but I can record Hanabi's growth. It was worth it!"

"I'm completely broke now, and the food in the fridge probably can't be eaten anymore. I'll go hunting and barbecue tonight."

"Nii-chan, wake up. The sun is shining on your butt."

The next day, Izayoi, who suffered from a chronic inability to get out of bed, once again enjoyed princess wake-up service.

But this time, it was not the eldest princess waking him up, but the little princess.

His nose felt a little itchy. Izayoi opened his eyes, and through his hazy vision, a delicate, adorable little face slowly came into focus.

Hanabi, dressed in a yellowish-brown kimono, was straddling Izayoi's waist. Leaning down, she held her braided bangs and used her hair to sweep his nose and face.

"You little rascal. Next time, when you're asleep, Nii-chan will do the same to you." Izayoi laughed and rubbed Hanabi's little cheeks.

"Hehe... Sister told me to wake Nii-chan up. If you want to blame someone, blame Sister." Hanabi immediately nuzzled against Izayoi's palm and began passing the blame.

"...Go out first. Nii-chan still needs to wash up."

"Okay."

After playing with Hanabi in bed for a while, Izayoi patted her little butt, signaling for her to get down.

Hanabi, wearing white knee-high socks, jumped straight off the bed and ran out. No wonder she had not made a sound.

After washing up, Izayoi pulled open his desk drawer and took out the camera inside.

The moment he stepped out of his room, the first thing Izayoi saw was Hinata busy in the kitchen.

Hinata was not wearing her usual White Coat and black trousers. Instead, she wore a white kimono, with purple-and-white petal patterns along the sash, cuffs, and hem.

Her long black hair had been pinned up behind her head into a bun hairstyle.

With an apron tied in front of her, she held a frying pan and skillfully tossed its contents.

Meanwhile, Hanabi was at the dining table, wrapping rice balls in seaweed.

Seeing this scene, Izayoi could not help holding his breath. Camera in hand, he walked on tiptoe, searching for the angle that harmonized best with the light.

With a click, the image of the Sister Duo, back to back, one standing and one kneeling, both dressed in kimono and occupied with their own tasks, was permanently preserved.

Hearing the camera shutter, Hinata and Hanabi both looked over.

"A camera!"

Seeing the camera in Izayoi's hand, Hanabi's beautiful eyes immediately lit up. She took off her gloves and ran over, asking excitedly, "Nii-chan, when did you buy this camera?"

"I bought it yesterday."

"Nii-chan, let me see."

"Be careful. Nii-chan spent 300,000 Ryo on this. I used up all my savings, as well as the rewards I earned from missions." Izayoi handed over the camera and reminded her.

Hearing that, Hanabi vigorously wiped her hands on her expensive kimono, which was probably worth several cameras, before taking the camera.

"Nii-chan, how do we look at the photos?"

"They need to be developed first. After breakfast, Nii-chan will teach you how to develop them."

"Okay, okay! Nii-chan, let's take one together too."

"No rush. Once your sister finishes cooking, we'll take a photo together. That'll make it meaningful."

"Mm-hm..."

Watching Izayoi and Hanabi play around, Hinata wore a happy smile on her lips.

Once Hinata had finished breakfast and Izayoi and Hanabi had finished making the rice balls together, the three of them sat at the dining table, holding Seaweed Rice Balls and beaming brightly as they took their first group photo.

Izayoi sat in the middle, with the Sister Duo on either side.

The one taking the photo was Izayoi's shadow clone.

How could a Selfie Stick compare to a shadow clone?

After breakfast, the three stayed in Izayoi's room, drew the blackout curtains, and began developing the photos.

"So pretty..."

Looking at the atmospheric photos of the Sister Duo, Hanabi could only marvel like this, unable to think of any better words.

Hinata, meanwhile, stared at the group photo of the three of them, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

At that moment, the girl shared the same regret as Izayoi.

If only they had had a Camera when they were little. Then they could have recorded the process of her and Izayoi growing up together.

But... it wasn't too late now.

So, for the rest of the day, Izayoi and the Hyuga sisters went around taking photos everywhere.

They started in various places around the house—the living room, the balcony, the Training Hall, the courtyard...

Then they went outside, visiting the familiar abandoned Training Grounds and several scenic spots in the Land of Waterfalls, taking photo after photo—solo shots, pairs, and pictures of all three together.

When they passed by a large tree, Hinata rarely took the initiative. She tugged at the sleeve of Izayoi's specially changed robe, her little face flushed as she asked, "Izayoi-kun, can we use the Transformation Technique?"

Izayoi was slightly taken aback.

Then, following Hinata's gaze toward the tree, Izayoi finally understood. Smiling, he nodded. "Sure. Let's do it together."

"Mm."

Hinata nodded happily. After Izayoi used the Shadow Clone Technique, the two stood facing each other and formed Hand Seals in unison. "Transformation Technique!"

The white smoke dispersed, revealing two children in ordinary clothes with chubby baby faces standing beneath the tree, smiling at each other.

Then they looked toward Izayoi's shadow clone and flashed bright smiles together.

With a click, the moment was preserved forever.