In the courtyard…
Looking at the three girls, who seemed so dejected they were practically fading into black and white, Aoba Hayashi suddenly felt a little guilty.
He turned to Yugao and said,
“Sister Yugao, how about we take a break today?”
The color instantly returned to Tenten, Ino, and Sakura’s faces.
Yugao, however, narrowed her eyes.
“Little Hayashi , didn’t I just tell you that your training is extremely important and that you shouldn’t let other people distract you?”
Seeing the smile on her face, Hayashi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Even so, he decided to give it one last try.
Straightening his back, he spoke with complete conviction.
“Sister Yugao, training also needs a balance between work and rest!
I’ll only take today off, and I’ll work twice as hard afterward!”
Watching Hayashi cave so easily, Yugao couldn’t help grinding her teeth as an inexplicable irritation flared inside her.
She walked over to him.
Under his puzzled gaze, she slowly raised both hands.
Then she grabbed his cheeks and began mercilessly squishing and kneading them.
“Oh?
So you think chatting with your big sister and eating together doesn’t count as relaxing?”
“Mmph…!”
“Th-that’s…
not…
what I meant…”
With Yugao mercilessly pinching his cheeks, Hayashi’s words came out hopelessly garbled.
Watching Hayashi get bullied like this, Tenten, Ino, and Sakura’s eyes all lit up.
They had each fantasized about doing exactly this to him before.
Unfortunately, they were far too weak.
Not only had they never found the chance, but Hayashi usually ended up teasing them instead.
Seeing Yugao do it so effortlessly, all three girls unconsciously rubbed their hands together.
Still, fantasies were one thing.
Actually acting on them was another.
Not a single one of them dared to move.
They stood obediently in place, waiting for Yugao’s decision.
After venting her frustration for quite a while, Yugao looked at the obedient little boy in her hands, and the irritation in her heart finally eased.
She glanced at the three girls standing quietly nearby without making any trouble and let out a sigh before releasing Hayashi .
“Only today.”
“My teacher and I could receive another mission at any time, so we don’t know how much longer we’ll be able to guide you.
We have to make good use of every opportunity.”
This time, Yugao spoke with complete seriousness.
After all, chakra training was often dangerous.
One careless mistake could easily result in self-inflicted injuries.
Having an experienced instructor around might not help someone achieve enlightenment, but it could at least ensure their safety.
“I understand.
I’ll work twice as hard afterward.”
Hayashi rubbed his aching cheeks.
He was convinced Yugao had only pretended to be angry so she’d have an excuse to pinch his face.
Unfortunately…
He had no proof.
“We understand too.” ×3
Tenten, Ino, and Sakura answered in unison.
The moment they finished speaking, the three looked at one another.
Each pair of eyes carried unmistakable hostility.
“Hayashi , practice throwing techniques with me today.”
Now that she had permission, Tenten immediately ran over to him and slipped an explosive tag into his hand.
At the same time, she shot Ino and Sakura a smug look.
She looked exactly like a child proudly showing off a precious toy to convince their favorite friend to play with them instead of anyone else.
Hayashi blinked in surprise the moment he saw the explosive tag.
When had this little rich girl become so generous?
Ino and Sakura both felt a wave of frustration.
This wasn’t the first time Tenten had pulled this trick whenever Hayashi played with them.
Fortunately, Ino had come prepared today.
Refusing to be outdone, she immediately took out the money she’d earned over the past few days helping arrange flowers.
“Hayashi , there’s so much snow outside.
Let’s go build a snowman together.”
As she spoke, she reached for Hayashi’s hand, already trying to pull him toward the gate.
Smack.
Tenten immediately grabbed Hayashi’s other wrist and pulled him back toward herself.
Pouting, she complained,
“Hayashi already promised to teach me throwing techniques, and besides, I was the one who came first today.”
Ino simply pursed her lips and tugged Hayashi back toward herself.
She knew she wasn’t entirely in the right.
And she certainly couldn’t compete with Tenten’s spending power.
Even so…
She refused to back down.
“No!
Sakura and I got here first, so he can’t spend the whole day with just you.”
“And…
Hayashi …
I’ve been waiting for you for days.
Can’t you spend some time with me too?”
“No!”
Tenten answered before Hayashi could.
“Hayashi is only practicing with me today!”
Then she unleashed her trump card.
She stuffed several more explosive tags into Hayashi’s hands while shooting Ino another triumphant smile.
She knew money alone couldn’t completely win Hayashi over.
But if she offered enough…
He would definitely lean toward her.
The instant Ino saw the growing stack of explosive tags, her expression turned ugly.
Nor was she the only one.
Even Yugao, who had been silently watching the tug-of-war, couldn’t hide her surprise.
That pile of explosive tags was already worth nearly what she earned from a C-rank—or even some B-rank—missions.
Was Hayashi really worth that much money?
Still…
The whole situation felt strangely uncomfortable.
It almost looked as though he was selling his looks for profit.
If the genders were reversed…
Yugao’s expression darkened even further.
An inexplicable sense of urgency suddenly welled up inside her.
Being Hayashi’s older-sister figure meant she could spoil him however she wanted.
But what if someone really did lure away the little cabbage she’d raised…
with money?
While Yugao’s imagination ran wild, Sakura wasn’t feeling much better either.
On the surface, she wore an anxious expression, looking worried and helpless.
Inside, however…
Her inner self was already screaming in outrage.
The sight of Tenten pulling out handful after handful of explosive tags had completely shattered her composure.
After all, she and Ino were best friends.
If Hayashi chose to spend time with Ino, Ino would definitely bring her along.
But if he chose Tenten…
Both she and Ino would be left standing on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, even Hayashi himself—the eye of the storm—was stunned by the sheer value of the explosive tags piled into his hands.
He hadn’t expected Tenten to become this generous after only a few days apart.
Yet Ino still refused to let go.
Looking at him with pleading eyes, she spoke pitifully,
“Brother Hayashi …
I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”
That single sweetly spoken line completely short-circuited Hayashi’s brain.
What was with that sugary voice?
Was this really Ino, the tomboy?
Or had someone transformed into her?
“Ino, let go already!”
Watching Ino act so unlike herself, Tenten became genuinely flustered.
Afraid Hayashi might shake her off, she immediately turned her attack toward him instead.
“Hayashi !
You promised you’d teach me shuriken throwing every day!
You haven’t taught me for several days now!”
Ino said nothing.
She simply continued looking at Hayashi with pitiful, pleading eyes.
“Both of you, stop arguing!”
Only after hearing Tenten’s reminder did Hayashi finally snap out of his daze.
Using just a little strength, he slipped free from both girls’ grips.
“So tell us.”
“Are you going to play with them, or with me?”
Although Hayashi had escaped their tug-of-war, Tenten and Ino spoke in perfect unison, forcing him to choose.
“I think…”
“Wouldn’t it be better if everyone just played together?”
Before Hayashi could answer, the usually quiet Sakura finally spoke.
She lowered her head slightly as Tenten and Ino both turned to look at her, appearing timid, pitiful, and completely harmless.
As Hayashi’s friend…
She wanted to help solve his problem instead of making things harder for him.
Tenten still looked displeased.
But Ino’s eyes suddenly lit up with delight.
“That’s right!”
“I think everyone playing together is the best solution.
That way, nobody has to lose.”