The scene shifted back to dinnertime at the Hyuga residence.
After dinner, Hinata happily skipped back to her room.
Watching her daughter’s cheerful retreating figure, Hyuga Ayako couldn’t help smiling softly.
It felt as though even the atmosphere around Hinata had become a little brighter.
“I never imagined little Hinata would actually take the initiative to go out and play.”
“I was worried her personality was too timid…
that she’d never make any friends.”
Covering her mouth with a gentle laugh, Ayako felt much more at ease seeing her daughter becoming more outgoing.
Hiashi, however, grew even more irritated.
If it were an ordinary friend, he certainly wouldn’t object.
But his daughter’s emotions had been written all over her face these past few days.
This clearly wasn’t an ordinary friendship.
He let out a cold snort.
“Hmph!
She’s probably thinking about going to see that brat again.”
Ayako blinked in surprise.
“That brat?”
“You mean the little boy who saved Hinata?”
Hiashi had told her about the incident before.
She had even wanted to visit personally to thank him, but because of her poor health, she’d had to postpone the idea.
“Who else could it be?”
Hiashi’s face remained tense, looking as though someone owed him several thousand ryō.
“Hehe…”
Seeing her usually composed husband so flustered, Ayako couldn’t help laughing again.
“Perhaps that’s actually a good thing.”
“If Hinata spends more time with him, maybe her personality will gradually change.”
“And judging by what you’ve told me…”
“He stood up for Hinata when she was being bullied.”
“He even took her out to eat when she was hungry.”
“He sounds like a very kind child.”
The moment he heard those words, Hiashi felt his eyelids twitch uncontrollably.
Spend more time together?
At this rate, after just a few more days, my daughter’s heart will belong entirely to him.
He had investigated Aoba Hayashi thoroughly over the past several days.
The boy’s character truly was admirable.
But he had also seen the situation involving those three girls with crystal clarity.
“You don’t know the whole story.”
“That Aoba Hayashi already has three little girls constantly following him.”
“And every one of them is obviously in love with him.”
“Worse…”
“The brat hasn’t shown the slightest intention of rejecting any of them.”
“He may very well be planning to keep all of them.”
“…”
Ayako had clearly not expected that.
Her delicate brows knitted together.
“They’re still just children…”
“Surely it isn’t like that…?”
Hiashi sighed.
“My investigation says otherwise.”
“And haven’t you noticed Hinata’s behavior?”
This time, even Ayako began to worry.
“Then tomorrow…”
“So that’s exactly why I’m concerned.”
Hiashi rubbed his forehead before continuing.
“But…”
“This is also an opportunity.”
“Hinata has finally begun expressing what she wants.”
“If Aoba can help…”
“Perhaps she really can overcome her weakness.”
He then called over one of the household servants.
“Prepare one hundred thousand ryō.”
“Deliver it to Aoba Hayashi.”
The servant blinked.
“Lord Hiashi…?”
“Tell him this money is his reward.”
“I hope he can help change Hinata’s personality.”
“At the very least…”
“I want her to become more decisive when she throws a punch against an opponent.”
“And while you’re there…”
“Make sure to remind him to keep an appropriate distance from Hinata.”
It was the only solution Hiashi could think of.
He had two daughters.
He didn’t want either of them to bear the Caged Bird Seal.
“Understood.”
The servant bowed and turned to leave.
But just as he stepped outside—
“Wait.”
The servant immediately stopped.
“Is there anything else, Lord Hiashi?”
After a brief hesitation, Hiashi said,
“I’ll come as well.”
“I’d like to see for myself…”
“The brat who managed to leave my daughter unable to eat or sleep after meeting him only once.”
Time quietly passed.
At the Hayashi residence…
Under the moonlight filling the spacious courtyard…
Two figures continuously crossed paths.
Their wooden swords collided again and again.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Suddenly, Yugao Uzuki frowned.
Aoba noticed the change immediately and stopped pressing his attack.
“Big Sis Yugao.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Yugao shook her head.
Her left hand had already reached into her ninja pouch while her eyes remained fixed on a corner of the rooftop.
“Who’s there?”
Aoba instantly realized something was wrong.
He quickly drew several shuriken and raised his guard.
“Don’t attack!”
“Don’t attack!”
“I’m on your side!”
A shinobi wearing a Chunin flak jacket slowly stood up on the roof before jumping into the courtyard.
His pure white Byakugan eyes immediately revealed his identity.
A Hyuga clansman.
Although he had willingly revealed himself, Yugao showed no intention of lowering her guard.
She threw aside her wooden sword and drew her real blade.
“Even if you’re from the Hyuga Clan…”
“Secretly spying on fellow Konoha shinobi is hardly acceptable.”
She feared he had come to harm Aoba.
Had she not been present…
Someone with Aoba’s current strength likely wouldn’t even have noticed he was being watched.
And if the Hyuga had malicious intentions…
The consequences could have been disastrous.
The Hyuga guard gave an awkward smile.
He had only been following Lord Hiashi’s orders to secretly observe Aoba’s strength.
He never imagined he’d still be discovered despite hiding so carefully.
This purple-haired girl is no ordinary shinobi either…
“I’m actually here to see him.”
Rather rudely, the guard pointed directly at Aoba beside Yugao.
Both Aoba and Yugao frowned.
Aoba, however, suddenly recognized him.
“So it’s you.”
“Hinata’s bodyguard.”
The lighting had been too dim earlier for him to recognize the man.
“Do you know him, Aoba?”
Yugao asked, still fully alert.
Aoba nodded.
“He’s Lady Hinata Hyuga’s bodyguard.”
“We met once before.”
Yugao looked puzzled.
“Then why is he here?”
Aoba shrugged.
“I have no idea.”
Since even Aoba didn’t know, Yugao fixed her cold gaze back on the Hyuga guard.
“You.”
“What exactly do you want with Aoba?”
“If you don’t explain yourself…”
“I’ll take you straight to Lord Hokage.”
This was no trivial matter.
If interpreted seriously, secretly spying on a fellow Konoha shinobi could easily be treated as an attempt to harm a comrade—one of the greatest taboos among ninja.
The guard understood that perfectly.
He hurriedly pulled a wrapped bundle from inside his robe.
“There’s one hundred thousand ryō in here.”
“Lord Hiashi asked me to deliver it to you.”
“He’d also like to ask you for a favor.”
The instant Aoba heard one hundred thousand ryō…
His eyes sparkled.
Though he quickly forced himself to calm down.
That wasn’t a small sum.
“What favor?”
Aoba’s attitude instantly became much friendlier.
Money made conversations easier everywhere.
“Tomorrow afternoon, Lady Hinata will come to visit you.”
“Lord Hiashi hopes you’ll help change her personality.”
“His only requirement…”
“Is that Lady Hinata becomes more decisive when throwing a punch.”
So it’s about Hinata…
Aoba remembered that, despite training diligently during this period, Hinata’s timid personality prevented her from earning much recognition within the Hyuga Clan.
“And what makes you think I can change her personality?”
Your family’s education has problems, and instead of solving them yourselves…
You’ve come to me—a complete outsider we’ve only met once?
The Hyuga guard answered honestly.
“To be frank…”
“This outing itself…”
“Was Lady Hinata’s own request.”
“…”
Aoba paused, momentarily speechless.