Dead silence.
The air in the street park felt entirely sucked dry.
The A5 Wagyu beef was still sizzling and dripping fat on the grill, but Hinata’s heart was ice cold.
She stared blankly at the premium slice of Wagyu on her plate—the very piece of beef meant to spark romance between Naruto and Sakura—now practically radiating mockery.
‘I told you to give it to HER!
Why the hell did you hand it to ME?!’
Inside Hinata’s mind, the soul of a twenty-four-year-old guy was violently slamming his head against the wall.
‘Why did all your SIMP traits get redirected onto me?!
This is your first love!
Your ultimate crush!
Can’t you see those hopeful eyes under that wide-as-a-runway…
err, wide-as-the-Pacific forehead?!’
Hinata took a deep breath, forcing down the urge to dump the glowing charcoal grill right onto Naruto’s head.
She knew throwing a fit now would completely ruin her meticulously planned strategy.
“Oh, Naruto-kun, really…”
A soft, sweet smile—bright enough to melt glaciers—bloomed instantly across Hinata’s face.
She picked up her chopsticks, naturally picked up the Wagyu, and under Naruto’s bewildered gaze, neatly placed it right into Sakura’s bowl.
“Sakura-chan, this piece is cooked to absolute perfection!
Give it a try!” Hinata tilted her head slightly, her pale blue eyes full of genuine warmth.
“Naruto-kun is usually so clumsy, but he actually managed to cook a perfect one.
Consider it his welcome gift to you!”
A masterclass in saving face!
This was the ultimate art of high-level matchmaking.
The tension around Sakura’s stiff smile vanished instantly at Hinata’s sweet tone.
She shot Hinata a grateful look, picked up the Wagyu, and took a small bite.
“Mmm—?!”
Sakura’s eyes widened, her emerald pupils sparkling with pure disbelief.
It melted in her mouth!
The rich savory fat mixed with the sweet glaze exploded across her taste buds like fireworks.
Raised in a modest household, Sakura had never tasted anything so luxurious in her life.
“This is…
delicious!” Sakura cupped her cheeks, her face flushing with pure bliss as her annoyance at Naruto vanished into thin air.
“Is it really that good?
Let me try!” Sitting nearby, Ino drooled eagerly.
She couldn’t wait and grabbed a piece off the grill for herself.
“Wow!
This is incredible!
Hinata, you’re so rich!”
Seeing the two young girls completely won over by food, Hinata secretly cheered in her heart.
‘ Nailed it!
Win them over with food—the ultimate weapon across social classes!’
Striking while the iron was hot, Hinata stomped hard on Naruto’s foot under the table, giving him a fierce look that screamed: ‘Yellow-head!
Say something!
Isn’t this the part where you show off your charm and humor?!’
Naruto flinched from the pain, looking at Hinata aggrievedly before turning back to Sakura, who was happily munching away.
He cleared his throat, raised his chin, and declared loudly:
“Of course it’s good!
This is top-tier Wagyu brought by Hinata!
You guys probably never get to eat stuff like this, right?
I’m the only one who gets to enjoy high-end food with Hinata every single day!”
“Pfft—cough, cough!”
The barley tea Hinata had just swallowed sprayed right back out.
‘I asked you to show some class, not flex on them!
Who taught you how to talk to girls?!
Are you trying to flex or dig your own grave?!’
Sure enough, Sakura froze mid-chew.
A visible pop-vein throbbed angrily on her forehead.
“Your name is Naruto, right?” Sakura stared at him with a strained smile, her hands tightening into tight fists under the table.
“Meaning, you think I’m not worthy of eating this kind of food?”
“Huh?
I didn’t say that.” Unaware of the danger, Naruto maintained his clueless expression.
“I just meant you eat like a wild boar that hasn’t eaten in three days!
You’re nothing like Hinata!”
Dead silence fell over the table.
Even Ino, who usually bickered with Sakura, quietly set her chopsticks down and backed away, giving Naruto a sympathetic look that clearly said: You’re dead.
Through her Six-Eyes vision, Hinata clearly saw a wild, destructive surge of chakra pooling violently inside Sakura’s small body, channeling straight into her right fist!
‘Holy crap!
Cherry Blossom Impact?!
She’s only four years old!
Is this terrifying chakra control innate?!’
Hinata backed away in shock, covering her eyes.
“How…
dare…
you…
call…
me…
a…
WILD BOAR?!”
With a deafening roar, Sakura leaped straight up from her chair.
Her pink hair flew wildly in the wind as her tiny frame transformed into a primordial force.
BOOM!
A direct, brutal punch delivered with a sharp rush of wind smashed squarely onto the top of Naruto’s head!
“OWWW!”
Naruto let out a blood-curdling shriek as he was sent flying like a volleyball.
He flipped three times through the air, chair and all, before landing flat on his face in the grass.
A giant red bump swelled rapidly on top of his head.
“Hmph!
Idiot!” Sakura dusted off her hands and sat back down.
When she turned back to Hinata, her terrifying expression instantly melted into a sweet, innocent smile.
“Sorry about that, Hinata.
Was I a bit too rough?”
Hinata’s hand trembled slightly as she held her tea cup.
She glanced back and forth between Naruto, who was foaming at the mouth on the ground, and the pink-haired terror in front of her, her mind completely shattered.
‘Rough?
You call that rough?!
That was straight-up attempted murder!’
Yet, right after, Hinata’s lips twitched upward as she desperately fought the urge to burst out laughing.
‘Wait a second!
This one-sided beating routine…
it’s so familiar!
Isn’t this their classic dynamic from the original story?!’
‘I get it now!
Fate hasn’t changed at all!
Even without love at first sight, this violent bond is still forming between them!’
Hinata had an epiphany.
Fighting was how they showed affection.
Naruto was naturally a glutton for punishment, and only a powerhouse like Sakura could keep him in check!
“It’s…
fine.” Hinata held back her laugh, quickly pouring Sakura a fresh cup of tea.
“Sakura-chan is just passionate!
Here, have a scallop to cool off!”
Naruto struggled to his feet, clutching the huge bump on his head, pointing dramatically at Sakura: “You violent monster!
I’m not letting you off!”
“What are you gonna do about it?
Wanna fight again?!” Sakura stood right back up, raising her fist.
“Hmph, I don’t fight girls!” Naruto backed down instantly, ducking behind Hinata to tattle. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“Hinata, look at her!
She hit me!
You have to back me up!”
Hinata rolled her eyes, slapping the back of Naruto’s head.
“Serves you right!
That’s what you get for running your mouth!
Apologize to Sakura-chan right now!”
“I won’t!” Naruto turned his head stubbornly.
“Apologize!” Hinata narrowed her pale blue eyes, threatening softly, “Or I’m never bringing you tasty food ever again!”
Hearing those words, Naruto gave in instantly.
He shuffled out from behind Hinata and bowed reluctantly toward Sakura: “I’m sorry, wide-forehead monster.”
“You’re still calling me wide-forehead?!” Sakura raised her fist again.
“Okay, okay, let’s all calm down,” Ino quickly stepped in to smooth things over, mostly worried that this amazing barbecue party would get ruined.
“Naruto is just bad with words, but we should at least give Lady Hinata some respect.”
For the next hour, the outdoor barbecue party continued under a bizarrely tense atmosphere.
Sakura and Naruto spent the entire time glaring at each other, snatching meat out of each other’s bowls every chance they got.
Ino sat back to watch the drama unfold, while Hinata sipped her hot tea like a detached master, casually enjoying the freshly grilled meat secretly handed to her by Hinata Natsu from the shadows.
‘I’m exhausted.
Just destroy the world already.
Being a matchmaker is shaving years off my lifespan.’
Hinata chewed on her Wagyu, sighing inwardly.
‘Still, the outcome isn’t terrible.
They’ve established their rivalry.
As long as I create more opportunities for them to interact, their dynamic will develop naturally.’
As the sun began to set, the barbecue party drew to a close.
“Hinata, thank you so much for today!
I’ve never had food this delicious before!” Sakura patted her rounded tummy, taking Hinata’s hands with immense gratitude and admiration.
“Yeah, Hinata, you’re not only pretty, but you’re also super generous!
We’re definitely best friends from now on!” Ino chimed in, linking her arm with Hinata’s enthusiastically.
“It was nothing!
Let’s hang out more often,” Hinata replied with a polite smile, displaying perfect etiquette.
Sakura turned toward Naruto, who was still rubbing the giant lump on his head, and scoffed: “As for you, blonde idiot, stay away from me from now on!
Don’t think I won’t punch you just because Hinata is protecting you!”
With that, Sakura and Ino walked off holding hands, thoroughly satisfied.
Watching their retreating backs, Naruto rubbed his head, muttering angrily: “Whatever!
Who wants to get close to that violent girl anyway?
I only need to hang out with Hinata!”
Hinata turned around, looking down at Naruto with a mixture of exasperation and concern.
She reached out and gave his whiskered cheeks a firm pinch.
“Ow, ow, ow!
Hinata, what are you doing?!” Naruto squealed.
“Listen up, yellow-head.” Hinata let go, putting her hands on her hips as she faced the sunset, her tone suddenly turning serious.
“In two years, we’ll be entering the Ninja Academy.
With your reckless attitude, you’re going to suffer out there!”
“The Ninja Academy?” Naruto’s eyes lit up instantly, completely forgetting the pain.
“The place where you learn ninjutsu and become Hokage?!”
“That’s the one.” Hinata raised her head, looking up at the crimson sky over Konoha, a bold grin spreading across her face.
‘The Ninja Academy…
a battleground full of the village’s top talents and weirdos.’
‘Sasuke Uchiha, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and that stubborn Neji Hyuga…’
Hinata clenched her small fist, her chakra humming faintly beneath the activation of her Limitless technique.
‘I’ve laid low for so long.
Finally, it’s time to step out and make my move!’
“Let’s go, yellow-head!” Hinata made a grand gesture, her short cloak fluttering in the evening breeze.
“Once we’re at the Academy, I’ve got your back!
Anyone who tries to pick on you will have to answer to me!”