"Uwaaah…"
Early in the morning, Naruto stood before the imposing gates of the Hyūga clan compound, leaning against the wall while yawning nonstop, looking utterly sleep-deprived.
"Father, I'm heading out."
Hinata, who had already prepared for school, glanced back at Naruto's exhausted appearance before quickly greeting Hiashi Hyūga, who was practicing morning exercises in the courtyard.
Then she waved to her younger sister, who had just woken up and was still wobbling sleepily as she walked out of the house, before trotting over to Naruto.
Only after Hinata and Naruto began walking side by side did Neji, who had been waiting at the edge of the courtyard, silently follow them from a asured distance.
Even after they left, Hiashi remained calm and composed, continuing his morning Gentle Fist practice with the clan mbers.
"Hey, what do you think's been going on with the clan head these past few days? Before, he used to personally follow Lady Hinata all the way for protection. Now he doesn't go out himself, and he's even stopped Lady Hinata from leaving like before. She can't even go to school until that Naruto kid cos to pick her up."
"Tch, what do you know? Haven't you noticed the clan head even canceled our hidden protection detail?"
"Yeah, why is that?"
"Idiot. What happens if we secretly protect them? Sooner or later, we'll see sothing we shouldn't. This is the clan head telling us not to disturb the young couple while they develop their feelings. Understand?"
"Huh? Is that really it?"
"What else? Before this, Lady Hinata always took the initiative to go find Naruto. Sure, that kid Naruto is outstanding, but our Hyūga clan is still one of Konoha's greatest clans. The clan head must want Lady Hinata to avoid throwing herself at him too eagerly—ah, no, I an, he wants her to maintain the dignity of a great clan and be a little reserved. By having Naruto take the initiative to escort Lady Hinata to school, he'll naturally care about her more. Get it?"
"... Oh, so that's how it is. I thought it was because Naruto-kun is already stronger than both of us, and the clan head dislikes how useless we are as guards, so he stopped using us."
"... See? This is why you're such a blockhead. No romance experience at all. So naive."
"You say that like you have a girlfriend! Wait, no, by your logic, why did the clan head still send Neji along with them?"
"True. Let think… Hmm… I get it. Even though he wants them to build feelings, they're still young. Sending Neji as a third wheel must be to prevent Lady Hinata and Naruto from doing anything too early—"
"Itta. Kōsa. You two, step forward!"
Hiashi finally couldn't endure it anymore.
With one stern shout, he pulled the two chatterboxes—who had been talking endlessly without realizing everyone else had stopped training to listen—from the morning practice formation.
"You two seem energetic this early in the morning."
"Then you two useless fools can go over there and spar."
Hiashi's snow-white eyes stared so coldly that both n began trembling.
A dreadful premonition surfaced in their hearts.
Sure enough, Hiashi spoke icily:
"As clan guards, you still dare lose focus during daily training. Since that's the case, your spar will have no rules. Real combat. You are not allowed to stop until one side completely loses consciousness."
"Keep fighting."
We're dood.
Hyūga Itta and Hyūga Kōsa looked at each other, knowing perfectly well that the clan head's orders could not be disobeyed.
Today, it seed one of them would have to die.
Then the two exchanged smiles.
The kind of smile shared between closest friends who had reached mutual understanding.
And in both their hearts, the sa thought appeared at the exact sa ti—
The instant we start, I'll attack with full strength. Absolutely cannot give this brat a chance to counter. Sorry, Itta/Kōsa!
"Uwaaah…"
Naruto stretched lazily and couldn't help letting out another long yawn.
"Naruto-kun… did you not sleep well last night?"
After Naruto's fifth yawn, Hinata walking beside him finally couldn't help asking worriedly.
"Hinata, I didn't just not sleep well…"
Naruto's head drooped, his eyes half-open and half-closed as though he might fall asleep at any second.
"Haaah… I basically didn't sleep at all. I listened to that guy ramble the whole night. My head almost exploded. I didn't even change clothes before leaving…"
After all, ever since he was three, Naruto had gone to bed early and dread every night.
His biological clock had long since ford.
"Listened to soone ramble all night?"
Hinata froze.
No wonder Naruto was still wearing yesterday's clothes this morning.
But she already knew sothing about his background.
She had never heard that Naruto lived with anyone after leaving the orphanage.
Could Sasuke have gone to him last night to vent?
That was Hinata's first thought.
"Oh, right, Hinata."
Naruto suddenly rembered Kurama's instructions and casually said:
"After school today, let's not go to the training ground. Can you co to my house instead?"
"Uwaaah… I thought about it for a long ti, and I still think you're the most suitable person."
"I need you tonight for sothing."
Boom!
Hinata's brain shut down on the spot.
Neji, who had been secretly listening from behind them the entire ti, nearly activated his Byakugan in rage and prepared to subdue Naruto, this "shaless scoundrel."
But after thinking about how he absolutely couldn't beat him, he temporarily endured it and decided to go ho for reinforcents after school.
"G-Go…"
"To your house…"
"Um, I… this… at night… isn't that…"
Hinata, who had finally grown used to staying beside Naruto, instantly returned to her forr blushing, shy self.
Her two small index fingers tapped together in front of her chest at terrifying speed, nearly creating sparks.
"Hm? Yeah, after school."
Naruto looked completely puzzled.
"That thing sounds pretty troubleso, after all. Are you busy today?"
"I…"
"I…"
"I'm willing…"
Hinata, whose face had turned so red it looked ready to drip water, nodded as though she had made an incredibly important decision.
"Great."
Naruto forced himself to stay awake and grinned cheerfully.
"After all, this is about training. We can't be careless."
"I'll be counting on you then, Hinata!"
"Mm. I'll be counting on you too…"
"Eh?"
"Training?"
"Yeah, training. What's wrong?"
"Ah, n-no, nothing…"
"Mm. Training…"
"Uu…"
"We should hurry to school!"
After saying that, Hinata covered her burning face and shot forward like an arrow.
Naruto, still extrely sleepy, froze for a mont before quickly chasing after her.
"You don't need to rush, Hinata! Class hasn't started yet!"
anwhile, Neji—who had stopped listening properly a while ago—was still seriously considering whether he should return and report this imdiately.
After all, he didn't really understand how long "those things" took.
What if there wasn't enough ti?
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