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The temptation to return to the village was simply too strong.
So, just a few minutes before the bridge's completion, Naruto began preparing to head back to the village.
At this moment, at the back door of the Hyuga house, a white orb of light suddenly appeared, followed by another every five meters upwards.
This was a light magic, used mainly to illuminate the area and conserve chakra.
After reaching a certain height, it shifted into purple-colored portals.
In the end, these purple portals lined up, one after the other, forming a downward exclamation mark, pointing directly at the back door of the Hyuga house.
Naruto waited under the exclamation mark like an NPC issuing a quest, waiting for the little loli to come and take it.
If Hinata was home, she should come out soon. If she wasn't home, he would wait for half an hour before heading home himself.
His teammates, on the other hand, had been sent to the training field via clones. They all knew the way back to the village, so they could head back on their own.
Anyone in the Hyuga clan who possessed the Byakugan could see the exclamation mark in the sky. They were all familiar with these purple portals.
It couldn't be helped. Since childhood, the Hyuga eldest daughter had been kidnapped every day without any shame. The kidnappers had no respect for the Hyuga clan at all. Last time, they even... Many of the clan members seethed with anger at the thought of this.
If they could fight, that kid would already be six feet under.
They feared that, after the fight, something big would suddenly appear in the Hyuga clan territory, rolling over and digging a couple of graves, before casually walking away with the Hyuga family's door.
Inside a room in the Hyuga residence, two little girls were conversing affectionately. The older one was Hinata, while the younger was Naruto's sister-in-law, Hanabi, who was five years younger than Hinata.
The older girl was standing behind the younger, brushing her hair. It was clear that the two had a very close relationship.
When Hinata was younger and hadn't surpassed Hanabi's strength, she was passed over for the inheritance of the main house. However, after Naruto had been feeding her dragon meat every day and practicing against a tougher opponent, her strength quickly improved, and she gained the ability to inherit the main house. Yet, she was still passed over.
The entire Hyuga clan knew that the eldest daughter was infatuated with a certain yellow-haired jinchuriki. This was clearly an indication that she was planning to marry him. Was the entire Hyuga clan meant to be a dowry?
Hinata didn't mind. The main house couldn't even eat. She just thought that a bird in a cage was very ugly.
Moreover, from her understanding of Naruto, if she were marked with the bird in a cage, Naruto would definitely storm into the Hyuga house. Ah... one side was her family, the other side was the person she liked. It was such a dilemma.
Looking up, Hinata saw the exclamation mark in the sky, and her heart lifted. She unconsciously tightened her grip on Hanabi's hair.
"Sis, my hair's tied too tight."
The little girl turned back, tears in her eyes.
Then she noticed the exclamation mark in the sky, and her tears flowed more fiercely, feeling like her sister was about to be taken away.
"Oh... I'll step out for a moment," Hinata said, running out without looking back, leaving behind her tearful little sister, Hanabi.
"But I'm your little sister!" Hanabi shouted, already on the verge of tears. Her sister didn't even care. Ah, she must be getting stolen away.
A few minutes later, Naruto saw the little loli coming to pick up the mission. After a month away, Naruto, who had missed Hinata dearly, bit into an apple, branded with Hinata's insignia.
[Killing Intent Detected!]
After his battle with Zabuza, Naruto had developed a sensitivity to killing intent, and he could feel several murderous auras locking onto him from behind the door.
Quickly, he opened a portal and ran off with the eldest daughter.
On the streets of Konoha, the two strolled together.
When Naruto became stronger in the future, he planned to take Hinata to the Land of Waves to help dock ships.
Their hands were intertwined, and Hinata's face flushed slightly because Naruto had just bitten into an apple, but it wasn't as intense as the first time. She felt the warmth of his hand and recalled her little sister's words. Younger siblings weren't important anymore.
Hanabi, the little loli, fainted in the bathroom from crying.
"Naruto-kun has been gone for a long time," Hinata whispered. Naruto had once said that, after becoming a ninja, sometimes missions would take him out of the village for extended periods. It had now been a month since they last met, and she missed him terribly.
Hinata unconsciously tightened her grip on his hand.
Naruto responded, scratching her palm lightly, and complained, "Yeah, that old man's bridge-building was too slow."
Since Naruto didn't inspire the villagers with courage like in the original story, there were few workers at first. Later, it became safer, so more people gradually showed up.
As a result, it was delayed.
The two bought a bunch of snacks and walked while eating, not worried about running out. Naruto didn't dare mention why.
"Here, Hinata, ah..." Naruto held a skewer with fried food, offering it to her.
Hinata, not one to refuse, happily ate whatever she was given. She loved good food and loved Naruto. The feeling of being fed while walking was so pleasant.
They continued walking aimlessly, not caring where they were going.
They were approaching an alley when they saw a man with face paint and oil grabbing a small boy.
Naruto took a closer look and realized it was Kankuro and Konohamaru. Wait, I didn't even recognize Konohamaru as a little brother. Why are they here triggering the plot?
Whatever, no matter how Konohamaru got himself in trouble, I can't ignore this. He's the Third Hokage's grandson, and the old man has been nice to me. Looks like this quest is mine to take.
"Wait for me," Naruto said to Hinata, handing her the bag of snacks.
He crouched down and, with a burst of energy, shot toward the man.
"Boom!"
Kankuro didn't even react before being slammed into the wall.
Naruto, about to catch Konohamaru who had been flung into the air, saw a shadow flash overhead and catch the boy before landing beside Naruto.
"You're here too, Sasuke? How did you follow me?" Naruto sighed, heartbroken. He was just trying to have a date with Hinata, and now I'm being ambushed.
Sasuke rolled his eyes and said, "I was just passing by on my way home."
Who's stalking you? The whole squad knows who you're meeting, okay?
Naruto turned to look, and indeed, Sakura was standing with Hinata, while Kakashi was missing—probably off submitting reports, because this mission was troublesome, and just writing a report wasn't enough.
Hinata had handed Sakura a small bag of snacks, not too many, as she didn't want to leave herself hungry.
The two girls walked up to their respective boys.
Sakura was glaring daggers at Sasuke while Hinata... quietly ate.
Naruto was grateful that his store sold food. Otherwise, he'd be eating a portion inside and another outside, and with his genin salary, there's no way he could afford to feed both a wife and a fox demon.
He'd completely forgotten that just a while ago he was complaining that the power-ups were weak and he wasn't being recognized.
Gaara glanced at the handsome boy, then remembered her brother and quickly pried Kankuro out of the wall.
She returned to watching Sasuke.
When compared to handsome boys, younger siblings no longer mattered.
She forgot that the handsome boy was the same one who had just kicked her brother into the wall.
"Damn it!" Kankuro muttered, then, seeing his sister not helping, he moved on his own and pulled something out from the wall—a crow wrapped in bandages, a puppet.
"Stop, Kankuro!" A voice called from the air.
Sand gathered in the sky and formed a red-haired boy with the kanji for 'love' tattooed on his forehead, carrying a large gourd on his back.
He walked up to Naruto and Sasuke and said, "I'm very interested in you. State your names."
Sasuke, proudly staring at the boy, replied, "Before asking others' names, you should introduce yourself first. It's common sense."
He thought to himself that, besides his weird teammate, no one else his age could be his opponent, even if the boy with the gourd seemed strong. He was confident he could win.
"I am Gaara of the Sand." The red-haired boy introduced himself.
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke." Sasuke coolly announced his name, pausing for dramatic effect.
"Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto said with a smile.
Naruto remembered that later on, Gaara would become the commander of the ninja alliance and had a wife character that was interesting.
"Let's go, Kankuro. Don't embarrass yourself here," Gaara said quietly, looking down at his brother after he had been kicked into the wall.
The Sand ninja team left, and Temari glanced back every few steps. "Uchiha's really handsome!"
Sakura was seething with jealousy.
"Why are the Sand ninjas in Konoha?" Sakura complained. She was feeling particularly hostile toward Temari.
"Because the Chuunin Exams are coming. Didn't you know?" Hinata replied calmly, pushing a dumpling into her mouth.
Her father had already told her she would be participating in this year's Chuunin Exams.
Meanwhile, at the Chuunin Exam registration desk:
"I recommend Team Ten: Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Choji, Nara Shikamaru," Asuma said while smoking.
"I recommend Team Eight: Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and... Yamanaka Shino," Kurenai added, having to remember the third member's name.
"I recommend Team Seven: Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke," Kakashi said slowly, with his dead-fish eyes.
Iruka stepped forward, clearly upset. "They're just graduated kids! You're going to ruin them like this!"
Iruka was a good teacher. Even after his students graduated, he still cared about them.
Kakashi lazily rolled his eyes. "You've seen them fight Zabuza. They can handle this, and they're strong."
Iruka wasn't a ninja with much strength, but he had a lot of heart, which is why he was assigned to the school.
"That's irresponsible," Iruka protested.
Kakashi ignored him, busy with everything—reporting, exams, and the bridge construction. Couldn't the bridge be delayed a few days? He didn't have time to read anymore.
Meanwhile, Naruto was thinking the same thing.
You finished the bridge at just the right time. If it had been delayed a few more days, I wouldn't have had to take the exam. I wouldn't be facing Orochimaru again!
Hinata's explanation helped everyone understand the Chuunin Exams better, and then... Naruto pulled Hinata away.
He didn't care for these interruptions. It was supposed to be a date!
"Big brother, that kick you did was so cool!" Konohamaru finally realized who saved him and rushed to grab Naruto's leg, wanting to call him 'big brother.'
"Get off me!" Naruto kicked him away.
Seriously, those Sarutobi guys are so annoying!
I just wanted a peaceful date, but where's the decency in all this?