"You're Soushu Jonin?"
Kenjiro, the young boy, tilted his head and asked Hyuga Soushu.
"As far as I know," Hyuga Soushu gave a slightly awkward smile as he replied, "there should only be one person in Konoha named Soushu who holds the rank of Jonin."
"Is that so?" Kenjiro asked, nodding somewhat naively before stretching out his hand toward Soushu.
"Eh?"
Soushu couldn't figure out what was going on.
"Can I have a kunai?" Kenjiro asked quite earnestly.
"But I only have—" Soushu wasn't reluctant to share, but all his kunai were sharpened; they really weren't suitable for a child playing ninja games.
"Thanks, big bro—you're the best!" Kenjiro said calmly.
"Here! Take it!" Soushu was *this close* to handing over his entire ninja tool pouch to Kenjiro.
"Kids shouldn't mess with real metal kunai—or you'll end up soaking your sheets again!"
Suddenly descending downstairs after quickly changing clothes, Mahiru Uchiha angrily snatched back all the ninja tools like kunai and shuriken that her boyfriend had given to her little brother, returning them to an embarrassed Soushu.
"What does ninja equipment have to do with bedwetting?"
Kenjiro protested loudly before he could even warm his hands on the tools: "This is bullying juniors! Now that you've got a boyfriend, you're favoring outsiders!"
However, his words were cut short by Mahiru Uchiha covering his mouth, both embarrassed and furious.
"Don't say another word! Or I'll have Soushu give you a real punishment!"
Mahiru threatened, claws metaphorically extended. "And if you hurt your little friends by accident, Mom and Dad'll skin you alive!"
"But big bro already—" Breaking free, Kenjiro still wore a face full of grievance.
"Here! Take this!" Immediately, Mahiru shoved a wad of paper money into her younger brother's hands.
"Still my sister loves me the most!" Previously near tears, Kenjiro instantly beamed with joy, then looked expectantly at Soushu.
"Don't even think about it!" Hmphing indignantly, Mahiru immediately left her disappointed brother behind, dragging Soushu outside with her.
"So you actually have a younger brother too. I never knew."
Walking hand-in-hand toward the clan territory's outskirts, Soushu attempted conversation since their secret plans had been discovered, making him feel somewhat awkward.
"Just this little brat." Mahiru had already calmed her embarrassment, her fingers brushing against Soushu's palm—whether on purpose or not—sending shivers up his spine.
"After the war broke out—that year we went into battle—he started receiving training from the clan elders."
"How old is he?" Soushu asked in slight surprise.
"Almost five years old." Mahiru explained. "Normally, kids can start basic ninja training at two years old. However, due to physical development limitations, he hasn't learned chakra extraction techniques yet."
"Truly worthy of being the number one ninja clan in the world. If I recall correctly, I didn't enter my family's Clan Academy until I was about four years old."
Soushu responded composedly, though his palm, clasping her delicate softness, had begun faintly sweating under her subtle provocations.
Mahiru Uchiha's lips curled upward even more, her eyes and expression brimming with obvious smugness.
In a silent, mutual understanding wrapped in subtle ambiguity, the two walked out of the Uchiha Compound. Under the meaningful gazes of the Policing Department ninjas, they once again arrived at the bustling commercial district of Konoha.
[Yakiniku Q], one of the most famous eateries in Hidden Leaf Village, was naturally packed during lunchtime.
However, given Soushu Hyuga's Jonin uniform, the Akimichi clan member working at the front desk quickly arranged a small table for the two and sent over several cold dishes.
Of course, Mahiru's clothing bearing the Uchiha Clan Emblem also carried a certain degree of intimidation.
As for the other ninjas or visiting merchants who were waiting in line—although they felt discontent toward these two cutting in line—they had to swallow their complaints no matter how upset they became, seeing the Jonin uniform and the Uchiha status!
Mahiru ordered seven or eight different cuts of beef, while Soushu simply added some vegetable dishes. After the staff quickly lit the charcoal and served the food, the couple sweetly began feeding each other.
However, this scene seemed quite unbelievable to the other ninjas dining together.
Generally speaking, although the Uchiha and Hyuga clans weren't exactly sworn enemies, they absolutely belonged to the category of never interacting closely. A romantic scene like theirs, where the couple were so affectionate with each other, was something ordinary Hidden Leaf ninjas had never seen—not even the Hokage himself.
Yet, whether it was Soushu Hyuga's Jonin uniform or the visible Caged Bird Curse Seal on his forehead, all these clear signs openly proved his identity. Therefore, no one doubted its authenticity, merely gossiping behind their backs in hushed voices.
As for those legendary scenes—like various clueless provocations or slap-in-the-face moments—it was regrettable indeed: fools without plot armor couldn't possibly survive even three episodes in a place as complex as Hidden Leaf. Naturally, such improbable situations wouldn't occur here.
After all, reading the room was a fundamental skill every ninja had to master.
Their affectionate meal, filled with romantic gestures, lasted nearly two hours. Satisfied, the pair slowly stood up to settle the bill under the envious stares of many experienced single bachelors.
"Thank you for your patronage, honorable ninjas! The final price after discount is ¥45,000."
The smiling Akimichi clan member gracefully presented the bill on a tray.
Soushu pulled out five ten-thousand-yen notes and placed them on the tray. After receiving the change, he and Mahiru Uchiha left hand in hand.
At this point, the ninjas exuding that loner vibe finally relaxed slightly and began chatting more freely.
"By the way, how come a Hyuga and an Uchiha could actually end up together? And she's even from the Branch House!"
A young Genin couldn't hold back and asked his teacher a sensitive question: "Wasn't it said that the Hyuga Clan are seen as good people while the Uchihas tend to be seen as villains?"
"Shut up! You idiot!"
His Chunin teacher's face immediately changed as he instantly covered the fool's mouth.
Luckily, his student hadn't spoken too loudly, and it seemed the surrounding people hadn't noticed this stupid remark.
"You're just a newly graduated commoner Genin. Be more careful with what you say in the future!"
Looking around cautiously, the Chunin teacher then sighed in relief.
But the moment he saw the clear yet stupid gaze of the student whose mouth he was covering, his anger flared up instantly.
"Forget it, I don't know how the Ninja Academy teaches you people; how come all of you are so dumb?!"
After releasing the student's mouth, the Chunin teacher began complaining in dissatisfaction: "None of you even know how to read the room. What're you gonna do when you get onto a real battlefield?!"
"Whoa!"
Another one of his students suddenly got excited out of nowhere: "So when can we go to an actual battlefield then?!"
"That's right, sensei! We're already so fed up with those stupid tasks like feeding pigs, catching cats, and picking up garbage all day long!"
Another student also started getting worked up.
Their shouting soon turned heads.
However, the ninja dining at the gathering didn't pay much attention to their juniors' ignorant clamoring. They simply glanced over with slightly affectionate and helpless looks.
"You kids really itching to get yourselves killed? I'm not dying just yet!"
The Chunin gave each of his students a slap on the head, letting his frustration out while unintentionally revealing his true thoughts.
"What do you think about them?"
At this moment, Hyuga Soushu—who was smoking by the door—and Mahiru Uchiha, who was clinging to her boyfriend's arm, clearly heard the commotion coming from inside the shop.
"They treat war like a game,"
Hyuga Soushu shook his head, "That kind of mindset will lead them to big trouble."
"Anyway, we still have three months left of vacation,"
Even though Mahiru Uchiha found what those three little brats were saying annoying, she didn't seem to care at all just now.
"Oh yeah, Soushu-kun"
"What is it?"
"I feel like my height has been decreasing lately..."
Mahiru Uchiha said sweetly.
"Really? I don't think so. Haven't you been growing taller?"
Hyuga Soushu nervously tossed away the cigarette butt, measuring against the top of Mahiru Uchiha's head.
"Hmm, maybe it's because I'm becoming more petite..."
Mahiru Uchiha hugged Soushu's arm even tighter.