Romon was led away by the hand, with Hinata Hyuga walking beside him. As they walked, Romon felt something unusual his physical body was strengthening.
Curious, he concentrated and noticed that Hinata's body was also changing. Her chakra was increasing, and even her Byakugan was growing more powerful.
When did these changes begin?
Romon thought back and quickly pinpointed the moment: when Hinata reached out her small, soft hand, and he took it in his.
It all seemed to start from that one touch.
If that's really the trigger… what happens if we get even closer?
With that thought, he glanced at Hinata. Their eyes met. Hinata gave a tiny nod. They moved closer together, and just as he suspected, both their physical and chakra growth accelerated.
Not far away, behind the counter of Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi the shop owner watched as Hinata Hyuga led Romon away by the hand. His mind echoed with the words he'd just overheard from her: "I'll take care of you."
Teuchi's expression twisted into an exaggerated mix of disbelief and shock. His eyes widened.
When he was younger, he too had once dreamed of bumping into a noble lady from a prestigious clan on the street, falling in love, and starting a sweet romance.
But reality taught him that without chakra, without becoming a ninja, there was no chance of getting close to a girl from a powerful clan.
So he gave up and inherited his father's ramen shop, living a peaceful but ordinary life.
And now? Right before his eyes, some kid an orphan no less was actually being taken home by the Hyuga clan's current heiress.
Why him?!
He cursed inwardly.
Teuchi turned his head and happened to notice his daughter Ayame standing quietly nearby, watching Romon being led away. Her delicate face held a faint look of sadness.
Wait… what?
A shiver ran down Teuchi's spine. He gripped his ladle tighter, a terrible thought surfacing in his mind.
Had his daughter… secretly fallen for Romon?
That would explain why she was always helping him out before cooking noodles for him, slipping him extra food…
Teuchi's thoughts spiraled. He tried to recall Romon's appearance.
Okay, fine, he admitted. The kid was good-looking exactly the type young girls would like.
…
Meanwhile, in the shadows, a pair of Hyuga branch family bodyguards who had been silently following Hinata were now soaked in nervous sweat.
The young Hyuga heiress had brought back an older boy a street vendor no less?
Was she… romantically interested in him?
This was serious. They needed to inform the clan head immediately!
After a short discussion, the two bodyguards split up one returned to the Hyuga estate to report the situation to Hiashi, while the other remained hidden, continuing to guard Hinata from the shadows.
At the same time, many others on the street had seen Hinata in her white kimono, holding Romon's hand. Among those observers were members of the ANBU.
And soon, news began to spread through the village like wildfire: the heiress of the Hyuga clan had taken a liking to a civilian boy and brought him home.
Even the Hokage's office got wind of it.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, upon hearing the report from ANBU, immediately requested Romon's background file.
After a careful review, he found that Romon and even his deceased parents were all officially registered as Konoha residents.
Clean record. Pure background.
The only issue: Romon had no ninja potential. He couldn't even mold chakra.
Which meant there was no way Hiashi Hyuga, the clan head and Hinata's father, would approve of this boy as his daughter's future husband.
If the two actually got together, and had a child who also couldn't use chakra… they'd become the laughingstock of the village.
No doubt about it. Things were about to get messy at the Hyuga compound today.
Still, as Hokage, it wasn't his place to interfere with internal clan matters unless, of course, it involved the Uchiha…
With that thought, Hiruzen took a long puff from his pipe and returned to his paperwork.
…
Back at the Hyuga estate, Romon and Hinata arrived to a shocking scene.
Beyond the gates stood a dense crowd hundreds of people. On one side stood Hyuga Hizashi with the branch family; on the other, Hiashi with the main house.
Nearly half the entire Hyuga clan had gathered.
All because of one sentence "I'll take care of you" and the fact that Hinata had brought a boy home.
This matter needed to be handled seriously.
Otherwise, the Hyuga clan would truly become a joke.
Hiashi, the clan head, stared at his daughter, who was still holding Romon's hand, and spoke in a grim, stern voice.
"Hinata. Do you understand what you've done?"
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