Shirakumo Aoba led Hinata out of Ichiraku Ramen. He was about to head toward the Hyuga compound when a tall man stepped into his path, scowling fiercely.
That expression was all too familiar—every time he'd met the parents of Tenten, Ino, or Sakura, they'd secretly given him that same look. Yet he didn't recognize this man…except for those pale eyes. He must be one of Hinata's guards.
"Little…friend." The man ground out through clenched teeth, "thank you for taking care of our heiress."
"Oh—no need to thank me." Aoba replied, accustomed to such bitterness.
He glanced back at Hinata, still bowing her head. "Hinata, your family's here to fetch you. I'll be going now."
"Huh?" Hinata raised her head at the sound of her name, but Aoba had already turned and disappeared into the night.
She pressed her lips together, heart aching in sudden loss. She tried to recall when they might meet again.
"Miss Hinata?" the guard hurried over, concern in his voice.
"I'm fine." Hinata shook her head, though her tone held a trace of displeasure—a first for her protector. He felt a pang of guilt. He'd found her happily eating ramen and waited to approach until she left. Now he'd risk the captain's wrath to report every detail about this boy.
—
Reflecting on the day's strange events, Shirakumo Aoba pushed open his front door. In the darkness, he reached for the light switch—but before his hand could flick it on, a firm grip yanked him up by the collar.
"Who's there?!" Aoba yelped, twisting in midair and unleashing a spinning kick—only to have a hand catch his leg. He shoved his arm into his tunic and flung several shuriken at his assailant.
Steel rang in the darkness as he tumbled free. Reaching for a detonating talisman, he steadied himself—when a familiar voice spoke.
"All right, it's me."
The lights snapped on. Before him stood the determined face of Shirakumo Hayama.
"Uncle, don't scare people like that—it's dangerous." Aoba exhaled and tucked the talisman back inside his tunic. He'd nearly lost two thousand ryō.
Hayama returned to his seat, eyes narrowing. "You've caused quite a stir in the village today." He still carried the stern aura of a recent mission. Even knowing nothing worse would happen, Aoba felt a chill run down his spine.
"What—I—did what?" he croaked.
Hayama crossed his arms. "What's your relationship with those girls from the Yamanaka clan and the tool shop now?"
"Oh—just ordinary friends." Aoba scratched his head and spoke honestly.
"Just friends?" Hayama's gaze sharpened. In the shinobi world, children matured early—liking someone at four or five was normal. Hayama didn't mind nieces having "little boyfriends," but he drew the line at too many hearts. Including Tenten and the others would be three girls already. He'd felt their cold shoulders earlier when filing his mission report—now he realized it was all because of his nephew.
"I was simply teaching Tenten shuriken-throwing. They came to me…" Aoba mumbled.
Hayama's brow twitched. "When I'm not home, do you usually stay out this late?"
"No, but tonight I was eating out with a friend." Aoba stepped onto the couch.
"Ino? Sakura? Or Tenten?"
"Uh—that would be Hyuga Hinata."
Hayama fell silent. After a long moment, he spoke softly.
"Aoba, I know you're responsible, but no matter how strong, you're still a civilian. The gap between ordinary families and clans is a chasm. Stories of cross-family romance exist, but they're pure—this isn't." Hayama's voice grew grave. "I worry that one day I'll return from a mission and find you torn to pieces."
Aoba was speechless. Hayama stood and patted his shoulder.
"Get some rest. Tomorrow I'll test your training results. If you want to be with a heiress, you'll need to rely on your own strength."
—
"Five bowls of ramen?" Hyuga Hizashi stared at the guard's report, incredulous. He'd never imagined Hinata—who usually set down her bowl after one helping—could eat five without flinching.
"I saw it myself," the guard confirmed.
Hizashi shook his head, regaining composure. "Understood. Dismissed—and prepare a full dossier on Shirakumo Aoba."
"Yes, Lord Hizashi." The guard bowed and left.
Hizashi returned to the parlor, where little Hanabi Hyuga sat reading with Hinata. Guilt washed over him. As clan leader and father, he'd always viewed Hinata through a formal lens—yet he'd overlooked her hunger, something even a child could reveal.