Chapter 67 – The Hyuga Princess and the Reluctant Tour Guide
Jiraiya was about to switch to Sage Mode and turn the tide.
He even had the toad throat-singing ritual ready.
But the moment the frogs materialized, Naruto grabbed Sasuke and vanished in a golden flash.
He had already broken through Pain's Human, Animal, and Preta Paths in the original timeline.
No interest in slugging it out with his godfather today.
"Flying Raijin?!"
Jiraiya, Kakashi, Guy, and every jonin blocking the exit stood there dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, back in the village.
Aike's group, hunting for a place to eat, ran straight into Hinata Hyuga, escorted by Neji.
Thanks to the tiny psychological nudge Aike had planted last time,
even though this was technically their first meeting, Hinata instantly felt a faint warmth toward him.
Just a tiny crack in the door.
Aike never used mind control for recruitment; a little "friendly first impression" was more than enough.
Neji, on the other hand, remembered exactly who they were.
He had personally witnessed these five overwhelm the Third Hokage at the chunin exams.
His heart was already in his throat.
"Yo! Little Hyuga miss, hi there."
Aike waved cheerfully at Hinata while the girls shot him weird looks.
Only Izumi stayed calm—she had known this was coming ever since they sneaked into the Hyuga compound last time.
After teasing Hinata, Aike turned to Neji.
"Oh yeah, and you—the strongest genius of this Hyuga generation."
"H-Hello…!"
Hinata gave her trademark whisper-shy reply.
Aike barely heard it.
Neji, however, instantly bowed like a soldier greeting a general.
"Lord—sir! Good afternoon!"
Perfect attitude.
Instant promotion to tour guide.
Hinata was immediately kidnapped by Nami, Carina, and Kaya for girl talk.
Future crewmate screening had begun.
Her gentle, blushing personality instantly won them over.
The whole scene—five mysterious super-powerful outsiders openly chatting up the Hyuga heiress in broad daylight—was reported back to the clan within minutes.
Hiashi, training Hanabi at home, broke into a cold sweat the moment the message arrived.
Emergency orders flew out:
Do NOT offend them.
If Neji or Hinata accidentally says anything wrong, apologize on the spot and report immediately.
Yesterday's stadium massacre had traumatized the entire village leadership.
That very night,
the moment Neji and Hinata returned, Hiashi summoned them.
"Did they say anything specific to you?"
He asked gravely, eyes mostly on Neji.
Neji hesitated, then recounted everything honestly.
When he reached the part about how the girls treated Hinata like a future friend, Hiashi's brows slammed together.
Treating his daughter as a companion…
Were they planning to take her?
Then he heard tomorrow they wanted to meet again.
Long silence.
Finally a deep, defeated sigh.
"…If they asked for it, do exactly what they say."
And so,
for the next two full days,
Hyuga Neji became Aike's personal tour guide and bodyguard.
Hinata, after a couple of days of gentle coaxing, grew much more comfortable around Aike and the girls.
Especially around Aike.
It was exactly like canon Hinata with Naruto—
one teasing word or accidental touch and poof, steam shot out of her ears.
She literally fainted from blushing three separate times.
Nami, Carina, Kaya, and even Izumi stared in open fascination.
A girl who could pass out from pure shyness?
First time any of them had ever seen—or even heard of—such a thing.
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