Chapter 89: A Movie Invitation
"Long time no see, Big Bro Naruto!"
Using her Byakugan to confirm Naruto was home, Hanabi cheerily unlocked his front door with her own key and strolled in as if it were her place.
Per shinobi protocol, she didn't ask about the mission.
The moment the door opened, Naruto's startled voice drifted from the kitchen.
"Been a while, Little Hanabi."
"Hold on—more than that, how exactly did you get a key?"
Apron-clad, Naruto poked his head out of the kitchen, ladle in hand.
Hanabi plopped onto the sofa, swinging her feet smugly. "When I tidied your living room last time I 'borrowed' the key and had three copies made! While you were away on that half-month mission I dropped by to air the place for you!"
"Three copies?"
"Why three?"
"You afraid of losing them or something?"
Naruto muttered, ducking back into the kitchen.
"So you're playing the helpful fairy again today?"
"Not at all!"
Though she didn't know what a "helpful fairy" meant, it sounded like someone who cleaned other people's houses.
Hanabi bounced off the sofa and skipped to the kitchen doorway, eyes sparkling.
"I heard Big Bro Naruto raked in a fortune from that s-rank mission—how about upgrading to a bigger house?"
"Or at least replacing the furniture? If you're short on cash, I can chip in!"
Steam puffed from the soup pot; Naruto froze with the lid half-raised.
With the Konoha Crush Plan only two months away, buying property now would be like tossing money into a whirlpool—coins at least make a splash you can hear.
He could always buy after Orochimaru pulled his stunt; he wasn't strapped for funds. Lately, though, missions plus writer's block had stalled progress—"the romantic ninjutsu tales of shimura VII" was barely past halfway.
"No need; I'm comfy here. I'll swap the furniture later once I've saved a bit more."
Thwarted, Hanabi puffed her cheeks and produced two movie tickets from her pocket.
"Then do you have time this afternoon for Princess Fuun: Final Battle? They say it's super—amazing!"
She rose on tiptoe, gesturing grandly.
"The heroine's apparently a real princess from the Land of Snow; she leads the hero's Ninja squad to retake her country and uses her late father's secret treasure to turn the whole ice plain into grassland!"
Naruto's hand stilled.
"Wait, that plot sounds awfully familiar… that old director sure works fast!"
"Sure, but only after we eat."
He waved the sauce-streaked ladle toward the bubbling pot; rising steam softened his wry grin.
"Three more minutes for the borscht—help yourself."
"I'll pass; you eat first, Big Bro! I've got stuff to do."
Light as a sparrow, Hanabi slipped one ticket into his apron pocket.
"Remember—five o'clock sharp!"
"Dad told me to be home for lunch today, so I'm off!"
———
In the Hyuga Clan Compound, Hinata blotted sweat from her brow after training.
"Sister!"
Hanabi's bell-bright voice rang out as she bounded like a frisky fawn straight into Hinata's arms.
She waved two cinema tickets high.
"Five o'clock—come with me! It's supposed to be fantastic!"
Her words tumbled like marbles: "The heroine's the real Snow-country princess; she takes back her nation and turns the tundra into prairie! Big Bro Naruto's coming too!"
Hinata gave a soft "Mm" at the impact.
Looking at her sister's glowing face and the tickets, she realized she'd been buried in training and missions lately—she hadn't spent time with Hanabi in ages.
A pang of guilt surfaced; she murmured, "A movie? Oh… all right! I'm free this afternoon."
Hanabi squealed, hopping as the tickets carved an arc through the air. "Perfect! I knew you're the best!"
"Mm… mm?"
Hinata suddenly recalled what Hanabi had just said.
"Hanabi… did you say Naruto-kun is going too?"
"Of course!"
Hanabi answered with absolute certainty, as though the question itself were silly.
Grinning, she flicked the tickets again—playful, smug, eyes twinkling like a fox that had finished laying a trap.
She leaned closer and dropped her voice teasingly: "So, Sis—seize the chance!"
She winked. "You two have been so busy you haven't met in ages, right?"
"Ah?"
Caught so bluntly, Hinata froze.
The faint blush that had colored her cheeks spread like ink in water, flooding her whole face; even her ear-tips burned.
Her heart pounded so hard it felt ready to leap out.
"Mm…"
"Hehe!"
Hanabi beamed at her sister's flustered look.
Hmph—if Sis won't make a move, I'll just have to play matchmaker myself.
If she still can't get it together, don't blame me when Big Bro Naruto ends up with Ino-nee… as if!
Hanabi had deliberately chosen the day Naruto returned and Ino was away on a mission to arrange this movie date.
What bad intentions could Little Hanabi have? Plenty!
———
Next door to Hyuga Hiashi's house—really just another small courtyard.
Because Hiashi and Hizashi were brothers, even after becoming heads of main and branch families their homes stayed interconnected.
Neji stepped inside, clutching a movie ticket given by Might Guy.
Supposedly Kakashi Hatake's squad appears in the film.
Among them is a taijutsu prodigy.
Back at the Ninja Academy Neji had heard of this genius—Uzumaki Naruto.
Guy gushed about his star pupil every year during his month of substitute teaching.
Once Neji asked Guy who was stronger—himself or Naruto.
Guy's grin vanished; rare solemnity settled over him.
He gripped Neji's shoulder. "Neji, you're the Hyuga prodigy—your Gentle Fist, your Chakra control, are flawless; your talent and effort are beyond question."
He paused, gaze drifting as though sighting that never-say-die blond through distant memories.
"But Naruto… he's taijutsu incarnate. He fears neither exhaustion nor wounds; every time he falls it's only to rise stronger."
"Talent fused with that obsessive effort burns brighter—he's already walked far down the path of body arts."
Guy shook his head, regret tingeing his tone. "Even a genius like you still has a sizeable gap to close."
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1: Naruto: Rise From Hidden Sand Village
2: Demon Slayer: My Breathing Technique Is Actually Haki?
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