Thud~
The door closed gently.
The skipping figure of his fiancée disappeared from the narrow apartment.
Hyuga Yu sat silently before the short round table. The pale incandescent light illuminated the three scrolls before him, casting elongated shadows that pressed upon his shoulders like massive weights.
However,
Hyuga Yu showed no sign of dejection.
When he came back to his senses, for some reason, he glanced at the mirror nearby and found that he was actually smiling.
The smile looked both lecherous and creepy, startling Yu himself.
He instinctively thought that he absolutely must not let this terrifying "Tomodachi" mindset rot his brain, but after thinking for a moment, he felt he was being a bit too sensitive.
He spread his arms and lay back on the tatami mats, his taut heartstrings finally relaxing a fraction.
Hyuga Yu was no savior, nor did he bear the heavy burden of saving the world.
He simply thought that since he had a second life, he should strive to live well in this world, to live like a "human being."
In that case, as a human, making two or three friends shouldn't count as some heinous crime, right?
Thinking this cautiously,
Hyuga Yu sat up. He reached out to untie the cords of the three scrolls on the table one by one, unrolled them, formed the hand seals for the Summoning Jutsu, and pressed his hands down.
Poof~
Amidst the swirling smoke, a pile of supplies appeared on the low table.
First was a set of ninja tools forged from hundred-folded steel, including three kunai, thirty-two shuriken, a spool of steel wire, four smoke bombs, and a stack of paper bombs.
This was the standard loadout a ninja should possess.
In addition to the ninja tools, a fine ninja sword about 1.2 meters long, a set of ninja combat fatigues, and a bag of food pills sufficient to sustain life for about half a month appeared on the table.
Looking at this pile of items, Hyuga Yu's eyes lit up. He picked out the combat suit and held it up.
Ninja attire was quite particular. Attempting to carry a large amount of ninja tools sufficient for combat consumption was impossible with just one or two pouches, while hanging too many would affect a ninja's balance and mobility.
The ugly green Chunin flak jacket and undershirt worn by the vast majority of ninja at Chunin level and above in the Hidden Leaf Village were, in fact, the most expensive items in an ordinary ninja's equipment set.
But the one in Hyuga Yu's hands was undoubtedly a higher-level custom-made combat suit.
Its overall shape resembled a pure black, high-collared bodysuit.
The collar could be pulled up to cover the mouth and nose; the waist was equipped with a tool pouch, and there were leggings on both legs capable of mounting shuriken holsters and scroll pockets respectively. The inner side of the combat suit was lined with tightly woven chainmail effectively capable of protecting against sword slashes and axe blows. Paired with standard Chunin gloves, leg wrappings, a bandana with an embedded forehead protector...
Given this combat suit's balance of style, utility, and powerful protection far exceeding that of a Chunin flak jacket, the cost was likely no less than 700,000 Ryo.
Having experienced two years of war, Hyuga Yu naturally understood what role such a piece of equipment could play in ninja combat, and he had long wanted to obtain a similar ninja tool.
But,
He was a Genin and did not qualify for a village-issued Chunin flak jacket.
At the same time, the exorbitant price of such custom protective gear had made the cash-strapped Hyuga Yu flinch.
He just hadn't expected Hyuga Natsu to give him such a precious gift.
Thinking of this, Hyuga Yu felt a bit uneasy.
Hyuga Natsu did not come from a wealthy family; like him, she was a war orphan. She didn't even have his original family conditions that allowed contact with figures at the level of the Hyūga Main House elders.
Hyuga Yu immediately understood where this combat suit came from.
Becoming a Chunin and accepting employment from the Main House, Hyuga Natsu's monthly salary was 300,000 Ryo. And as far as he knew, Natsu had started this job less than three months ago...
Now,
Her entire salary was right here.
Hyuga Yu couldn't help but take a deep breath, his knuckles turning pale as he gripped the combat suit.
In the end,
He said nothing, nor did he chase after her with the scroll to refuse this kindness. He simply silently changed into the set of equipment Hyuga Natsu had brought.
Then,
He heavily closed his white eyes, which had become increasingly sharp.
Sitting quietly on the tatami, he waited for time to pass, second by second, and waited for the moment that could be considered a pronouncement of fate for him—
Having been rejected from joining the Main House Guard Squad, Hyuga Yu could not shake the Hyūga Main House's decision; he could only wait for the transfer order coming in a few days.
But in that case, it would be far too late.
Hyuga Yu had no interest in whether that Hyūga Main House young master lived or died, but he had to ensure that the people he cared about could survive safely in the imminent event!
And if he wanted to bypass this resolution and secretly protect Hyuga Natsu outside the village tomorrow,
Then he needed a transfer order issued from an even higher level of the Hidden Leaf!
Just then,
Hyuga Yu felt the light source perceived through his closed eyelids flicker a few times.
Immediately after—
Snap!
With that sound, the apartment plunged into pitch darkness.
In the silent darkness, a low voice, its distance difficult to discern, suddenly sounded indifferently in Hyuga Yu's ear:
"So—"
"Is this the reason you actively sought us out?"
"Lion... kun?"
Outside the apartment,
The sun set in the west, and the colors of night climbed the sky.
Hyuga Tetsu, who had witnessed Hyuga Yu entering the apartment under Hyuga Natsu's quiet, sweet gaze, felt rather bitter.
This wasn't heartbreak, nor was it jealousy.
He simply couldn't understand for a moment why he was standing here. Like a kite with a broken string, his thoughts drifted further and further away.
He wandered in the middle of the Konoha Tea Street, not far downstairs from the apartment building.
The lights of the shops along the street lit up and flickered, reflecting on his stern face.
Waves of people passed by, carrying laughter, silence, bitterness, and the clear directions of their respective lives, unhesitatingly pursuing the momentary pleasure that numbed them for the now.
In such an environment, Hyuga Tetsu unconsciously felt a bit thirsty. He wanted a drink, but due to the Three Prohibitions of the Ninja, being underage, he could only go into a store and come out clutching a cup of milk.
Squatting by the roadside, taking sporadic sips,
His gaze involuntarily drifted toward that illuminated apartment building.
Yes,
There was no clearly defined relationship like "friend," "brother," or "close comrade" between Hyuga Tetsu and Hyuga Yu in the traditional sense.
The words exchanged between them amounted to fewer than ten sentences.
According to sociological definitions,
They were more like "familiar strangers."
But after hearing the news this afternoon that Hyuga Yu had rejected the Main House elder's appointment,
Hyuga Tetsu had immediately dropped everything and rushed here impatiently, wishing he could shove Hyuga Yu's head into a water vat to make him sober up!
Was it for Hyuga Natsu?
It didn't seem so. He did like Natsu—who wouldn't like a beautiful girl like her?—but Natsu liked Hyuga Yu more. Rather than stealing Natsu away, he was more inclined to silently wish her happiness.
Then, it couldn't possibly be for that self-righteous idiot Hyuga Yu, right?
Thinking of this, Hyuga Tetsu startled himself. He shot up abruptly, spilling milk all over the ground.
————
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