After a brief silence, Shun broke the quiet.
He turned to Hinata, who was still standing there with an unsettled look, and tried to change the subject to ease the awkwardness, "Hinata, by the Ninja World's calendar, today is your birthday—you should be happy."
Hinata and Hanabi froze for a moment, then disbelief replaced their surprise.
Six days in Immortal Village were only one day in the Ninja World, so the two calendars were completely out of sync. Recently they had devoted themselves to training and naturally hadn't realized today was Hinata's birthday.
Hanabi's puffed cheeks deflated instantly, she too had missed the detail.
"Shun… thank you for remembering my birthday."
Hinata hadn't expected him to recall her birthday so precisely. The care behind it felt like warm sunshine, sweeping every trace of anger from her heart.
Shun walked slowly to her side, ignoring the scorching stare Hanabi shot at him.
He gently hugged Hinata and patted her back. "I rushed here non-stop just to spend a peaceful birthday with you. Don't be angry about what happened earlier, alright?"
With that, he lightly kissed her forehead.
The sudden affection made Hinata stiffen and her cheeks flushed an even deeper red.
Instinctively, she tried to pull away, but Shun gently held her shoulder. The warmth of his palm seeped through her clothes, and her awkwardness melted into an indescribable flutter.
Yet remembering her sister was watching, she grew flustered and gave his hand a small push. "Shun, not now… Hanabi is right here."
Seeing them so intimate, Hanabi felt a sour pang in her chest.
But because it was her sister's birthday, she didn't dare act out and forced down her disappointment.
Biting her lower lip, she tried to break their mood. "Happy birthday, sister. It's all my fault. I was so focused on sparring I forgot such an important day. Brother-in-law, you must have prepared a gift for her. Show us."
Shun smiled at Hinata, eyes full of mystery. "Of course I prepared one, but I'll give it to her in a moment."
Hinata understood his intention. Sweetness welled up in her heart, and her earlier displeasure vanished like smoke.
She shot him a light glare, the corners of her lips lifting. "You're always fooling around."
Shun laughed and patted her shoulder. "Since it's your birthday, we must celebrate properly. When I arrived, I had the manor staff ready a cake and some food—on the stone table in the courtyard. Let's enjoy it together."
Hanabi hesitated, then followed quickly, a hint of delight replacing the loss in her eyes. Being able to celebrate her sister's birthday with Shun was something to be happy about.
On the courtyard's stone table stood an elegant three-tier cake, fresh fruit adorning the cream, unlit candles stuck on top. Beside it were plates of the sisters' childhood favorites: sakura-mochi and chestnut cakes.
An attendant approached carrying warm floral tea, the mingling aroma of tea and cake lifting everyone's mood.
Shun picked up the candles and lit them, saying, "Hinata, make a wish."
Hinata closed her eyes, hands pressed together.
Hanabi stood to one side, watching her sister's gentle profile in the candlelight, then glanced at her smiling brother-in-law and secretly made her own wish: that she could grow up quickly and that Shun would take her as his Queen.
When she finished, Hinata drew a deep breath and blew out the candles.
She picked up the knife, cut the cake into three pieces, handed the first to Hanabi, the second to Shun, and only then took the last for herself.
Hanabi took a bite and sweetness spread through her tongue. The rich cream and fresh fruit mingled, diluting the sting of her earlier rejection.
Hinata ate in small bites, warmth filling her chest.
Halfway through, Shun drew an embroidered box from his sleeve. Delicate cloud patterns carved on its surface clearly marked it as priceless.
He handed one to Hinata, his gaze tender. "This is your birthday gift: a pendant. I've inscribed a seal inside. Worn close to the skin it will nourish your body, and if danger strikes, it can form a protective barrier."
Hinata opened the box to find a milky-white pendant, faint energy rippling around it.
Overjoyed, she slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Shun, thank you. I love this pendant."
The setting sun stained the clouds pale gold and rose, bathing the manor in warmth. The birthday atmosphere lingered in the courtyard.
Hinata fastened the pendant against her skin, savoring its gentle warmth, her heart brimming with sweet surprise.
Watching the pendant in her sister's hand, Hanabi's eyes shone with undisguised envy.
She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't suppress the anticipation in her heart or the faint, coquettish note that came with it.
"Brother-in-law… I… I want a present too."
After the words came out, she quickly lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
A faint smile flickered through Shun's eyes as he produced another brocade box from within his wide sleeve.
This case was slightly smaller than the one given to Hinata, carved with the same exquisite cloud motifs, yet the lines looked livelier—clearly prepared specially for the girl before him.
He lifted the box and gently set it before Hanabi. "For my future sister-in-law."
At his words, Hanabi's head snapped up. Her earlier shyness was swept away by excitement.
She accepted the box with care, lifted the lid, and saw a layer of pale-pink velvet cushioning a pair of earrings lying quietly inside.
Watching her delight, Shun's smile deepened. "I polished these earrings myself, from the same stone as Hinata's pendant. In danger, they'll form a protective barrier, and they'll also heighten your affinity for Natural Energy, speeding its absorption. It's of great benefit to your training in Immortal Village."
Hanabi picked up one earring at once, fingers brushing the smooth stone, her joy growing.
She lifted her gaze, gratitude and happiness shining in her eyes. "Thank you, brother-in-law. They're beautiful. I absolutely love them."
Without waiting, she tried to put them on, clumsily tucking stray hairs behind her ear.
Night deepened and the birthday bustle had long since faded.
Inside Hinata's bedroom, she lay on her side in Shun's arms, cheek against his warm chest. Eyes half-closed, she traced idle circles on his chest, as though to bind his heart forever.
Shun looked down at the woman in his arms, one hand gently circling her waist, the other tenderly smoothing her long hair, his gaze full of indulgence.
After a long while he bent and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Hinata, there's something I must speak to you about."
Hinata lifted her eyes, puzzled. "Shun, go ahead. I'm listening."
Moonlight slipped through the window lattice, bathing her face and brightening the softness in her eyes.
Shun held her gaze. "I'm designing a 'Goddess Plan.' The goal is to gather twenty-four royal consorts, then use Natural Energy fused with the Power Of Faith to forge divinity within each, turning every consort into a personal goddess who will rule a planet and its order."
"Tsunade, for example, will become the Goddess of Life, Temari, the Goddess of Wind and I will make you the Goddess of Love, guardian of all true feelings in the world."
Hinata's pupils shrank slightly, incredulous joy spreading across her face.
He paused, then added tentatively, "Once apotheosis is achieved, not only will strength break all limits, you'll gain long life and eternal youth, forever free of time's erosion. I have one more thought—I wish to take Hanabi as a royal consort and include her in the Goddess Plan."
At Hanabi's name, Hinata's body tensed, complexity flickering in her eyes.
Sensing the change, Shun gently stroked her back. "In the future, we will live long. If Hanabi remains mortal, she will still know age, sickness, and death. A century from now, you would watch her turn to dust. Rather than see her leave you one day, let her join us and become a goddess. You sisters can stay together forever, never tasting the pain of parting. For her, it would be the best path."
Hinata was silent a moment. The turmoil in her eyes ebbed, replaced by rational calculation.
She knew the cruelty of mortality and understood Shun's proposal was no whim—it truly considered Hanabi's welfare. Though lately annoyed by her sister's feelings for Shun, her deep affection for Hanabi had never waned.
If Hanabi could become a goddess, gaining mighty strength and long life while keeping the sisters forever together, the outcome would be perfect.
"Shun, I'm willing… I'm willing to marry you together with Hanabi."
Shun seemed still unsated. "Hinata… roll over… let's play a different game…"
"Ah… Shun…"