The Hyuga estate.
Hinata stepped onto the slate path and slowly entered the compound, her maid Natsu trailing silently behind.
She crossed the gate and entered the front courtyard.
To her surprise, Hiashi stood with hands clasped behind his back in the center of the courtyard, Hanabi waiting quietly beside him.
Seeing her father waiting in person, Hinata's eyes flickered with astonishment.
"Sister, welcome home!" Hanabi spoke first, her voice clear.
"Hanabi." Hinata answered softly, then turned her gaze to her stern-faced father.
"You're back?" Hiashi's voice was as calm and deep as ever, betraying no emotion.
"Yes, father, I'm home." Hinata lowered her head slightly in respectful reply.
Hiashi gave a small nod, said nothing more, and turned toward the main house. Hinata and Hanabi followed in silence.
Inside, Natsu murmured, "Hinata-sama, please rest well," bowed, and withdrew to other duties.
"Sister, call me if you need anything." Hanabi said.
"Mm." Hinata nodded.
She watched Hanabi leave, lingered a moment, then slowly climbed the stairs to her neat, austere bedroom. She set her small bag gently on the tatami, her gaze drawn to the only table in the room, upon it sat a simple wooden frame.
She approached and lifted it carefully. It was a Team 8 group photo, full of laughter and warm memories.
Her eyes drifted to the boy on the far right, captured mid-motion as he swept his bangs aside, revealing a smooth forehead and handsome face, wearing a deliberately cool smile.
Looking at Mamoru's expression, Hinata's lips curved in a tender smile.
Knock... Knock...
The sudden rattle made her jump and she spun toward the window in alarm.
A head popped up upside-down from beneath the sill, black hair swaying, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Eek!" Hinata yelped, stepped back, tripped, and sat down on the tatami.
The culprit was Mamoru.
Seeing her genuinely frightened, he realized he'd gone too far.
With a soft slide, he pushed the window open, crouched on the sill, apology written across his face. "It's me, did I scare you? Sorry."
"Mamoru-kun?" Hinata pressed a hand to her chest, still catching her breath.
"Came to see you." Mamoru leapt lightly into the room and reached down to help her up.
Hinata hesitated, then slipped her hand into his. He lifted her easily but didn't let go.
"So, this is your room?"
He glanced around. It was simple and tidy, soft colors, orderly, quiet—just like Hinata herself.
"Ah… mm." Hinata answered absently, feeling the warmth of his palm, blush deepening.
Mamoru looked back at her and their eyes met. Flustered, Hinata looked away.
He said seriously, "Skip Gentle Fist practice for now. You just got better, rest a few more days."
"Mm…" Hinata murmured in agreement.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed outside.
"Sister!"
Hanabi's worried shout drew closer, she'd clearly heard the scream from downstairs.
The small figure appeared in the doorway. When she saw the scene, her pale eyes widened. "Ah! It's you!"
Her gaze locked on Mamoru's hand clasping her sister's. She pointed and shouted, "Let go of my sister, you rude brute!"
"Hanabi, it's not—" Hinata began.
"Stay away from him, sister!" Hanabi cut in, on full guard.
"Little squirt, so impolite." Mamoru teased.
"Who're you calling a squirt?!" Hanabi clenched her fists and stomped up to him.
"Shorty, I'm a guest." He said, looking down. "This is how the Hyuga treat guests?"
"You—" She spotted clear footprints on the sill and pounced. "A window-crawler has no right to say that!"
"I came through the front gate." Mamoru said calmly.
"Liar! Your footprints are right there!"
"Not mine." He denied flatly.
"You are lying! They clearly are!"
"Got proof?" He tilted his head. "Which eye saw me climb in? Your Byakugan?"
"Y-you-you—" Hanabi sputtered.
Cornered by such shameless denial, the young girl was tongue-tied.
She stamped both feet and yelled, "I challenge you to a duel!"
"Typical kid, can't win with words so you swing fists. Gentle Fist is so scary." Mamoru drawled.
"You—" Hanabi hopped in fury.
"Mamoru, stop teasing her." Hinata murmured, gently shaking the hand he still held.
"Haha, sorry, she's just too fun." Mamoru laughed.
He ruffled Hanabi's hair. "There, calm down."
The gesture poured oil on the fire.
"Don't touch me!" Hanabi swung at his hand.
He pulled back faster. "Feisty."
"Jerk!" She stomped on his foot.
Mamoru didn't even flinch.
"Grr…" Hanabi stomped again, harder.
"All right, duty calls." Mamoru told Hinata, turning serious. "I'll visit again."
He released her hand and lightly patted her head twice.
"Mamoru-kun…" Hinata whispered, cheeks crimson.
Mamoru thought, 'Probably the easiest girl in the world to soothe.'
"Don't touch my sister, creep!" Hanabi kept kicking his shin.
Mamoru nudged the leg she stood on. Hanabi lost balance and plopped onto the tatami. He hopped back onto the windowsill.
"Bye."
He waved to Hinata, tilted backward, and vanished outside.
Hanabi scrambled to the window, but he was already gone.
She punched the frame and shouted into the night, "Mamoru! Next time I'll get you!"
"I'll be waiting."
Mamoru face popped up again outside the window, then disappeared.
Hanabi exploded.
"Gah!" Her shrill yell echoed through the entire Hyuga estate.
— — —
Short birdcalls echoed between the peaks, startling a few birds that had been perched on the cliff face.
Sasuke's left hand gripped his right forearm, palm facing down, brows knit tight. In his palm, fierce lightning suddenly condensed, crackling softly. But in the next instant, the light vanished.
"Failed again…" He muttered.
Sweat had already soaked his black hair.
Kakashi leaned against a weather-worn boulder nearby. The mask hid his expression, but the visible eye narrowed. "Take a break."
He watched the slight tremor in Sasuke's arm and knew the stubborn boy was brushing his physical limit. In truth, Sasuke's grasp of Chidori was already improving, mastery was only a matter of time.
Sasuke didn't listen. He drew a deep breath, formed the hand seals, and once again took the Chidori stance.
A sharp chirp of lightning burst out, then died.
Over-expended Chakra turned his legs to water. He staggered and collapsed, chest heaving, breaths ragged and fast.
Kakashi scratched his hair in defeat at his student's obstinacy.
"Yo!"
A bright voice rang out from above, breaking the brief silence.
(End of Chapter)
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