Chapter 26: The Color of YouQuiet Days
After the Land of Waves mission, Team 8's life returned to peaceful rhythms.
In the month that followed, Kurenai didn't gather the three of them at all. She gave them daily rest—not even D-rank missions to occupy their time.
But aside from Ryuzen, the others genuinely needed time to process their Wave Country experiences.
Especially Kurenai.
As Team 8's jōnin instructor, facing Zabuza had exposed her greatest weakness—against Kirigakure's assassination techniques, her illusions had proven useless. Without Ryuzen, she couldn't have protected her students.
If she didn't improve, Ryuzen would have to stand at the front in every future battle. What right would she have to call herself their teacher then?
Shino felt his own pressures.
In Ryuzen's battle against Zabuza, he had witnessed overwhelming power. That power inspired both confidence and stress. Every day since returning to the village, Shino found himself revisiting those battle scenes—Ryuzen against Kurenai, Ryuzen against the Demon of the Mist.
The weight of those memories transformed into motivation.
Team 8 was a unit. He might not match Ryuzen's level, but he refused to be dead weight.
Ryuzen remained unaware of their internal struggles.
With Team 8 not gathering, he enjoyed the quiet. Life flowed like the years before graduation—daily exercise, completing system tasks, immersing in Mihawk's swordsmanship, deepening his connection to the Breath of All Things through meditation.
In free moments, he trained with Hinata.
Six years by his side had transformed her far beyond her original self.
She had mastered tree climbing and water walking years ago. Her chakra control for the Gentle Fist exceeded her canon counterpart several times over. More than a year ago, she had already mastered the Sixty-Four Palms of the Divination.
By graduation, Hinata's strength comfortably surpassed Uchiha Sasuke's—who could only manage the Fireball Technique.
Her gentle, unassuming nature made her seem inconspicuous. But the power was there.
Hinata herself felt no pressure like Kurenai or Shino. Her dream remained simple: to stay with Ryuzen forever, to be his wife. She pressed flowers, studied tea ceremony, honed cooking skills—then slipped out of her house to care for Ryuzen, often forgetting to eat in her devotion.
Ryuzen, long accustomed to her care, couldn't imagine life without her.
Though neither had formally confessed, they had clearly crossed that threshold. They lived like a couple.
Every day, Ryuzen found opportunities to kiss her openly. From brief brushes to deeper explorations.
Hinata gradually learned to respond instead of fainting.
Their relationship now differed nothing from genuine lovers. More accurately, the prototype of their future married life had already formed.
A Gift
Today, after finishing training, they bathed one after another.
In the room, Hinata suddenly produced a white scarf from her backpack, holding it out to Ryuzen.
"This is for you, Ryuzen-kun."
Ryuzen accepted it, surprise flickering across his features.
"Your clothes always stay clean on their own." Hinata smiled softly. "But that scarf of yours didn't have that property. Last time, I noticed its color had faded, so I bought you a new one."
Warmth spread through Ryuzen's chest.
This girl noticed everything.
He held the scarf up, wrapping it around his neck. Then he caught one end, meeting her eyes with a smile. "Hinata... this color matches your eyes, doesn't it?"
"Mm." She lowered her head shyly.
Ryuzen cupped her face in both hands, gazing into those beautiful eyes that no longer flinched from his. His crimson orbs grew larger in her vision.
Hinata understood what would happen. Slowly, she closed her eyes.
They sank down together.
Only when Hinata neared suffocation did Ryuzen finally release her.
She lay there, eyes still closed, face flushed crimson. Ryuzen watched her for a moment, then spoke softly.
"Hinata. I want you to be dyed in my color."
Her eyes opened slowly, hazy with emotion.
Ryuzen helped her sit up, facing her as steam practically rose from her head. He extended his right hand.
"Come. Give me your hand."
His voice dispelled her dizziness once again. Curiosity overcoming embarrassment, she placed her hand in his.
He pulled her up, and together they left his house, walking hand in hand through the streets like any couple.
He led her to a clothing store.
At the scarf section, Ryuzen picked up a light red scarf and smiled at Hinata. "Do you like this color?"
Hinata glanced at the scarf, then at Ryuzen's eyes. His earlier words echoed in her mind. Her face, which had just cooled, flushed anew.
But the joy in her heart overwhelmed her shyness. She nodded.
"Mm."
Ryuzen paid immediately. Then, gently, he tied the scarf around Hinata's neck himself.
One white. One red.
Each wearing the other's color.
(End of Chapter)
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