Chapter 69: Two Years Later
Early morning in the Yagyu family courtyard.
Standing on snow covered with goose-feather flakes, Ryuzen threw spirited punches into the cold air. The freezing temperatures that should have bit at his skin couldn't touch him—his heart burned too hot for winter to matter.
Scenes from the previous night replayed in his mind, and a happy smile spread across his face unbidden.
He hadn't taken everything from Hinata last night. But he had experienced her touch in ways he hadn't before. The techniques were raw, untrained—but it was exactly that first-time awkwardness that made the experience so electrifying for both of them.
From the moment he'd woken until now, his heart hadn't settled.
Even sword meditation failed to calm him. So he'd come outside to box, letting the melting snow's chill temper his burning heart.
He didn't know how long he'd been at it before sensing Hinata's chakra stirring inside the house. He stopped immediately and headed back.
In the bathroom, Hinata stood before the mirror rinsing her mouth. White foam filled her cheeks as she brushed.
Through the reflection, she saw Yagyu appear in the doorway—arms crossed, leaning against the frame with that playful smile she knew so well.
Her beautiful face reddened at visible speed. White steam—long unseen—rose from the top of her head.
The mouthwash in her cup seemed to carry traces of... what she'd swallowed last night.
THUD.
Before Yagyu's widening eyes, Hinata's beautiful eyes spiraled into mosquito-coin patterns, and she fainted dead away, collapsing to the floor.
Oh no—this is serious!
His expression shifted to shock as he rushed forward to catch her. But when he lifted her, she remained unconscious—eyes open but unfocused, those telltale spirals still spinning.
Yagyu stood there dumbfounded.
He hadn't seen Hinata this stimulated in years. The last time had been when he first taught her... certain techniques. After years together, she'd developed considerable immunity to embarrassment. She'd even initiated many times herself.
Without that growing confidence, she'd never have found the courage to offer herself to him last night.
But one gentle smile from him this morning, and she'd fainted from sheer shame.
If I'd known, I would have left the light on last night and taught her properly.
He wiped the foam from her lips gently, then carried her back to bed. Based on past experience, this level of fainting would take at least twenty minutes to recover from.
He left her resting and went to prepare breakfast.
Ten minutes later, while stirring porridge, his Kenbunshoku Haki sensed movement.
"Ryuu... Ryuzen-kun..."
Her soft voice came from behind him. Nearly ten minutes had passed.
Yagyu turned to find Hinata standing there, head bowed, index fingers spinning nervously. He couldn't help but dry his hands, lift her chin gently, and gaze into those red, misty eyes.
"Hinata, looking at me like this makes me sad." His voice was soft, teasing. "Do you dislike me?"
"No! I don't... I don't dislike Ryuzen-kun at all!"
His teasing struck like thunder in her mind. Her red face went pale instantly. She shook her head in panic, the mist in her eyes condensing into tears that threatened to spill.
"Hey—I was joking!"
The reaction startled him. He pulled her close immediately, holding tight.
"Don't cry, I was joking. Hinata is so good to me—how could she dislike me?"
Trying to lighten the mood, he lowered his head and chuckled near her ear. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have swallowed... you know... right?"
"Ryuzen-kun... you're so mean!"
For the first time in recent memory, Hinata—too gentle to ever glare at him—mustered a half-hearted slap against his chest, a teary smile breaking through.
He held her tighter, chin resting on her hair, smiling without words.
She did the same.
After this incident, the bond between them grew only purer.
Time flowed like water, passing so quickly it overwhelmed.
Two years slipped away.
In those two years, Konoha hadn't changed much physically.
But the villagers had.
A few more wrinkles on the elderly faces. Middle-aged men and women growing steadier. The youth losing some energy but gaining maturity.
And the new generation had grown up.
The twelve heroes, now entering sixteen, could no longer be called children. They were young men and women.
Among them, Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura had shed all childishness. Sakura, just as in the original story, had become Tsunade's apprentice—her bearing heroic and confident. Ino had grown taller, her figure developing. Tenten's unique气质 had deepened.
But compared to them, Hinata had changed the most.
Three years ago—no, four years ago—she'd been a delicate, small thing. In Ryuzen's previous life terms, a little loli standing barely 148 centimeters, not yet bloomed.
Two years ago, she'd shot up to 161 centimeters.
Two years later, she stood at only 162 centimeters—almost no change in height.
But that slender frame from four years ago had transformed into a stunning ninety-one centimeters that made Sakura, Ino, and Tenten green with envious, jealous, hateful longing they could never satisfy.
Then there was Hanabi.
Unnoticed, Hanabi had reached eleven years old.
Her height had grown from 132 to 145 centimeters—less than three centimeters shorter than Hinata at twelve. Long black hair with hints of auburn fell past her shoulders. She'd taken to imitating Ryuzen's style, always wearing a golden-brown kimono, her temperament lively and cute.
And Ryuzen himself had changed subtly over two years.
First, his height had reached 180 centimeters.
His handsome face had lost its remaining childishness, replaced by mature edges. His bearing mixed cold elegance with a trace of grace. Dressed in his unchanged black kimono, an ordinary sword at his waist, he looked like a figure who'd stepped straight out of a painting.
Two years of peace. Two years of growth. Two years of deepening bonds.
But beneath the surface, the calm before the storm continued its slow countdown.
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