Chapter 78: A Day with Hanabi
Konoha Year 63, Day 41.
Without anyone really noticing, nearly a month had passed since Team 8 completed its first S-rank mission.
Because of the difficulty of that mission, Tsunade had not assigned Team 8 any new work for the time being. For the first time in quite a while, their days had become calm and unhurried.
After the celebration banquet, Ryuzen had scarcely seen Shikamaru and the others again. Everyone had likely returned to their own routines, training, and missions.
As for Ryuzen, he was more of a homebody than ever. Other than meals, training, and the occasional outing, he could stay at home the entire day without feeling bored.
Aside from Hinata and Hanabi, it was rare for anyone to see him at all.
Today, Hinata was at home practicing tea ceremony and flower pressing.
Meanwhile, in the training hall of the Yagyu residence, two figures were sparring.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The sharp sound of steel colliding rang through the room.
Kunai flashed from tricky angles, only to be turned aside by a single playing card held lightly between Ryuzen's fingers. Sparks flickered for an instant each time metal met reinforced paper.
"Faster," Ryuzen said as he stepped back with measured ease. His tone was calm, but there was no softness in his instruction. "You can already see my movements with your Byakugan, so trust what you see. Don't let your body hesitate after your eyes have already understood."
"Yes!"
Hanabi answered crisply, sweat already gathering on her forehead as she pressed forward with another attack.
Her kunai thrust toward his shoulder, only for Ryuzen to flick the edge aside with a deceptively light motion. The force redirected her strike completely.
Hanabi reacted immediately. She planted her foot, shifted her balance, and drove forward with her free hand, aiming not for brute force, but for a precise Gentle Fist strike.
A small smile appeared in Ryuzen's eyes.
That was the right decision.
In an instant, he caught her wrist, stepped in, and disrupted her stance with a tap to her knee. Before Hanabi could recover, the card in his other hand rested lightly against the side of her neck.
The match was over.
Hanabi let out a long breath.
"Brother Ryuzen… I lost again."
"You did," Ryuzen said, though his tone carried approval rather than criticism.
He flicked the card away, then raised his sleeve and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"But this time you were decisive. You stopped relying on the kunai the moment you realized it would fail. That was good. Remember that feeling."
Hanabi's tired expression brightened.
"Really?"
"Really." He placed a hand on her head. "The Hyuga clan's true strength isn't in weapons. It's in precision. The Gentle Fist only becomes frightening when your eyes, judgment, and chakra all move together. Once you commit, your strikes have to be clean and merciless."
Hanabi nodded seriously.
"I understand."
Ryuzen looked at her a moment longer, then added, "Your basics are improving quickly. There's no need to rush. Keep building your foundation, and your body will naturally catch up to your eyes."
Hanabi straightened proudly at that.
Then, as though remembering she was still exhausted, her shoulders slumped again.
Ryuzen chuckled and held out a hand.
"Come on. Training's over for now."
Hanabi took it at once, and he led her out of the hall.
Back inside the house, Ryuzen changed from his training clothes into a loose pair of shorts and set his kimono aside.
"You should wash up first," he said. "After that, you can head home, or rest here if you're too tired. I'll do another round of training later."
Hanabi looked up at him and smiled.
"Then I'll help first."
Ryuzen raised an eyebrow. "Help?"
"With your hair," Hanabi said proudly. "Nee-san always says you get lazy when you're by yourself."
Ryuzen gave a faint, helpless smile.
"That does sound like Hinata."
He prepared the bath while Hanabi waited nearby, and soon the room was filled with warm steam.
The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful, a sharp contrast to the clashing sounds from the training hall earlier.
Ryuzen sat on the small stool while Hanabi stood behind him, carefully rinsing his long silver hair with warm water.
Unlike Hinata's gentle, almost timid touch, Hanabi's movements were brisk and confident. She worked with obvious concentration, fingers threading through his hair as she washed it.
Afterward, as if by habit, her hands paused at the pressure points around his head and neck.
The Hyuga were intimately familiar with the chakra pathways of the human body. Even simple massage from them carried a precision most people could never manage.
Hanabi pressed lightly at several points she knew would relieve tension.
Ryuzen closed his eyes.
For a moment, the room fell completely silent except for the sound of running water.
Hanabi noticed, and the corners of her lips lifted.
"Brother Ryuzen, you almost fell asleep."
"I might have," he admitted.
"That means my technique is good."
"It means you've improved."
Hanabi looked pleased enough to glow.
When she finished rinsing his hair, Ryuzen stood and draped a towel over his shoulders.
"Thank you," he said.
Hanabi placed her hands on her hips with exaggerated pride. "You're welcome."
Then, after a brief pause, she looked at him with open curiosity.
"Brother Ryuzen?"
"Hm?"
"When Nee-san is here with you… it feels different."
Ryuzen turned slightly, meeting her gaze.
Hanabi was clever—clever enough to notice what many adults overlooked.
He did not answer immediately.
After a moment, he said, "That's because Hinata is important to me."
Hanabi studied him carefully.
"More important than other people?"
"Yes."
Her expression shifted, thoughtful rather than disappointed.
After everything she had seen over the past months, that answer likely confirmed what she had already guessed.
Hanabi lowered her eyes for a second, then looked back up and smiled.
"Nee-san will be happy."
Ryuzen's expression softened.
"Yes," he said quietly. "I think so too."
Hanabi stepped back and nodded, as though accepting something important.
Then, almost instantly, her usual lively energy returned.
"But I'm still going to get stronger first," she declared. "Strong enough that next time, you won't end the match so quickly."
Ryuzen laughed softly.
"That's the spirit."
He reached out and tapped her forehead lightly with two fingers.
"Then work hard, Hanabi."
"I will!"
The answer was as bright and certain as sunlight.
Outside, the afternoon remained calm.
Inside the Yagyu residence, the quiet warmth of ordinary life continued—training, rest, conversation, and bonds that had grown stronger without anyone fully realizing when it had happened.
For Team 8, and for the people closest to Ryuzen, these rare peaceful days were as precious as any victory earned on the battlefield.
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