Chapter 74: A Parting Night Raid! Is this really just giving a lucky charm?
Late night in Konoha.
Uzumaki Naruto lay on his bed with his hands behind his head.
Tomorrow morning, he would be leaving the Village with Pervy Sage to begin a three-year training journey.
[Sigh... three years really is a long time.]
He sighed in his heart.
[Even though I've known the plot for a long time and know this is the necessary path to becoming stronger, just thinking about facing that old pervert who only peeks at women's baths for the next thousand-plus days instead of the territory I worked so hard to build in Konoha... my heart hurts!]
[My Lady Hinata's bento, Ino's energetic slender waist, Teacher Kurenai's mature charm, and the private clinic treatment in the Hokage Office I just developed...]
[All of this will be temporarily cut off! It's practically a humanitarian disaster! Heavens, can't you let me take my harem along for 'material gathering'? Even just one to warm the bed would do!]
Knock, knock.
Just as Naruto was lost in thought, a very soft tapping sound came from the window.
Naruto's expression changed, and he immediately sat up.
[This late? Anbu? No, there's no killing intent... instead, it's a bit fragrant?]
Before he could ask, a slender hand gently pushed open the window.
Moonlight shone in, tracing a slim silhouette. The figure moved very lightly, making no sound upon landing.
When the person turned around and their face became clear in the dim light from the window, Naruto's breath hitched.
Hyuga Hinata.
But what made Naruto's eyes nearly pop out was her outfit.
The thick, tightly wrapped coat she usually wore was gone, replaced by a black, tight-fitting mesh training suit. This kind of clothing unique to the Hyuga Clan clung tightly to her skin, revealing all the good curves she usually hid.
[Holy crap!]
Naruto's head buzzed.
[This script is wrong! Is this still the Hinata who faints whenever she sees me?]
[This outfit... is cheating! That curve, that waist... the Hyuga Clan's tight suits are the number one invention in the Ninja World! They're too big! Does she usually do weight training? They look heavy; I really want to help her share the burden of gravity!]
[And climbing through the window in the middle of the night... is this a night raid? Or a parting... bang?]
[Stay calm! Stay calm! She's a young lady; maybe it's just for ease of movement... but that tight feeling, paired with her shy expression... it's practically the peak of pure desire! My nose is about to bleed!]
At this moment, Hinata stood by the window, her face completely flushed.
Naruto's messy thoughts were transmitted into her mind word for word. "Cheating," "peak of pure desire," "share the burden of gravity"... these words made her legs feel a bit weak, and she was so embarrassed she wanted to run away immediately.
But... thinking about him leaving tomorrow.
A sense of crisis overcame her shyness.
Hinata took a deep breath, as if making a huge decision, and took a step toward the bed.
Naruto watched Hinata slowly approach, swallowed hard, and more thoughts filled his mind.
[She's coming over! She's really coming over!]
[According to novel tropes, should I give up half the bed? No, it's a parting; there needs to be atmosphere.]
[Look at her, wanting to speak but not daring to. Does she want to sit on the edge of my bed? Then, use those small hands that practice Gentle Fist to gently hold my hand and look at me with tears in her eyes... Hiss! This scene, I'm done for!]
Hearing these "script directions," Hinata's body trembled.
She bit her lip and, following that invisible guidance, walked to the edge of the bed and slowly sat down.
A faint scent of lavender wafted over.
[She's here! She really sat down! Even through the blanket, I can feel her weight!]
Just as Naruto was thinking, a slightly cool and soft hand tremblingly covered the back of his hand.
The air in the room seemed to stand still.
Naruto froze. This was different from his wild thoughts just now; when they actually touched, his heart seemed to skip a beat.
Hinata lowered her head, her long hair covering her face. Her voice was as small as a mosquito's, but it carried an indescribable determination.
"Naruto-kun... aren't you asleep yet?"
Naruto shook his head foolishly and subconsciously flipped his hand to hold hers, his fingertips gently stroking the thin calluses on her palm.
[Not asleep! How could I possibly fall asleep! Being held by a small hand like this, I won't need to sleep for three years!]
[Speaking of which, Hinata's hand is really soft... is this what a young lady is like? If these hands touched my face...]
Hinata felt her palm being enveloped by his large hand, and a wave of heat traveled up her arm and through her whole body. Combined with the "commentary" popping up in her head, she felt like she was about to melt.
"Um... I heard... you're leaving tomorrow."
Hinata summoned the courage to look up. Her white eyes were misty, looking very pitiable in the moonlight.
"The world outside... is very big. You'll also meet... many beautiful people."
At this point, her tone became slightly firmer. This was something the heavenly curtain had made her understand over the past few years—happiness must be fought for by oneself.
"But, please, Naruto-kun... don't forget me."
Naruto looked at the girl in front of him.
All the messy thoughts in his mind suddenly vanished.
He only felt that this girl, who had always followed behind him and was easily embarrassed, was now so beautiful it made his heart race. That feeling was so pure that even his soul as a transmigrator was somewhat touched.
He opened his mouth, just about to say something.
But Hinata suddenly leaned forward.
This movement made Naruto's pupils shrink sharply.
[Could it be... a kiss?!]
[Is it coming? The parting first kiss? Under the moonlight, a beautiful girl in a tight suit takes the initiative to offer a kiss? Should I close my eyes? Or just pin her down? No, that would scare her!]
Hearing the words "pin her down," Hinata's body stiffened, and the movement originally aimed at his lips was forced a few centimeters higher.
A warm, soft sensation was gently pressed onto Naruto's forehead.
It only touched for a moment before pulling away.
But the feeling of that instant was stronger than any Ninjutsu.
[Ding!]
In Hinata's mind, a golden prompt box from the heavenly curtain panel popped up, mingling with Naruto's inner voice.
[Detected that the host has actively broken through character shackles and engaged in a "soul-level" emotional interaction with the target.]
[System reward settlement: Passive skill advancement—[Absolute Charm · Byakugan (Awakened)].]
[Effect: When you gaze at the opposite sex for more than 3 seconds, it will forcibly trigger the other party's "heart-throb" check, ignoring level, and significantly lowering the other party's IQ and psychological defenses. This is an aura befitting a main wife.]
Hinata's face was hot enough to fry an egg. She didn't dare look into Naruto's eyes again, fearing that if she stayed any longer, she really would be "eaten" by this guy whose head was full of "pinning her down."
She hurriedly pulled out an omamori embroidered with a whirlpool pattern from her bosom and forcefully stuffed it into Naruto's hand.
"Thi... this is something I made! Inside is... my hair and Chakra. I hope it keeps Naruto-kun safe!"
After saying that, like a startled deer, she turned and rushed toward the window, disappearing into the night at a speed that did not match the Hyuga Clan's usual style.
"Wait—!"
Naruto only managed to shout half a sentence before the window was empty.
Only a faint scent of lavender and the omamori in his hand, still carrying her body heat, remained in the room.
Naruto sat dazed on the bed, raising a hand to touch his forehead, as if the sensation of her lips still lingered there.
[She ran too fast... I didn't even have time to savor it.]
He smacked his lips with some regret, but when he looked down at the exquisitely embroidered lucky charm, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl upward.
[What a silly girl...]
[She even wove her hair into it? Is this the 'tying of hair' sentiment? And she hid Chakra inside?]
Naruto pressed the omamori to his chest, feeling its weight.
[Don't worry, Hinata.]
[Forget three years, even in thirty years, I won't forget tonight. Wait for me, when I come back... this tight suit, I'll definitely personally help you... cough, help you wash your clothes!]
At the same time, a notification sounded in Naruto's mind.
[Ding! Detected an emotional critical hit from a core target of affection.]
[Obtained special bond reward: [Heart's Bond · Protection].]
[Effect: No matter where you are, your desire to "go home" will turn into mental willpower. Any charm or control effects (except for specific heroines) targeting your mental level will be reduced by 50%.]
Naruto lay back on the bed and tucked the omamori under his pillow.
Although he was going on a long journey tomorrow and had lost his privileges at the Hokage Office, he slept exceptionally well that night.
In the Hyuga Clan's grand estate, Hinata, who had just crawled back into her covers, pulled the blanket over her head. Her heart was beating like thunder, but she couldn't hide the sweet and proud smile on her lips.
"Stupid Naruto-kun... you must come back safely."