"Yakumo, even if you're in the same class, it must be very stressful for you."
Watching the backs of Aoba and Hinata as they left, Kurenai gently patted Yakumo's head.
Yakumo pouted, "If only I had a little sister too…"
Kurenai let out a dry chuckle, "Pity!"
"Come on, since they're not coming, then it's just the two of us eating together."
———
Under the setting sun.
Hinata walked toward the Hyuga clan grounds.
Aoba followed behind her.
Their shadows were stretched out long.
Under the sunset's glow, Aoba's silvery-white hair was tinged with a hint of gold.
"Hinata, this seems like the first time you've actively invited me to your house, right?"
Aoba had a smile on his face.
Hinata's crimson face showed a trace of shyness, "Actually, it was Father who wanted to invite you over…"
Then, Hinata added, "But Hanabi really wanted to see Aoba-kun too."
"Then does Hinata want me to come?", Aoba asked.
Hinata's steps paused for a moment, then she nodded, "I do…"
The two chatted idly as they walked, and soon arrived at the Hyuga clan grounds.
The lovely-faced little maid, Hyuga Natsu, was already standing at the entrance, clearly having waited there in advance.
Several years had passed.
Hyuga Natsu's talent as a member of the Hyuga clan had already fully emerged.
Though wearing a relatively loose maid outfit, her chest had visibly grown fuller.
"Lady Hinata, Lord Aoba, please come inside," Seeing the two approach, Hyuga Natsu slightly bowed, then led the way.
The three of them walked into the clan grounds together, and after winding through several turns, entered the clan leader's residence.
Hyuga Natsu pushed open a paper sliding door, revealing a small hall inside.
The square table in the hall was already covered with all sorts of dishes.
By the table, already kneeling in seiza, were Hyuga Hiashi, Hyuga Ayako, and a little girl with white eyes and long black hair.
She wore a pale yellow, light kimono, and her face was full of joy.
"Aoba-oniichan!", The moment Hanabi saw Aoba, she immediately rushed toward him.
Aoba quickly caught her. Hanabi, now over five years old, had grown a lot, but in his arms she still felt like a doll, clinging onto him.
"Hanabi, you can't cling to Aoba-kun too much!", Hinata, who had followed a step behind, spoke with a somewhat reproachful tone while looking at Hanabi hanging onto Aoba.
"Hmph! You get to see Aoba-oniichan every day, but I have to wait a long time before I can see him again," Hanabi let out a dissatisfied hum.
"I…"
Before Hinata could respond, Hanabi started tattling, "Aoba-oniichan, let me tell you, today onee-chan spanked me really hard again."
"I still can't beat her, so Aoba-oniichan, can you spank her for me instead?"
"?"
Aoba looked confused, 'Spank her instead?'
He instinctively glanced at Hinata's small butt, wrapped in black pants.
"Ugh~"
"No… you can't…", Hinata immediately stepped back half a step, blushing furiously and covering her backside with her hand.
"Ahem! Hanabi, that's very impolite," Hyuga Hiashi spoke up.
Only then did Hanabi unwillingly jump down from Aoba's body.
Her bare little feet made a "patta" sound as they touched the floor.
Hyuga Ayako smiled at Aoba, "Aoba, have a seat."
Hyuga Hiashi's face also showed a rare smile.
But he wasn't a pure child like Hinata and Hanabi. Even though Aoba was still young, he was very likely to be the next Hokage of Konoha.
The current Hokage Tsunade was still young enough to hold the position until Aoba matured.
If Hinata and Aoba could be together, then the Hyuga clan would finally have someone tied to the Hokage.
And even aside from that, he had to show respect to this Hokage's disciple. Aoba's current strength was already considerable, and his future potential was incalculable.
Aoba didn't say much either, and directly sat down cross-legged.
Hanabi and Hinata each sat on one of his sides.
"Speaking of which, me getting spanked today is kind of related to Aoba-oniichan too," Hanabi suddenly said.
"Related to me?"
Aoba looked confused, "Why?"
"Because this morning I…"
"HANABI!", Before Hanabi could finish, Hinata suddenly cut her off.
Seeing the warning in her sister's eyes, Hanabi figured that if she kept talking, she'd probably get another round of spanking that night.
She wisely shut her mouth.
"Hinata?", Aoba looked curiously at Hinata again.
He really wanted to know what happened.
But of course, Hinata didn't want to say anything. Her cheeks reddened as she picked up a piece of fish and brought it to Aoba's mouth.
She wanted to use it to shut him up.
Seeing Hinata stay silent, Aoba guessed it was probably something hard to talk about.
So he didn't ask further and opened his mouth to eat the fish Hinata offered.
'Mmm~'
Crispy on the outside, and once it entered his mouth, the fats instantly released in his mouth, making the fish even more delicious.
He took another bite of rice, which had the taste of a certain mushroom, immediately stimulating his taste buds.
His eyes lit up slightly.
"Delicious!"
"Really? If Aoba likes it, then eat more. I personally made all these dishes," Seeing that Aoba liked the food, Hyuga Ayako covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"What? These were all made by Auntie?", Aoba was a bit surprised.
"Mm, after recovering my health, I wanted to find something to do. I'm not good at fighting, so I focused on cooking instead," Hyuga Ayako's voice was delicate and gentle, and with her table full of culinary skills, she was simply the model of a Yamato Nadeshiko.
'Come to think of it, maybe Hinata will be like this in the future too…'
Dinner passed peacefully, just like a normal family meal.
But after dinner, it was naturally time for the main event.
Still the familiar reception room.
Hyuga Hiashi and Aoba sat facing each other.
Hyuga Ayako poured tea at the side, while Hanabi and Hinata were crouched outside with their butts sticking out, eavesdropping.
After a long silence, Aoba couldn't stay still, "Uncle Hiashi, if you've got something to say, just say it."
Hyuga Hiashi sipped his tea, his expression complex, "Aoba, could you take Hanabi as your disciple?"
Thud!
Just as Hyuga Hiashi finished speaking, a loud thud came from outside the door.
The three people all glanced toward the door and immediately noticed two small crouched figures.
Aoba's mouth twitched, 'Is this meant to pressure me?'
"Uncle Hiashi, I'm only thirteen…"
"But Hanabi is already six…"
"..."
'You really should've gotten a vasectomy!', Aoba couldn't help but curse in his heart, but he also understood what was going on.
Now that Hinata was already firmly set as the heir to the main family, the pressure of the caged bird had shifted to Hanabi.
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