"Neji-niisan, let me help too."
Hinata didn't want to just stand there doing nothing, so she squeezed into the room to lend a hand. But Neji's place was a complete mess cluttered to begin with, and now there wasn't even space to set foot without stepping on something.
In the chaos, Hinata accidentally tripped over a small wooden plank and stumbled forward straight into Neji.
A faint, delicate fragrance filled Neji's senses, instantly calming his mind. The soft body in his arms made him feel surprisingly comfortable. Unconsciously, the drowsiness that had clung to him all morning began to fade.
"Hinata Hyūga has fallen on the host. The host is awarded: Intimidation Aura."
Intimidation Aura: By channeling chakra through the Byakugan, the user emits an overwhelming pressure that can render surrounding enemies unconscious. It can even distort space itself.
Neji blinked in confusion. This sudden windfall had come so quickly, he didn't even have time to process it.
To put it plainly, this ability was akin to the "Conqueror's Haki" from the pirate world but far more powerful. Even in the face of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's version of this technique, Six Paths Naruto and Rinnegan Sasuke had been immobilized.
If the opponent's mental resilience was lacking, they could lose combat ability instantly. It was easy to see just how terrifying this power was.
"S-sorry, Neji-niisan, I'll get up right away!"
Hinata's face burned red as she realized she'd toppled Neji. She scrambled to get up, her limbs flailing awkwardly. But just then, something unexpected happened again.
Her foot slipped on a small round object, and her body pitched forward once more. Reflexively, she shut her eyes.
"Aah!"
Smack…
Hinata suddenly felt something soft against her lips. Peeking through her lashes, she found herself eye-to-eye with Neji whose lips were now pressed against hers.
Frozen.
"Host has kissed Hinata Hyūga. Award received: Ash-Killing Bone."
Ash-Killing Bone: A deadly kekkei mōra technique that uses the user's own bones as weapons. Once pierced, the victim's body begins to crumble into ash within seconds. Even the Yin-Yang Release cannot heal this.
This is one of the only known techniques in the shinobi world that guarantees a kill upon contact. It bypasses all conventional defenses, including fully-formed Susanoo. Only evasion or space-time ninjutsu can avoid it.
Unlike the Shikotsumyaku clan's techniques, which are derived from this one, the Ash-Killing Bone is vastly more lethal.
For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air. Then
"Ahhhhh!"
Hinata shrieked, her eyes swirling in dizzy spirals as her face flushed a deep scarlet.
"Neji-niisan, I You We"
Steam practically billowed from the top of her head. She had no idea what she'd just done. Finally, with a soft thud, she fainted on the spot.
Neji still hadn't recovered from the shock. Right now, all he could think was what kind of blessed day was today?
"Did I just hit the jackpot or something?" Neji chuckled, shaking his head as he gently lifted the unconscious Hinata onto the bed.
She wouldn't be waking up anytime soon after such a shock. Looking at her sleeping face, Neji couldn't help but yawn again. He hadn't slept well earlier anyway. So he locked the door, climbed into bed, and quickly drifted off beside her.
"Host is now sharing a bed with Hinata Hyūga. Award received: Mind Sphere."
Mind Sphere: A unique ability of the Tenseigan that allows manipulation of another person's will and actions, similar to puppet techniques. It can also read thoughts.
Against mentally resilient opponents, however, this power is hard to activate. Still, at this stage, it remains an extremely dangerous ability.
Though Neji didn't possess the Tenseigan, the system had granted him the skill regardless.
But Neji was already fast asleep and unaware of his newest power.
Not long after, Hinata stirred, groggy and dazed. When she saw Neji sleeping right next to her, her first impulse was to scream but she held it in. She could see how tired he was.
Watching his peaceful expression, Hinata's thoughts drifted back to the moment their lips had met. Her face turned crimson again. That had been her first kiss.
Even though it was with Neji-niisan, which made her heart flutter a little, she still felt… cheated. That was her first kiss how could she just give it away like that?
Should she… get revenge?
Staring at Neji asleep on the bed, the idea popped into her head out of nowhere. Then she immediately slapped herself.
"No, no, no! Hinata, what are you even thinking?!"
She patted her flushed cheeks, stunned at herself. How could she think of something so shameless?
Should she leave? But Kurenai-sensei's errand wasn't done yet. Staying here felt so awkward though…
Hinata grew increasingly flustered, unsure what to do. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead.
Just then, Neji stirred awake, fully rested.
Then it hit him the kiss.
He turned his head, meeting Hinata's gaze. The two locked eyes, stunned into silence. Both seemed like they wanted to speak but couldn't.
The air between them instantly grew heavy with awkwardness.
But this wasn't the kind of thing a girl should be forced to address first.
Now was the time to show some maturity. Looking at Hinata, Neji thought if he pushed just a little harder, he might be able to win her over completely. As a proud, determined young man with ambitions, how could he back down now?
Having made up his mind, Neji opened his mouth.
"Hinata, you… is something wrong?"
He still couldn't quite bring himself to mention that. After all, between this life and the last, he was over thirty years old inside. Talking about something like that with a twelve-year-old girl…
That was criminal. Minimum sentence three years.
Hinata's heart pounded at Neji's serious tone. Part of her hoped he'd bring up the kiss. Another part desperately hoped he wouldn't.
She looked down, her cheeks burning, and nervously fidgeted with her fingers. When Neji asked, she felt both relieved and disappointed.
"Ah… it's nothing. Neji-niisan, Kurenai-sensei asked me to come get you."
"Kurenai-sensei's looking for me?" Neji raised an eyebrow. That was unexpected.
But then again, it wasn't like she'd do anything to harm him.
"All right. Let's go."
At the training ground, Kurenai Yuhi was busy putting Shino and Kiba through their paces.
"Why hasn't Hinata returned yet? It's already noon," she muttered with concern.
"Don't tell me something happened…"
The Hyūga clan's bloodline abilities were coveted by many. Just recently, Hinata had almost been kidnapped even within Konoha, she wasn't necessarily safe.
"No, that doesn't make sense. If something had gone wrong, we'd have heard about it by now. Could it be that Neji doesn't want to come?"
That seemed like the most plausible explanation. Konoha's higher-ups were well aware of the rift between the Hyūga main family and branch family especially Neji's resentment, after losing his father…
She'd sent Hinata precisely because Neji had shown warmth toward her during their last meeting. She'd hoped they had a decent relationship.
But even then, Kurenai hadn't held out much hope.
Just as she was frowning in thought, Neji and Hinata appeared at the training ground.