"Ninja tools, scrolls, bento, toys…"
Hyuga Neji meticulously checked his belongings, counting them off on his small fingers. Once he confirmed everything was accounted for, he zipped up his little backpack and slung it onto his shoulders.
"Neji, ready to go?" Hyuga Hizashi knelt beside his son, adjusting the boy's clothes.
"Yes, Father," Neji replied, his young face set in a serious expression.
Hizashi smiled faintly and patted his son's head before standing up. "Relax, Neji. At your age, your teacher certainly won't be covering anything too difficult."
That was putting it mildly, perhaps even generously. In truth, Hizashi knew Habara likely wouldn't teach Neji much of anything substantial just yet. The boy was simply too young. Sending Neji out now was primarily about letting him get acquainted with Habara; relationships, after all, needed time to cultivate.
"Follow your teacher's instructions diligently, and be careful on your way."
After a few more words of caution, Hizashi let Neji depart. Outwardly, he was letting the child venture out alone—like any child taking their first steps toward independence, running a simple errand by themselves. In reality, however, as soon as Neji left the house, Hizashi discreetly followed him. Only when Neji reached the vicinity of a certain organization's base and Hizashi saw Habara step out to greet him did he finally allow himself to relax.
Giving Habara a subtle nod from the shadows, Hizashi took one last look at his son's small, determined back before turning away. Though he wasn't entirely comfortable with the situation and harbored a sliver of worry about how his son would be treated, he knew he had to be resolute. As the saying goes, 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'… well, perhaps that wasn't the most fitting proverb, but the sentiment held true.
"Habara-sensei." Upon seeing Habara, Neji immediately bowed with perfect, practiced formality. Still, a hint of nervousness flickered across his face; this was, after all, a completely unfamiliar environment for him.
"No need to be so formal. Relax a little," Habara said.
If Neji had any discernible flaw, Habara mused, it was his lack of youthful exuberance. While truly unruly children could be exasperating, a child entirely devoid of mischievous energy seemed to be missing something fundamental to their age.
"Did you come here all by yourself?" Habara asked, making small talk as he led Neji indoors.
"Yes, Sensei," Neji replied, nodding with a slight air of innocent incomprehension.
For a child his age, the distance between the Hyuga Clan Compound and Habara's base was considerable. In a toddler's worldview, it might as well have been an epic journey across continents. To young eyes, the world of adults, with its towering buildings and vast landscapes, must seem like a land of giants.
Yet, Hyuga Neji not only knew the route but had managed to traverse it entirely on his own. Such sharp intelligence… Well, Habara thought wryly, I suppose it figures for someone destined to take a fatal blow for another.
Is this kid seriously only three? Habara marveled internally. When I was three, I could barely walk straight, and here's Hyuga Neji, already capable of embarking on a heroic quest.
Given Neji's evident intelligence and obvious potential for future growth, Habara couldn't bring himself to deliberately neglect the boy's training. Straightening his own attitude, he began to earnestly contemplate a profound philosophical question—You are mine, I am yours, who…
Ahem. Anyway, the standard role of a teacher was to "transmit the Way, impart knowledge, and resolve doubts." Time to get on with it.
"Habara-sensei," Neji asked in a small voice, sticking close behind Habara, "what will I be learning today?"
In this completely unfamiliar environment, Habara was the only person Hyuga Neji recognized. Consequently, Neji naturally developed a degree of dependence on him—especially since Habara was now his teacher. And the meaning of "teacher" was something three-year-old Hyuga Neji understood perfectly.
"For you right now, just moving your body properly each day is the best form of exercise," Habara explained. "At your age, you're not even at the stage of building a foundation; you're in the phase before that. So, learning any specific techniques or skills isn't really feasible yet."
Habara saw himself purely as a nursery instructor for the time being. It wasn't like he could start teaching toddlers advanced calculus, could he? In his personal philosophy, forcing growth too quickly—like pulling seedlings to make them taller—was the worst approach. Temporary strength held little meaning. If he was going to have a student, he wanted, at the very least, for that student to live long enough to die peacefully of old age.
There was certainly no need to pressure Neji now. It wouldn't be too late to push him relentlessly once he reached that age where intense training made sleep feel like a distant luxury.
Habara led Neji to his office and then summoned the specialist… Daigo. Certain tasks had become second nature to her through practice, such as caring for young human children.
"Daigo, you'll be in charge of looking after him for now," Habara instructed. "He's too young to withstand anything too harsh… but you can use your methods to exercise him."
Referring to 'her methods' was clearly a euphemism. Habara simply meant for Daigo to keep the boy occupied and play with him.
Neji glanced at Daigo. There was something unsettling about this woman; her complexion was unnaturally pale, making her look a bit frightening. Fortunately, Habara remained seated behind his desk, sharing the same space, which offered some comfort.
Daigo looked at Neji, trying her best to force a smile. When her lips failed to cooperate into anything resembling warmth, she skipped the attempt altogether. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled something out and offered it to Neji. "Little one, would you like some candy?"
The quickest way to befriend a child was much like the quickest way to befriend a small animal: offer food.
Neji hesitated, glancing at Habara. Only after Habara gave a slight nod did Neji accept the 'candy' from Daigo, acknowledging her gesture of goodwill.
Habara watched Neji pop the treat into his mouth and then turned his attention away. A moment later, however, something registered, and his gaze snapped back to the boy.
Daigo, there's something wrong with this candy.
The item was a small, blue, crystalline chunk. No matter how he looked at it, it definitely wasn't candy.
Habara almost spoke up to stop Daigo's questionable feeding habits. But then he paused, considering. Theoretically, it shouldn't cause any major problems… right?
In any case, after consuming the "candy," Neji suddenly felt remarkably energetic. Seizing the opportunity, Daigo began guiding him through some physical exercises—which amounted to a few simple sets of standardized calisthenics. Given her choice of motivational treats, her approach to childcare experimentation was, frankly, not particularly scientific.
Ultimately, Hyuga Neji was neither Habara's son nor Daigo's. He was solely the son of Hyuga Hizashi.
Just as Neji finished his calisthenics and was taking a short break, the office door swung open. Kakashi entered, carrying Uzumaki Naruto in his arms.
"Habara," Kakashi said without preamble, "your application received approval from the higher-ups…"