8:00 AM, Hokage Tower.
The moment Tsunade pushed open the door to the Hokage's office, she spotted Hikari already waiting inside. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
"You... weren't you supposed to be training Naruto and the others? How do you have time to drop by?"
Knowing Hikari well, Tsunade understood he never visited without a reason.
Just like the other night...
"Isn't it normal to miss our respected Fifth Hokage-sama and wish to admire her radiant beauty?"
"I don't believe a word of that!"
Though she denied it, a smile still crept unconsciously onto Tsunade's face.
"Out with it. Orochimaru is gone, yet you snatched away his disciple and brought her home. Are you planning to keep a beauty hidden away?"
"As if that's even possible!"
"We're completely innocent. I don't know her depths, she doesn't know my length!"
Such boldly shameless words earned Hikari a contemptuous glare from Tsunade.
"I knew it. You and Jiraiya are exactly the same. Speak—why are you here this early?"
Tsunade knew well that if Hikari only wanted to flirt, he'd come after work. Showing up this early meant there was business.
"I want the Spirit Transformation Technique."
The Spirit Transformation Technique?
Hearing the name, Tsunade's eyes flashed with reminiscence. Clearly, she thought of *that* man.
Seeing Tsunade's reaction, Hikari subconsciously touched his hair.
Yeah... he was the latecomer. Even if there were any hats to wear, that man was the one who wore them.
Thinking that way, he suddenly felt much more at ease.
"What do you need the Spirit Transformation Technique for?"
It was a secret technique sealed within the Scroll of Seals. Its power was hard to quantify, but the technique itself was extremely bizarre and impossible for ordinary shinobi to master. Furthermore, this jutsu had its own limitations; otherwise, with the Spirit Transformation Technique active, Kato Dan would have been practically invincible across the shinobi world.
"There are two reasons. First, I want to research techniques related to the soul. Second, Shikamaru and Chōji both have clear directions for advancement, but Ino's mental-type clan techniques are a bit average. I want her to train in the Spirit Transformation Technique."
"I'm not worried about you practicing it, but isn't Ino a bit too young?" Thinking of Ino still being a child, Tsunade felt some concern. "It's a forbidden jutsu. Having her train it might be..."
Her willingness to agree was simple: Hikari's contributions to Konoha far outweighed the value of a single forbidden technique.
She didn't oppose him teaching Ino—she just feared the girl was too young to handle the side effects.
"I'll be keeping a close eye on it. After all, I plan to research it myself first before teaching her anything," Hikari explained his intentions.
With that, Tsunade had no further objections.
"I'll bring out the Scroll of Seals. Copy down the training methods yourself."
But before she could even retrieve the scroll, an angry figure stormed up to the doorway.
"Hokage-sama!"
His white Byakugan seemed to crackle with lightning—just seeing it made one's scalp tingle.
"Hiashi? Who made you this angry?" Tsunade looked at the furious Hyuga Hiashi in confusion.
But the next moment, her gaze landed on Hikari.
...No way.
She still held on to a sliver of hope that it wasn't him.
"Hokage-sama, it's him!"
Hiashi jabbed a trembling finger at Hikari. From that quivering alone, it was obvious how furious he was.
"What did I do?" Hikari looked at him, puzzled.
Had this guy learned face-changing tricks from a soap opera? Two days ago he had been perfectly fine—why was he acting like this now?
"Kamizuki Hikari! What order did you give my daughter? Do you know how much she ate yesterday and this morning? What if she ruins her stomach?! I entrusted Hinata to you for training, not to turn her into a glutton!"
"So that's what this is about? Hiashi-dono, let's talk calmly. Don't get worked up." Hearing the reason, Hikari relaxed instantly.
Since he was calm, Tsunade was relieved as well.
In her eyes, Hikari might slack off at times, but when it came to important matters, he would never make mistakes.
"I'm not worked up! If I were, I'd already have hit you with Gentle Fist!" Hiashi snapped. Disappointed as he was in Hinata's talent, she was still his daughter.
"In that case, let's talk properly."
Seeing that Hiashi refused to calm down, Hikari could only speak bluntly.
Though it was a bit harsh.
"Hiashi-dono, you're afraid Hinata ate too much and hurt herself. Fine. Then let me ask you: do you even know her actual appetite?"
"You dare say that? Our Hinata is not some bottomless pit! Last night she ate eight full portions! Do you know how worried I was?" Hiashi glared with his pale eyes that looked especially terrifying at this moment.
"You were worried? Worried my ass!"
Hikari couldn't help snapping.
This time, Hiashi was the one stunned.
He stared at Hikari, his hand trembling like it was having a seizure.
"If you were truly worried, you would've come to find me last night! Don't tell me you don't know where I live."
"As her family, as her father—have you ever genuinely cared about her?"
"How much she can eat... whether she ever eats her fill... what she likes... what her real talent is..."
"You understand none of it, yet you come here nagging me? Believe it or not, I'll beat you up and throw you out!"
When Hikari was angry, he feared no one.
"Ahem—Hikari, Clan Head Hiashi, both of you calm down!"
Seeing him explode, Tsunade quickly intervened once he vented a bit.
One was her trusted right-hand man, the other was head of the village's foremost shinobi clan. She couldn't watch them fight right in front of her.
If they really fought and Hikari ended up beating Hiashi senseless, wouldn't that be slapping the entire Hyuga clan in the face?
"H-Hinata may lack talent, but she's still an ordinary Hyuga—not an Akimichi! A single meal for Chōza can feed ten people, you know!"
Thinking of Hikari's combat ability, Hiashi decided it was best to retreat for now.
As for why he didn't seek out Hikari last night—it was because he wanted to see if Hinata would show any abnormal signs.
When she didn't, he only planned to issue a little warning today... but ended up being frightened instead.
"If Hinata ever suffers any harm from overeating, I'll take responsibility and heal her myself. But since she's perfectly fine, she should simply eat according to her normal appetite. Have you never considered that Hinata might have never once eaten her fill at home?"
Thinking of Hinata's real appetite, Hikari felt it was necessary to make Hiashi reflect.
Just like Chōji—if Hinata relied entirely on him for meals, Hikari figured his little savings wouldn't last long.
Besides, he was only teaching her. He hadn't even received a formal discipleship ceremony fee, yet he was expected to feed her too?
Why would he agree to that?