The skin was as fair as snow, covered by the long, straight black hair on her back, and under the sunlight, it shimmered with a jet-black sheen.
Hakushi glanced around and soon saw a gray and white cat lazily lying on the opposite wall. The lazy posture was as if it had just woken up from a sweet dream, lifting a forepaw to lick itself.
Everything seemed perfectly normal.
Hakushi scratched his head, and just as he was about to step forward, he heard Ayane's voice from behind: "What's the matter?"
"Ah, I was watching a cat."
Hakushi turned his head and replied.
"A cat?"
Ayane followed Hakushi's gaze, but the wall opposite was now empty, and there was no sign of any cat.
"It's already gone."
Darn it, now it's trouble.
"Seriously, what's so interesting about cats?"
Ayane's tone carried a bit of dissatisfaction.
"What, do you dislike cats very much?"
"I wouldn't say I dislike them, but I'm not fond of them either. If we're talking about pets, dogs might be better."
Hakushi nodded. Indeed, more often than not, he preferred dogs as well.
The Inuzuka Clan ran a Ninja Dog Shop in the village, but because the price was significantly higher than regular pet dogs, and their food was quite luxurious, very few ninjas bought or adopted them.
Maybe I can go take a look another day.
Ninja dogs... they sound so cool.
Most importantly, the dog's nose is very keen, which can be useful when necessary.
"It's because dog meat is delicious, whereas cat meat doesn't taste very good."
Ayane added, seeming to have quite a deep understanding of this subject.
Upon hearing this, Hakushi immediately gave up on the idea of getting a ninja dog.
He felt that it would end up in Ayane's stomach the same day he got it.
"Anywhere else you want to go?"
Hakushi asked.
"I want to buy some new clothes. I feel like I need new ones every month now, they're too tight. During the last mission, I also felt a bit constricted in the chest area."
Ayane chuckled, patting her well-developing chest.
"..."
Hakushi was unsure how to respond.
He could only follow Ayane's lead and go shopping for new clothes with her.
As they walked, Hakushi realized something was off; this road... they had come here yesterday with Ruri.
Sure enough, the clothing store they visited with Ruri yesterday was right in front of them.
However, the person attending in the store was not Teacher Fujimura, but a young woman Hakushi didn't recognize.
She was petite, with shoulder-length short brown hair, and she had a good figure and a pretty face.
Hakushi remembered Teacher Fujimura mentioning yesterday that this was his girlfriend's store. Was this woman Fujimura's girlfriend?
After a glance, Hakushi dismissed the thought.
"Welcome, take your time to look around."
The female store owner smiled kindly.
"Alright, thank you."
Ayane nodded to the store owner and began to pick out clothes in the store.
"By the way, Hakushi, what color underwear do you think would look good on me?"
"Why are you asking me this? Just buy what you like."
Hakushi turned his head away.
"So, white or black?"
Ayane stopped and looked like she was thinking seriously.
"I already told you, buy whatever you like, you don't have to take my opinion."
"So, does that mean Hakushi prefers other colors? Pink-white? Or a more vibrant purple?"
"Where did you get the idea that I was giving an opinion?"
Hakushi looked at Ayane, speechless.
Ayane then seemed troubled and said, "But when we girls choose clothes, it's not necessarily for ourselves..."
Then, her smile became meaningful.
"Then white it is."
Hakushi straightforwardly gave his opinion.
"Okay then, white it is."
Ayane asked the store owner to bring down the set of underwear she liked and wrapped it up in a delicate bag.
Hakushi kept his gaze outside, and this time, no cats appeared.
Soon, he felt someone tapping his shoulder beside him; it was Ayane.
"Hakushi, are you spacing out again?"
"I was looking at cats."
"So, what about my earlier suggestion?"
Ayane looked over with pure eyes.
"Suggestion? What suggestion?"
Maybe he missed something while watching the cat, and Hakushi looked puzzled.
"The clothes I wore last New Year were a bit small. I wanted you to help me pick a new style."
New Year? Is it the kimono again?
Hakushi started to feel a headache.
The Hyuga Clan, just like the Uchiha, was a ninja clan that placed a great emphasis on tradition.
Every New Year, women would wear kimonos with utmost solemnity, symbolizing the fresh start and participating in the clan's annual festival.
"Just pick whichever you like."
"But it's an important annual festival, how can I just choose randomly? But I did have my eye on one, that one."
Looking in the direction Ayane pointed, it was a white-based kimono with pink cherry blossom patterns, and upon first glance, Hakushi felt it would definitely fit her well.
Hakushi nodded and said, "Pretty nice, let's go with that one."
This time, nothing would make him say it's a gift for a girl.
"You think it's nice too, Hakushi? Then I'll take it."
Ayane happily asked the store owner to take down the kimono. However, she suddenly held her stomach, looking uncomfortable.
"What's wrong?"
"I ate too much at lunch, and now my stomach hurts a bit. Sorry, can you wait here for a moment? I'll be right back."
Hakushi nodded, not thinking too much about it.
Yet, even after half an hour of Ayane leaving, she still hadn't returned, and Hakushi frowned slightly.
The store owner had already packed the kimono Ayane chose, along with the underwear, just waiting for her to return and pay.
But… why was the store owner's expression becoming increasingly odd?
Was she worried about not being paid?
Just as Hakushi was wondering why Ayane hadn't returned, a passerby walked in from outside and handed Hakushi a note, saying, "A young girl earlier asked me to give this to you."
The passerby left after saying this.
"..."
An uneasy feeling suddenly arose in Hakushi's heart.
He opened the note; it was written with a message—
Sorry, Hakushi, someone from the clan suddenly came looking for me, and I have to leave now. Could you help me pay for the clothes first? I'll repay you later. If possible, delivering the clothes to me at New Year would be great. At that time, I'll wear it for you, Hakushi.
... Did I just get tricked?
Hakushi's first thought was this.
When did Ayane become so good at fooling him?
He shouldn't have coached her that way from the start.
Now, it seems indeed there's a problem.
Under the slightly impatient gaze of the store owner, Hakushi gritted his teeth and paid for both sets of clothes.
It was only after this that the store owner's expression brightened: "Welcome to come again, we offer a 10% discount."
Hakushi carried the bag containing the clothes, feeling the weight of the clothes inside it.
He understood the intentions of Ayane, and perhaps even Ruri.
For girls at this age, they are already at the stage of budding romance and might care about things that boys usually don't even notice, which is quite normal.
Feelings are very pure and straightforward.
But Hakushi believed that matters of the heart couldn't be forced and should happen naturally without being frivolous; they should be approached thoughtfully and sincerely.
The current goodwill might not be love; it could be some other kind of feeling.
Thinking this way seemed slightly arrogant, but for Hakushi, that's how love was.
Everyone likes to think that their love is unique, but it's just the same old stories repeating over and over.
Feeling this way, Hakushi considered himself an ordinary person.
Previously, he was troubled by such matters, and in hindsight, it seems a bit embarrassing. Hakushi sighed inwardly.
He is way too young for that...
He's not ready for more.
Getting involved with younger girls can't strengthen a country, it would just lead to trouble.
He wouldn't want to play with anyone's feelings.
The most important thing is, they're too young…
He just couldn't bring himself to do it.
Messing around with kids can lead nowhere good, only to jail.