"When you think about it, it's not particularly important. Just help me make some tools to suppress chakra flow. The taijutsu of the three rookie Genin on the team is too weak. I need to put them through some special training."
"That's all there is?"
"What else did you think it was?"
Seeing Hakushi's awkward manner and his eyes darting around, Ruri calmly retorted.
"I thought it was about Ayane and…"
"What's it got to do with Ayane?"
"Ah, nothing. As long as it's unrelated, it's fine. I'll get to work, and I'll have the tools ready for you today. I'll bring them to you tomorrow morning."
Ruri's team has three Genin, which means he only needs to make three tools that can greatly suppress chakra flow.
Seeing that Ruri indeed didn't bring up anything about Ayane, Hakushi felt it was strange, but decided it was best not to disturb her at that moment.
Even after walking some distance away from the hot spring, he didn't hear any noise from behind.
No, something's wrong.
This isn't like Ruri at all.
Whether it's Fire Style or sheer brute force, why isn't there a sound?
This simply doesn't match Ruri's usual style of doing things.
At a time like this, even a little noise would be reassuring for Hakushi.
However, the absolute silence was the greatest anomaly.
There must be a special reason behind this, something he isn't aware of.
In the end, what exactly did Ruri and Ayane do in the hot spring pool?
Did they merely behave like close sisters, scrubbing each other's backs?
Could their relationship actually not be as bad as he imagined?
With these troublesome thoughts, Hakushi returned to the lab, his mind distracted even in the afternoon experiments, completely consumed by Ruri.
What exactly is she thinking?
◎
On the other side.
Walking back on the road to the Hyuga Clan, Ayane was equally distressed.
What's going on? Why didn't that Sharingan woman make a move?
Recalling the scene in the hot spring pool where they scrubbed each other's backs, Ayane furrowed her brow even more.
This isn't normal.
Neither in their relationship at the Ninja School nor after joining Sakumo's squad had such intimacy occurred.
What's on her mind?
Why didn't she attack then?
Ayane was clearly ready to fight at the time, but…
For some reason, Ayane felt that Sharingan woman was more difficult to deal with than before.
Not just in strength, but also in shrewdness.
"Where have you been, Ayane?"
At the entrance to the Hyuga Clan's territory, a male ninja wearing the traditional Hyuga Clan attire stood waiting for Ayane's return.
"Toma-senpai, what are you doing here?"
Ayane, snapped out of her thoughts, felt a little displeased but maintained a gentle smile.
The Hyuga Clan male Jonin in front of her responded with impeccable, polite etiquette, neither too close nor too distant, maintaining an elusive demeanor.
It was precisely this intangible feeling that led Hyuga Toma to believe that no one in the Hyuga Clan was more fearsome than the girl before him, not yet twenty.
"You disappeared this morning for a total of two and a half hours. Where did you go?"
Toma knew that to dominate a conversation with Ayane, he couldn't respond directly to her inquiries.
"Though I'd love to answer you, Toma-senpai, this is a confidential task given to me by Lord Hiashi, so…"
Ayane feigned a troubled look, showing sincere apology toward Toma.
"…You should understand your duties."
"This has been permitted by Lord Hiashi."
Seeing Ayane using Hiashi as her shield again, Toma knew this matter would eventually fizzle out.
Since what she's doing doesn't breach the Hyuga Clan's bottom line, even the elders wouldn't take any concrete action beyond a stern reprimand.
Such valuable combat prowess, if destroyed, would be a significant loss for the Hyuga Clan.
With the Bird Cage as a restriction, the elders are even less concerned about trivialities.
"If there's nothing else, Toma-senpai, I'll get back to work."
She prepared to leap past Toma.
"Don't let me catch you slipping."
"Slipping? What do you mean? Toma-senpai, you're rather odd."
"You might fool others, but not my eyes. I'm watching your every move."
"Toma-senpai… you really are a strange person."
Honestly, what a bother.
Though she didn't mind working with someone like him, if a fly buzzed around her ear incessantly, Ayane thought she'd eventually get annoyed.
Just want to swat the buzzing fly dead around her ear soon.
◎
Dinner was also concluded in a calm atmosphere.
Ruri's expression, complexion, and demeanor didn't differ from usual.
Which only convinced Hakushi more that Ruri's facade of normalcy was the epitome of abnormality.
He had assumed he would face Ruri's wrath during dinner, but as it peacefully passed, Hakushi felt increasingly uneasy.
This unease didn't stem from Ruri not displaying her expected anger but from a sudden inexplicable guilty feeling inside.