Thud~
The door closed gently.
The figure of his cheerful fiancée disappeared from the cramped apartment.
Shinji Hyuga sat silently at the low round table. The pale glow of the incandescent light illuminated the three scrolls before him, their elongated shadows like a heavy weight pressing down on his shoulders.
But,
Despite his distress,Shinji Hyuga showed no sign of disappointment.
When he came to his senses,as if by some strange twist of fate, he glanced at the mirror beside him and found himself actually smiling.
The smile looked both smug and twisted,startling Shinji himself.
He instinctively thought he absolutely couldn't let this terrifying sense of smug self-satisfaction take hold, but after a moment's reflection, he felt he was being overly sensitive.
He spread his arms and lay back on the tatami mat.
Finally,his tense nerves relaxed a little.
Shinji Hyuga was not a savior, nor did he shoulder the responsibility of saving the world.
He simply believed that since he had been given a second chance at life,he should try his best to live well in this world and make something of himself.
So,as a person, making a few friends shouldn't be considered a heinous crime, right?
Thinking this through,
Shinjisat up, reached out, untied the ribbons of the three scrolls on the table, unfolded them, and pressed his hands onto them, forming the hand seals for an unsealing jutsu.
Poof~
Amidst the swirling smoke, a pile of supplies appeared on the low table.
The first was a set of ninja tools forged from folded steel,including three kunai, thirty-two shuriken, a roll of steel wire, four smoke bombs, and a stack of explosive tags.
This was standard equipment a ninja should possess.
Besides the ninja tools, there was also a finely crafted ninja sword about 1.2 meters long on the table—a complete ninja combat set.
The package also contained soldier ration pills that could sustain him for about half a month.
Looking at the pile of items, Shinji Hyuga's eyes lit up. He picked up the combat uniform and held it up.
Ninja attire is quite elaborate.To carry enough ninja tools to sustain combat, one or two pouches are insufficient, while carrying too many would affect a ninja's balance and mobility.
The somewhat plain green flak jacket and undershirt worn by most Chunin and above in Konoha are actually among the most expensive items in a standard ninja's gear.
The suit in Shinji's hands was undoubtedly a specially made combat uniform of a higher grade. Its overall design resembled a pure black, high-collared jumpsuit.
The collar could be pulled up to cover the mouth and nose.There was a ninja tool pouch at the waist and leg wraps on each thigh, which could hold shuriken holsters and scroll storage pouches, respectively. The inside of the combat uniform was woven with close-fitting chainmail that could effectively protect against blade strikes. It came equipped with standard Chunin gloves, leg guards, and a forehead protector headband...
Considering its stylish design, functionality, and superior protective capabilities compared to a standard flak jacket, this combat suit likely cost no less than 700,000 ryo.
Having experienced two years of war, Shinji Hyuga naturally understood the role such equipment could play in battle and had long wanted to obtain similar gear.
But,
He was a genin and did not qualify for the Chunin vest issued by the village.
At the same time,the high price of this special protective gear had made Shinji, who was short on funds, hesitate.
He never expected Hyuga Natsu would give him such an expensive gift.
A complex emotion surged withinShinji Hyuga. Hyuga Natsu wasn't from a wealthy family; like him, she was a war orphan. In fact, she didn't have the same privileged connections as Shinji, which allowed him access to figures like the Hyuga main family elders.
Shinjiimmediately understood where this combat uniform came from.
As a Chunin employed by the main family, Hyuga Natsu received a monthly salary of 300,000 ryo. And as far as he knew, she had only held this position for less than three months...
Now,
All her salary was here.
Shinji Hyuga couldn't help but take a deep breath, his knuckles turning slightly white as he gripped the combat suit.
Finally,
He said nothing,nor did he chase after her with the scroll to refuse her kindness. He simply changed into the equipment Hyuga Natsu had brought.
Then,
He closed his increasingly sharp white eyes heavily.
He sat quietly on the tatami mat, waiting for time to pass second by second, and even more so for the moment that would be a verdict on his fate—
Having been rejected from joining the main family's guard,Shinji Hyuga had no way to challenge the Hyuga main family's decision and could only wait for the transfer order in a few days.
But if that were the case,the opportunity would be lost.
Shinji Hyugahad no interest in whether the young master of the Hyuga main family lived or died, but he was determined to ensure that the people he cared about would survive the impending incident!
However, to bypass this obstacle and secretly protect Hyuga Natsu by leaving the village tomorrow,
he would need a transfer order issued from a higher authority within Konoha!
And at this moment,
Shinji Hyuga,with his eyes closed, felt the light source flicker a few times.
Immediately after,
Click!
With that sound,the apartment was plunged into darkness.
In the utter silence of the dark, a deep, indistinct voice suddenly echoed in Shinji Hyuga's ears.
"So,"
"Is this your reason for contacting us?"
"Lion...kun?"
---
Outside the apartment,
As the sun set and night fell,darkness descended.
Hyuga Tetsu felt quite troubled as he watchedShinji Hyuga enter the apartment under Hyuga Natsu's serene and gentle gaze.
This wasn't a breakup,nor was it jealousy.
For a moment,he couldn't understand why he was standing there, like a kite that had lost its string, his thoughts drifting further and further away.
He lingered on Konoha Tea Street, not far from the apartment building.
The lights of the shops on the street flickered on,their glow reflecting on his stern face.
People passed by in waves,each carrying their own laughter, silence, melancholy, and clear direction in life, seeking temporary, numbing pleasure without any confusion.
In this environment, Hyuga Tetsu suddenly felt thirsty. He wanted a drink, but due to the three ninja taboos, the underage boy could only go to a shop and get a glass of milk.
He squatted by the roadside, drinking intermittently, taking sips here and there.
But his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the brightly lit apartment building.
Yes,
There was no traditionally defined relationship between Hyuga Tetsu andShinji Hyuga as "friends," "brothers," or "close companions."
Fewer than ten sentences exchanged in total.
By sociological definition,
Their relationship was more like that of"familiar strangers."
But after hearing the news in the afternoon that Shinji Hyuga had rejected the main family elder's appointment,
Hyuga Tetsu immediately dropped everything and rushed over,wishing he could shove Shinji's head into a water tank to knock some sense into him!
Was it for Hyuga Natsu?
But then again,it didn't seem so. He did like Natsu; who wouldn't like a beautiful girl like her? But Natsu liked Shinji Hyuga more. Rather than taking Natsu away, he preferred to silently wish for her happiness.
If she was happy...
So, it couldn't possibly be for that self-righteous idiot, Shinji Hyuga, could it?
Thinking this,Hyuga Tetsu was startled and suddenly stood up, spilling milk all over the ground.