Chapter 189: KnePillow
e During the break after lunch, Ryosuke kept thinking about what the old cat had said about isolating himself from other auras.
But no matter how many times he tried to confirm it, he never felt anything.
Whether inside or outside his body, he could sense nothing unusual—only chakra and natural energy.
So Ryosuke decided to set it aside for now.
There are many things in life that can't be solved immediately. Getting stuck in a rut leads nowhere.
Sometimes, if you let a problem rest, time will unravel what once seemed impossible.
Most people let problems pile up like mountains until they're impossible to manage, but a rare few can handle things methodically, never letting them grow out of control.
"To be safe, why not have the clan's medical-nin check it thoroughly?"
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In Hinata's room,
A soft and gentle voice spoke,
There was no hint of forcefulness in Hinata's tone, only a quiet suggestion.
Yet this softness wasn't weakness. It felt more like a tender moment from a sentimental film, like a child drifting off under a mother's gentle whisper—warm and comforting.
Feeling this unfamiliar yet calming experience,
Ryosuke leaned, dazed, against the incredibly soft and elastic "meat cushion."
A familiar, elegant fragrance filled his nose.
On his forehead, a pair of small, calloused hands gently massaged from brow to temple.
There was something captivating in that touch, something with quiet charm and healing power, steadily melting away the tension in his heart.
"The clan's medical-nin aren't as skilled as I am," he said slowly, eyes half-closed, savoring the moment. "But more than that... I'm curious. Where did you learn all this?"
He was talking about the knee pillow.
According to Old cat, there was something unusual about him—something that made him feel subtly disconnected from others.
Since he couldn't sense it himself, the natural thing to do was ask someone close to him.
Unfortunately, Hinata didn't know either.
Aside from being talented as a kunoichi, she'd never sensed any emotional distance from him. And then... she made him lie down without another word.
"A doctor cannot treat himself. Even if they're not as good as you, the clan's medical-nin might notice something you, the patient, overlook."
Hinata's voice was soft as she responded.
"As for the knee pillow... I read about it in a few random books."
"To support her family, a wife waits for her husband to return after a hard day. If she's thoughtful, she might offer her lap as a pillow, letting him rest in peace for a moment."
Though some of her words were shy and delicate, she said them with calm composure.
Having grown up together from childhood, gradually evolving from clueless kids into who they were now, Hinata often felt she'd contributed less than him.
She was introverted by nature, born into a powerful clan but timid like an ordinary girl.
If not for Ryosuke, she might still be that same timid child—lacking the confidence and strength she now held.
Looking back at the details of their past, she realized she'd always been protected by Ryosuke's arms.
Her personality had been shaped by him. Her combat skills, refined through his guidance. Even her position as heir had been secured through his efforts.
Though she'd always done her best to support him in return...
Compared to him, she felt he had given so much more.
And so, she found herself wanting to give something back—in whatever way she could.
"...I'll have them check it out," Ryosuke mumbled, eyes closed.
They say the land of gentleness is a hero's grave.
Today, he finally understood the meaning behind that saying.
This was a level of illusion beyond even Tsukuyomi.
In no time, his thoughts grew hazy, and sleep began to creep in.
Tick-tock, tick-tock—
The only sound in the room was the pendulum's gentle rhythm.
Ryosuke said nothing, and Hinata remained silent as well.
Though with his own energy he didn't need a nap to recharge, the comfort of a full stomach and a warm, soft resting place made his thoughts grow still.
Tick-tock, tick-tock—
The pendulum's rhythm by his ear became a lullaby.
The faint fragrance coming from beside him felt like calming incense, quieting his mind until it turned inward, his thoughts gradually stilled.
Go to sleep...
A wave of drowsiness washed over him, unstoppable.
The hands pressing on his forehead had become ineffective in holding off the inevitable.
If someone meant harm right now...
That thought barely formed before sleep overtook him.
But truthfully, even if someone prettier than Hinata were here, they wouldn't be able to get this close to him.
Whoosh—
His breathing became calm, soft,
Each breath had its own quiet rhythm.
Beside him, Hinata's palms slowed, pressing lighter and lighter, until they stopped altogether.
She sat still, silently listening to his breath, his heartbeat, the warmth radiating from his body.
Her eyes lingered on his face, resting so peacefully on her thighs, filled with gentleness.
No unnecessary words. No sudden movements.
Hinata didn't move an inch, as if she had truly become a pillow.
Slowly, silence blanketed the room.
Even though it was still daylight, the two inside had fallen into a calm, quiet slumber.
Outside, summer cicadas and birds chirped.
But somehow, an invisible boundary seemed to keep all the noise away, unable to disturb the scene inside.
Tick-tock, tick-tock—
As the pendulum swayed,
Time flowed on. Around thirty minutes passed.
Ryosuke, still lying on Hinata's lap, calmly opened his eyes. There was no sudden shift in his expression or any reaction—just a smooth return to awareness.
It was as if he had never been asleep at all.
But his eyes were bright, full of energy.
Then, Ryosuke met Hinata's gaze.
Eye contact.
Ryosuke could sense her quiet dependence and affection.
At the same time, Hinata felt Ryosuke's unwavering focus and warmth.
"Want to sleep a little longer?"
She spoke softly, using the same tone she'd used to lull him to sleep.
"No, this was enough. That was the best rest I've had in a long time."
His tone was relaxed as he slowly raised his head from her lap and sat upright.
Although the sleep time was short, the quality of sleep was excellent. So when he woke up, his mental state was very good, without any of the drowsiness that usually lingered after waking.
"It's about time you went to find Old Cat. You have some very important training to do this afternoon, right?" Hinata's voice was always soft, like a whisper.
"No hurry."
Ryosuke shook his head and turned to face her. "You didn't ask me to get up even though your legs went numb. Even if you're a ninja with stronger blood circulation than normal people, you still need to sit and rest a while before standing."
His tone was helpless.
Kneeling for too long compresses blood vessels and affects circulation. What's more, with him as her pillow, Hinata's leg muscles wouldn't have lasted half an hour.
"Just sit for a while."
Hinata chuckled and looked at him. "It just so happens that I plan to review the Ninja Handbook at home this afternoon, so it won't affect anything."
"Whether it affects anything or not isn't up to you."
Raising his hand slowly, light green medical chakra shimmered in Ryosuke's palm. "Don't forget what one of your husband's specialties is—and don't try to hide your physical condition from me."
As he spoke, his hand gently brushed against Hinata's thigh. Under her tight, elastic skin, the blood that had been blocked started flowing again, guided by the medical chakra.
"There are some hidden injuries—probably from overstretching."
Ryosuke frowned suddenly and looked at Hinata with confusion, but then realization dawned. "Were you trying to grow taller?"
In truth, Hinata's figure was already more developed than in the original timeline. In both height and other aspects, she appeared more mature. Ryosuke had initially assumed this was due to rigorous training and exposure to battle, but now it seemed intentional.
As a clan with a thousand-year legacy in taijutsu, the Hyuga had extensive knowledge of the human body, so it wasn't surprising that they possessed secret techniques for rapid physical development. But such methods often came with side effects, leaving lingering damage. In extreme cases, they could trigger uncontrollable growth, turning someone into a towering "little giant" over two meters tall—a disadvantage for a ninja. Over-promoting growth would cause imbalance and clumsy coordination.
Hinata, who had been calm until now, blinked innocently when her thoughts were exposed. She didn't answer, only stared at Ryosuke with her watery eyes.
"Alright, no more messing with those secret techniques," Ryosuke said with a sigh, continuing the treatment. "I've read all of them in the clan's archives. They're all defective."
What else could he do? His sweet and thoughtful wife just wanted to match him better. What was so wrong with that? All he could do was heal the hidden injuries with a helpless heart full of affection.
"...Actually, I didn't feel anything wrong with my body," Hinata murmured after a while.
"That's because the damage hasn't erupted yet," Ryosuke explained patiently, though still feeling uneasy. "Whether you're a ninja or a civilian, everyone accumulates minor issues from life or combat. Most of the time, the symptoms are so faint you won't even notice them."
"It's just a bit of soreness here and there, or feeling tired. But once it builds up and breaks out, it's already too late."
Just like cervical issues or gastrointestinal illnesses—they may only cause slight fatigue at first, but once triggered by stress, cold, or fever, they erupt into something far worse. Ryosuke knew that pain firsthand. In his previous life, clawing his way up from the bottom had cost him dearly. The price of effort was often paid in physical exhaustion.
Thinking of that, another thought came to mind.
Although the clan had medical checkups similar to routine physicals, they weren't always thorough. The hidden injuries from Hinata's growth technique would never have shown up in a basic scan.
Maybe…
In the future, he would have to personally examine his family members, just in case. Especially his father.
Years of war and political responsibilities had taken a toll. Ryosuke was worried their father's health had already declined. He didn't want him to become like Sarutobi Hiruzen—aged far beyond his years. He'd need to make time to check on him.
"Alright, but this will still take a few more sessions to fix completely."
After observing Hinata's condition using his clear Byakugan eyes, Ryosuke slowly withdrew his hand.
"But don't mess with those techniques again. If you really want to grow taller, I'll find another way—something without side effects. I'll develop something for you myself if I have to. And if you ever feel anything wrong in your body again, you have to tell me."
His tone turned serious.
There were indeed secret techniques that could aid in height increase, but very few people cared about them. In the ninja world, height didn't matter much. Being tall could even be a liability—it made stealth harder. If someone truly wanted to change their appearance, Transformation Jutsu was far more practical.
"No, no, no—don't waste your time on that."
Hinata, who had seemed innocent earlier, now frowned. "I don't want to grow taller. Actually… after you came back, I started thinking it's nice having a bit of height difference between us."
"Don't waste your time on something like that!"
She was more serious about it than he expected.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it."
Ryosuke waved her off casually as he stood, ready to leave.
He knew full well what she was trying to do. Hinata wanted to take care of everything else so he could focus on training without worries. But there was no need to separate responsibilities so strictly between husband and wife. She was still young, and there was plenty of time to grow and learn. She didn't need to shoulder so much alone.
"Come back early for dinner."
Her voice drifted from behind him. Ryosuke smiled.
"Got it."
With that, he pushed the door open and stepped outside.
He'd had enough of the gentle peace of home—for now. It was time to face the next challenge.
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