Night.
Shindai lay on the sofa, covered in a quilt with her head buried beneath it.
She felt sorry for herself and almost wanted to cry.
She also wanted to sleep on the bed, but from today onward, it no longer belonged to her.
Meanwhile, in Shindai's room,
Hikaku Uchiha lay on Shindai's bed, wrapped in a new quilt, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Everything happening now felt like a dream to Hikaku.
Before the seal was lifted, her life had been hellish. She never knew whether she'd survive until the next day. Each day was either spent locked away or forcibly dragged into battle.
But after Shindai helped her break the seal, he brought her into the light, traveling everywhere with her.
Arriving in Konoha, because of Shindai, she met Pakura and Kushina Uzumaki.
Hikaku could clearly feel the kindness coming from Pakura and Kushina Uzumaki.
Hikaku pulled the quilt over her head too.
"So comfortable—"
The comfort Hikaku referred to might have been about the bed itself, or perhaps something else entirely. She couldn't help but admit that she craved this feeling.
Time passed quickly. More than ten days had gone by.
Over the past few weeks, Hikaku followed Shindai everywhere, and he showed her around Konoha extensively.
Right now, both Shindai and Hikaku are at the Konoha Ninja Hospital.
However, they weren't there because they were injured—they came specifically to visit Rin Nohara and Obito.
Rin Nohara, as a medical ninja and chunin, always helped treat patients at the ninja hospital when not on missions, and this had long been her routine.
And whenever he wasn't on missions, Obito would also come to the ninja hospital—ostensibly to help Rin, though everyone understood his real motives.
When Shindai left home, he asked Minato Namikaze—who was also heading out to work—if Obito had already returned from his mission. Therefore, Shindai headed directly to the ninja hospital with clear intent.
As expected, both Obito and Rin were indeed there.
Shindai introduced Hikaku Uchiha to Obito and Rin.
Upon seeing Hikaku, Rin practically had "I like you" written all over her face.
Hikaku looked so cool, but the clothes Rin and Kushina bought were all super cute—creating a charming contrast.
Rin started chatting with Hikaku.
And since she knew Rin and Shindai were close friends, Hikaku didn't give Rin the cold shoulder, instead engaging in conversation with her.
Watching Rin and Hikaku chatting happily, Obito sighed wistfully. "Man, I'm so jealous of you, Shindai. You've already got Pakura, this gorgeous big sister type, and now you've got another badass girl like Asu Natsuka."
Shindai rolled his eyes at Obito. "What do you mean 'handled'? It sounds like it's my responsibility. Do you even know what kind of life I'm living now? I sleep on the couch every single day!"
Then Shindai asked curiously, "So how're things goin' with you and Rin?"
As soon as Shindai brought up this question, Obito's expression turned instantly resentful. "Some guy said he'd help me get Rin to like me. Did that guy even help? Seriously?"
Shindai scratched her cheek uncomfortably. "Hey, I've just been super busy lately, okay?"
Obito mockingly commented, "Busy? Yeah right, you're definitely super busy. You found time to visit Kannabi Bridge, then found time to release a Seal, and finally made time to bring back a pretty girl to Konoha. You're so damn busy~ Too busy to even help me strategize!"
The corner of Shindai's mouth twitched. Looks like Obito's resentment really showed.
Shindai dry-coughed before seriously asking, "So, have you made any progress with Rin?"
Obito sighed. "Same as always, I guess."
Shindai looked puzzled. "That shouldn't be right. Even a dumbass can tell how you feel. Rin is smart, she should understand too. Could it be she's just stringing you along? But Rin isn't a heartless girl."
Obito glared unhappily at Shindai. "What heartless girl? What dumbass? Rin isn't heartless, and I'm not a dumbass either!"
Shindai continued asking, "So, has Rin shown any special signs lately?"
Obito recalled for a moment. "Special signs? Not really. She seems the same as before. Come to think of it, you still haven't given me my birthday present! It's already been nearly a month! Even Kakashi gave me a gift!"
"Fine fine fine, here's your gift."
Shindai casually retrieved a shuriken from her pouch and placed it in Obito's hand.
Obito looked at the shuriken in his hand with a darkened face. "Could your gift possibly be more half-assed?"
Shindai replied carelessly, "This shuriken was kept in my ninja gear pouch and carries my scent. I think it makes a great gift."
Obito frowned, tilting his head. This sentence... sounded strangely familiar.
Ah, right! Previously when giving Kakashi his Jonin promotion gift, she had also given him a shuriken with the same reasoning.
This backfired joke had now been returned to her by Shindai.
Curiously, Shindai asked, "So what did Rin give you for your birthday?"
"Lots of flowers. There was a little card she drew with cute figures encouraging me."
"Quick, let me see."
"Here." Carefully taking out a small pink card from his ninja gear pouch, Obito handed it to Shindai. "Be careful!"
"Don't worry. I won't damage your precious treasure."
Shindai started examining the little pink card, which contained one sentence written on it.
"Happy birthday, Obito. I hope we both grow up to be amazing adults and fulfill our dreams."
On the back of the pink card were two cute figures holding hands with their hands raised high above their heads.
Looking at the two figures on the back of the pink card, Shindai gave Obito a dead-fish stare and sighed deeply.
Obito asked with confusion, "What's wrong? Why did you suddenly sigh?"
Shindai tossed the pink card to Obito, "Don't want to talk about it. When will you finally get some sense?"
Obito quickly caught the card and grumbled, "What's your problem? What if it were to fall on the ground and get dirty?"
Shindai smirked coldly, "Dirty? I'd love to step on it a couple times."
"Have you lost it?"
Obito muttered under his breath while carefully putting the pink card back into his ninja gear pouch.
Shindai was truly speechless. He looked at Obito with pity and said, "Fine, just one last reminder—Rin is a gentle, kind, and reserved girl."
Obito responded with puzzlement, "So what? Of course I know who Rin is. Aren't you just stating the obvious?"
Shindai almost laughed out of frustration, "Right, right. You know everything. How clever of you! Truly worthy of being Obito Uchiha!"
Obito could clearly hear the sardonic tone in Shindai's voice but still stubbornly replied, "It's common knowledge how smart I am!"
Shindai shook his head, "Hanging out with you too long might actually drop my IQ. Let's go, Asu Natsuka! I'll treat you to some barbecue!"
Obito immediately jumped in, "Count me in too! Rin, it's dinner time now—you've gotta eat too. Come with us! It's free anyway since Shindai's treating us!"
"Tch, cheeky. Hurry up or I won't treat you anymore."
And besides, it was reimbursable anyway—so Shindai didn't really care.
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