Outside the reception hall, Kakasi leaned against the wall and waited quietly. He occasionally glanced toward the door but did not interfere.
Inside the hall, Chen Xing carefully laid the unconscious sisters onto a nearby seat.
He gently tapped Hinata's cheek.
"Hinata… wake up."
After a moment, Hinata Hyuga slowly opened her eyes.
When she saw Chen Xing leaning close, her face immediately turned red.
"Chen Xing… brother…"
Chen Xing quickly pointed to the girl lying beside her.
"Look over there first."
Hinata turned and gasped softly.
"Hanabi?"
Her younger sister Hanabi Hyuga was still unconscious.
"Don't worry," Chen Xing said. "She only fainted."
Hinata sighed in relief and gently shook Hanabi's shoulder.
"Hanabi… wake up."
Hanabi soon opened her eyes.
The moment she saw Chen Xing, she jumped up angrily.
"You! Bad guy!"
She rushed toward him again.
"You bullied my sister!"
Chen Xing sidestepped and caught her by the back of her collar before she could reach him.
Hanabi kicked her legs in the air.
"Let go! I'm not done with you!"
Hinata hurried over.
"Hanabi, stop! You misunderstood!"
Chen Xing set the girl down.
Hanabi glared at him and then looked at her sister.
"But I saw you faint in his arms!"
Hinata's face flushed red.
"I fainted because I was nervous," she said quietly. "Chen Xing caught me so I wouldn't fall."
Hanabi blinked in surprise.
Chen Xing smiled faintly and casually placed a hand around Hinata's waist.
"Your sister and I are close," he said calmly. "There's nothing strange about that."
Hinata's face became even redder but she didn't deny it.
Hanabi stared at the two of them in disbelief.
"So… you're saying… he's your boyfriend?"
Hinata lowered her head shyly.
Hanabi crossed her arms and looked Chen Xing up and down.
"Hmph. I haven't accepted you as my brother-in-law yet."
Chen Xing chuckled.
"What do I need to do for you to accept me?"
Hanabi tilted her head and thought seriously.
"Wait… I haven't decided yet."
Hinata quickly said, "Hanabi—"
Chen Xing gently stopped her.
"It's fine. Let her think about it."
Hanabi looked satisfied.
"I'll tell you my condition later."
In truth, she was already less angry. During their brief exchange earlier, she had realized Chen Xing's strength was far beyond hers.
Even when she attacked with the Gentle Fist, he had avoided every strike effortlessly.
---
Leaving the Hyuga Compound
Chen Xing stood up.
"Since that's settled, let's go out for a while."
Hinata looked surprised.
"Go… out?"
Hanabi's eyes immediately lit up.
"I'm coming too!"
She grabbed Hinata's arm excitedly.
Hinata looked embarrassed.
This was supposed to be her first time spending time alone with Chen Xing.
But seeing Hanabi's eager expression, she couldn't refuse her younger sister.
She looked at Chen Xing apologetically.
Chen Xing simply smiled.
"It's fine. The more the merrier."
The three of them walked toward the entrance of the compound.
Outside, Kakasi was still standing there reading his book.
Chen Xing spoke casually.
"Kakasi, you're free for the rest of the day."
Kakasi blinked in surprise.
Then he closed his book.
"In that case, I'll go check on Naruto's training."
He had no interest in joining them.
After all, Naruto and the others were still practicing chakra control under Chen Xing's clone.
Kakasi quickly disappeared using a Body Flicker Technique, leaving Chen Xing with the two Hyuga sisters.
The afternoon in Konoha had just begun.