Several days passed, and after intense debate within the Hyuga Clan regarding the hotpot restaurant, a final decision was reached.
Neji invested all of his father Hizashi's inheritance and received one-tenth of the hotpot restaurant's total profits.
However, there were no objections to the property for his personal laboratory.
After all, it was his own money, and Hiashi, as his guardian, gave his approval.
Evidently, the clan did not place much importance on the hotpot restaurant.
Secondly, Hiashi's efforts likely played a role, otherwise Neji would not have been granted one-tenth of the profits.
Furthermore, the property for the first hotpot restaurant belonged to Neji, but it would be managed by the clan.
Neji had no objections to this; he couldn't be expected to manage it himself, as he was only seven years old and still attending the Ninja Academy...
Neji only visited the hotpot restaurant's renovation a few times. Since everything was meticulously planned, there were no unexpected issues.
Currently, he was busy setting up his laboratory in another property.
There weren't many items—just the equipment he had used over the past year to research eye Chakra and nerves. Compared to the empty room, these items truly seemed very few.
"The laboratory name is secondary; it's mainly about having a private space. I finally have a place," Neji thought.
Neji sat in the room, preparing some daily necessities. From now on, he would alternate between living in the clan compound and here.
Knock, knock, knock!
A knock on the door surprised Neji.
He went to the door and found Hiashi and Hinata.
Little Hinata hid behind Hiashi, curiously looking into the room, seemingly wondering if Neji-nīchan (Neji, older brother) was moving out.
A hint of sadness flickered in her eyes.
"Clan Leader!"
Neji bowed. Hiashi nodded, then looked into the room and said,
"I came to see if you needed any help, but it looks like you've already got everything organized."
"Clan Leader, you worry too much. There are very few things, and they're all personal items. Also, I don't like others touching my things."
Hiashi nodded: "In that case, I'm relieved. I just checked on the hotpot restaurant's progress, and it should open in about two days. Do you need anything else?"
Neji pondered for a moment, then shook his head, which made Hiashi smile.
"When the hotpot restaurant opens, invite your good friends. Good interpersonal relationships are essential."
"Yes!"
This reminded him of Lee, the training fanatic, and Tenten.
They were both very good to him, so inviting them for the opening would be a good idea.
As for others, Neji shook his head inwardly.
Hiashi looked at Neji with satisfaction and continued: "Since there's nothing you need help with, I'll head back. If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me."
He patted Neji's shoulder, looking at Neji's eye patch with a slightly complex expression in his eyes.
"Father, I want to stay with Neji-nīchan (Neji, older brother)."
Hinata suddenly spoke. Hiashi didn't react much, just a soft 'hmm'.
He was quite satisfied with Hinata's progress. It seemed Neji's teaching was more effective in helping Hinata learn than his own.
He had noticed long ago that Hinata was too constrained in front of him.
"Hinata is in your care, Neji!"
"Yes, Clan Leader!"
Hiashi left. Neji looked at Hinata, who remained. Well, using Kenbunshoku Haki to observe was perfectly fine.
"Why do you suddenly want to stay?" Neji asked Hinata, a bit puzzled.
Hinata lowered her head slightly, her small hands fidgeting behind her back. Finally, she looked up at Neji, a little dejectedly, and said,
"Is Neji-nīchan (Neji, older brother) planning to move out?"
Oh, so that's why!
What a cute girl.
Neji shook his head slightly: "I have that idea, but I won't move out temporarily before graduation."
"Really?"
Hinata's eyes suddenly lit up, and her previous gloom vanished. She felt a little happy inside.
This made Neji ruffle Hinata's little head; she was surprisingly easy to appease.
"Yes, that's right, so you can rest assured."
Hinata immediately blushed, lowering her head to play with her fingers.
So kawaii!
Neji looked at Hinata, moved by his feelings.
"Want to come in and take a look?"
"Can I?"
Hinata's eyes brightened slightly, her tone full of anticipation, especially since Neji had just said he didn't like others touching his things.
She remembered that!
Neji smiled slightly: "Of course you can. After all, it's you, Hinata. There's nothing you can't do."
"Come in with me! There's not much, so there's not really anything exciting to see."
"It's not like that!"
Hinata quickly responded, following directly behind Neji, curiously looking around the room.
Especially some of the bottles and jars; they all looked so strange, things she had never seen before.
"These are my experimental instruments. There are very few right now, but once the hotpot restaurant's profits come in, there will be many more."
Experiments are so expensive, but if he didn't research these, was he supposed to rely on Orochimaru?
Although Snake Aunt was NO.1 in scientific research, Snake Aunt was very dangerous, and seeking her out was still inadvisable.
These bottles and jars were all prepared for the upcoming clan extermination tragedy.
Sasuke awakened his Sharingan at seven, which meant he was seven when his clan was massacred, and Neji was already six.
"It seems I need to raise my Rank sooner. I hope I can level up this year," Neji mused, looking at his current Rank.
Hinata, beside him, nodded as if she understood, then followed Neji into another room where things were placed.
Neji teased, "This will be the bedroom later. Hinata can also rest here!"
Pfft!
Little Hinata's head immediately started steaming, clearly embarrassed to the extreme.
Neji didn't say anything more; he was afraid Hinata might faint, and that would be a sin.
After all, he had taken over Naruto's hero-saving-the-damsel event, so Naruto had nothing to do with it now.
Let him continue to pursue Sakura!
Or pairing him with Erzhuzi would also work. Although he had pawned all his worldly possessions for a revive coin back then,
he still had some inexpensive odds and ends, like Ivankov's gender-bending hormones; he still had a tiny bit of them.
He was only six now, so a sex change would be perfect, with no side effects whatsoever.
After a moment, he let Hinata, the adorable Steam Hime, cool down.
Neji said with a smile, "Little Hinata is still so shy!"
Hinata said, annoyed, "Neji-nīchan (Neji, older brother)!"
She made to hit his chest with her tiny fists, but unfortunately, she was no match for Neji.
"Alright, alright, no more teasing. Since we have a new house, let's celebrate. I'll treat Hinata to Ichiraku Ramen."
"I still have enough money to let you eat your fill!"
Hearing Neji's implied meaning, Hinata immediately lowered her head. She just ate a little more than average, that's all!
Hinata seemed to remember something and immediately retorted, "Neji-nīchan (Neji, older brother) also eats a lot!"
Uh, Neji was speechless.
It seemed that was true. After all, he Cultivated Life Return and also tempered Haki. He hadn't changed his habits from the Pirate World, so his appetite was even larger than Hinata's.
Should I change Naruto's gender? Oh my, it's really a dilemma~