Chapter 5: Taking Care of Business
Every problem in the shinobi world could be traced back to one fundamental question: are ninja actually human?
But right now, Hyuga Kiyonari had neither the time nor the inclination to explore that philosophical question. His mind was entirely occupied with the script.
Of course, he couldn't just chew the kid out and leave. Giving him some kind of psychological complex that led the Third Hokage to his door would be problematic.
He took a deep breath, softening his tone. "What's your name?"
"Uzumaki Naruto." The boy timidly raised his head, eyes still somewhat dazed.
"I'm Hyuga Kiyonari. As for that demon fox nonsense—I don't believe it."
Kiyonari placed both hands on Naruto's shoulders, meeting his eyes with a calm, steady gaze. "Listen. You got thrown out. I got hit. We're both victims here. You don't owe me anything, and you don't owe anyone else anything either. Take that money, get yourself something good to eat, and enjoy that mask."
"Don't overthink it. Demon fox or not—the meaning of life is just keeping your shit warm. Got it?"
Uzumaki Naruto's mouth fell open. After a long moment, he managed a single sound: "Huh?"
"'Huh' what?" Kiyonari's brow furrowed slightly. "Did you understand me or not?"
"I... I understood."
"Louder!"
"I understood!" Naruto straightened his back abruptly, his voice ringing out so loudly that everyone on the street turned to look.
"Good! That's the spirit!"
Kiyonari patted his shoulder and turned to leave, his accomplishments hidden and his fame concealed.
He walked around the corner with measured steps. Once he confirmed the coast was clear, he immediately broke into a run, racing toward where the three brats had last been seen.
When he arrived at the location, they were long gone. Fortunately, a dumpling vendor was slowly packing up her stall nearby.
"Excuse me, ma'am," Kiyonari approached with feigned urgency. "Did you see which way Ichiro and his friends went? I just heard from someone that the three of them were planning to do something bad..."
Their reputation preceded them. Before he'd even finished speaking, the old woman pointed in a direction.
The farther he walked in that direction, the fewer people there were on the streets. When Kiyonari passed by an alley entrance, the scene before him made his pupils constrict sharply.
Three boys had cornered Hinata against a wall. Snowballs exploded against her one after another, her indigo hair matted with snow. She didn't dodge or evade, just stared at them with those pale eyes—or rather, at the space behind them.
More precisely, she was waiting for someone to appear.
"Hey, is this all the white-eyed freak can do?"
The ringleader was a kid named Ichiro. Finding Hinata's complete lack of resistance boring, he figured going a bit further wouldn't matter—she wouldn't dare tell anyone anyway.
He split his face into a malicious grin and picked up a sharp rock, stuffing it into a freshly packed snowball. But before he could throw it, a dull whoosh cut through the air.
Thwack!
Ichiro screamed and collapsed face-first into the snow. The other two whirled around in shock.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!"
Hyuga Kiyonari's voice was colder than the snow. Though this was just a line from the script, the fury churning in his chest was entirely real.
This village really was "blessed with exceptional people," wasn't it?
"Bastard!"
The remaining two boys shouted and charged at him with flailing limbs.
Kiyonari sidestepped the first boy's punch, smoothly grabbed his wrist and twisted. As screams erupted, he kicked toward the other one's knee.
In his enraged state, Kiyonari's swings had perfect angles, his strikes carried ruthless force, and his punches packed serious power. Six punches per second wasn't his limit—it was the limit of their eyes' ability to track.
You like bullying people? You like stuffing rocks in snowballs?!
The script just said "Hyuga Kiyonari taught them a harsh lesson." As long as it qualified as a lesson, he could do whatever he wanted. Punch after punch, until all three lacked the strength to even cry out. Only then did he stop and take a long, satisfied breath.
His thoughts were clear now.
"If I ever catch you causing trouble again, I'll beat you down every single time!"
"Y-yes, yes!"
Ichiro's head squirmed repeatedly in the snow crater. Clearly, he was trying very hard to nod.
Kiyonari stepped over the three collapsed forms and stopped in front of Hinata, meeting a pair of eyes brimming with moisture.
Though he'd rehearsed this scene dozens of times in his mind, in this moment, his racing heartbeat betrayed his composure.
"We meet at last, Lady Hinata." Kiyonari bowed slightly.
Hinata's pupils trembled faintly. Kiyonari could clearly see the complex emotions churning in her eyes. In a sense, she actually hadn't wanted him to appear at all.
"I recognize you..." She finally suppressed all her conflicting thoughts and said softly, "A notebook and a red bean cake as birthday presents—that could only be you."
Kiyonari displayed exactly the right amount of embarrassment. "My apologies. I live rather frugally, so I could only choose inexpensive gifts. Though the stationery shop owner said it was the most popular style..."
Hinata looked at this boy before her—not even a genin yet, just her age. Her last lingering doubt vanished. How could such an ordinary boy possibly be connected to that mysterious Life Simulator?
"Would you like me to walk you home?" he suddenly suggested.
Hinata shook her head. "No need... but could you walk with me for a while?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Kiyonari's lips curved upward ever so slightly. Everything was proceeding according to script.
He naturally stepped forward and raised his hand to brush the remaining snow from her hair. The gesture immediately breached normal social distance, his fingertips nearly able to feel the warmth of her body.
Point one five meters to point four five meters—psychology defined this as the intimate distance threshold within the personal space bubble.
Right now, barely thirty centimeters separated them. Kiyonari invaded that space without hesitation, but Hinata didn't refuse.
"Actually, this isn't the first time we've met." Kiyonari's voice dropped to something intimate, like sharing a secret with a friend.
"Was it at the banquet that day?"
"No, even earlier than that. Neji and I are good friends. Before the banquet even started, I dragged him over to secretly watch you."
Hinata's lips parted slightly in realization. "So back then it wasn't my imagination—I really did feel someone watching me."
"Your perception is quite sharp, my lady. If we'd been discovered, Neji probably would've turned bright red."
"So Neji has that side to him too?"
After brushing the last bit of snow from her clothing, Kiyonari stepped back half a pace and raised his left hand like a knight. "Shall we, Princess?"
Hinata hesitated for just an instant before gently placing her right hand in his.
The moment her cool fingertips touched Kiyonari's palm, a snowflake landed perfectly on the back of her hand. The two contrasting sensations made her unconsciously hold her breath.
Let's go, my knight.