Chapter 277.5: You Look Delicious

Hinata's loyalty was beyond question.

The only challenge was her introverted nature.

But that wasn't a problem some guidance couldn't help.

"Mm."

A spark of anticipation flickered in Hinata's eyes.

Once she officially took on her role, she'd have more chances to be around him.

After finishing most of his meal, Shinho set down his chopsticks and glanced at Hinata.

Her pace was slow, but the food on the table was steadily disappearing.

"I… I'm full," Hinata murmured, instinctively looking up, only to catch Shinho staring at her.

"You look delicious." Shinho said not a beet later.

His gaze drifted to her lips, glistening under the soft light.

Hearing his words, Hinata's face turned crimson as she quickly lowered her head.

"Don't bow your head." Shinho began clearing the table, "Look up, I want your face on my view."

Hinata's heart skipped a beat. The blush spread to the tips of her ears as she felt like a kettle about to boil over.

But, gathering her courage, she slowly lifted her head and met his gaze.

Her face burned hotter, her mind spinning, but her heart felt light, joyful even.

Those simple words made his feelings toward her crystal clear.

"Let's get some sleep after the meal," Shinho said, pausing for a moment, "But before that… let's train a bit."

Train?

As if responding to a silent command, Hinata dazedly leaned closer.

Her lips parted slightly, and her tongue slightly peeking out.

"…?"

Shinho's heart jolted.

What kind of whichcraft is this?

Her expression was innocent, pure, but her actions… they were seductively alluring.

Unable to resist, Shinho leaned down and captured her lips n his.

Hinata remembered what she learned yesterday and responded eagerly, responding to his every prompt.

After what felt like an eternity, their lips finally parted.

Hinata, breathless and half-dazed, rested her head against his chest.

The soft sensation made Shinho's self-control waver, but he didn't take things further.

Not here… this isn't the right time.

He gently stroked her flushed cheeks.

Her feelings for him were different, pure.

"Sleep now," he whispered, pulling a blanket over her as he let go.

"A-Are you leaving?" Hinata instinctively reached out, grabbing his hand.

"I'll stay here until you fall asleep," he reassured her with a shake of his head.

"Mm."

Hinata closed her eyes, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Unlike Tsunade, who was bold and brash, Hinata was delicate, like a shy mimosa.

Her gentle smile held a quiet charm.

The term wife material, was tailor made for her.

He sat quietly, watching over her until her breathing steadied.

Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before finally standing up to leave.

…

Early Morning

As the first light of dawn crept in, Shinho opened his eyes.

After a night of cultivation, he felt himself edging closer to becoming a Rank-6 Gu Immortal.

After breakfast, the group of five set out, quickly crossing into the Land of Bears.

Shinho's mind wandered to the plot surrounding Hoshigakure.

A meteor had once fallen from the sky, radiating a unique energy that could be harnessed for training.

But it came at a cost, prolonged exposure led to severe side effects, even death.

In the original story, the Third Hoshikage realized this and ordered all training with the meteor to cease.

Without it, Hoshigakure's power declined sharply.

But Akahoshi, a man driven by ambition, refused to accept this.

He conspired with to assassinate the Third Hoshikage, seizing power for himself.

As acting Hoshikage, he restarted the meteor training.

That's when Natsuhi, a former meteor guardian living in exile, returned, determined to steal the meteor to protect the village.

In retaliation, Akahoshi issued a mission request to Konoha.

But when Naruto uncovered the truth, he sided with Natsuhi, ultimately helping to defeat Akahoshi.

Shinho stroked his chin thoughtfully.

If I'm right, Konoha hasn't received Akahoshi's mission request yet.

"Brother-in-law, we're here!"

Hanabi's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

She turned her head toward him, the veins near her eyes bulging, her Byakugan activated.

In this version of Team 7, Fu was the Jinchuriki, Amaru served as the medical ninja, and Hanabi took on the role of sensor ninja.

Shinho gazed into the distance, where a small village came into view.

"I have a mission for you all," he said, withdrawing his gaze.

"Find Hoshigakure's meteor."

If the meteor was still there, it meant Natsuhi hadn't made her move yet.

"Yes!" Hanabi responded without hesitation.

"Be careful," Shinho added, reaching out to ruffle her hair.

Hanabi nodded confidently before setting off with Amaru and Fu toward Hoshigakure.

With a casual flick of his hand, Shinho released a puff of smoke that fog into a small swallow, soaring into the sky.

Though he trusted Fu's strength as a Jinchuriki, it didn't hurt to keep an eye on things.

Shinho glanced at Hinata, who was nervously wringing her hands, her face full of worry.

"They'll be fine," he said gently, pulling her into his arms.

"Mm."

Hinata trembled slightly, breathing in his familiar scent.

But after their training, such gestures no longer turned her into a blushing steamed dumpling.

…

Hoshigakure

Hanabi and her team infiltrated the village with ease.

The Byakugan's capabilities were on full display as they tracked chakra signatures, perfectly avoiding Hoshigakure's patrols.

"That's strange," Hanabi muttered, her brow furrowing.

"I don't sense any meteor."

The meteor's unique energy should've been easy to detect with her Byakugan.

But it was nowhere to be found.

"Maybe it's been hidden somewhere,"

Amaru said thoughtfully. "Since the meteor is used for training, there must be a dedicated training room."

"That's true!"

Hanabi Hyuga's eyes lit up instantly.

She scanned the surroundings again and finally made a discovery.

"Over there."

Hanabi pointed toward a building not far away. "I can see some residual energy."

"Let's go!"

Fu grew excited immediately.

"Hold on."

Amaru grabbed her arm. "Let Hanabi lead the way."

"Follow me."

Hanabi nodded.

Under her guidance, they avoided detection by any Hoshigakure ninjas and arrived at the training room without incident.

"There are three ninjas inside, all teenagers. They should be genin,"

Hanabi reported, peering into the training room.

"Genin, huh?"

Amaru thought for a moment. "When we go in, knock them out immediately and leave one alone for questioning."

"Fu,"

Hanabi instructed, "we'll take left and right, leave the one in the middle."

"Got it,"

Fu replied without hesitation.

As for Amaru, being a medical ninja, she wasn't required to engage in combat per shinobi rules.

Hanabi and Fu approached the door, pushing it open simultaneously and darting inside like blurs.

Bang! Bang!

With muffled bangs, two figures collapsed to the floor.

"Who… mmm!"

The remaining girl, with chestnut-brown hair, looked terrified, but her mouth was quickly covered.

"If you don't want to die, don't make a sound!"

Hanabi threatened fiercely.

The girl nodded instinctively.

"What's your name?"

Hanabi's tone softened. "Answer honestly, and we won't hurt you."

"H-Hokuto,"

the girl stammered.

"Where's your meteor?"

Hanabi got straight to the point.

"I… I don't know,"

Hokuto shook her head quickly.

"If you don't know, why are you training here?"

Hanabi asked suspiciously.

"It's Lord Hoshikage's order,"

Hokuto explained, "I don't know the specific reason."

"It's a trap!"

Amaru suddenly exclaimed, her heart racing.

"What?"

Hanabi froze. "How would they know we'd come?"

"Natsuhi, you're surrounded! Surrender now!"

A voice shouted from outside at that moment.

"Who's Natsuhi?"

Amaru's eyes widened as she realized, "This trap is for Natsuhi!"

"Natsuhi must be connected to these three."

Hanabi looked at Hokuto, analyzing the situation. "Otherwise, they wouldn't have used them to set a trap."

"Setting a trap in the training room means it's related to the meteor."

Amaru reasoned aloud.

"Watch out!"

Fu suddenly dashed to the door.

She clenched her fist and punched outward.

Boom!

Two waves of chakra collided.

The door shattered into pieces.

A dense crowd of Hoshigakure ninjas blocked their way.

"You… are Konoha ninjas?"

Akahoshi noticed their forehead protectors and shouted angrily, "That traitor Natsuhi!"

Hanabi and Amaru exchanged glances.

With so little information, they couldn't figure out exactly what was going on with Natsuhi.

"Capture them!"

Akahoshi ordered coldly.

At his command, a dark purple energy surged from the Hoshigakure ninjas.

Under their control, it spread out like a peacock's tail.

This was the Mysterious Peacock Method, a secret technique developed using the meteor's power.

"Amaru, fall back."

Hanabi instructed gravely.

Without arguing, Amaru pulled Hokuto back with her.

The sound of slicing through air echoed.

The dark purple energy condensed into dense shuriken that flew toward them.

Fu's body trembled as wings sprouted from her back.

She soared into the air and swung her hands.

A surge of chakra burst out, forming a wall that blocked the shuriken.

"She can fly?"

Akahoshi snorted. "Yotaka, Shizō, she's yours."

Yotaka and Shizō's dark purple energy shifted, forming wings.

They flew up into the air.

Akahoshi turned his gaze to Hanabi.

He formed hand seals, and the dark purple energy shaped itself into a tiger that lunged forward.

Hanabi reacted quickly, striking out with a palm.

But she hadn't anticipated the sheer power of the Mysterious Peacock Method.

Her body was sent flying.

After all, she was just a genin.

Meanwhile, Akahoshi, who had mastered the technique, ranked mid-tier even among Konoha jonin.

Hanabi braced for impact.

But the expected pain didn't come.

Instead, she fell into a warm embrace.

"Brother-in-law?"

Hanabi looked up instinctively and saw a familiar, handsome face.

Multi-Sword Shadow Gu!

Shinho held his sister-in-law and waved his hand.

Countless sword shadows burst forth like a peacock's tail, all piercing toward the energy tiger.

Without any resistance, the tiger was riddled with holes.

The sword shadows didn't stop there and continued forward.

Akahoshi's face changed dramatically as an overwhelming sense of danger surged over him.

He formed seals rapidly, pouring all his chakra out, forming a massive chakra dragon.

The dragon opened its mouth, biting into the sword shadows and flinging them to the ground.

"Not bad,"

Shinho chuckled lightly.

Heavenly Cascade of Light!

This time, he didn't hold back.

He now knew the meteor wasn't in Akahoshi's hands.

The sky suddenly brightened.

Brilliant beams of light gathered together, forming a river of light.

The river of light cascaded down.

The chakra dragon and Akahoshi were both engulfed completely.

Hanabi's mouth dropped open in shock.

Akahoshi, at the center of the attack, was vaporized on the spot, leaving no trace behind.

Amazing!

Hanabi instinctively tightened her grip on Shinho's arm.

She felt an unprecedented sense of safety.

..

[Achievement Unlocked: "Killing While Holding Your Sister-in-law"]

[Reward: Third Watch Gu]

[Third Watch Gu: A Rank 5 consumable Gu that accelerates time by threefold.]

..

Shinho's heart filled with joy.

This reward… was practically on par with an Immortal Gu.

Third Watch Gu could be used on a Gu Master to triple their personal time flow.

In other words, one day would be equivalent to three.

Shinho now saw hope in rapidly advancing to become a Rank-6 Gu Immortal.

Of course, the side effects were clear.

Lifespan would also deplete three times faster.

But Shinho wasn't worried.

He had enough Longevity Gu.

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