Chapter 22: Byakugan

"Didn't I say yesterday? The exam won't take long today. You didn't need to bring food."

Izayoi deactivated his Byakugan and stepped out of his room.

At a glance, he saw Hinata already seated at the dining table, several bento boxes arranged before her.

Despite his words, Izayoi sat down without hesitation, digging into the breakfast Hinata had carefully prepared.

"I wasn't going to make anything, but I forgot to tell Hanabi."

Hinata rested her hands on the table, smiling as she explained, "Hanabi woke up even earlier than me today, specially making an exam bento for you."

"I see. Hanabi's so thoughtful."

Izayoi nodded, understanding, then spotted a nori rice ball in one bento, decorated with shredded radish spelling out "exam success." His appetite grew even stronger.

All these years of doting on his little sister-in-law hadn't been for nothing.

"Eat some too. I can't finish all this alone," Izayoi said between bites, gesturing to her.

"No, I already ate at home."

Hinata shook her head, then stood and walked to the fridge.

Opening it, she pulled out a bottle of milk, pouring a glass for Izayoi and one for herself.

From waking him up to pouring milk now, Hinata moved with such ease, no trace of awkwardness, as if this were her own home.

And, in truth, it practically was.

For years, Izayoi and Hinata hadn't met at their old spot.

Though Izayoi had never set foot in the Hyuga clan grounds, Hinata and Hanabi treated his house like a second home.

Both sisters carried keys to Izayoi's place.

Whenever they had time, they'd come over to hang out.

The milk and ingredients in the fridge were bought by Hinata and Hanabi.

Even the housework was handled either by Hinata or the three of them together.

Izayoi and Hinata had long grown used to this dynamic.

After breakfast, they washed the dishes, and Izayoi and Hinata left the house, heading toward the ninja academy.

The striking pair—a handsome boy and a beautiful girl—drew plenty of attention on the way.

Six years had passed. Beyond becoming a strikingly handsome teen, Izayoi had grown to 163 centimeters tall.

In a place like the Cloud Village, full of taller folk, that height might not stand out.

But in Konoha, where the average height for his age was around 150 centimeters, Izayoi's 163 centimeters made him tower over his classmates and grade.

The same went for Hinata beside him.

Izayoi had long forgotten Hinata's height in the original story.

But one thing was certain: the original Hinata, in both height and figure, couldn't compare to the current one.

With a big appetite, never lacking nutrition, and an impressive training regimen, Hinata stood at 155 centimeters—six or seven centimeters taller than most girls her age.

Just a few more centimeters, and she'd match her Shippuden height.

This height also meant that Hinata, who was already somewhat developed at twelve in the original, was now even more eye-catching.

Even in her loose white trench coat, her figure was hard to hide.

If she unzipped it, revealing the tight black fishnet undershirt, and leaned forward, the sight would be breathtaking.

That's why Izayoi's second glance upon waking had been drawn to her.

More than once, he'd marveled inwardly at the wonders of this two-dimensional world.

Only in such a world could a girl this age have such an extraordinary figure.

"Izayoi-kun, Hinata, good morning!"

"Good morning, Minako."

"Still inseparable as ever. Are you two really not a couple?"

Today was March 21. Students from first to fifth grade had finished their end-of-year exams yesterday.

The sixth graders' graduation exam was a day later.

So, arriving at school, the campus was quieter than usual.

The only figures around were sixth graders.

At the entrance, many parents stood waiting—unusual for them to drop off their kids and linger for results.

Six years of effort hinged on today, determining if their child could rise above the ordinary to become a ninja.

Naturally, the parents waiting were civilians or civilian-born ninjas.

Clan children had no parents present.

For them, today was a formality.

The ninja headband was already theirs to claim.

Even if they failed the exam, their clan's secret techniques ensured special privileges, like joining a department as a Special Jonin.

On the way to the classroom, Izayoi and Hinata ran into a few classmates—boys and girls—who greeted them warmly.

Close friends even teased about their relationship.

Izayoi just smiled without answering.

Hinata lowered her head slightly, her cheeks faintly pink.

As school celebrities, Izayoi, the top student, wasn't nearly as popular as Uchiha Sasuke.

The reason? Hinata, of course.

Desk mates since first grade, the two were always together.

At first, some girls, unaware of their bond, flocked around Izayoi.

But after every invitation was declined, and they noticed Izayoi treated Hinata differently, they gradually backed off.

If Hinata were just an ordinary girl, those girls might've felt jealous, maybe even tried to bully her.

But Hinata wasn't just a noble clan heiress—she was consistently top three in grades.

Her Gentle Fist made her a terror in Taijutsu spars.

Classmates didn't fear punches or kicks, but a poke to a pressure point? That brought searing pain or paralysis shooting through the body.

It was worse than taking a fist.

Most of the class, boys and girls alike, had tasted her Gentle Fist.

Those girls naturally didn't dare mess with her.

Plus, beyond Izayoi, there was Uchiha Sasuke—another option.

Over time, Izayoi's circle grew quiet.

With Hinata as a shield, he no longer needed excuses to dodge classmates' invitations or carve out time to humor them.

In the classroom, many students were already there.

Some whispered to each other, discussing who-knows-what.

Others sat at their desks, faces tense, fists clenched, nerves clearly frayed.

Even Uzumaki Naruto, who'd graffitied the Hokage Rock yesterday—earning the class a surprise Transformation Technique test—was unusually quiet today.

After Izayoi and Hinata took their seats, they started whispering too.

Watching the top student and second-ranked Hinata chat, unbothered by the graduation exam, a girl sitting beside Hinata looked on with envy.

Top students had all the confidence.

Unlike her, tense since yesterday, barely sleeping last night.

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