Chapter 24: Understanding

Just as Izayoi had told Hinata, the graduation exam didn't take long.

After a bit of chatting, other students who'd passed began trickling onto the training field.

Soon, Umino Iruka arrived.

This meant any familiar faces not present had failed the exam, eliminated.

A closer look revealed only one missing: Uzumaki Naruto.

"Everyone, sorry for the wait."

Iruka held a clipboard, smiling. "Put on your headbands, and I'll take you to get your profile photos."

"Iruka-sensei, where do we wear the headband?" a student asked, raising a hand.

"Anywhere on your upper body," Iruka replied.

So, students tied their headbands on their foreheads, arms, necks, or used them as hairbands.

Hinata wore hers around her neck.

Izayoi tied his on his left arm.

Once everyone was ready, Iruka led them to the rooftop of the main building.

A photographer with a standing camera was already waiting.

After queuing for photos, students eagerly left the building—some strolling, others racing to the school gate.

At the gate, parents crowded together.

Some comforted children who'd failed, while others watched the school with hopeful eyes.

They knew those still inside had passed, now Genin.

As students emerged, the gate buzzed with excitement.

But the lively scene stung some orphans without parents.

Some gazed enviously, others fled without looking.

Uchiha Sasuke was both—glancing with envy before vanishing in a blur.

Izayoi didn't fit either category.

Because…

"Onii-chan, Nee-chan, over here!"

At the gate, a girl's voice rang out clearly.

Hanabi, in a yellow-brown kimono with flame-patterned hems, waved eagerly at Izayoi and Hinata.

Seeing her, Izayoi's lips curved upward, and Hinata gave a gentle smile.

Before reaching the gate, Izayoi crouched, catching Hanabi as she launched herself at him.

"Onii-chan, Nee-chan, I came to pick you up!"

Hanabi wrapped her arms around Izayoi's neck, noticing the headband on his arm. "Onii-chan, is this a Genin headband?"

"Yep, it's yours to play with."

Izayoi nodded, slipping it off and handing it to her, then lifted her up. He and Hinata shared a smile.

The three left the school together.

Years had passed, and Hanabi, now seven, had changed noticeably.

In the original story, she had shoulder-length hair at this age.

But, seeing her sister grow hers out, Hanabi followed suit.

Now her hair reached her waist, like in the movie, with two front strands braided.

For training or fighting, she kept it straight or in a single ponytail, her determined eyes and serious expression already hinting at her Boruto-era poise.

Perhaps due to early maturity, Hanabi developed faster than Hinata. Destined to reach 170 centimeters, she was already 132 centimeters—barely a head shorter than Izayoi.

At this age, Hinata still had a chubby face.

But Hanabi's had shed most of its baby fat, taking on a sharp, oval shape.

Mimicking Hinata, Hanabi hung the Genin headband around her neck, grinning at Izayoi. "Onii-chan, to celebrate you and Nee-chan becoming Genin, let's have hotpot today!"

"You just want hotpot yourself," Hinata teased, lightly tapping Hanabi's forehead with a slender finger.

"Hehe…"

Hanabi stuck out her tongue, sheepish. "Father doesn't let us eat stuff like that, but I really want hotpot today."

Izayoi, charmed by her cuteness, agreed instantly. "Alright, hotpot it is."

"Yay!"

Hanabi cheered, then pushed further. "Onii-chan, I want a high ride too!"

"No way," Hinata said, puffing her cheeks. "Hanabi, you're too big for that now."

"I'm only seven! What's the big deal?"

Hanabi made a face at Hinata, then turned to Izayoi, pleading, "Onii-chan, please?"

"No problem."

Izayoi freed one hand, flexing like a strongman. "Seven or not, even if you're as tall as me, you can still get a high ride."

"That's my Onii-chan!"

Hanabi beamed with admiration, slipping from his arms to climb onto his shoulders.

"Honestly…"

Watching Izayoi stride ahead, directed by Hanabi toward the market, Hinata sighed helplessly but followed with a fond smile.

Whoosh—

Moments after they left, a figure appeared where they'd stood.

It was a Hyuga clansman in a green vest, with eyes like Hinata's and Hanabi's.

He was Hanabi's guard.

Hinata always had a guard when out; Hanabi was no exception.

Yet, for some reason, he didn't stay close, watching silently from the shadows.

Hanabi was unaware, but Izayoi and Hinata knew of his presence.

Over six years, though Izayoi had never met Hyuga Hiashi, he shared an unspoken understanding with his future father-in-law.

Izayoi nurtured Hinata and Hanabi gently, letting the motherless sisters grow under his care and indulgence; Hiashi was strict, instilling the weight of their clan's honor.

Living under pressure at home, Hinata and Hanabi relied heavily on Izayoi.

Only with him did Hanabi show the lively, playful mischief of her age.

Before Hiashi, she was, like in the original, a precociously mature little adult.

Hinata was much the same.

At the market, they bought hotpot ingredients, plus Hanabi's favorite sticky rice dumplings, bananas, and milk, and Hinata's beloved cinnamon rolls. Izayoi took the girls home for hotpot.

After eating their fill, the three lounged on a long sofa, digesting and chatting.

Hinata, sitting beside Izayoi, finally relaxed, resting her head on his shoulder. She spoke up, "Izayoi-kun, it seems Naruto-kun was the only one in our class who didn't graduate."

"Mm."

Izayoi, toying with Hanabi's braided bangs, nodded.

At the gate, they'd noticed Naruto sitting on the swing right away.

"With such strong Chakra, why can't he even do a Clone Technique?" Hinata asked, puzzled.

"Maybe his Chakra Control's just average."

Izayoi brushed it off casually. "His academic scores are awful, his shuriken throws haven't improved much, he's always the first out in survival drills. His only standout is Taijutsu. Maybe failing's a good thing."

"Mm."

Recalling Naruto's six-year track record, Hinata nodded in agreement.

But neither she nor Hanabi, nestled in Izayoi's arms and half-asleep, noticed the faint smirk curling Izayoi's lips as he deflected.

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