Chapter 21: Charisma Beyond Measure
Ding-dong~ dong!
The school bell echoed across the campus, signaling the end of the day.
Under the setting sun, a scattered trail of children rushed out, backpacks bouncing, into the arms of waiting parents.
Might Guy tugged at his sweat-soaked green spandex, ignoring the odd looks from students and parents alike as he stood by the gate, scanning the crowd.
Training, cooking, picking up his "daughter" from school—this whole househusband lifestyle was unfamiliar territory. But what unsettled him more was his conversation with Kakashi earlier that morning.
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Flashback:
Kakashi had laid out the facts coldly:
- Hikari was likely from Kirigakure.
- Her motives were unknown.
- Their "chance meeting" had been staged.
- She might be after the Eight Gates secrets.
Naturally, Guy trusted Kakashi—his lifelong friend—over a mysterious silver-haired girl he'd known for barely two days.
So much for fairytales.
A tired man stumbles upon a wealthy, enigmatic beauty on his way home, and they live happily ever after?
Yeah, that only happened in cheap novels.
Tears streamed down Guy's face like noodles.
Yet, under the Third Hokage's orders, he'd officially become Hikari's guardian—which really meant:
"Monitor her every move. Report to the Hokage. If she threatens Konoha, neutralize her."
Mission Rank: A.
Reward: 200,000 ryō.
Not even half the stack of cash Hikari had casually tossed him.
But Guy, ever the embodiment of the Will of Fire, turned down easy money and accepted the mission.
(He'd also entrusted the Eight Gates scrolls to Kakashi for safekeeping—just in case.)
---
"Hikari, see you tomorrow!"
"Woof woof!"
"Tomorrow."
The voices snapped Guy back to reality.
He blinked.
There was Hikari, her pink backpack slung over one shoulder, leading a group of kids out the gate like some kind of elementary-school mafia boss.
- Inuzuka Kiba, a puppy (Akamaru) perched on his head.
- Nara Shikamaru, with his signature pineapple hair.
- Akimichi Chōji, unmistakable by his bulk.
- And, of course, a certain blond whirlwind buzzing around them like an overexcited firefly.
They were laughing, chatting—clearly already tight with Hikari, who walked at the center like she'd known them for years.
Guy's jaw dropped.
She just enrolled TODAY.
How does she already have a fan club?!
A bitter thought crept in: I spent years at the Academy and only had Kakashi…
For the first time in his life, Might Guy felt the crushing weight of a loner staring at the popular kids.
---
Hikari spotted the neon-green eyesore in the crowd.
"I'll head out first!"
Shikamaru and the others waved as Hikari left with Guy, while Naruto peeled off on his own.
The remaining trio (+ Akamaru) trudged home under the sunset, their shadows stretching long across the road.
Naturally, the conversation turned to Hikari.
"So," Shikamaru mused, "what do you guys think of her?"
"She's awesome!" Chōji crunched a potato chip. "Strong in fights, super nice normally—way cooler than Ino or Sakura. Plus, she actually likes my snacks!"
This was high praise. Most girls wrinkled their noses at his junk food habits. But Hikari had not only eaten his chips—she'd promised to bring him treats tomorrow.
"You, Kiba?"
"Dunno." Kiba scratched his head. "She's not bad, but something's… off."
Shikamaru's eyes sharpened. Kiba's instincts were the sharpest of the three.
"How so?"
"She doesn't smell human."
Akamaru yapped in agreement.
"Human smell?"
"Yeah." Kiba nodded. "Our clan can track people by scent—everyone has a unique odor from metabolism, hormones, whatever. But Hikari? Nothing. It's like she's… air. Or a rock wearing clothes."
Shikamaru's mind raced.
Not human?
The idea was absurd… except for the part where Hikari had caught a Fireball Jutsu with her bare hands earlier.
Still, he shook it off.
---
Despite her mystery, Hikari wasn't what he'd expected.
- Not the battle-crazed brute from the sparring grounds.
- Not the aloof genius looking down on others.
Instead, she was kind.
She got their quirks—Chōji's snacks, Kiba's dogs, even Shikamaru's laziness—and spun them into virtues with weirdly profound logic.
Power. Mystery. Beauty. Wit.
Combined, it gave her an unnatural magnetism.
In just one day:
- Akamaru, usually shy, let her rub his belly.
- Chōji shared his prized chips.
- Naruto, of all people, took detailed notes in class.
Even Shikamaru, who'd started wary, couldn't help but like her.
Her laughter alone seemed to light up the room.
---
A quote floated into his mind:
"If talking to someone feels effortless, it's not because you 'click.' It's because they're out of your league. They're smart enough to catch every reference, say all the right things—but that's their skill, not your connection."
Hikari might just prove that theory right.
But whatever.
His dad's order to "befriend her" was already a success.
I'm just a kid. Her secrets aren't my problem.
With that lazy epiphany, Shikamaru cleared his mind and headed home—where barbecue awaited.
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