CHAPTER 36
Women's Clothing
"Uncle Hizashi, what happened outside?"
Yuyan had sensed the commotion earlier and wanted to investigate, but Hizashi had ordered her to stay put. The moment she heard the door open, she rushed out.
"Ah!"
She froze at the sight of Hizashi returning—carrying Bai Ye, who was half-dressed and unconscious. A rare blush spread across her cheeks as she quickly covered her eyes. If not for the activated Byakugan veins at the corners of her eyes, she could've passed for an ordinary, flustered young girl.
"Bai Ye's house was attacked by an unidentified shinobi. He passed out from chakra exhaustion, so I brought him here to rest before the mission."
Hizashi flicked her forehead with a finger, deactivating her Byakugan and cutting off her visual scanning. His tone was calm but stern.
"Is he hurt?" Yuyan asked, lowering her hands and anxiously scanning Bai Ye's body again—this time without her dōjutsu.
"You don't need to keep looking."
With a sigh, Hizashi placed his hand over her head, blocking her view entirely as she struggled beneath his grip.
"When are you going to start acting like a proper shinobi?"
Hizashi exhaled through his nose. Yuyan was an exceptional talent—sharp, fast, and disciplined in battle—but her immaturity in day-to-day life often gave him pause. He wondered if she'd eventually grow out of it.
---
The Inner World
"...Am I back here again?"
Once unconscious, Bai Ye found himself once more in his inner world.
Unlike the first time—when he had stood in a vast, empty void—he was now immediately surrounded by a serene white space. He had skipped directly to what he assumed was the second stage.
After entering this space twice in quick succession, Bai Ye began to sense a pattern: every time he lost consciousness, his mind was pulled into this realm.
"As I expected..."
He drove the Zanpakutō in his hand into the ground. As before, the blade slowly transformed—its form shifting and molding into that of a humanoid figure. This time, however, the figure looked more stable, more solid.
"Tell me a story."
The spirit didn't speak, but instead wrote those words onto the ground. She had introduced herself as Lingyue last time, and now she seemed even more expressive—perhaps lonely from centuries spent in isolation.
This time, Bai Ye didn't wander. He sat across from her and started talking. They shared stories—he spoke, she listened, and then the roles reversed. Time flowed oddly here, but he didn't mind.
---
Waking Up
"See you next time."
Lingyue's eyes were filled with reluctant affection as Bai Ye began to fade. He raised a hand in farewell as his form dissipated.
When he opened his eyes again, Bai Ye found himself lying in a luxurious room filled with elegant furnishings and expensive décor.
"...Did I sleep at Zhi's house this time?"
Although the surroundings were high-class, Bai Ye shuddered at the thought. If this really was the Aburame compound, every vase and drawer could be filled with insects. The idea alone made his skin crawl.
Despite the comfort of the bed, he couldn't relax.
He scratched at his goosebumps, stood up quickly, and began wandering the house—trying to confirm exactly where he was. He was so distracted, he didn't realize he was wearing light blue pajamas that were slightly too snug and gave off a faint floral scent.
"...Is Zhiyi's house really this big? I always figured it would be full of beetles or centipedes or something. And I've never been here before..."
He sighed as he roamed endless hallways. The house was beautiful, but he hadn't seen a single servant or even a shadow of another person.
"Where is everyone...?"
---
The Reveal
"Pfft~ Where did you go, Bai Ye? I've been looking all over for you!"
At long last, Bai Ye heard a voice and nearly teared up from relief. He turned to see Yuyan approaching, trying to stifle her laughter.
"Yuyan? Why are you here? And what's so funny?"
He was puzzled. He'd assumed Zhiyi had brought him here. Maybe he was mistaken.
"This is my house, dummy. Where else would I be?"
Yuyan smirked, trying hard to keep her expression neutral. Bai Ye froze.
This wasn't the Aburame compound.
This was the Hyūga estate.
"Wait... Hizashi-sensei sent me here?"
Unbeknownst to Bai Ye, when he lost consciousness the previous night, a burst of spiritual energy had escaped his body—a Cero-like beam that pierced the sky and alerted the entire village. Concerned about the possible connection to foreign jutsu, Hizashi had personally intervened and brought him to the safest place he knew: home.
"Come on, stop dawdling! We'll be late. I already made breakfast."
Yuyan cheerfully grabbed his arm and led him outside. She tapped the pouch on her hip to indicate she was fully prepared.
Bai Ye sighed and followed her, not noticing the sly gleam in her eyes.
"Wait, where's Hizashi-sensei? Don't you usually live together?"
Yuyan waved it off.
"Don't worry about him. The Third Hokage summoned him for something. Let's go already."
---
The Training Ground
"Hey! Finally made it, huh? Hahaha—"
Obito was already at the Third Training Ground doing drills when he spotted them. He waved with exaggerated enthusiasm—until he caught sight of Bai Ye's attire.
Then he burst out laughing.
The others turned at the sound and instantly noticed Bai Ye's adorable pajamas. Even the stoic Kakashi let out a rare chuckle, and Rin tried in vain to cover her grin.
"???"
Bai Ye blinked in confusion.
"What's so funny? We should be supportive of each other's... personal expression! Your laughter is insensitive!"
Yuyan put on her best serious face—but the slight twitch of her lips betrayed her.
"...Yuyan."
Bai Ye's hands rested firmly on her shoulders, his tone flat and emotionless.
Cold sweat gathered on her brow. Something about the blankness of his expression was very unsettling.
"Hahaha!"
That was it—the other four Genin couldn't hold it anymore. They laughed until their sides hurt.
None of them could explain why... but somehow, seeing Bai Ye so flustered—and Yuyan trying so hard to act innocent—was incredibly satisfying.