After Hyuga Arin repeatedly proved it, Nawaki finally believed that the muscle-packed monster standing in front of him really was his big brother, Hyuga Arin.
Nawaki's eyes immediately lit up—so brightly that Arin subconsciously took half a step back.
"Big bro! Big bro! Is this what a true powerhouse looks like?!"
"Wow, big bro, how did you train those biceps?!"
"Wow, big bro, your back muscles can actually form a face!"
Veins began to throb on Hyuga Arin's forehead. He grabbed Nawaki by the head.
"SHUT UP!!!"
And hurled him straight into the distance.
From far away, Nawaki's voice could still be heard.
"I'LL BE BACK——!"
What are you, Team Rocket or Grey Wolf?
Hyuga Arin rubbed his temples, pulled a spare set of clothes from his inventory, and put them on.
He really hadn't expected Demon Back to remodel his body this much.
The only saving grace was that a max-level Demon Back didn't consume chakra at all.
Even the Evolution trait was entirely passive.
"Intense combat… becoming the strongest lifeform?"
He didn't want to go full muscle-brain build!!!
And besides—
Moderate muscles attract the opposite sex.
Excessive bodybuilding attracts the same sex!!
He didn't want that!!!
Hyuga Arin eventually finished his debriefing and received the rewards he deserved.
That said, this mission couldn't be written into his official record.
As for why—those who knew, knew. Those who didn't, he wasn't about to explain.
What puzzled him was that during the process, Hiruzen Sarutobi kept looking at him like his eyes weren't eyes and his nose wasn't a nose.
Had he offended him somehow?
Hyuga Arin scratched his head and decided not to dwell on it.
He wasn't an Uchiha—no need to worry about offending the Hokage.
When it came to not being an Uchiha, Hiruzen was actually a pretty decent Hokage… probably.
In any case, it wouldn't affect him.
Mission reward plus compensation—a full two million ryō.
Enough to rent a decent place.
Not like last time, where the moment he moved in he felt like his life was already over.
However, when Hyuga Arin applied for promotion to chūnin, Hiruzen rejected him.
Konoha shinobi had to pass the Chūnin Exams to become chūnin.
The exams had never stopped—only changed form. Due to the chaotic situation, they had gone from open exams involving multiple villages to internal Konoha-only examinations.
Unfortunately for Hyuga Arin, he had missed last year's exam. At the time, he was still in Amegakure and couldn't return in time.
Which meant he'd have to wait for this year's exam.
He'd already mixed his way up to chūnin level in Amegakure—and if he hadn't slipped up and exposed himself, he might've even reached jōnin.
Now it was early Year 37.
Hyuga Arin looked at Konoha, blanketed in white snow.
This region had normal seasons—unlike Amegakure, where it rained year-round and snow was nonexistent.
"Big bro, this year's chūnin exam—we'll be rivals!" Nawaki said, grinning as he wiped his nose.
His time at the Ninja Academy was down to half a semester.
After graduation, he'd also be eligible for this year's exam.
Let's see you stop stepping on explosive tags first.
Hyuga Arin patted Nawaki's shoulder.
"I look forward to it."
The two of them were house-hunting.
Housing in Konoha was a scarce resource. Aside from clan compounds, there weren't many homes available to outsiders.
The outside world was simply too chaotic. For safety, people broke their backs trying to move into Konoha.
No matter how turbulent the world became, Konoha stood firm.
Anyone with even a little money tried to squeeze their way in.
After a full day, they'd basically seen all available houses.
In the end, Hyuga Arin settled on a place with a courtyard—and a basement.
"Five thousand ryō per month," said the landlord, a smiling middle-aged man. Judging by his belly, he was living quite well.
Well, he was doing real estate in Konoha.
Hyuga Arin agreed immediately. Five thousand was a fair price for this place.
Just as they were finalizing things, a figure jogged up to Nawaki and bowed his head.
"Big Brother Nawaki."
"Oh, Sagara, what are you doing here?" Nawaki replied cheerfully.
"This is my home."
The landlord chuckled. "Didn't expect you two to know Sagara."
Hyuga Arin quietly took a step back.
Not my business.
Don't know him. Absolutely don't know him.
He'd already seen the landlord's face darken.
Big brother? What kind of title was that?!
"Dad, this is the Ninja Academy's apex—the strongest fist, Big Brother Nawaki!"
What kind of ridiculous nickname is that?!
Nawaki scratched his head shyly.
Why are you getting embarrassed?! You know it's cringe too, don't you?!
Hyuga Arin screamed internally.
"Oh—so it's Lord Nawaki!" The landlord's previously dark smile instantly brightened, glowing with warmth.
Thank goodness—no rent hike.
Hyuga Arin wiped cold sweat from his forehead. Nawaki's name really carried weight.
"My son's been in your care," the landlord said respectfully. He didn't understand the whole "big brother" or "apex" thing, but he knew one fact clearly—
Nawaki, the First Hokage's grandson.
A big shot in Konoha.
He never imagined his kid from the Ninja Academy could be connected to someone like this.
"Just call me Nawaki," Nawaki said brightly, completely unaware of the landlord's scheming thoughts.
"I can knock two thousand off the rent."
"Really?!" Hyuga Arin raised his voice. Before the man could react, Arin grabbed his hand.
"Thank you so much!"
No shame.
He, too, was an unscrupulous adult inside.
The landlord's smile stiffened.
He was trying to curry favor with Nawaki—not this Hyuga.
With the house settled, Hyuga Arin sat on the wooden platform outside, looking at the pond in the courtyard where fish swam lazily.
"Three thousand ryō for this place… what a steal."
Nawaki had already left—it was time for the academy to let out.
Tsunade was actually in the village right now. If Nawaki got caught skipping class, he'd be dead meat.
"Finally home," Hyuga Arin murmured, watching the sun sink into dusk.
This moment really needed a cup of tea.
Too bad—he hadn't bought anything yet.
The next morning, Hyuga Arin was woken by the doorbell.
Wearing a bathrobe, he shuffled to the door and opened it.
Hyuga Dema stood outside.
What a bloodhound. Arin had just moved in and he'd already found the place.
Hyuga Dema hesitated as he looked at the youth before him—the thick muscles stretched the fabric tight.
"…Sorry. Wrong door."
"Have a nice day."
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
That attitude felt… oddly familiar.
Hyuga Dema stared at the door.
"…This is the place, though."
The Hyuga clan had received word immediately when Hyuga Arin returned to the village—and rented a house.
But that person just now wasn't… Hyuga Arin.
Or was he?
After a moment of thought, Hyuga Dema suddenly realized—
Their faces were similar.
Just that the once delicate features had become more sharply defined.
Like someone had wandered in from the wrong art style.
So…
It was him.
"YOU LITTLE BRAT!! OPEN THE DOOR!!!"
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