Chapter 380: Dating
The following day.
Tobitake Tonbo was summoned to Kakashi's office to provide details regarding Neji. When Kakashi heard that the process simply involved enhancing Neji's ocular power, he wasn't entirely convinced. After all, the leap in power was far too vast.
It wasn't until Tonbo spoke a certain truth: "The Byakugan is an eye on the same level as the Sharingan. If the Sharingan can evolve, the Byakugan can as well."
Regardless of how it happened, Konoha had gained another massive combat asset. Kakashi had no choice but to let him continue his work. However, he gave Tonbo one specific instruction: let Neji go home occasionally; there was a girl waiting for him.
"Don't worry, the experiment is over. From now on, Neji only needs to drop by the lab whenever we have a specific need," Tonbo replied.
Neji and Tenten being together—that wasn't something everyone got to see. In his previous life, countless fans shipped this couple. Now, he could witness it with his own eyes. Furthermore, he had watched these two grow up from naive, rookie Genin to the Jonin they were today. They were eighteen now; it was time to get married. Tonbo could already sense that their wedding wasn't far off.
A dream-fulfiller—I am the true dream-fulfiller. Kabuto is just a guy who stinks of Forbidden Jutsu.
Kakashi sighed. "That's good. Otherwise, Tenten keeps coming to pester me, and it's really annoying!" Only after confirming that Neji was okay and hadn't been subjected to human experimentation did he let go of the worry in his heart. Though, technically, enhancing ocular power could be classified as human experimentation, Kakashi was the Hokage—the final decision rested with him.
"By the way, Neji and Naruto are likely getting married soon. What about you, Kakashi? Surely you don't intend to stay single forever?"
Tonbo's sense of mischief flared up again. "I think the Mizukage, Mei Terumi, is quite nice. Hasn't she been recruiting suitors lately? If not her, look at Shizune; she's also wonderful. You could really..."
He felt that Kakashi was a total loss in this department. Shizune had assisted him for so long, yet there wasn't a single hint of romance. It was obvious Shizune had wanted to date for a long time. Back when Tsunade was Hokage, she used to complain constantly about having no time for a love life.
To this day, only Tonbo himself, Asuma, Kurenai, and Hayama Shirakumo were married. Only the few of them had children. Kakashi and Guy were really letting the team down.
Kakashi's eye twitched. "Shut up and get out. My personal life is none of your business." If he let Tonbo keep talking, he'd make it sound like Kakashi was committing some heinous crime.
Tonbo threw up his hands and walked out.
"Honestly, what Tonbo says is a problem... how should I solve it?" Kakashi muttered to himself after Tonbo left. Shizune didn't have those feelings for him, and he didn't have them for her. He had even less interest in the Mizukage. Was he truly destined to be a lone soul? Thinking about Guy and the others being in the same boat made him feel a bit better. He wasn't alone.
Konoha Street.
"Neji, long time no see!"
The moment Tenten saw Neji, she lunged forward and threw her arms around him. Her eyes were shimmering as if she were trying to be cute—nothing like the brisk, capable Tenten of old.
Neji glanced toward a street corner, a faint blush on his face. "I... missed you... Tenten..." He didn't push her away; instead, he spoke those words with great bashfulness.
"I missed you too!" Tenten grabbed Neji's arm, her face glowing with happiness.
Street Alleyway.
The heads of Hanabi Hyuga, Konohamaru, Tianyu, and Maki popped out one by one. They were watching Neji and Tenten's date.
"Wow, Neji and Tenten are so sweet!" Hanabi watched their departing backs, her eyes full of shipper energy.
Tianyu remarked, "Hanabi, we could be that sweet too."
Snap!
Konohamaru and Maki looked at Tianyu in total shock. How did you manage to say something so greasy? Their relationship isn't even at that level yet! They had only met during the patrol to protect Konoha during the final war; they had known each other for barely two years.
Veins bulged around Hanabi's eyes. "Gentle Fist: Point Strike."
Slap!
She struck Tianyu's chakra point with her palm, freezing him in place. "Shameless!" Hanabi huffed, clapped her hands, and walked away.
Konohamaru pulled a marker from his pocket and drew a cat face on Tianyu. "Didn't Tonbo-sensei ever teach you that you can't rush into chasing girls?" Then, he chuckled and left.
Tianyu was left there with his eyes wide, wondering what exactly he had said wrong.
"Oh, brother... you've read so many books for nothing. You lose your brain the moment you see a girl. I'm not helping you; figure it out yourself." Maki made a face at him. Just then, a figure emerged from a crossroad, and Maki skipped over happily.
"Wataru, let's go see a movie today! I heard it's a war film starring the Daimyo of the Land of Snow herself! It's about the cruelty of war and the hard-won peace."
"Ah~ What happened to Tianyu?" Wataru took Maki's arm and looked toward Tianyu, seeing him standing motionless.
"Don't mind him. He got frozen for harassing a girl." Then, Maki led Wataru away, leaving Tianyu even more bewildered.
"Somebody help me!" Tianyu felt terrible. When did my sister get so close to Wataru?
"What are you doing? Is this some kind of performance art? I know performance art is fine and all, but standing there like that makes you look pretty stupid, Tianyu."
As Tianyu was contemplating how to break the seal, a voice spoke up in front of him. A young woman with relatively short light-brown hair and blue eyes looked at him inquisitively.
"Hinoko! What are you doing here? Quick, help me undo this!" Tianyu's eyes lit up when he saw her.
Hinoko was an elite ninja from his same year. He heard she had joined the Anbu and could create chakra needles that automatically tracked enemies until they hit their mark. What he didn't realize was that with his face painted like a cat, his frantic eye movements were actually hilarious to her.
"Haha! Aren't you supposed to be amazing? I never thought I'd see the day. Seems like you've been slacking off these past two years." Hinoko burst into laughter, then helped Tianyu release the seal.
"Thanks! Thank you so much!" Tianyu quickly expressed his gratitude.
Hinoko looked at his face. "Just a verbal 'thank you'? I won't be satisfied with that."
"Uh, then what do you want?" Tianyu was dazed.
"You're coming shopping with me, obviously. And you can't argue with anything I want to do. That's the deal." Hinoko stood with her hands on her hips.
"Ah~ But I still have to..." Tianyu thought about Hanabi and was about to refuse. But seeing the terrifying glint in her eyes, he swallowed his rejection. Her eyes were truly scary.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!