Konoha: Start from untying the caged bird

Page 182

Seeing the look in her eyes, Hyuga Yuzuru could only smile and go to pay the bill. Uchiha Izumi insisted on paying herself. When they left, they were carrying quite a few bags and packages. Hyuga Yuzuru decided to leave there. Izumi did not refuse, but simply said...

"Let's eat the little cake before we go back... Mom and Dad are probably going to bed already, and I'm too full, so it might not taste good tomorrow... Anyway, let's eat it together."

She found an excuse and walked with Hinata Yuzuru to the small park that was now deserted. The two stood at the park entrance, looking at the dimly lit park illuminated only by a single street lamp. With mixed feelings, they tacitly stopped in place side by side, looked around for a while, and then stepped inside.

This place, which holds many memories for the two of them and is a place from their childhood, is now somewhat dilapidated.

The new large park has been built, and this remote and narrow little park, with its outdated facilities, is out of place in today's Konoha and has gradually fallen into disuse.

She glanced at the two small swings in the distance, but in the end, she and Hinata Yuzuru walked to the stone bench by the park. The small swings from back then were probably too small for the two of them to sit on now.

She put down the clothes in her hands, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, picked up the small cake in her hand, and with the skill of a ninja, even though the packaging of the small cake was not very sturdy, it did not burn everywhere.

“Half for each of us,” she said.

Hyuga Yuzuru sat on a stone bench, looking up at the bright moon. The moon was bright tonight, the stars were twinkling, and there were hardly any clouds. The gentle moonlight fell on him, mixed with the summer evening breeze, warm yet slightly hot.

The rustling of the leaves sounded somewhat like the sound of her unwrapping the cake box, until a small spoon brought the cake to his lips, at which point he turned his gaze from the moon to the girl beside him.

There's only one spoon, let's eat together.

She smiled nonchalantly: "You don't mind, do you?"

Hyuga Yuzuru hummed in agreement, then leaned forward and ate the cake: "It's delicious."

The soft and chewy cake has a rich chocolate flavor that is not cloying. The ratio of cream to cake is just right, allowing you to taste both the aroma of cream and the individual flavors of chocolate and cake. The rich and mellow flavor lingers in your mouth.

Even though he doesn't like desserts, he couldn't help but nod in satisfaction.

Quan took back the small spoon, scooped out a spoonful for himself, and tasted it.

"This is what chocolate cake tastes like..."

She's never eaten it before.

Or rather, since the age of twelve, her life seems to have gradually taken a different turn, devoid of birdsong and fragrant flowers, only blood, loneliness, and desolation accompanying her day after day.

Hinata Yuzuru turned to look at her, and she just stared blankly as she scooped up another spoonful and brought it to his lips.

The two of them didn't say a word, they just ate one bite at a time, and then Hinata Yuzuru reached out and pointed to the corner of her mouth.

"It's stuck to you."

She nonchalantly stuck out her tongue and licked it off, then looked at him and said, "You have some too."

Then...

Before he could wipe it away, she leaned in and kissed him abruptly and unreasonably.

Should we avoid it?

Before she could even get an answer in her mind, her soft lips had already touched hers, the taste of chocolate spreading out, even sweeter than before.

After a while, she sat back down with a normal expression, gently wiped her lips, stood up, looked at Hinata Yuzuru with a complicated look in her eyes, and chuckled softly.

Yuzuru...

Why...

So skilled...

Chapter 134 Cells, Immortality, Artificial Tailed Beasts

Should I avoid it?

It wasn't until she sighed softly that Hyuga Yuzuru belatedly realized what she was thinking.

He looked at Uchiha Izumi beside him, wondering if the girl in front of him even realized how classic her line was.

But she just looked at him calmly. After a while, she smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned about what had happened before. She pursed her lips, picked up the bag of clothes at her feet, and her tall figure looked particularly curvaceous in her 'JK' outfit.

In fact, it's not easy for girls to pull off a white shirt paired with a black skirt. It requires not only good-looking legs, but also the ability to cinch the waist and fill out the bust while wearing the shirt. If these conditions aren't met, the outfit will look unremarkable.

"But Yuzuru didn't reject me..."

She chuckled softly, looking at him with a thoughtful gaze, and said, "It seems that Yuzuru isn't as perfect a man as I imagined."

Hinata Yuzuru picked up some for her, jokingly pouting, "How can you say you're taking advantage of me so confidently?"

She let out a clear, bell-like laugh, took a step forward, and her bright smile showed no sadness at her 'new discovery'; on the contrary, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If Hinata Yuzuru were to adopt a tough, unyielding stance... then she'd really be in for a headache. Although it might seem a little unfair to Kaoru, but...

I was the one who arrived first, wasn't I?

"Although it was a sudden act, in exchange, this was my first kiss... Yuzuru should be the one who benefited."

"Um..."

Hyuga Yuzuru didn't deny it, but even now he had to admit, "However, I'm certainly not a perfect man..."

She smiled nonchalantly, picked up the bag, and said, "Let's go."

"Ah..." Hinata Yuzuru responded abruptly, not having thought of how to reply before Uchiha Izumi started walking forward with a leisurely expression. She seemed completely unconcerned about what she had just done with Hinata Yuzuru, as if she had just shaken hands with him.

Hinata Yuzuru followed behind her, the two walking one after the other, through the streets next to the small park that were somewhat old compared to other Konoha facilities. With her hands behind her back, several bags pattered against her fair and plump thighs with each step she took.

After taking a few steps, she turned her head and looked back at him with her beauty mark in profile. She slowed down and waited until he was beside her before speeding up again, humming a tune she couldn't quite place: "I hope Yuzuru isn't angry that I did this?"

"No... According to you, since it was your first kiss, I should be the one who got the better deal." He said, but couldn't help looking at her. After a while, he asked in a calm, low voice, "What about you? Are you okay with giving your first kiss to a bad guy like me?"

What he wanted to ask was whether Uchiha Izumi was clear about his relationship with Hyuga Kaoru.

Uchiha Izumi merely curled the corners of her lips slightly, tilted her head, and her short hair gently brushed against her cheek. A faint fragrance wafted into his nose on the evening breeze.

"It doesn't matter..."

"Anyway, I can't really be considered a good girl right now."

Having already stained his hands with blood in the shadows, even if there were compelling reasons for doing it all, no matter what...

Moreover, what she's doing now isn't exactly honorable. She knows perfectly well that Hinata Kaoru and Hinata Yuzuru's relationship is as close as she imagines, yet she still wants to snatch him away...

She looked at Hyuga Yuzuru, the smile on her face gradually fading. Her cool face was softened by a gentle light in her eyes, yet there was also a firmness that belonged to her. Uchiha Izumi said softly, "Anyway, since you didn't push me away this time, you should be prepared."

I don't want to lose anything anymore.

She stopped, took the large pile of shopping bags from his hands, and smiled slightly: "Let's part ways here. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Hinata Yuzuru nodded, then took a step and walked lightly to the other side of the intersection, waving to him from afar before disappearing around the next corner.

Hinata Yuzuru strolled calmly home. When he reached the door, he dispelled the illusion on his face, smiled and greeted the clansmen on duty at the door, and then walked into his house.

Hinata Kaoru also moved to a place near his new home. To her, the so-called 'old house' was meaningless. Since her parents left early, it was no longer a home, but just an ordinary place to live.

For her, the only meaning and pleasure of staying in the Hyuga clan might just be being able to spend time with Hyuga Yuzuru.

As he passed by her house, Hinata Yuzuru stopped and saw Hinata Kaoru peeking out of the living room window through the open door, waving at him.

Welcome home.

She greeted him with a light laugh, but Hinata Yuzuru raised his hand, the chocolate-flavored cake box he was carrying wobbling. She then took a delighted step and ran out of the living room, stepping on her wooden clogs in the hallway, rushing over to him.

Her white kimono slipped slightly as a result, and Hinata Yuzuru reached out to lift the collar of her kimono from her shoulder: "Are you about to rest?"

"Yes~ Young Master Yuzuru, would you like to~ come~ together~?"

Holding the cake box, she looked at his casual clothes and her expression changed slightly. She stared at his clothes with a hint of resentment, but then she saw him reach into his pocket and pull out a familiar 'voucher'.

"I'd better not use it for now." He said, putting the voucher back in his pocket. Hinata Kaoru stared at it blankly for a while, then chuckled and said, "Okay."

Although it's unclear when the eighteenth birthday gift she prepared for him will be of any use, the fact that he carries it with him instantly brightened her mood, and she no longer cared about his date with Izumi.

She raised her head, about to ask something, when her gaze suddenly sharpened at his lips. Then, her eyes became unusually sharp. As if by illusion, Hyuga Yuzuru looked at her again and only saw her thoughtful eyes and expression.

"what happened?"

After Hyuga Yuzuru finished speaking, Hyuga Kaoru simply chuckled twice: "Lord Yuzuru, could you wait a moment?"

"Hmm?" He tilted his head in confusion, but Hyuga Kaoru lifted the hem of her kimono and ran into the house. In just thirty seconds, she ran out again. What Hyuga Yuzuru could see was that the color of her lips was even more lustrous. And unsurprisingly, she leaned over, puffed out her lips, and kissed him hard on the corner of his lips.

After the kiss, she took a step back, examined him closely, and then smiled slightly.

"That way, there won't be any trace left... How is it? Does it taste the same?"

It's sweet, with a hint of citrus sweet and sour. So this is what it tastes like? I only tasted the sweetness of chocolate before.

He pursed his lips and shook his head: "It's not quite the same."

Hinata Kaoru frowned and subconsciously touched her lips, while Hinata Yuzuru smiled and said, "It only tastes like you, Kaoru."

She bit her lip and remained silent, while Hinata Yuzuru simply reached out and patted her head: "I'm sorry."

Their eyes met, and a few tears welled up in her white eyes, but she held them back, letting them disappear until her lips ached. Then she let out a soft sigh, reached out and hugged him tightly. Hinata Yuzuru didn't say anything, but she only whispered, her voice trembling, "Won't you leave me?"

"Ah."

"You really won't abandon me?"

"Ah."

"Did I do something wrong...?"

"No, it's my fault."

"Can I still be the same as before?"

"Ah."

"Always?"

"forever."

After receiving his affirmative answer, the bitterness and unease in her heart finally subsided a little, but she still held him tightly.

Hinata Yuzuru reached out his hand, gently returned the gesture, patted her back lightly, and sighed, "Was what I did a bit too bad?"

"Ok!"

She nodded loudly, looked up, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. Between sobs, she said, "It is a little...bad!"

"Then why are you hugging me so tightly..." Hinata Yuzuru said, and she hugged him even tighter: "But what can I do..."

All Hinata Yuzuru could do was gently ruffle her hair: "Yes~, next time, let's go on a date too..."

"It's a promise!"

She immediately stopped crying, smiled brightly, wiped the tears from her face, and her face no longer showed any signs of distress: "Lord Yuzuru, you must keep your promise."

Hinata Yuzuru nodded helplessly: "Yeah."

Hinata Kaoru picked up the cake, giggled, took two steps back, and waved, "Well, goodnight~"

After saying that, she stuck out her tongue and crawled into the house.

I cried; it was an act.

But Hinata Yuzuru just watched with a complicated expression as she reappeared by the window, waving at him, before returning to his room with a faint smile.

For once, he didn't cultivate, ponder, or think; instead, he lay on the bed with his mind blank, and after a long while, he finally let out a long sigh.

This was the first time he had seriously considered the issue of relationships in his own mind. Before, he had always let things take their course, neither taking the initiative nor rejecting anything. In his view, relationships were like a box of chocolate cake.

It's delicious, but it can get cloying if you eat too much of it.

Bitterness is mixed in with sweetness; when the sweetness fades, only the bitterness remains that lingers for a long time.

Furthermore, no matter how delicious a cake is, it has its own shelf life. After that time, the cake will spoil, and people's tastes can change at any time. Even the most delicious cake may become bland after eating too much...

That's why he never gets hung up on anything related to it.

If the cake is delicious, I'll take a few bites. If I don't want to eat it anymore, it's fine to leave it. Even if I don't eat it, it won't affect me.

If one can become strong enough, to the point of being indistinguishable from a god...

But now, because of the circumstances around him, he has some different thoughts.

Or, to put it more simply and clearly, how do I explain my mindset...?

As the body becomes increasingly distant from humans.

However, his spirit is increasingly moving towards that of a normal 'person'.

Compared to his youthful "I can do whatever I want" mentality, the bonds he accumulated in Konoha, the experiences he encountered with the people and things around him, and the increasing aspirations and pressures around him have caused his originally cold and sharp heart to become, contrary to his appearance, more and more vulnerable.

In the past, he wore glasses and always treated everyone with utmost gentleness. Yet, back then, he had very few emotional fluctuations. To him, anyone who could help him achieve his goals was a friend, and anyone who hindered him was an enemy—it was that simple.