Evening settled over Konoha like a warm blanket, soft and slow.
The air smelled faintly of wood smoke and plum blossoms, and the streets were quieter now, filled mostly with the shuffle of late footsteps and the occasional dog bark echoing between houses.
Tamamo walked beside Hinata, arms swinging loosely at her sides, her gaze flicking up at the rooftops before drifting back down to the quiet girl next to her.
Hinata kept her hands folded in front of her, her steps careful and small, like she was trying not to take up too much space on the road.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
"So…" Tamamo started, breaking the quiet. "You always walk this quietly, or are you just trying not to scare me off?"
Hinata glanced at her, startled. "O-Oh—um… I, I just walk like this."
Tamamo gave a small grin. "You know, it's kind of impressive. I didn't even hear you breathing until now."
Hinata looked horrified. "I-I was breathing! I promise!"
Tamamo laughed. "Relax, I meant it as a compliment. Stealth level: high."
That earned a faint smile, quick and shy. They kept walking.
"You live with your parents?" Tamamo asked.
Hinata nodded. "Yes. My father. And some of the elders."
"No mom?"
"She… passed away after my sister was born."
Tamamo blinked. "Wait—you have a sister?"
Hinata nodded again, eyes softening. "Her name's Hanabi. She's still a baby."
Tamamo stopped in her tracks. "You've had a baby at your house this whole time and didn't tell me?!"
"I didn't think it was… important…"
Tamamo turned toward her dramatically. "Hinata. This is essential information. You could've used this to win any conversation."
Hinata looked confused. "H-How?"
Tamamo gestured vaguely. "I don't know—'Sorry, I can't focus, my baby sister kept me up all night practicing her Fire Style.' Or something like that."
"She can't sit up yet…"
Tamamo threw her arms up in disbelief. "Ugh. Slacker. You Hyuga start late, huh?"
Hinata giggled, covering her mouth with both hands.
They started walking again, their steps more in sync now.
"You train every day?" Tamamo asked, this time quieter.
Hinata hesitated. "Yes. My father says I… I have to catch up."
Tamamo looked at her, then ahead. "Yeah. Same."
Hinata peeked up at her. "You're really strong…"
Tamamo snorted. "I'm really stubborn. Strength is a side effect."
That made Hinata smile again.
They reached the outer wall of the Hyuga compound. Pale stone walls, neat lanterns glowing at each corner, and a pair of guards standing watch near the main gate.
Tamamo slowed to a stop and gave a little stretch, hands behind her head.
"You free tomorrow?"
Hinata blinked. "T-Tomorrow?"
"Training day. No class. I usually throw kunai at tree trunks until someone tells me to stop. Wanna come?"
Hinata looked a bit stunned. "I… I'm not sure if my father woul-"
Tamamo didn't miss a beat. "Great. I'll be here at sunrise."
"But—!"
"I'll knock quietly," she added. "Don't want to interrupt Hanabi's chakra control sessions."
Hinata let out a soft laugh, surprised again.
Tamamo turned to leave, the hem of her Uchiha tunic catching in the breeze, the fan symbol on her back faint in the fading light.
She waved over her shoulder. "Later, Hyuga."
Hinata watched her go — dark hair swinging, strides confident as she rounded the corner and vanished into the evening.
The guards opened the gate for her without a word. She stepped inside but paused just before the entryway.
Her smile faltered, just slightly.
Would Father be upset…?
The Uchiha were strong. Respected. But complicated.
And she—she was the heir to the Hyuga.
Friends weren't chosen lightly.
She looked back toward the empty street Tamamo had vanished down.
Tamamo, who had called her brave. Who had joked with her. Waited for her. Smiled like she meant it.
The wind tugged at the hem of her robes.
Hinata turned and stepped through the gates, the soft click of sandals on stone following her up the path.