After stretching his stiff and aching muscles from sitting too long, Hyuga Soushu resumed tidying up the house.
Once he had cleared all the weeds and insects from both the front and backyard, Hyuga Soushu carefully took out some special plant seeds collected in the Land of Rain from his ninja tool pouch—special meaning they looked edible and non-poisonous—and scattered them across the yard. After watering and fertilizing them, he finally finished around ten o'clock in the morning. He then changed into casual clothes and headed out to find something to eat.
"You're being far too idle for a ninja."
However, there's always someone who ruins the mood; for example, Hizashi Hyuga, standing alone by the side of the path leading to Hyuga Soushu's house like a lonely stray dog.
"Ever heard of the Ninja's Three Taboos?"
Hyuga Soushu responded while locking the door.
"What do you mean by that?"
Hizashi Hyuga asked, frowning.
He originally thought Soushu, a Branch House ninja filled with resentment, would be the diligent type who rises before dawn to practice taijutsu and ninjutsu every day, so he came early in the morning specifically to drag Soushu along to practice Gentle Fist together, hoping to positively influence this rather naive Branch House ninja through actions.
"Jiraiya is a lecher, Tsunade loves gambling, and Orochimaru is greedy and bloodthirsty,"
Hyuga Soushu casually analyzed the personalities of the three apprentices of the Hokage. "Based on their behavior and character, calling them the 'Three Sins of the Sannin: lust, greed, and bloodlust' wouldn't be wrong! But did that stop them from becoming legendary Sannin? If even underage ninjas get sent off to wars to kill and burn things down, what's wrong with sleeping in just a little? So the idea of the Ninja's Three Taboos is nothing but a joke!"
"You are different!"
Hizashi Hyuga frowned even harder.
"I know,"
Soushu didn't feel like arguing about teacher-disciple relationships, talent, or background anymore, especially since it was already past ten, and if they kept chatting aimlessly, it would soon be noon.
"But I've spent two and a half years enduring life on the battlefield—I deserve to relax a bit now, don't I?"
"Besides, isn't the head of the clan going to give me a few days off soon? Does that mean even a Konoha tokubetsu jōnin like myself doesn't deserve a few days' rest?"
"Just because you live on the clan grounds like walking on thin ice doesn't mean everyone else should do the same."
"Lord Hizashi, your sense of authority sure rivals even the Hokage's!"
"You!"
Hizashi almost became cross-eyed from anger.
After calmly finishing locking the door and delivering a few final jabs at the clan leader's younger son, Soushu ignored the now mouth-askew Hizashi and simply walked away.
Soon after stepping into Konoha's Commercial District, he grabbed a bag of colorful dumplings to get something to eat, only to run into Mahiru Uchiha, who wore a look of deep disappointment.
"Mahiru-chan?"
Hyuga Soushu whispered beside her ear, bringing the girl back to reality.
Although she showed a hint of surprise and joy upon seeing him, the previous sadness hadn't fully disappeared from her expression. Soushu could clearly see her emotional state.
"Here, have some colorful dumplings."
So he handed over the bag of multi-colored rice dumplings he had bought.
"Ah."
Mahiru Uchiha pouted, then reached into the paper bag offered by Soushu Hyuga and took out a skewer of dumplings. She nibbled on them like a little squirrel.
"Tell me, what's wrong?"
The two naturally continued walking side by side down the street with no particular destination in mind.
"My evaluation... didn't go through."
Mahiru sniffled and fell silent.
Today was the day Mahiru went to the Hokage Tower for her annual review and submitted her recommendation form for the frontline camp promotion exam.
"What do you mean? Has that old fool gone blind or something?"
Soushu frowned, clearly puzzled.
In terms of ability, Mahiru Uchiha wasn't weak. Though not the top genius among her peers, she could definitely be described as an outstanding rising star. Especially now when skilled ninja were in high demand; honestly speaking, getting promoted to Tokubetsu Jonin would have been perfectly reasonable.
"He said I..."
Mahiru pointed at her own eyes but didn't continue.
"You mean because of your Sharingan?"
Soushu spat toward the direction of the Hokage Tower to show solidarity. He could see the logic in that reasoning.
After all, for the prestigious Uchiha clan known for their dōjutsu, the Sharingan was the most distinctive characteristic of their ninja lineage, the foundation of their strength, and also an elite ninja's calling card. It wouldn't be easy for others to object if they rejected Mahiru's promotion based on this reason. Even among the Uchiha themselves, those who achieved status through comprehensive abilities in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu often looked down on those relying on the Sharingan. Now the Hokage was simply respecting the longstanding tradition of the Uchiha clan.
"Well then, looks like you'll always be a step below me from now on,"
Soushu changed the subject. "Remember to call me 'Respected Jonin Soushu' from now on, understand? Mid-ranking Ninja Mahiru."
"Why should I be beneath you!"
As expected, Mahiru Uchiha's face turned red with anger immediately being steered off track by Soushu.
Just how far off track she'd gone could be seen clearly from her flushed expression.
"Oh, weren't you supposed to take Haku to eat donkey meat pies?"
Mahiru Uchiha temporarily put aside her unhappiness and began thinking about their previous agreement.
"Oh, it's been too long since I came home. The coriander in my backyard grew so wild it turned into something like a camphor tree — definitely not edible anymore."
Soushu lied casually while once again offering over the paper bag.
"You're lying!"
Pouting, Mahiru Uchiha took another skewer of colorful dumplings from the bag and started chewing on them again. "You really expect coriander to just sprout into a tree overnight?"
The soft and sweet dumplings matched her mood at that moment.
"That's why you're still a lowly Chunin."
"How did this suddenly become related to ninja ranks!"
"If you don't even understand how to cover for your team leader, how do you expect to advance?"
Joking and laughing, the two strolled out of Konoha's downtown area towards the Uchiha Compound.
"Hmm, I made plans with Uncle Hand-fired for three o'clock pm."
However, after only walking a short distance away from the commercial area, Mahiru whispered softly.
"The time is still early, isn't it?"
Soushu responded casually.
"I mean, my cat can do a backflip."
As soon as she finished speaking, Mahiru Uchiha's face turned red again. Flustered, she helplessly waved her hands. "Ah, no—it's just that I—I wanted to ask if Soushu-kun has any plans?"
"Not really."
Hyuga Soushu smiled gently, choosing not to tease Mahiru further—he knew she was already flustered enough after blurting out her thoughts. "Want to go have some fun?"
"Fun?"
Mahiru's heart immediately quickened, and her head was steaming.
The thoughts running through her mind right now...
'Oh! That's dirty!'
"Fishing," said Hyuga Soushu.
"Fishing?!"
A bamboo stick slipped from Mahiru's hand and fell to the ground, shattering like her current mood.
Only someone like Soushu-kun could end the game decisively at the critical moment!
But then—
[Fire Release: Great Fireball jutsu!]
A massive fireball blasted violently into the Naha River, where plenty of fish swam about—but none had taken the bait.
After sitting there for over an hour and going through countless fresh worms with nothing to show for it, Mahiru finally snapped. She abandoned fishing altogether and opted for fish-frying instead—giving those stubborn river fish a fresh, scorching lesson they'd never forget.
"These fish were really asking for trouble," Soushu muttered, wiping cold sweat from his forehead before awkwardly kicking his own small catch of tiny fish back into the river. He hoped to avoid angering the still-enraged Mahiru even more.
"Phew! Phew!"
Usually known on the battlefield for her calmness and composure, Mahiru now stood with her hands on her hips, panting furiously, her eyes blazing red—as though her Sharingan had awakened.
"It's okay, it's okay. Let's just eat some grilled fish, all right?" Soushu tried soothing her.
Hesitantly, Mahiru—who had been pushed past reason by the mockery of these fish—finally nodded.
Honestly speaking, the fish outside Konoha were being way too cheeky.
They looked half-starved, devouring baits like hungry ghosts, swimming in packs—but absolutely refused to let a single elderly or adult fish get caught. And that wasn't even the worst part—they kept nibbling at the bait Mahiru threw into the water until it was gone, then even left the hook hanging there like an insult. So Mahiru gave them exactly what they deserved—a fireball—and now the entire family was reunited in charcoal form.
However, just as Hyuga Soushu was walking across the water to collect the unfortunate local fish—some charred beyond recognition, others only partially cooked by the boiling heat—Mahiru suddenly called out timidly from the shore.
"Soushu-kun..."
"What's up?"
Soushu casually tossed a fish—half burned on top and half steamed underneath—onto the opposite bank as he responded.
"I think I..."
Mahiru's voice trembled with uncertainty and disbelief. "I think I've awakened the Sharingan."
"Oh."
"Huh?! What do you mean 'oh'?!'"
Now fully alert, Soushu nearly lost control of his Chakra and fell into the river from shock.
So awakening your dōjutsu comes from fishing?!