A few minutes passed before Kurenai finally came out of the inn.
"The client still needs to do some shopping in Konoha. Be at the village gate by 8 AM sharp tomorrow," she instructed. "Once we're done here, head home and pack a change of clothes, a tent, blankets, and some food pills. If you can't fit everything, buy a storage scroll. With the pay you've earned lately, you can easily afford it."
"Yes, sensei."
Team 8 all nodded in unison.
"Don't be late tomorrow. 8 AM." Kurenai reminded them once more, then vanished in a flash.
Kenjiro and Hinata said goodbye to Shino and went their separate ways.
"You don't need to buy a storage scroll, Kenjiro-kun..." Hinata said softly. "I'll bring one for you tomorrow."
Kenjiro pinched her cheek playfully and teased. "Wow, heiress perks. Are you trying to keep me already?"
"Ke—Keep you...?"
Hinata's face flushed bright red, her voice trembling.
"I'm just messing with you."
Kenjiro gave her a gentle head pat, then took her hand with a smile. "No need to bring the scroll—I'll just pack a backpack. If we have to camp outside, I'll stay up and keep watch for you."
Hinata's cheeks turned an even deeper red. She instinctively looked down at their interlocked fingers, a soft smile spreading across her lips.
Her heart felt like it had been dipped in honey.
Even though they hadn't made things official, their relationship was already no different from a couple's.
If it weren't for the potential gossip reaching her clan and stirring up trouble with the elders, Hinata would've confessed to Kenjiro a long time ago.
But once they both became jōnin—or if Kenjiro became a Kage-level or an elite jōnin—nothing would stand in their way.
Not even her father or the elders could stop them.
That day wouldn't be far off.
Hinata squeezed Kenjiro's hand tighter, silently making that promise to herself.
Kenjiro had no idea what she was thinking—if he did, he would've smiled proudly.
Hinata had already grown into someone remarkable.
And with clear goals, she would only get better from here.
With the right guidance, the princess of the Byakugan would shine brighter than ever.
-----🍥-----
The next morning – 7:50 AM.
Kenjiro and Hinata arrived at the village gate, both carrying backpacks.
Shino was already there, waiting with his own pack.
"Morning."
"Morning."
"Shino, you didn't bring a tent?"
"I did. It's in my scroll. If you need food pills, just ask."
"Thanks, but Hinata already packed some for me."
"…"
After the usual greetings, Kenjiro and Shino started making small talk.
But this time, it wasn't Shino's usual aloofness that killed the vibe—it was Kenjiro himself.
Shino had just been force-fed a big spoonful of romantic fluff, and while his face stayed calm as ever, his mood took a serious nosedive.
Still, Shino wasn't the type to get petty or sarcastic. He just went quiet.
Seeing Shino clam up, Kenjiro turned back to whisper to Hinata instead.
He kept the conversation light—nothing flirtatious—just enough to avoid awkward silence.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Kurenai's voice cut through the air, drawing all their attention.
A convoy of about a dozen people came into view.
Leading the group were Kurenai and a middle-aged man in plain clothes.
The man was scanning Team 8 with a warm smile—his excitement was practically radiating off him.
Kenjiro, Hinata, and Shino all noticed that his gaze lingered the longest on Hinata.
But it wasn't because of her figure—it was her eyes.
Kenjiro reached out with his senses. No malice detected.
Seems like he wasn't after her Byakugan—he was just thrilled to have one in the group.
The Byakugan of the Hyūga clan was the most renowned sensory dōjutsu in the ninja world.
A full 360° field of vision and X-ray-like perception—it could see through any basic stealth jutsu.
Even Earth Release techniques that let you sink into the ground were useless against it.
Having a Byakugan user in the convoy meant early danger detection and better chances of escaping.
Hiring a Hyūga for just a C-rank mission fee? That was a bargain.
No wonder the guy looked so pleased.
Realizing this, Kenjiro didn't think much of it.
"Let me introduce you. This is our client, Mr. Nishimura." Kurenai said to the team.
"Mr. Nishimura."
Team 8 greeted him politely.
"Hello there. I'll be in your care."
Mr. Nishimura was incredibly down-to-earth—zero ego.
Team 8 let out a quiet sigh of relief. They'd dealt with some real nightmare clients during D-rank missions, so having someone this easygoing was a nice change of pace.
"Alright, let's go."
After handing over their travel permits to the gate guards, Kurenai and Mr. Nishimura led the way out.
Kenjiro, Hinata, and Shino followed—stepping beyond the borders of the village they had lived in for twelve years.
At first, Hinata and Shino were genuinely excited to see the outside world.
But that excitement quickly faded after just one small town.
Sure, the Land of Fire had some bustling places like Tanzaku Quarters, but most of the country was dotted with quiet villages and modest settlements. Compared to the military-focused infrastructure of Konoha, it just didn't stack up.
Most nobles still traveled by litter or carriage.
Things like trains and other advanced tech were still years away.
By the end of the day, Hinata and Shino had lost their enthusiasm and were focused solely on the mission.
Ninja could travel fast—at full speed, they could get from Konoha to Sunagakure in about three days.
A week or so could take them to the most remote corners of the ninja world.
But that was only if it was all shinobi.
With regular people in the group, it depended on the slowest member.
The mining crew had a dozen people and two carriages. With no cargo on the return trip, their speed was still better than walking.
Even so, it took the group a full eight days—starting and stopping—to finally exit the Land of Fire.
"Hinata, what's the situation around us?"
As soon as they crossed the border and the forest trail turned into a mountain path, Kurenai looked at Hinata, who had activated her Byakugan. Veins bulged at her temples as she scanned the area.
"Everything within a 20-kilometer radius is clear."
"...What?!"
Kurenai and Shino nearly dropped their jaws—even though Hinata had just confirmed they were safe.
They were both stunned by her range.
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