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Hizashi Hyūga went to handle the registration process for entering Konoha.
Ninja from other villages naturally needed to register, especially outside of the Chūnin Exams period. Normally, foreign ninja entering Konoha would be treated as spies and potentially arrested.
Upon entering Konoha, they were surprisingly greeted personally by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Seeing Hizashi Hyūga, Hiruzen’s expression was complex. Hizashi was once his subordinate, and the Hyūga Clan had defected from Konoha. Facing him now felt awkward for Hiruzen.
Shin and Nawaki weren’t present.
——
Meanwhile, Shin was currently exploring Konoha’s streets with the curious Karin and Hanabi.
“Waaahh!” Hanabi’s mouth practically watered at the sight of the street food stalls. She quickly tugged Shin’s sleeve and pointed at a takoyaki stand. “I want that!”
“If you want it, go buy it yourself.”
“But I don’t have any money,” Hanabi looked at Shin pitifully.
Shin smiled warmly, crouched down, and ruffled Hanabi’s hair.
“No problem. If you don’t have money, you can just pawn yourself off. A cute girl like you should be worth a few coins.”
Hanabi quickly backed away from Shin, tightly gripping her older sister Hinata’s hand.
“Big Sister, did you hear that? He wants me to sell me off! He’s a big meanie!”
“That’s right, Hanabi. He is a big meanie,” Kushina added, laughing heartily.
Shin flicked Kushina’s forehead, then walked over to the takoyaki stand and ordered a portion for everyone.
“It’s not as good as Mikoto’s, but it has its own flavor. By the way, why did you want takoyaki?” Shin asked, looking down at Hanabi, who was trying not to cry from the heat but refused to spit it out.
After finally swallowing, Hanabi gasped for air and told Shin, “It’s my first time eating it! I was curious.”
Hanabi hadn’t eaten takoyaki at home, and Mikoto hadn’t made any during her stay in the Land of Whirlpools.
Shin looked at Hanabi incredulously. Kirigakure’s takoyaki was even more famous than Konoha’s; how had she never tried it?
“So delicious! I want more!” Hanabi snatched the takoyaki from Shin’s hand and stuck her tongue out at him.
“Hanabi, don’t be rude,” Hinata gently reprimanded her sister.
“I know. Anyway, the big meanie who likes to bully me won’t care.” Hanabi grinned. Without Hiashi around, Hanabi felt much more unrestrained.
“The big meanie you’re talking about… is that me?” Shin asked, his face darkening as he looked at Hanabi.
“N-No!” Hanabi lied, her heart pounding.
“Hanabi, run quickly!” Kushina warned Hanabi. If she didn’t run now, Shin would catch her and give her a thorough handling.
But it was too late. Shin lifted Hanabi up. She wore an expression like she was about to cry.
“Shin-nii! I know you’re a good person! Can you let me go?” Hanabi pleaded in a sweet, childish voice.
“Heh heh. Hanabi, you’re mistaken. I’m not a good person. I’m a villain—the kind who specializes in bullying little girls,” Shin said with a malicious grin.
“I won’t do it again!!”
“You said that last time too. And what happened?” Shin pinched Hanabi’s cheek, then temporarily let her go.
———
“Looks like there’s some excitement up ahead,” Karin tugged Shin’s hand and pointed forward.
“What excitement? Just some kids fighting,” Kushina said with a dismissive pout.
It was indeed children fighting, or rather, about to fight. Among them were Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
“Let’s go check it out.” Shin smiled, taking Karin’s hand with one hand and Hinata’s with the other, walking towards the commotion.
“Why aren’t you holding my hand?” Hanabi pouted, then looked at Kushina.
“Don’t look at me. Wipe the grease off your hands first,” Kushina said, dodging Hanabi’s oily hands.
“Damn it! Kushina-neechan, do you hate me too?” Hanabi angrily pulled a tissue from her pocket, wiped her hands, and trotted after them.
“Wait for me! Don’t leave me behind!” Hanabi caught up to Shin and the others, breathing a sigh of relief.
“Didn’t know you were such a scaredy-cat. Don’t you usually pretend to be brave?” Kushina teased Hanabi.
“I was afraid you’d leave me behind,” Hanabi pouted.
———
“You bastard! What kind of bully picks on little kids?!” Naruto Uzumaki yelled angrily at a figure with face paint and a Sand Village forehead protector.
He had just attacked Konohamaru, but Sasuke Uchiha had intervened, saving Konohamaru with a well-aimed rock.
“Ha! Relying on numbers, Konoha?” Kankurō looked around contemptuously at the gathering crowd.
“What did you say?!” Naruto, angered, impulsively moved to attack.
“You idiot! Don’t cause trouble!” Sakura punched Naruto on the head, stopping him from fighting Kankurō. Naruto grumbled in frustration.
“Interesting. The Gourd Boy isn’t here.” Shin observed the scene with amusement. Not only was Gaara absent, but Temari wasn’t there either. Only Kankurō was present.
“Just you wait!” Kankurō, surprisingly, calmed himself down without anyone needing to intervene and didn’t escalate the fight. He wasn’t stupid; he knew he was in Konoha and couldn’t act too recklessly.
“Damn it! Who is that guy? He doesn’t look like a Konoha ninja,” Sakura muttered angrily as Kankurō left.
“Too bad they didn’t fight. I was looking forward to it,” Shin shook his head, watching Kankurō leave after delivering his threat.
“Just some kids. Even if they fought, it wouldn’t be much of a show,” Kushina yawned, expressing her boredom.
“Actually, I wasn’t here to watch them fight. I wanted to say hello to the little tanuki, but it seems he’s not here.”
“Little tanuki?” Kushina looked at Shin, puzzled. “Who’s the little tanuki?”
“The One-Tail.”
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