As evening fell, the sun gradually set in the west, painting the horizon with a splendid array of colors.
Chizhao and Hinata slowly descended the mountain, when they suddenly saw a figure walking up against the glow of the setting sun, looking particularly striking.
At this hour, why is someone still going up the mountain?
Chizhao muttered to herself, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
She squinted, trying to discern the person's silhouette in the afterglow of the sunset, until the figure gradually became clear, and she couldn't help but exclaim:
"It's Shino!"
Shino seemed to feel the call as well. He stopped, slowly looked up, and his gaze pierced through layers of light and shadow, finally settling on Chizhao and Hinata.
When he saw who was in front of him, Shino's voice also revealed a hint of surprise:
"Chizhao? What are you doing here? And Hinata..."
"I met Hinata when I went to the back mountain. Are you going up the mountain now?"
The dark lenses silently watched Chizhao for a moment, then he turned his gaze to Hinata's face, explaining calmly:
"Yuhi was worried because Hinata hadn't come down the mountain yet, so she sent me to check."
Hinata looked at Shino apologetically: "I'm sorry, Shino, for making you worry..."
"It's fine, as long as we know you're safe."
Chizhao freed one hand and patted Shino's shoulder, chuckling softly:
"Don't be so serious. Hinata is very strong, and look, we even picked so many strawberries!"
The red strawberries lay quietly in the basket. Shino merely gazed at them for a moment, then calmly said:
"Are those wild strawberries? There are a lot of bugs in those..."
"Eek?!"
This statement was like a bucket of cold water, instantly giving Chizhao and Hinata goosebumps. Hinata nearly dropped all the strawberries in her hand.
Chizhao, though trying to act composed, also showed an awkward smile on her face:
"Well... wouldn't soaking them in salt water when we get back fix it...?"
Shino didn't say anything more. He just silently took the strawberry basket from Chizhao's hand, looked up at the girl in front of him, and asked as if seeking her opinion:
"Do you need me to help you clean out the bugs?"
Chizhao smiled in surprise: "Then I'll leave it to you, Shino."
A barely noticeable smile curved at the corner of his mouth, hidden beneath his collar. He seemed to enjoy the feeling of being needed, even if it was only for a brief moment.
To prevent them from seeing and having unpleasant memories, Shino thoughtfully turned his back, released his insect control ability, and drove out all the bugs hidden under the strawberry leaves and even within the fruit itself.
"Alright, the strawberries are completely clean now. Just a quick rinse when you get back will be enough."
Chizhao gratefully took the basket of much cleaner-looking strawberries, breaking into a smile:
"Thank you, Shino! You're so reliable!"
Shino subtly buried his face further into his clothes:
"You're welcome..."
"Shino... then I'll ask you too..."
He gladly took the strawberry basket from Hinata's hand and used the same method to drive out the bugs.
Now, the wild strawberries in both their hands finally looked clean and adorable.
The three walked towards the Village. After bidding farewell to Hinata at the fork in the road, Chizhao and Shino walked side by side.
Silence, accompanied by the surrounding tranquility, enveloped the two of them, but this silence was not awkward; instead, it was filled with a certain unspoken understanding and warmth.
Just as Chizhao was thinking of a topic, Shino spoke first, with a hint of worry and curiosity in his tone:
"I heard you were assigned to a special department. What kind of place is it?"
"It's a rather mysterious place, I guess."
She didn't describe the Anbu's situation in much detail. Then, she changed the subject, looking at Shino with a soft voice:
"I met Torune there."
This sentence made Shino's steps falter slightly. Torune's figure and childhood memories involuntarily flashed in his mind.
"Did you join the Root Organization?"
Shino's voice carried a hint of tension and unease. He worried that Chizhao would, like Torune, fall into darkness and danger from then on.
Chizhao picked one of the plump strawberries from the basket and handed it to Shino, saying easily:
"It should be Torune who joined the special department, actually."
He dazedly took the seemingly delicious strawberry and followed the girl's steps.
"What do you mean...?"
"It means exactly what it says. Torune has already left Root and is now in the same department as me. He even asked me about you, asking if you've made any friends, how you're doing, and so on..."
Shino held the strawberry in his palm, and behind his dark glasses was a gentle expression.
"I see..."
"Torune should be back home now. If you have time, Shino, why don't you go see him?"
Even though his expression was mostly hidden by his clothing, Chizhao could vaguely sense that Shino was happy at that moment.
After all, they were brothers and childhood playmates, important people to each other, she thought.
"Mm... I will."
Chizhao, in high spirits, gave Shino many more strawberries. He carefully held them in his palms, looking up at her with a puzzled expression.
The light perfectly illuminated her face, making it as clear and bright as an oil painting. Her clear voice, carried by the breeze, came to him:
"Then, Shino, please say hello to Torune for me! I'm off now!"
"Wait..."
Before Shino could finish speaking, Chizhao skipped away, clutching the strawberries in her arms.
She was still the same, like a gust of wind, blowing through at just the right moment, then suddenly drifting far away.
Shino held the strawberries in his hands and smiled helplessly.
Never mind.
Because this was her.
A free bird, soaring through the sky, accompanied by the wind.
Meanwhile, back home, Hinata carefully washed the strawberries that Shino had processed, placed them in a simple lunchbox, and brought them to the training ground where she often practiced with Neji.
From afar, she could hear the sharp, air-splitting sounds of Neji's palm techniques, a sound filled with power and determination.
Hinata cautiously approached the edge of the training ground, peering inside.
She saw Neji practicing the Eight Trigrams Palms, drenched in sweat, every movement precise and powerful, every turn agile and swift.
A feeling of admiration welled up in her heart, and she also recalled Chizhao's words:
"Neji isn't just talented; his hard work and sweat are truly real."
So, Neji-nii-san has always been quietly working hard.
"What are you doing there?"
Neji's voice carried an undeniable sternness.
Hinata, who was quietly approaching the training ground, couldn't help but shiver.
Her hands unconsciously tightened around the lunchbox, her eyes flickering with the panic of someone who had done something wrong.
Finally, she gathered her courage, gently peeked out from behind the door, head bowed, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz:
"I'm sorry, Neji-nii-san, I didn't mean to interrupt your practice."
Neji walked to a corner of the training ground, picked up a towel, and casually wiped the sweat from his forehead. He glanced at Hinata, who was still standing there timidly, then lowered his gaze, his voice much softer:
"It's alright, I was finished anyway. Did you need something from me? If it's for sparring..."
Hearing this, Hinata quickly shook her head, interrupting him:
"No, I came to give you this..."
As Hinata moved, Neji saw the lunchbox she held in front of her and walked over to her.
He curiously took the lunchbox and gently opened it. A fresh, fruity aroma instantly wafted out.
Inside, several bright red, plump strawberries were neatly arranged, each one appealing, with a few glistening drops of water still clinging to them.
"These are...?"
Neji looked up at Hinata, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"They're... they're strawberries that Chizhao and I picked together. I wanted Neji-nii-san to try them too."
Hearing Chizhao's name, Neji's heart couldn't help but stir slightly, and he asked:
"Is it... Shiratori Chichao?"
At the mention of Chizhao, Hinata's eyes lit up, and her tone involuntarily became much clearer:
"Yes, I heard she even had a match with Neji-nii-san. She told me you are a very amazing person."
Recalling the various things that girl had said to him, and her astonishing learning ability, Neji smiled helplessly.
"She's the amazing one... I merely 'fled the battlefield'."
Hinata didn't seem to hear Neji's latter words. She just tilted her cute little face up, happily saying:
"Anyway, I hope Neji-nii-san can try these strawberries. They should taste very different. Well, I won't bother you any longer! Goodbye!"
Watching Hinata run off, he vaguely felt that for a moment, Hinata had become different from before.
In his memory, she was always a little girl who hid behind others, too shy to speak.
Just now, she seemed to have become much more confident and cheerful than before.
If they weren't in the so-called Main House and Branch House of the Hyuga Clan, they would probably be a very close brother and sister.
He sat back down, slowly opened the lunchbox in his hand, picked up a strawberry, and put it into his mouth.
The rich, sweet taste of the strawberry instantly filled his mouth, as if sweeping away all his worries and fatigue.
"So, this is what wild strawberries taste like?"