A Rocky Start

250,000 taels wasn't a large amount, nor was it insignificant for an escort mission. Kakashi, not overly concerned about the money, saw it as an opportunity to get his team out of the village for the assigned month. He looked at the three Genin, gauging their reactions, especially Naruto's. He wondered how Naruto would handle the abrupt drop from 2 million to 250,000 taels.

Sasuke, with his hands stuffed in his pockets and a faint crackle of lightning flickering around him, glanced at Kakashi. "Whatever," he muttered, clearly indifferent.

Sakura, eager to be a good student, shook her pink hair, then jumped up with a cheerful, "Kakashi-sensei, I'm fine with it!"

Kakashi sighed inwardly, finding solace in at least one well-behaved student.

His gaze then fell on Naruto. The boy, still fuming from the earlier negotiation, slapped the back of Kakashi's head. He couldn't just swallow his pride after shouting out such a high price earlier. Besides, why wasn't his sensei doing more to support him?

Still, Naruto begrudgingly agreed, laughing it off with, "Hahaha, we'll take on the old man's mission." Kakashi awkwardly smiled and led the team to officially register the mission.

The ninjas watching the scene breathed a collective sigh of relief. With Team 7 off on another mission, the village was momentarily safe from their chaotic influence. The atmosphere shifted quickly from humor to competition as the realization dawned on the gathered shinobi—everyone here was now a rival for the few available low-level missions.

Kakashi wrapped things up, instructing, "We'll meet at the village gate at seven tomorrow morning. Don't be late."

The three Genin stared at him, clearly skeptical about who was most likely to be late. Unfazed by their glares, Kakashi coolly dismissed them, then took Dazna to arrange accommodations.

As they disbanded, Sasuke, with no real home to go to, headed to his usual training spot in the grove. Sakura, having grown used to the routine, quickly departed without any awkwardness. Naruto, however, lingered.

He and Sasuke shared a similarity: they had houses but no real homes. Unlike Sasuke, though, Naruto had many connections—chief among them, the Hyuga clan.

Once alone, Naruto opened a portal and stepped into the Hyuga compound. The sudden appearance of the familiar blond caused an immediate stir among the clan members. Ignoring the tense atmosphere, Naruto deliberately bypassed the space gate's convenience, opting instead to scale the compound wall for the thrill of it.

As he climbed over, the watching Hyuga ninjas' eyes bulged in anger, veins prominently visible. Were it not for their superior control over their emotions, they might have succumbed to a rage-induced fit. But with Naruto set to leave the village the next day, they managed to keep their cool.

After landing inside, Naruto looked around, only to come face to face with Hiashi Hyuga, Hinata's formidable father. The two stood silently, Naruto's guilt evident in his averted gaze. The imposing Byakugan made Hiashi's expression unreadable, but his aura was palpable.

Finally, Hiashi broke the silence. "Next time, use the front door. Hinata is at the training ground." He then turned and walked away, leaving Naruto scratching his head, feeling oddly relieved. Maybe his father-in-law wasn't as terrifying as he'd thought.

The Hyuga compound was expansive, and it took Naruto nearly ten minutes to reach the training ground. The wealth and status of the Hyuga were evident in their spacious and well-maintained grounds. There, he spotted Hinata, diligently training. Despite Naruto's presence, she didn't stop, adhering strictly to the clan's training regimen.

From the sidelines, Naruto watched quietly. Every so often, as Hinata practiced her strikes, she'd sneak a shy glance his way. The training elder eventually signaled the end of the session, leaving with a knowing sigh. He had long accepted Hinata's attachment to Naruto and was relieved that the clan's focus had already shifted to her sister, Hanabi.

Hinata, flushed and sweating, hesitated to approach Naruto, conscious of her disheveled state. She sat a little distance away, nervous about her appearance. Naruto, noticing this, teased, "Why are you sitting so far away?"

"I..."

Before she could finish, Naruto playfully grabbed her ankle and pulled her closer. "Ah! Naruto-kun... let go... so... so embarrassing." Hinata gasped, covering her mouth as her face turned as red as a tomato. The warmth from Naruto's touch sent a blush from her ears to her cheeks, making her feel light-headed.

Despite her embarrassment, there was a noticeable change in Hinata over the years. She was no longer as timid as she used to be. Naruto couldn't help but grin widely. Hinata's reactions were always endearing, and he loved seeing her flustered.

His thoughts were clear: My wife is amazing!