Chapter 36

As soon as the door closed, Hanabi let out a long breath, her shoulders relaxing. "That was... intense," she muttered, still flustered.

   ...

In the cold, unfeeling expanse of space, Momoshiki Otsutsuki floated in silence. His eyes, as pale as moonlight, focused ahead on a distant planet—a speck in the void.

Kaguya and Isshiki had been sent to harvest the planet long ago. It should've been a simple task—a routine process of cultivating the God Tree, feeding off the chakra of the life below, and moving on. And yet, they had not returned.

Momoshiki and Kinshiki had been sent to investigate.

The Otsutsuki did not tolerate failure. To vanish during a mission meant either death or betrayal. Both possibilities were unacceptable.

As he crossed galaxies, Momoshiki's thoughts remained cold and calculating. Earth was a primitive world, filled with weaklings—yet something had managed to subdue two of the clan's strongest members.

Whatever had transpired on that planet, he would soon uncover. And if Kaguya had betrayed the clan, there would be no mercy. As for Isshiki, if he was alive, he was a fool for remaining hidden for so long.

"How disappointing," Momoshiki muttered under his breath. "To think they fell to a planet like this."

The Earth drew closer, its faint blue aura shimmering in the dark. "So this is the planet," he said, his voice carrying with it a quiet disdain.

something else tugged at his senses. As he neared Earth, he felt a strange presence, something he couldn't quite place.

It wasn't the raw power of an Otsutsuki, but it wasn't insignificant either. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the energy emanating from the planet.

"Interesting."

Momoshiki's lips twisted into a sinister smile. "Your time is over. The Otsutsuki shall reclaim what is ours."

   ...

"Shoi, I'm going on a mission. Do you want to tag along?" Hinata asked, her voice soft but firm.

Her father had insisted that Shoi accompany her, saying it was time for him to gain some real-world experience.

Shoi was sitting by the pond, his usual spot for quiet reflection.

The sound of Hinata's voice brought him out of his thoughts. He stood up, scanning the area. There was no one around but the two of them.

With a smile, he stepped closer, his hand casually resting on her waist. "Obviously, I'd love to. It's boring sitting around all day," he teased, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"And besides," he added with a playful grin, "when the big princess asks me, how could I dare refuse?"

Hinata blushed as Shoi called her "big princess." Even though their wedding was only a month away, she still couldn't help but feel embarrassed every time he used the title.

His teasing always made her heart race, and despite her best efforts, she couldn't hide her smile.

"Stop calling me that," she muttered, lightly swatting his chest, her face still warm from the blush. "We're not married yet, you know."

Shoi chuckled, leaning in a little closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Not yet, but soon enough," he whispered, his voice full of confidence. "You'll be stuck with me then, Princess."

Hinata huffed, trying to maintain her composure. "Just focus on the mission for now. We'll see how long you can keep up."

 She stepped back, pulling away from his touch, her eyes now serious as she turned toward the path ahead.

Shoi followed her gaze, his smile fading into determination. "Don't worry, I can handle whatever's out there. You just try not to fall behind."

As they walked along the dirt path, Hinata's serious expression softened a little, and she glanced at Shoi.

"Don't worry," she said with a small smile, "this is just a simple escort mission. We're tasked with protecting a merchant traveling to the Hidden Sand Village."

Shoi let out a sigh of relief. "Just an escort? I thought we were heading straight into some life-or-death situation."

Hinata smiled gently, adjusting her headband. "It might sound easy, but my father said the merchant has been targeted by bandits before. So we need to stay alert."

"Bandits, huh?" Shoi rolled his shoulders, loosening up. "I can handle that. A little warm-up before I really take on the big missions."

Hinata nodded, her gaze on the path ahead. "We just need to make sure he reaches the Sand Village safely. After that, we can relax."

Shoi smirked, walking beside her with newfound confidence. "Sounds like a good way to start. Lead the way, Hinata."

As they continued down the path, the sound of their footsteps crunching on the dirt filled the quiet air.

After a few minutes, they reached a small clearing where a modest wooden cart sat, its wheels creaking slightly under the weight of various goods.

The merchant, a middle-aged man with a worn cloak and a friendly smile, waved as he spotted them approaching.

"Ah, you must be the shinobi sent to escort me," the merchant said, his voice filled with relief. "I'm Haruto. I appreciate you two helping me with this journey. Bandits have made travel difficult lately."

Hinata bowed slightly in greeting. "We're here to ensure you get to the Hidden Sand Village safely, Haruto-san."

Shoi gave a casual wave, his usual laid-back demeanor showing through. "Yeah, we'll take care of any trouble. Just stick with us."

Haruto nodded, climbing onto the cart's seat. "Thank you, truly. It's a long road, and I'd rather not run into trouble, but with you both around, I feel much safer."

Hinata walked beside the cart, her senses sharp as she activated her Byakugan, scanning the surroundings. Shoi kept a relaxed pace next to her, his hands casually tucked behind his head.

"So," Shoi said after a few minutes of walking, "how long is this trip supposed to take?"

"Two days, if the weather holds," Haruto replied, adjusting the reins of the horse pulling the cart.

As the cart gently rocked along the path, Hinata sat next to Shoi, her attention divided between their surroundings and the road ahead. The warmth of the sun mixed with the gentle breeze, making the journey feel almost peaceful.