At that mont, standing behind Neji's Team 3 were three familiar figures: a lanky boy with a pineapple-shaped hairstyle, perpetually sleepy eyes, and an aura that scread "can't be bothered"—Nara Shikamaru—alongside his teammates, Choji Akimichi and Ino Yamanaka.
Ino clasped her hands together with a wistful sigh, watching the exchange between Tenten and Neji with sparkling eyes.
"Ah~ young love is so sweet~ so pure~ so innocent~ (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)"
But almost imdiately, her expression deflated into visible gloom.
"Aghhh~ When will my love story begin…"
She turned to glance at the two people next to her—Shikamaru staring blankly at the sky with his hands behind his head, and Choji happily munching on chips without a care in the world.
"How co both Tenten and Sakura got tead up with the guys they like, and I end up stuck with you two totally emotionless weirdos…"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes and replied in his usual lazy drawl.
"Not our fault. Our dads were on the sa team, so we've been together since we were kids. That kind of history builds compatibility, you know. Sa rank, sa status—we make the next generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio."
"That's not the point, you emotionally bankrupt sloth."
Shikamaru was used to being interrupted by Ino, so he just sighed and muttered under his breath.
"Tch… Won really are troubleso…"
After seeing Neji's team walk off with four scrolls in hand, Shikamaru casually stepped forward, pulled off his sandals, and retrieved a hidden checkbook from a concealed pouch in the sole. He turned to Maruboshi Kosuke.
"Senior Kosuke, you got a pen?"
Maruboshi looked at the young Nara heir with a flicker of admiration.
"Ha! Of course. Always prepared."
Shikamaru scribbled a quick figure on the check—two million ryo, just like that. With a few flicks of the pen, a worthless scrap of paper beca a bank-certified promise for two million taels.
"Two pairs of Heaven and Earth scrolls."
After accepting the scrolls from Kosuke, he and his childhood teammates entered the tower without a fuss.
Team 10—advanced.
Next up was Hinata Hyuga, followed by Inuzuka Kiba and Abura Shino.
As soon as Hinata laid eyes on Saya, she froze.
Sothing clicked.
The outfit Saya was wearing—it wasn't just similar. It was identical to Uchiha Hikaru's, even down to the asurents. It felt like she had taken them straight from his body.
"Um… Senpai… what are you wearing?"
Saya tugged gently at her sleeves, her gaze softening the mont she looked at Hinata.
"My na is Saya. These are Master Uchiha Hikaru's clothes. My own haven't been tailored yet, so I'm borrowing his for now."
"Y-You're… also Master Hikaru's disciple…?"
Hinata blinked, stunned.
And then her thoughts exploded.
Wearing his clothes... living with him? That's definitely not a sibling relationship—Hikaru-sensei's an only child. And given how close he is to Lady Hokage... but the Uchiha don't do intra-clan marriages like the Hyuga do. Wait—could she be... his girlfriend?
Her face turned scarlet.
If that's true… does that an… I could…?
The thought blood in her chest like a fragile flower in spring.
Hinata had once buried her feelings for Hikaru deep in her heart. After all, how could she compete with Lady Tsunade?
But now, with this revelation…
Maybe I still have a chance…!
Her wide-eyed, flushed expression made her look like a shoujo manga heroine who had just t her destined love.
Saya, watching her, imdiately understood.
So, this is the kind of girl Lord Hikaru likes? (๑>◡
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