Chapter 67 (Patreon)

Four days later, after nearly a year away, Nerona Mihawk and Hinata finally returned to Konoha.

Upon entering the village, the two of them headed straight for the Hokage’s Office to report their return to Tsunade.

Tsunade leaned back in her chair and studied them carefully. Compared to when they had left at the beginning of the year, both of them had changed considerably.

“You two finally decided to come back,” she said with a helpless sigh. “And before either of you starts, I don’t need to hear every little detail about your year-long romantic journey.”

Hinata immediately lowered her head, her cheeks turning red.

Mihawk remained as calm as ever.

“Since you’re back, remember that you’re still shinobi,” Tsunade continued. “I’ll give you another three days to rest. After that, Team 8 will resume active duty.”

“Yes, Lady Tsunade.”

Mihawk and Hinata responded together.

After leaving the Hokage’s Office, they separated on one of Konoha’s streets.

Hinata usually would have accompanied Mihawk home, but this time, she returned to the Hyūga compound instead. She had been away for almost an entire year, so naturally, the first place she needed to visit was her own home.

Hiashi’s attitude toward her was no longer as cold as it had been when she was younger.

After finally helping Neji let go of the resentment buried in his heart—and after witnessing Mihawk’s strength for himself—Hiashi had gradually changed.

Hanabi would inherit leadership of the main family in the future. As long as Hinata married outside the clan, there would be no reason for the Caged Bird Seal to ever be placed on her.

Hiashi had no desire to see his daughters suffer the same fate that had divided him and his younger brother.

Furthermore, if Hinata eventually married Mihawk, the Hyūga clan would gain a son-in-law whose strength had already reached the level of a Kage. Neither Hiashi nor the elders of the Hyūga clan had any reason to oppose their relationship.

After hearing about Hinata’s growth from Hanabi and Neji, Hiashi had even silently accepted Hanabi’s habit of seeking Mihawk’s help with her training.

Although no one had formally discussed Mihawk and Hinata’s future, both sides were content to allow their relationship to continue.

Meanwhile, after returning home, Mihawk began cleaning the house that had remained empty for nearly a year.

Dust covered almost every surface, and the air inside had grown stale.

To his surprise, Hinata and Hanabi soon arrived to help.

The three of them worked together, wiping down the furniture, sweeping the floors, airing out the rooms, and clearing away the dust that had accumulated during his absence.

Several hours later, they stood together and admired the now spotless house.

Despite the dust and smudges covering their faces, all three wore satisfied smiles.

After bathing, Mihawk and Hanabi changed into light robes and relaxed on the tatami while they waited for dinner.

Hinata had gone out to buy ingredients and prepare their evening meal.

Hanabi sat behind Mihawk and placed both hands against his head. Her fingers carefully pressed against several points around his scalp before moving toward the back of his neck.

“Mihawk-nii, where did you and my sister go all this time?” Hanabi leaned closer, her eyes shining with curiosity. “Did anything exciting happen?”

Mihawk opened his eyes.

Hanabi had grown considerably during the year he had been away. Her hair was longer, and although she was still young, traces of the composed Hyūga demeanor were already beginning to appear in her expression.

“We went to many places,” Mihawk answered with a quiet laugh. “So many that I’d have trouble listing them all.”

Hanabi leaned closer.

“I want to hear about them!”

Mihawk raised a hand and gently pinched her cheek.

“When you’re older, I’ll take you to see them yourself. How does that sound?”

His tone made it obvious that he was merely indulging a child.

Hanabi, however, nodded vigorously.

“Okay! Once I graduate from the Academy, you have to take me travelling too.”

She paused before adding firmly:

“And you’re not allowed to bring my sister.”

“Yes, yes,” Mihawk answered absent-mindedly before closing his eyes again.

Satisfied with his promise, Hanabi resumed her work with renewed enthusiasm.

Her fingers moved from his head to the back of his neck, then across his shoulders, arms, back, and legs. Her young face remained completely serious, as though performing the massage was an important training exercise.

Mihawk opened one eye and glanced at her.

With Hanabi sitting beside him and concentrating so intently, he momentarily felt as though he were looking at a younger Hinata.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

He closed his eyes again and allowed himself to relax beneath the Hyūga-style massage.

Before long, he fell asleep.

By the time Mihawk opened his eyes again, the sky outside had turned as dark as ink.

“Mihawk-kun…”

“Mihawk-nii”

Two voices—one gentle and the other lively—pulled him from his sleep.

The faces of Hinata and Hanabi came into view.

With the two sisters urging him to get up, Mihawk washed his face and followed them into the dining room.

The three of them ate together beneath the warm light of the house.

For a moment, life seemed to have returned to the way it had been a year ago.

The atmosphere remained just as warm, as though nothing had changed.

Konoha Year 61, December 27.

Before Mihawk realized it, Hinata’s birthday had arrived once again.

Memories of the previous year often returned to him like scenes from an old film.

On this day, thick snowflakes drifted down over Konoha, covering the village in white. The sight was remarkably similar to the scene from Hinata’s last birthday.

Mihawk and Hinata had already been back for nearly two weeks, and Team 8 had resumed its missions.

Whether it was Mihawk, Hinata, or Aburame Shino, each of them had changed during the past year, some more noticeably than others.

Over the previous two weeks, Team 8 had completed a B-rank mission. They had been assigned to escort a noble from the Land of Fire to a small neighbouring country, where he intended to purchase several local products.

During the journey there and back, they encountered a handful of wandering shinobi.

None of them posed any real difficulty.

Today, just as he had the previous year, Mihawk prepared a surprise for Hinata.

However, after nightfall, Hinata arrived alone.

Mihawk, who had been waiting silently in a corner, paused when he noticed that Hanabi had not accompanied her. Still, he did not pay it much attention.

Just like the year before, he silently approached Hinata from behind.

He gently covered her eyes with both hands.

“Happy birthday, my beautiful Byakugan Princess.”

This time, Hinata did not pull his hands away.

Instead, she leaned back into his chest and raised her face toward him.

“Mihawk-kun…”

Her pale eyes were slightly misty.

Mihawk smiled before lowering his head and kissing her.

Neither of them pulled away until they were both breathless.

Later, they sat together on the sofa in the living room.

Mihawk held Hinata from behind while they blew out the candles and cut the cake together.

They did not turn on the lights.

Instead, they remained close to one another and spoke quietly in the darkness.

For some reason, Hinata’s emotions seemed even less restrained than they had been on her previous birthday.

Then again, this was not the first time Mihawk had noticed it.

She clearly remembered what had happened on this day the previous year.

Perhaps that was why she could not calm herself.

As the night deepened, Mihawk lay beneath the blankets after finishing his bath. The room remained dark, while a faint light escaped from beneath the bathroom door.

He could hear the quiet sound of dripping water.

After some time, the bathroom door opened.

A moment later, a familiar warmth slipped beneath the blankets and pressed against him.

Mihawk instinctively wrapped an arm around her before lowering his gaze in surprise.

Only Hinata’s head was visible above the blanket.

Mihawk gave her a helpless smile.

“You’ve been acting strangely all day. Was this what you were worried about?”

“Mm…”

Hinata’s answer was barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.

She buried her face against his chest and tightly gripped his robe.

“I want to give you everything, Mihawk-kun,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “My whole future… I want to spend it with you.”

Mihawk did not tease her.

He gently stroked her hair.

“The truth is, I’ve wanted the same thing since last year.”

Hinata raised her face slightly.

“But not yet,” Mihawk continued softly. “We’re still too young to rush something that important.”

He held her a little more tightly.

“When we’re older, and you still feel the same way, I’ll accept everything you want to give me. Until then, there’s no reason for us to hurry.”

Hinata misunderstood his words as a promise about their eventual marriage.

A relieved and joyful smile appeared on her face.

“Mm.”

She wrapped both arms around him and pressed herself closer.

Mihawk suddenly lowered his head until his lips were beside her ear.

“Still, there is something you can do for me tonight.”

Hinata immediately stiffened.

“W-What do you want me to do?”

“Stay here,” Mihawk whispered. “You nearly made my heart stop earlier, so take responsibility and don’t leave until I fall asleep.”

Hinata’s face turned bright red.

After a moment, she relaxed in his embrace and nodded.

“All right.”

Outside, snow continued to fall silently across Konoha.

Inside the darkened room, the two remained in each other’s arms until sleep finally claimed them.