Naruto: Systematic Shinobi Chapter 320: Monkey On Hold - 8

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A palpable sense of excitement surrounded her younger sister, who was nearly vibrating with anticipation as she fiddled with the kunai. It was a gift from Daiki-kun. Hinata suppressed a pang of jealousy as her gaze fell upon the kunai, which, as her father had explained, was quite special. It contained a jutsu shiki, a seal that, when the kunai was thrown or suffused with chakra in a specific pattern, would alert its placer, allowing them to teleport instantly to the beacon. This was the Flying Thunder God jutsu, the legendary technique of the Fourth Hokage, the one that enabled him to decimate over a thousand Stone ninja in under a minute, earning him the title of the Yellow Flash and an SS-rank 'flee on sight' bounty in the Bingo Book. The sheer terror it instilled in their adversaries was enough to bring the Third Great Shinobi War to a close. And now, it seemed Daiki-kun had somehow mastered this very jutsu himself.

“Still, it’s not just Hanabi-chan who’s in high spirits,” she mused, glancing between Neji and her father. The beaming pride in her father’s eyes for Hanabi was undeniable. Neji, too, had been smiling ever since their father revealed that Daiki-kun intended to seek vengeance against the Cloud Village and crush them in war.

“So I just throw this, and it’ll alert Aniki?” Hanabi inquired, her posture almost arrogant as she balanced the kunai’s tip on a single finger. It was clear that Daiki-kun’s influence had significantly altered her younger sister’s demeanor; even her mannerisms had changed lately.

“Or you can channel your chakra through it in the specific pattern, though you’ll need to learn that from the Hokage himself, as he didn’t share the method with me,” her father responded with a nod. “However, I must remind you not to misuse such a precious gift, Hanabi. The Hokage is a busy individual and–”

“Aniki won’t mind as long as it’s me,” Hanabi interjected with a wide grin, cutting off their father. She then caught the kunai by its handle and tossed it towards the wall. Her impertinence, it seemed, was another trait picked up from Daiki-kun!

Before her father could even begin to reprimand her, a sudden black flash occurred, and Daiki materialized, catching the kunai by its ring, slipping his pinkie through it mid-air. “As I suspected, you threw it immediately, didn’t you, Firecracker?” Daiki chuckled, a wide grin spreading across his face as he looked at his younger sister, twirling the kunai on his pinky finger. “Did you think I wouldn’t?” Hanabi retorted with a cheeky grin.

‘My word… he truly appeared out of thin air,’ Hinata marveled internally. Her eyes then narrowed as she noticed something: a faint, pale pink kiss mark on his neck. Her finger twitched.

Her father cleared his throat, straightening up. “Hokage-sama, please accept my apologies for my daughter’s impudence in using such a generous gift so carelessly. It was entirely improper and–”

“Don’t give it another thought,” Daiki dismissed with a wave, his grin unwavering. “I wouldn’t have given it to her if I didn’t want her using it whenever she pleased.” He ambled around the table as he spoke, unhurried, eventually stopping behind Hanabi’s chair. He casually rested his elbow on the top of her head, leaning his weight into it comfortably and using her as an armrest. Hanabi’s eye twitched. “Get off!” she stated flatly, reaching up to push his arm away. It didn’t budge. “No offense to the Hyuga clan,” Daiki continued amiably, completely ignoring her. “I understand the Hyuga have a distinct stoic demeanor. But that’s not really my style. And a student is a reflection of their teacher, so,” he shrugged the shoulder not occupied with pinning Hanabi’s head, “my apprentice needs to be bold.”

“I said get off!” Hanabi grabbed his arm with both hands this time, pulling with all her might. Still, nothing happened. For all her younger sister’s prodigious talent, it was no match for Daiki-kun’s sheer strength. It was as if she were trying to push over a mountain. In fact, she might have had better luck with an actual mountain, considering the display of Daiki-kun’s true power they had all witnessed during his battle against Orochimaru and his associates. Hinata watched her sister’s increasingly undignified attempts to free herself, a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth betraying her amusement. The pink mark on his neck, however, remained prominently in her peripheral vision.

“You’re the worst, Aniki,” Hanabi pouted. “Don’t pretend you don’t enjoy it, Firecracker,” Daiki laughed, releasing his arm from the top of her head. But before she could show too much satisfaction, he curled it around her throat and shoulders from the front, pulling her back against him.

A small smile touched Hanabi’s lips, much to her own surprise. Hinata observed this reaction with a flicker of interest, noting the subtle blush that warmed her younger sister’s cheeks.

His openness with physical affection was striking. The ease with which he had shown Hanabi tenderness in the brief time since his arrival surpassed anything either sister had experienced in the five years preceding his appearance.

Her father let out a sigh. "Hokage-sama, the Flying Thunder God Technique is not a jutsu to be employed lightly or carelessly," he stated. "To even handle one of those Waypoints is a profound honor. Prior to your own mastery, only the Second and Fourth Hokage had ever wielded this technique."

"Hiashi-sama speaks the truth," Neji affirmed.

Daiki’s attention shifted to Neji.

Neji met his gaze steadily. "I mean no disrespect, Hokage-sama, and my understanding of this jutsu is limited to what Hiashi-sama has imparted. However, a technique powerful enough to single-handedly alter the course of a war..." He paused. "Permitting a young girl to summon you at will seems rather imprudent."

Daiki regarded Neji for a moment, then his father, and finally returned his gaze to Neji.

"A valid point," Daiki conceded. "And you are correct to voice it; I will not dismiss a sound argument. The last thing I desire is for Hanabi to become a weakling who requires her teacher's constant intervention. " Hanabi let out a sound of protest, which he completely disregarded. "So, when she reaches a sufficient level of proficiency and skill to genuinely utilize it, I will personally instruct her in the technique itself," he declared with a grin.