Chapter 3: Miss Hinata Wants to Go Out
Shihui Aburame strolled leisurely down the street.
Six years had passed since the Nine-Tails Incident, and Konoha had regained its prosperity.
But this was the calm before the storm.
A group carrying sacks of rice was about to arrive on the battlefield.
The Aburame clan was considered third-tier in Konoha.
The first tier consisted of the Hyuga and Uchiha clans.
The second tier included the Sarutobi, Shimura, and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio—namely the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans.
The third tier comprised the Aburame and Inuzuka clans.
The Aburame clan lacked a kekkei genkai but possessed secret techniques, all of which revolved around insects.
Their abilities were well-rounded, covering reconnaissance, combat, defense, medical treatment, and sensory skills, making them akin to a balanced faction.
But being proficient in everything also meant excelling at nothing.
In the later parts of the original story, the Aburame clan was barely more relevant than background characters.
"I can't do anything."
Shihui Aburame suspected that without his gu, he might die from stray AOE damage in a clash of giant mechs—killed by the aftermath of someone else's battle.
"Brother."
A sudden voice startled Shihui Aburame.
He looked around before noticing Shino Aburame, whose presence was practically nonexistent.
Just like in the original story, Shino wore sunglasses and a white trench coat.
The Aburame clan naturally cloaked their presence, making them easy to overlook if one wasn't paying attention.
"Here."
Shino handed him a letter.
Konoha Ninja Academy.
Reading the words, Shihui felt a stir in his heart.
The Ninja Academy meant more plot characters and more opportunities for achievements.
Now he was truly becoming an elementary school student.
After grabbing a bag of potato chips from his room, Shihui headed to the courtyard.
It was time for his daily training.
But not with his Gu—it was medical ninjutsu, specifically the Chakra Scalpel.
After obtaining the Rejuvenation Gu, Shihui naturally had an idea.
He wanted to become a medical ninja and study under Tsunade.
It was common knowledge in Konoha that to live a long life, you needed someone powerful backing you.
Men or women would do, but Shihui definitely preferred a woman.
The Aburame clan had a cautionary tale from a previous genius.
Take, for example, Torune Aburame and Ryoma Aburame.
They were chosen by Danzo Shimura, indoctrinated with the Will of the Root, and ultimately broken, becoming loyal scapegoats.
Shihui had no intention of offering his heart to an old man.
After much thought, Tsunade was the one who best suited his preferences.
Because she wouldn't let her students go hungry.
Her greatness needed no further explanation.
The problem was that Tsunade was rarely in Konoha, unwilling to return.
Though difficulties always outnumbered solutions, Shihui had a plan.
The only people who could contact Tsunade and convince her to return were Jiraiya and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The former was off gallivanting across the ninja world, either "researching" with charming ladies or searching for the prophesied child.
The latter, the Third Hokage, was right here in Konoha, making him far easier to approach.
Though Hiruzen Sarutobi was often criticized, he wouldn't refuse something beneficial to the village.
Using his father Shibi Aburame's connections, Shihui managed to get into Konoha Hospital.
By gradually showcasing his exceptional talent, he delighted his father.
When Shihui proposed studying under Tsunade, Shibi decided to give it a shot.
He reported the matter to Hiruzen Sarutobi, offering a generous apprenticeship fee.
It was called an apprenticeship, but it was more like a commissioned mission.
Shihui knew Tsunade was short on money, so he employed the art of Money Jutsu.
Sorry, but having money meant you could do whatever you wanted.
Hiruzen, who already wanted Tsunade to return, now had an extra reason and agreed.
Soon, Tsunade sent a response.
She told Shihui to master the Chakra Scalpel within a month, and only then would she consider returning to take a look.
The Chakra Scalpel was a medical ninjutsu that most medical ninjas had to learn, and it was no easy feat.
Typically, it was a technique only chunin or jonin could master.
To Hiruzen and Shibi, this was as good as a rejection.
Asking Shihui, who wasn't even a genin, to learn the Chakra Scalpel was nothing short of a pipe dream.
But miracles do exist.
The Rejuvenation gu granted Shihui the talent of a top-tier medical ninja.
A weakened version of sage chakra, known as True Essence, provided him with sufficient chakra—roughly 0.3 Kakashi units.
The "Kakashi" was a unit of chakra measurement used by ninjas, based on the chakra capacity of the jonin Kakashi Hatake.
Besides, Tsunade only required him to learn it, not master it.
After depleting his True Essence, Shihui stopped.
"I should be able to learn it before school starts."
Estimating his progress, Shihui couldn't help but feel excited.
In his previous life, he was a huge Tsunade fan.
"Let's keep at it."
Shihui returned to his room and sat cross-legged on his bed.
Gu masters were divided into nine realms, from Rank 1 to Rank 9, with Rank 6 marking ascension to immortality—a qualitative leap.
His goal was to reach Rank 5, where he could truly shine.
This world had no Prime Stones, or at least Shihui hadn't found any yet.
He could only absorb energy from the heavens and earth to slowly restore his True Essence.
Once his True Essence was full, he began channeling it to nurture his Aperture.
To advance as a gu master, one had to continuously use True Essence to temper the walls of the Aperture, a long and arduous process.
Night fell.
Moonlight streamed through the window.
Hinata Hyuga sat at her desk, propping her face with one hand, lost in thought.
Her little face, squished by the pressure, went from a bun to a pancake, yet it didn't detract from her cuteness.
"Only when the tide crashes against the rocks can it create beautiful waves."
Gazing at the moonlight, Hinata recalled those words.
Could she do it?
Every time she faced her father's expectations, she always messed up, disappointing him time and again.
"Don't think about anything—just throw the punch."
Hinata's mind conjured the image of Shihui Aburame's face.
She didn't understand why he was so decisive.
A new day arrived.
Hinata couldn't remember when she fell asleep.
But waking up, she felt touched.
In her dreams, she relived yesterday's scene, where Shihui Aburame appeared like a hero to save her.
She just didn't know his name.
"Miss."
A maid's voice came from outside the door.
"Come in."
Hinata put on her clothes.
As usual, she sat in front of the mirror.
The maid helped her brush her hair.
"I want to go out today."
Hinata mustered her courage to speak.
"Go out?"
The maid was taken aback.
It was the first time she'd heard such a request from Hinata.
"I'm sorry, but Lord Hiashi has ordered that you may only go out once school starts."
The maid shook her head, denying Hinata's once-in-a-lifetime request.
Hinata bit her lip, feeling a bit upset.
She knew the reason.
It was because she went missing yesterday, which had infuriated her father.
School started in four days.
Would he be enrolling?
Hinata suddenly thought of her cousin, Neji Hyuga.
Ever since he was branded with the Caged Bird seal, their relationship had grown distant.
He often said the Hyuga clan was a cage.
Today, Miss Hinata wanted to go out.