When Izanami returned home, he didn't immediately cook or take a bath. Instead, he walked into his room and emerged holding a locked box.
Judging by Izanami's serious expression, the box must have contained something of great value. Even the key to the lock was hidden in a secret compartment in the living room.
When he opened the box, it didn't contain scrolls or weapons, but a red ceramic piggy bank.
"Little pig... farewell," Izanami said, holding the piggy bank, his hands and voice trembling slightly, his expression filled with sorrow.
After speaking, he turned his head away, closed his eyes, and fiercely smashed the piggy bank onto the ground. The ceramic piggy bank instantly shattered, revealing a pile of coins scattered across the floor.
Izanami knelt down and began picking up the coins and banknotes one by one, just as he had done since childhood, carefully putting them back into the piggy bank. This money had been saved by Izanami from his monthly survivor's pension and the rewards he earned from D-rank missions during this time. As for the inheritance left by his parents, it had long been used up. After all, he wasn't just supporting himself; he also had to support a big eater.
If not for the village's monthly pension relief, which stopped being issued once he became a Genin, Izanami would have had to eat tree bark and wild grass long ago.
He placed the coins into a bag, then added the twenty-three thousand ryo he had just received. With the bag in hand, he headed out to a shop.
With a loud thud, Izanami placed the bag heavily on the counter, pointing at something, and said, "Boss, this contains three hundred eighty-eight thousand three hundred ryo. I want to buy a film camera, and the remaining money should be exchanged for film and photo processing materials."
"Alright, thank you for your patronage!" The boss's enthusiastic voice rang out.
Soon enough, Izanami walked out of the shop, a camera in hand.
"Finally bought it. It's not too late now," Izanami said, affectionately playing with the camera. He smiled to himself, "Although I can't record the memories of my childhood with Hinata, I can record Hanabi's growth. It's worth it!"
"I'm broke. The stuff in the fridge probably can't be eaten either. Looks like it's time to go hunting and grilling tonight…"
"Oni-chan, wake up, the sun is shining on your butt."
The next day, Izanami, who suffered from oversleeping, still enjoyed his "princess's wake-up service." However, this time, it wasn't the elder princess waking him, but the younger one.
His nose felt a little itchy. Izanami opened his eyes, and in his blurry vision, a delicate and cute little face slowly came into focus. It was Hanabi, wearing a yellow-brown kimono. She was straddling Izanami, leaning down, holding his bangs, and using her hair to sweep across Izanami's nose and face.
"Naughty. Next time you're asleep, Oni-chan will do the same to you," Izanami said with a smile, rubbing Hanabi's little face.
"Hehe... Sister told me to wake Oni-chan up. If Oni-chan wants to blame someone, blame Sister," Hanabi immediately rubbed against Izanami's palm, happily shifting the blame.
"…You go out first. Oni-chan needs to wash up."
"Okay."
After playing with Hanabi in bed for a while, Izanami patted her little butt, signaling her to get off the bed. Hanabi, wearing white long socks, jumped off the bed and ran out, making no sound as she went.
After a simple wash, Izanami opened the drawer of his desk and took out the camera he had placed inside.
As soon as he stepped out of his room, the first thing he saw was Hinata, busy in the kitchen.
At this moment, Hinata wasn't wearing her usual white windbreaker and black trousers, but a white kimono, decorated with purple and white petal patterns along the obi, cuffs, and hem. Her long black hair was styled into a neat bun at the back of her head. She wore an apron, skillfully flipping a pan, while Hanabi sat at the dining table wrapping rice balls with seaweed.
Seeing this scene, Izanami couldn't help but hold his breath, walking on tiptoe with the camera, searching for the most harmonious angle with the light.
With a click, a picture was instantly captured: the sisters, back to back, one standing and the other kneeling, each busy with their own tasks, both wearing kimonos.
Hearing the camera shutter sound, both Hinata and Hanabi turned toward him.
"Camera!"
Looking at the camera in Izanami's hand, Hanabi's eyes lit up. She quickly took off her gloves and ran over. "Oni-chan, when did you buy this camera?"
"Bought it yesterday."
"Oni-chan, let me see!"
"Be careful. Oni-chan spent three hundred thousand ryo on this, using up all his savings and mission rewards," Izanami said, handing her the camera and giving her a caution.
Hanabi, hearing this, wiped her hands vigorously on her expensive kimono, which was worth several cameras, before taking the camera into her hands.
"Oni-chan, how do you look at the photos?"
"You have to develop them. After breakfast, Oni-chan will teach you how to develop photos."
"Okay, okay! Oni-chan, let's take a picture too!"
"No rush. After your sister finishes cooking, we'll take a picture together. That way it will be more meaningful."
"Mhm, mhm…"
Looking at Izanami and Hanabi playing, Hinata smiled softly, a warm expression on her face.
After Hinata finished preparing breakfast and Izanami and Hanabi had finished wrapping the rice balls, the three of them sat at the dining table, holding seaweed-wrapped rice balls, and took their first group photo with bright smiles.
Izanami sat in the middle, with the sisters on either side. The one responsible for taking the photo was Izanami's Shadow Clone.
How could a selfie stick be as useful as a Shadow Clone?
After breakfast, all three stayed in Izanami's room, pulled the blackout curtains, and began developing the photos.
"So beautiful..." Hanabi exclaimed, unable to find the right words as she gazed at the artistic photo of the sisters.
Hinata, on the other hand, stared at the group photo of the three of them, her beautiful eyes sparkling.
At that moment, both her and Izanami's thoughts mirrored each other. If only they had a camera when they were children, they could have captured the moments of her and Izanami growing up.
But... it wasn't too late now.
So, for the rest of the day, Izanami and the Hyuga sisters took photos everywhere.
They started with various spots around the house— the living room, balcony, dojo, and courtyard. Then, they went outside to the familiar abandoned training ground, and later to some scenic waterfall areas, taking photos— some solo, some in pairs, and others in triples.
As they passed by a large tree, Hinata suddenly took the initiative. With a flushed face, she pulled on the sleeve of the long robe Izanami had specially changed into and, in a shy voice, asked, "Izanami, can we use the Transformation Technique?"
Izanami paused for a moment, slightly taken aback.
He followed her gaze to the large tree and then, understanding, smiled and nodded. "Okay, let's do it together."
"Mhm."
Hinata nodded happily. After Izanami performed the Shadow Clone Technique, the two stood facing each other and simultaneously formed hand seals: "Transformation Technique!"
A puff of white smoke dispersed, and under the large tree, two children in ordinary clothes with chubby baby faces stood smiling at each other.
The two children then turned to Izanami's Shadow Clone, both beaming brightly.
With a click, the moment was preserved forever.