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Chapter 77 - Chapter 77 - Visit to Hyuga Clan

Hanabi's small footsteps echoed behind Gojo and Hinata as she trailed them into the Hyuga main hall. Her cheeks were still puffed in indignation, and her arms were crossed in a way that mimicked the elders she often watched in family meetings. But there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes, mixed with a spark of childish mischief.

The hall was grand—polished floors gleamed beneath the soft golden glow of paper lanterns hanging from the high wooden beams. The subtle scent of incense floated through the air, and traditional wall scrolls decorated with calligraphy lined the walls.

Gojo looked around, his sharp eyes absorbing every detail. The Hyuga Clan's formality was evident in the structure and silence of their hall.

Hinata walked beside him, still a little flushed, occasionally stealing glances at his expression. Despite the nerves fluttering inside her, she held herself with grace.

Hanabi, however, refused to be left out again.

She rushed forward and placed herself firmly between Hinata and Gojo.

"Listen here, Gojo!" she began again, her tiny index finger raised in front of his face. "You can't ignore me just because I'm small! You have to talk to me too! I'm also part of the family, you know!"

Gojo raised an eyebrow slightly, but his face remained unreadable. He looked down at the little girl with mild interest, but said nothing.

Hanabi waited.

When no answer came, she huffed.

"Hmph! That's it! You're definitely the type who doesn't respect elders and young ones! I'm telling Father!"

She stomped away a few steps, then turned back again.

Hinata, who had been trying to stifle her laughter, finally spoke.

"Hanabi… stop being rude. Gojo-kun is our guest."

Hanabi blinked.

"But he's not even apologizing for ignoring me!"

Hinata smiled awkwardly.

"It's fine. Let's just go inside and prepare for the family's New Year prayer. Father might be back soon."

That reminder settled Hanabi down—somewhat. She lowered her arms and looked at Gojo again, still slightly wary, but curious.

"You better not make my sister sad, okay?" she muttered under her breath.

Gojo simply glanced at her for a moment and then turned toward Hinata again.

"Shall we go?"

Hinata nodded.

As the three of them entered the inner chamber of the Hyuga residence, the atmosphere shifted. The inner part of the house was quieter, lined with paper doors and subtle decorations. It was a space reserved for important family matters and ceremonial occasions.

Hanabi kept sneaking glances at Gojo from time to time, her little mind still processing her earlier thoughts. She had imagined this silver-haired boy differently. Now that she was up close, she could tell he wasn't just good-looking. There was a kind of aura around him—strong, silent, confident.

It made her feel like she was looking at someone important. Truly important. Not just in name.

Her thoughts drifted again, remembering the moment she had overheard her maid explaining who he was.

"Senju Gojo," her maid had said that day. "They say he has the complete bloodlines of the Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki. They say he's a genius child, someone who may rival legends."

Hanabi had widened her eyes back then. Even though she was still very young, she knew those were not simple words.

She had clutched her dango tighter and decided then and there to learn more.

Now, as she watched him walk beside Hinata like they belonged together, she felt a strange mix of admiration and competitiveness.

Maybe he is worthy, she thought. Maybe... but I'll still keep testing him.

The trio finally sat in the guest area, where cushions had already been laid out. The servants brought warm tea and small traditional sweets as part of the New Year hospitality.

Gojo accepted the cup with quiet grace, thanking the servant politely.

Hanabi watched everything—how he held the cup, how he sat, how he spoke. It was almost annoying how refined he was.

Meanwhile, Hinata seemed at ease. Though her hands were trembling slightly as she held her cup, she looked happy. Her eyes often turned to Gojo with a soft, gentle expression.

Hanabi sighed dramatically, leaning back with her tiny arms behind her head.

"So… you're from the Senju Clan, right? That means you're rich and strong and noble. But do you know how to make herbal tea?" she asked randomly.

Gojo blinked.

"No," he replied plainly.

Hanabi smirked.

"Ha! I knew it! You're not perfect!"

Gojo said nothing in response.

Hinata gently placed her cup down and glanced toward her sister.

"Hanabi, that's not how you treat guests."

But Hanabi only smiled.

She didn't really mean to be rude. It was just that the sight of her big sister smiling so much tonight made her feel a little… complicated.

After all, Hinata rarely smiled like this. She was usually nervous, timid, shy. But when she was with Gojo, she smiled differently—brighter, deeper.

Hanabi noticed it. And though she still puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms, she made a quiet vow in her heart.

If he ever makes her cry, I'll make him regret it.

As the hour grew later, the warmth of the tea and the peace of the household settled over them like a soft blanket.

Gojo quietly enjoyed the stillness. It was different from his usual bustling surroundings—different from the attention and admiration he usually received.

Hinata sat nearby, her head lowered slightly, her thoughts a gentle swirl of hope and nerves.

And Hanabi, though she tried to act indifferent, remained close.

She leaned against her sister's side, occasionally throwing Gojo a sideways glance.

Eventually, a servant came in to notify Hinata that her father would be arriving soon and that the ceremonial hall was ready.

Hinata nodded politely, then stood and turned to Gojo.

"Would you like to stay for the ceremony?"

Gojo considered for a moment, then smiled slightly.

"No, thank you. I've stayed long enough."

Hinata looked a little disappointed but didn't protest.

Hanabi stuck out her tongue a little.

"Hmph. Scared of formal stuff, huh?"

Gojo simply stood and adjusted his sleeves.

"Good night, Hinata," he said softly.

Hinata bowed slightly.

"Good night, Gojo-kun. Thank you for coming."

Without another word, Gojo turned and left the Hyuga residence, disappearing into the night.

Hanabi stared after him.

Then she turned to Hinata and muttered under her breath, "You like him a lot, don't you?"

Hinata's cheeks flamed red.

"H-Hanabi!"

But Hanabi just giggled.

She may have puffed her cheeks in jealousy earlier, but in the end, she wanted her sister to be happy.

As she walked away toward her own room, she looked over her shoulder one last time.

"Still... I'll tell Father something mischievous about him. Just to make things fun."

With a grin, Hanabi vanished into the hallway.

Chapter [Next] - Fireworks Farewell and Hyuga Encounter (Part 2)

Hanabi's small footsteps echoed behind Gojo and Hinata as she trailed them into the Hyuga main hall. Her cheeks were still puffed in indignation, and her arms were crossed in a way that mimicked the elders she often watched in family meetings. But there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes, mixed with a spark of childish mischief.

The hall was grand—polished floors gleamed beneath the soft golden glow of paper lanterns hanging from the high wooden beams. The subtle scent of incense floated through the air, and traditional wall scrolls decorated with calligraphy lined the walls.

Gojo looked around, his sharp eyes absorbing every detail. The Hyuga Clan's formality was evident in the structure and silence of their hall.

Hinata walked beside him, still a little flushed, occasionally stealing glances at his expression. Despite the nerves fluttering inside her, she held herself with grace.

Hanabi, however, refused to be left out again.

She rushed forward and placed herself firmly between Hinata and Gojo.

"Listen here, Gojo!" she began again, her tiny index finger raised in front of his face. "You can't ignore me just because I'm small! You have to talk to me too! I'm also part of the family, you know!"

Gojo raised an eyebrow slightly, but his face remained unreadable. He looked down at the little girl with mild interest, but said nothing.

Hanabi waited.

When no answer came, she huffed.

"Hmph! That's it! You're definitely the type who doesn't respect elders and young ones! I'm telling Father!"

She stomped away a few steps, then turned back again.

Hinata, who had been trying to stifle her laughter, finally spoke.

"Hanabi… stop being rude. Gojo-kun is our guest."

Hanabi blinked.

"But he's not even apologizing for ignoring me!"

Hinata smiled awkwardly.

"It's fine. Let's just go inside and prepare for the family's New Year prayer. Father might be back soon."

That reminder settled Hanabi down—somewhat. She lowered her arms and looked at Gojo again, still slightly wary, but curious.

"You better not make my sister sad, okay?" she muttered under her breath.

Gojo simply glanced at her for a moment and then turned toward Hinata again.

"Shall we go?"

Hinata nodded.

As the three of them entered the inner chamber of the Hyuga residence, the atmosphere shifted. The inner part of the house was quieter, lined with paper doors and subtle decorations. It was a space reserved for important family matters and ceremonial occasions.

Hanabi kept sneaking glances at Gojo from time to time, her little mind still processing her earlier thoughts. She had imagined this silver-haired boy differently. Now that she was up close, she could tell he wasn't just good-looking. There was a kind of aura around him—strong, silent, confident.

It made her feel like she was looking at someone important. Truly important. Not just in name.

Her thoughts drifted again, remembering the moment she had overheard her maid explaining who he was.

"Senju Gojo," her maid had said that day. "They say he has the complete bloodlines of the Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki. They say he's a genius child, someone who may rival legends."

Hanabi had widened her eyes back then. Even though she was still very young, she knew those were not simple words.

She had clutched her dango tighter and decided then and there to learn more.

Now, as she watched him walk beside Hinata like they belonged together, she felt a strange mix of admiration and competitiveness.

Maybe he is worthy, she thought. Maybe... but I'll still keep testing him.

The trio finally sat in the guest area, where cushions had already been laid out. The servants brought warm tea and small traditional sweets as part of the New Year hospitality.

Gojo accepted the cup with quiet grace, thanking the servant politely.

Hanabi watched everything—how he held the cup, how he sat, how he spoke. It was almost annoying how refined he was.

Meanwhile, Hinata seemed at ease. Though her hands were trembling slightly as she held her cup, she looked happy. Her eyes often turned to Gojo with a soft, gentle expression.

Hanabi sighed dramatically, leaning back with her tiny arms behind her head.

"So… you're from the Senju Clan, right? That means you're rich and strong and noble. But do you know how to make herbal tea?" she asked randomly.

Gojo blinked.

"No," he replied plainly.

Hanabi smirked.

"Ha! I knew it! You're not perfect!"

Gojo said nothing in response.

Hinata gently placed her cup down and glanced toward her sister.

"Hanabi, that's not how you treat guests."

But Hanabi only smiled.

She didn't really mean to be rude. It was just that the sight of her big sister smiling so much tonight made her feel a little… complicated.

After all, Hinata rarely smiled like this. She was usually nervous, timid, shy. But when she was with Gojo, she smiled differently—brighter, deeper.

Hanabi noticed it. And though she still puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms, she made a quiet vow in her heart.

If he ever makes her cry, I'll make him regret it.

As the hour grew later, the warmth of the tea and the peace of the household settled over them like a soft blanket.

Gojo quietly enjoyed the stillness. It was different from his usual bustling surroundings—different from the attention and admiration he usually received.

Hinata sat nearby, her head lowered slightly, her thoughts a gentle swirl of hope and nerves.

And Hanabi, though she tried to act indifferent, remained close.

She leaned against her sister's side, occasionally throwing Gojo a sideways glance.

Eventually, a servant came in to notify Hinata that her father would be arriving soon and that the ceremonial hall was ready.

Hinata nodded politely, then stood and turned to Gojo.

"Would you like to stay for the ceremony?"

Gojo considered for a moment, then smiled slightly.

"Okay."

Hinata smiled clearly happy with gojo answer

Hanabi stuck out her tongue a little.

"Hmph. Are you not Scared of formal stuff, huh?"

Gojo simply stood and adjusted his sleeves and lazily sat again .

Hanabi stared after him.

Then she turned to Hinata and whispered to her, "You like him a lot, don't you?"

Hinata's cheeks flamed red.

"H-Hanabi!"

But Hanabi just giggled.

She may have puffed her cheeks in jealousy earlier, but in the end, she wanted her sister to be happy.

As she walked away toward her own room, she looked over her shoulder one last time.

"Still... I'll tell Father something mischievous about him. Just to make things fun."

With a grin, Hanabi vanished into the hallway.

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End of Chapter

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