Chapter 322 – A Day's Outing
Hyūga Ayaka wasn't even sure what she was feeling as she found herself being dragged out of the lab by Uchiha Kei.
But she didn't resist.
Ever since she began working with Kei—
No, ever since she learned the truth of her own fate and stepped onto the battlefield—
she hadn't truly walked through Konoha's streets again.
The streets were familiar, yet that familiarity carried a faint sense of distance, like something she once knew but had forgotten how to feel.
She glanced at Kei beside her.
His gaze was fixed on Kimimaro, the little boy trailing quietly behind them.
And Kimimaro… looked completely different now.
The Uchiha operatives guarding the underground lab were frighteningly skilled.
Kimimaro's stark white hair had been dyed black.
The cinnabar mark at his brow had been concealed.
His skin was still pale, but nothing about him now revealed his origins.
And truthfully, he was quite cute at this age—
cold temperament aside.
"Hey," Kei suddenly said.
Then smack—he slapped Kimimaro lightly on the head.
"You're already acting like this at your age? What are you planning to act like when you grow up?"
"He's still a child," Ayaka sighed, rolling her eyes. "Betrayed by his clan on top of that. What exactly did you expect?"
She shot Kei a look.
"You know, I worry about your future children already."
"Hah? Worry about my kids?" Kei snorted. "Maybe worry about yourself first."
He waved dismissively.
"With your personality and schemes, whoever marries you is doomed."
"Boring," Ayaka muttered, refusing to rise to the bait.
Still… she couldn't deny the thought had crossed her mind.
Would she even be able to marry someday?
Given what she had done—and what she would yet need to do—
the Hyūga clan would likely see her as an enemy sooner or later.
Unless she had enough authority and enough leverage…
Otherwise—
She froze.
Her eyes drifted unconsciously toward Kei.
Authority.
Influence.
Leverage.
Obtaining those wasn't impossible.
Kei had once told her himself—
He wanted her to become the future head of the Medical Division.
If she gained that position…
If Kei's Security Division continued to grow…
If Imai Kenta controlled the Mission Department…
And with the Fourth Hokage supporting them—
Then her future would be secure.
She firmly believed she would one day free herself from the caged bird seal—
That her Byakugan would evolve—
That she would not lose to Kei in power.
But these things alone were never enough.
Strength was only a bargaining chip—
a foundation needed to survive conspiracies,
not something that could shape hearts.
Human hearts could not be forced—not by strength alone.
If power was an invisible fist, then showing it too often would only create fear…
And once the fist actually struck down, it could destroy everything.
"What's wrong?"
Kei had walked several steps before noticing Ayaka had stopped, staring at him with a strange expression.
"What's with that look? Don't tell me you're actually worried you won't get married? You're only sixteen. Plenty of time. As a friend, I can even help you."
"Friend…" Ayaka murmured inwardly.
Then she shook her head.
"And how exactly would you help?"
"Simple," Kei said proudly. "A little genjutsu solves everything. I can make whoever you like fall hopelessly in love with you."
Ayaka stared at him, speechless.
"…Forget it. I'm sixteen. I don't need comfort from a fifteen-year-old kid."
She mock-sneered but still resumed walking beside him.
"Heh. Even if I'm only fifteen, in terms of strategy, wit, and status, I surpass both you and Kenta in every way."
Kei chuckled carelessly.
"You two better work hard, or you'll lose sight of my back entirely."
"If Kei-kun is confident, that's good," Ayaka replied lightly.
"But I don't intend to fall behind."
She smiled— pointedly ignoring Imai Kenta's existence as usual.
"Speaking of which," she added casually, "aren't you at the age where clans usually arrange engagements?"
Engagement age?
Kei tilted his head.
Right… technically, he had long reached that age.
Large clans arranged marriages early.
Ayaka herself had been engaged last year.
Though her fiancé had been unlucky enough to be sacrificed as part of her "pledge" to join Kei's camp.
As for Kei—
He knew full well there were plenty of girls who secretly admired him or hoped for a political marriage.
If not for the Uchiha clan's reluctance to marry outside the clan…
and if not for Kei's outward gentleness masking an inner distance that kept people at arm's length…
he'd probably be drowning in proposals by now.
Kei sighed.
"Yeah. Last year, Fugaku mentioned it to me. I rejected it."
"Oh?" Ayaka raised a brow. "Why?"
"Do you really think a monster like me could keep a girl around?" Kei said with a dry, self-mocking laugh. "How's that for a reason?"
"Kei-kun, don't flatter yourself," Ayaka's eyes narrowed, a teasing smile forming.
"You don't honestly think you're just a monster, right?
You don't really believe that… do you? Really?"
"Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth," Kei rolled his eyes.
"Fine, just assume I want to marry someone I actually like. Makes more sense."
"And if she doesn't like you back?"
"That's fine. I'm a monster anyway. If she doesn't like me, I'll just use genjutsu.
If I'm not willing to do even that, what right do I have to say I like her?"
"…"
Their banter grew increasingly sarcastic and ridiculous.
Kimimaro, walking ahead of them, could tell something was off about their conversation…
but at his age, he had absolutely no idea what.
He sighed quietly and continued down Konoha's bustling street.
For someone who had been imprisoned in the Kaguya compound since the moment he could remember, never allowed outside—
this was the first time he had ever seen a world like this.
Everything fascinated him.
The warmth, the laughter, the friendly greetings between villagers, the gentle liveliness of the streets—
none of this had existed in his old life.
He pretended to look indifferent, but his eyes constantly darted everywhere, trying to take in everything at once.
Only when Kei or Ayaka looked his way did he quickly straighten up, forcing a cold, expressionless face.
Of course none of this escaped Kei's notice.
Seeing Kimimaro's secret curiosity, Kei smirked—
then casually grabbed Ayaka by the wrist and steered both of them toward the busiest street.
Ayaka clearly wasn't used to being pulled around like that, but she didn't complain.
What she did complain about was Kei constantly stopping at street stalls, buying skewers, dumplings, dango and all sorts of snacks, shoving them at her and Kimimaro.
It felt… nostalgic.
Ayaka couldn't even remember the last time she wandered Konoha's streets freely, eating whatever she wanted like a normal girl.
Eventually, she surrendered—
matching Kei's pace, eating while walking, abandoning the constant etiquette she normally maintained.
Kimimaro, at first, refused.
But when Kei looked at him with that dangerous glint in his eye…
He decided he didn't want to get hit.
Not because he feared pain—
back in the Kaguya clan, he'd endured beatings far worse than Kei's playful slaps.
But…
he really did want to try these beautiful, delicious-looking foods he'd never seen before.
I'm only doing this so he doesn't hit me, he told himself.
And so, a strangely harmonious scene appeared on Konoha's main street.
Though… their ages made the picture slightly odd.
More than ninety percent of Konoha's residents recognized Kei instantly.
How could they not?
A young war hero.
A newly appointed high-ranking official.
Head of the Police Force at such a young age.
The one who reformed the entire department.
Almost no one didn't know him.
Seeing him walking around with a Hyūga girl and a small child—
smiling, buying snacks—
completely unlike his usual composed demeanor…
Naturally, people stared.
Whispers followed them.
Some villagers wondered if Kei and Ayaka were a couple—
and whether the child was an Uchiha relative.
Kei and Ayaka were used to attention.
Kimimaro, however, was not.
His face turned bright red.
His head lowered.
His walk stiffened awkwardly.
Kei only shook his head.
The kid would adapt. He had time.
"Let's go," Kei said with a small grin.
"My treat. I'm taking you two to the movies. I've never actually watched one before."
"Movies?" Ayaka's expression twisted.
"Just the three of us?"
"Unless you want to invite Imai Kenta."
"…I meant—shouldn't we be doing something more productive? Aren't you here to find this kid a foster family?"
"That can wait. Are you going or not?"
"…Fine. Let's go. I've never really watched a movie either."