Konoha: Start from untying the caged bird

Page 181

After composing myself, I left the office.

Quan, who was standing at the entrance, had obviously been waiting for a long time. As soon as he came out, he also clocked out on time.

"Go change your clothes first."

Hinata Yuzuru suggested, and Izumi nodded, but simply said frankly, "I don't have anything to change... The only clothes that fit me at home are probably this close combat suit."

"Then wait a moment." He returned home with a Flying Thunder God technique. Before long, he changed into an ordinary outfit. His white long-sleeved shirt did not even have the Hyuga clan crest on it. The ordinary baseball cap he wore covered most of his long hair. Apart from his somewhat piercing eyes, at first glance, he really looked very different from his usual demeanor.

"Let's go. With the illusion magic, it will be difficult for ordinary people to recognize me."

Hyuga Yuzuru smiled slightly, and Uchiha Izumi then noticed the faint fluctuations of ocular power and chakra emanating from him. She was secretly surprised at how high his genjutsu skills had become, but that was all. She returned the smile with a faint smile: "Shall we eat first?"

"it is good."

Hyuga Yuzuru didn't refuse; instead, he enthusiastically talked about where they were going: "A while ago, a chef with quite a reputation in the Land of Fire came to Konoha and opened a barbecue restaurant. I wonder if it's finished being renovated yet."

"Hmm." She didn't care where they ate, and naturally stood beside him, walking side by side with him. The two strolled through the streets of Konoha. Hyuga Yuzuru, dressed in casual clothes, only used genjutsu to slightly disguise himself. The villagers who saw him felt that Hyuga Yuzuru was both familiar and unfamiliar, and they couldn't recognize him as the Fifth Hokage at all.

Uchiha Izumi's tactical vest and her aloof and indifferent expression when she calmed down were both off-putting. Ordinary villagers would only glance at her and then look away. Hyuga Yuzuru, unusually, was enjoying his peaceful daily life in Konoha like an ordinary person.

More and more tall buildings lined both sides of the street. Yuzuru Hinata would occasionally look up and smile at the flashing colorful signs. This scene, which was becoming more and more like the world he remembered before he transmigrated, always made him feel comfortable and at ease.

Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle engine rang out in the distance. On the wide streets of Konoha, the villagers simply gave way, and the motorcycle nimbly weaved through them. Hyuga Yuzuru looked into the distance and saw Tsunade riding a motorcycle with a spirited expression, twisting the throttle with a loud throttle.

Shizune behind her would occasionally plead with her to slow down, her voice trembling with tears, but Tsunade just laughed and didn't slow down at all.

With her abilities at the level of a Sannin, even if the motorcycle suddenly disintegrated on the spot, no one would be injured.

"It seems that traffic laws and speed limits should be put on the agenda soon."

Hyuga Yuzuru smiled, while Izumi stood by the roadside, watching Tsunade speed away down the road. Some villagers looked on with longing, while others cheered and applauded, satisfying Tsunade's vanity. Motorcycles were still a rarity these days, and not many people in Konoha owned one, let alone rode it every day. For the villagers, they didn't find it annoying at all; on the contrary, they found it incredibly novel.

Uchiha Izumi smiled, looking at the wide road and the pedestrian and motor vehicle lanes that had been planned from the early stages of construction, and sighed, "I wonder what the streets of Konoha will look like in a few years."

The most direct feeling I get from living in Konoha is that technology is developing way too fast.

Ten years ago, only a small number of people lived in apartment buildings, and the streets were just ordinary cobblestone streets. But now there are high-rise buildings and neon lights everywhere, and the streets are made of new materials. Every year, a large number of new things are put into the market and eventually used by people in their lives.

Small music players and televisions, which are now in mass production, are expensive but readily available to most ninjas.

"Some time ago, someone in the Uchiha clan bought a motorcycle, but because he was speeding on the training ground and disturbing the training, he was fined a lot of money by Shisui-senpai..." Uchiha Izumi told him about the interesting things that happened in his life, which also helped him understand the lives of the general public in Konoha.

Hinata Yuzuru, undeterred, chatted with her with great interest, showing interest in everything.

The two chatted casually as they walked through the streets of Konoha, but perhaps the way they communicated now made Hinata Yuzuru much more relaxed than when they were children.

“Yuzuru, this…” She subconsciously called out Hinata Yuzuru’s name, pointing to the cake in the transparent display case not far away, but as soon as she finished speaking, she realized that she had omitted the honorific. She turned to look at Hinata Yuzuru, only to see him smiling and saying, “Just call me that when you leave work.”

"Hmm." A slight smile played on her lips as she pointed to the cake in the distance. "I've never had one before... Can you come with me to buy one?"

Hinata Yuzuru thought for a moment, then nodded: "Let's go."

The cake shops in Konoha usually don't stay open too late; if you buy one after you've eaten, it might be closed by then.

As the two approached the cake shop, the girl inside raised her voice and said, "Welcome!"

Uchiha Izumi stared at the dazzling array of cakes in the display case, looking at the different designs with a troubled expression. After a while, she looked up as if seeking help, and the shopkeeper kindly offered her assistance.

"The new dark chocolate cake is selling very well."

She pointed to the chocolate-colored cake in the cupboard, and Izumi, no longer hesitating, reached out and said, "Please get me one..."

"Both of them, let's pack them up first."

He looked at Quan and said softly, "Let's take one back for Xun too."

Uchiha Izumi's expression remained unchanged, and she said, "Okay, but let me settle the accounts."

She took out her wallet and paid the bill before Hinata Yuzuru could. Seeing his helpless smile, her smile faded slightly from her delicate face, but it was still clear that she was in a good mood.

The two continued walking, carrying the small cakes, and a two-story barbecue restaurant came into view. Hyuga Yuzuru carefully examined it and found that the price list at the entrance was indeed not cheap, more than twice as expensive as ordinary barbecue restaurants in Konoha.

"Damingfu Roast Meat".

Below the shop name is a brief introduction to the shop and the chef.

'Our chef was once the personal barbecue chef of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.'

The simple name brought a smile to Hyuga Yuzuru's face. He never expected that even the cook of the Fire Country's daimyo would come to Konoha.

Suddenly, I felt a surge of excitement, like someone eagerly exploring a shop before time travel.

The first floor only has stairs and an entrance. When you get to the second floor, a large open-plan space suddenly appears. It has a classic Japanese layout. Behind the long bar table is a long slab for grilling meat. The chef and several assistants, dressed in chef's uniforms, are busy at work. When they see people coming, they all call out loudly.

"welcome!"

After giving a greeting, Hyuga Yuzuru looked around and saw that there weren't many people in the store. The prices here were not low, and even Chunin probably couldn't come here every day.

The decor here is very modern, probably designed by a Konoha designer who used a lot of the latest technology. Whether it's the lighting, seating, or cabinets, everything is very much in line with the modern style that Hyuga Yuzuru likes, but it also combines with the rustic Japanese style. At first glance, it really is no different from the modern shop before he time-traveled.

Hyuga Yuzuru and Uchiha Izumi sat at the bar. The customers next to them looked familiar to Hyuga Yuzuru. He looked over and realized that they were acquaintances: Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai.

Upon seeing Uchiha Izumi appear beside them, Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma greeted her first, and then looked at Hyuga Yuzuru. His simple genjutsu was only meant to mislead the common people, and rather than cause any misunderstanding, he simply dispelled the genjutsu in the shop.

The two people who were sitting immediately stood up straight: "Fifth Boss."

"I hope I didn't disturb you." Hinata Yuzuru said with a smile, while Yuhi Kurenai and Asuma smiled awkwardly. But soon, Yuhi Kurenai looked at the two of them with an "oh ho" look and a mischievous smile on her face.

"No, I just didn't expect that the Hokage would come here to eat..." Asuma's expression was still somewhat unnatural. Facing the current Fifth Hokage, he felt inexplicably ashamed.

But Hyuga Yuzuru simply raised his hand and waved it, saying to the flustered chefs and waiters beside him, "The Hokage is off work, he's just an ordinary person... Anyway, you guys eat your food."

Kurenai tugged at Asuma's sleeve, and Sarutobi Asuma finally understood, letting out two "Oh, oh!" sounds: "Yes!"

The two talked in hushed tones, but did not disturb Hyuga Yuzuru any further. Hyuga Yuzuru and Izumi looked at the menu. Izumi had not yet decided what to eat, but Hyuga Yuzuru said casually, "Please order one of everything on the menu."

Kurenai Yuhi smiled slightly, but restrained herself from teasing due to her status. However, she couldn't help thinking: "No wonder he's the man who set a record of fifty-six bowls of ramen in Konoha..."

Izumi smiled relaxedly, took the water the chef handed him, and joked, "I almost forgot, when I come out with Yuzuru, I probably don't have to choose from the menu."

Hinata Yuzuru shrugged and started chatting with the chef.

The chef, busy preparing the grilled meat for him, nervously answered his questions.

What kind of person is the Daimyo of the Land of Fire?

What are his hobbies?

What is the average income there?

"What are the prices like in the capital of the Land of Fire now?"

Hinata Yuzuru initially chatted casually about everyday things, but as the conversation went on, his professional habits kicked in. It wasn't until Izumi gently nudged him with her elbow that he realized the chef was too nervous to even start grilling the meat.

"Sorry, please focus on cooking." He smiled apologetically, then turned to look at Izumi: "Where do you want to go after we finish eating?"

Izumi tossed her short hair aside, reached out and picked up chopsticks for him, setting them out: "Want to go see a movie? The new movie 'Fujikaze in the Snow Country' has only been showing for two days, and I heard it recently broke box office records."

"What movie?" he asked, showing some interest.

"I've heard from my ANBU comrades that 'Snow Love' is a rare movie that doesn't flaunt ninja power to attract civilians, but tells a serious story."

After finishing his sentence, Quan shrugged and said, "However, it probably won't be that good. But I heard that there's a very interesting movie coming out next month."

"What?" Hyuga Yuzuru asked in confusion, and Uchiha Izumi looked at him with a mysterious smile: "A reply."

He was taken aback, then said with a surprised look, "Is it the one I know?"

"Yes, it's that novel 'Reply' that became a sensation in the ninja world, but you didn't even receive a single dollar in royalties. Now it's going to be adapted into a movie."

Izumi joked, while Hyuga Yuzuru feigned annoyance: "If the filming is bad, I'll find a Konoha ninja and make him pay for it."

"The Hokage in the movie is a great hero."

After Uchiha Izumi finished speaking, she paused, her smile fading slightly, but she said in a light voice, "The same goes for real life."

Hinata Yuzuru turned to look at her. In the dim, ambiguous light, the girl turned her face to look at him, and the faint smile on her usually aloof face was particularly alluring.

"Please try our signature diaphragm meat."

have nothing to say.

Just cook the rice and that's it.

Hyuga Yuzuru stopped talking and didn't respond, focusing on eating. By the time he was finally full, it was already quite late, and Kurenai and Asuma had already tactfully left.

The prices on the menu were expensive, but when it came time to pay, the chef insisted on giving him a discount, insisting on charging only the cost price. After much persuasion, he finally got a 20% discount.

The two left the restaurant and strolled down the street. Hinata Yuzuru looked at her clothes and said, "Forget about the movie, let's go buy you some clothes instead."

“Okay.” She nodded nonchalantly, and the two headed straight for the commercial district. Konoha had no curfew at the moment, so the bustling commercial street would stay open until at least 10 p.m., which was unthinkable for Konoha a few years ago.

As most villagers found employment and the economy grew rapidly, people's needs increased, and shops naturally began to cater to the schedules of most ordinary people.

After get off work in the evening, strolling around the streets with family and friends, shopping and eating has become the lifestyle of most Konoha residents.

Hinata Yuzuru's illusion magic helped them blend into the crowd naturally, just like ordinary people. Even though they were already quite full, Hinata Yuzuru still enthusiastically ate at every snack stall on the street.

Quan was completely unable to eat anymore, but seeing him enjoying his meal so much, he couldn't resist taking a couple of bites himself.

The two strolled down the street like friends and lovers at the same time. When they came to a clothing store, she hesitated, looking at the dazzling array of new clothes.

Hyuga Yuzuru hadn't expected Uchiha Izumi to have such an expression in front of the clothing store. Looking at her with a puzzled expression, Uchiha Izumi sighed and lowered her head: "You... help me choose."

She looked slightly dejected, raised her head with a helpless smile, and said with a self-deprecating laugh, "I guess I'm out of touch with the times."

Although the clothes looked trendy and beautiful, for some reason she felt at a loss, unsure which one suited her or which one was in line with current trends.

For a girl who is only eighteen years old, this is simply unbelievable.

But tonight, Izumi felt increasingly powerless—she, like Hinata Yuzuru, found the movies that most girls liked rather dull.

When it comes to accessories that girls like, she often thinks first about whether wearing them will impede her movement, rather than looking at them from an aesthetic point of view.

Looking at these beautiful clothes, I felt even more out of place with them.

Hinata Yuzuru was silent for a moment, then reached out and gently patted her head: "You look good in anything... Come on, let me pick something out for you."

It was rare for him to pat her hair like he did when she was a child. Izumi smiled, but she felt that his movements were very skillful. Thinking about it carefully, she realized that he probably learned from Hinata Kaoru.

Hinata Yuzuru carefully picked out clothes for her, considering her current style. He didn't choose anything too sexy or cute, but instead browsed around and selected some more androgynous outfits.

Black sweatpants, a white shirt, a black trench coat, and black boots for easy movement.

These clothes, which at first glance don't seem to match well, looked exceptionally dashing when Quan tried them on.

She looked in the mirror, twirled around a few times, and said somewhat uncertainly, "Does this... look good?"

I always felt that it wasn't the kind of outfit a girl should wear.

Hinata Yuzuru nodded, pondered for a moment, and began to frequently select different styles for her to try.

Skinny light blue jeans and a white short-sleeved shirt, various colored blouses and skirts, a white knit sweater paired with a black midi skirt...

Quan was dressed up like a doll, and finally, he couldn't help but ask, "It should be... about time, right?"

Even the waitress was amazed; this was the first time she had ever seen a boy dress up as a girl with more care and dedication than the girl herself.

Hyuga Yuzuru let out a long sigh of relief.

"Buy them all."

Izumi blinked, while Hinata Yuzuru smiled and gave a thumbs up: "I originally thought you were only suited to that kind of androgynous style, but I didn't expect that you would look good in anything."

Quan's cheeks flushed slightly, a rare occurrence. She lowered her head, feeling somewhat uncomfortable in her black miniskirt, instinctively pulling down the hem. Her white shirt was paired with a casual tie—a combination...

Having grown accustomed to wearing combat uniforms, she was finding it quite difficult to adjust at first.

But Hinata Yuzuru was completely satisfied.

Izumi's high school girl attire perfectly showcased her youthful beauty. Her delicate face, framed by short hair, avoided her gaze somewhat awkwardly. She nervously pressed down on her skirt, her movements both shy and timid, yet her tightly pursed lips gave her a slightly aloof air.

Even if she were to travel to the modern era and play a cool and aloof goddess senior in a youth romance comedy, it would feel perfectly natural.

Encouraging freedom of dress is wonderful!

Otherwise, in the future, all the girls in the ninja academy should just be given a set of uniforms like this for free.

He stared at them with a smile until the waiter asked with some doubt, "Are you really going to buy them all?"

"Yes, let's buy all the clothes you've tried on."

He said with a smile.

Quan shook his head repeatedly: "I don't need that many clothes...and I don't have many opportunities to wear them..."

She lowered her gaze, and after a moment, a smile played on her lips: "However, if there were more days like today..."