If it hadn't been for Mayfair, Hayate would never have checked the healing features in the system. Among the many recovery options, the Life Spirit Pill was the cheapest—but its effects were anything but discounted.
"No time for sentimentality. Hinata, let's check on Naruto's team," Hayate said.
In the original story, Orochimaru had branded Sasuke with a cursed seal. But now that Hayate's existence had changed the flow of events, he couldn't be sure if the plot itself had diverged. That uncertainty gnawed at him.
Both Sasuke and Naruto lay unconscious on the ground. Judging from their chakra flow, though, their lives weren't in danger. Sakura knelt beside them, guarding the two with a tense expression.
"Should we… help them?" Hinata's voice trembled slightly.
Even without her saying it, Hayate understood what she was thinking—Hinata wanted to protect Naruto.
Hayate frowned in thought. Judging by the situation, it didn't seem like the story had veered off course yet. That meant events were still following the original timeline. In that case, he had no reason to interfere. The last thing he wanted was to throw the future completely out of his control.
"They'll be fine," Hayate said after a pause. He glanced at Hinata, then continued, "Our own situation isn't great. Kiba barely survived that last fight, but his chakra's still depleted. Same for me—my reserves are empty. And even if I had chakra, with my right hand in this state, I couldn't use ninjutsu anyway."
Hinata listened quietly, then nodded. Hayate's analysis was logical—and honest.
"Brother Hayate… what should we do now?" she asked softly.
"We find somewhere safe to rest and recover," he said calmly, then turned to Kiba.
Kiba had been watching him the whole time. When Hayate's eyes met his, Kiba shrugged and smirked.
"You're the captain. Your call."
The word captain struck a chord in Hayate's chest. It wasn't just a title—it was a responsibility.
"Mm, I agree! Brother Hayate should be the captain!" Hinata said cheerfully, clasping her hands to her chest with a shy smile.
"Alright then…" Hayate exhaled and nodded. "Hinata, use your Byakugan to scout the area. Find us a hiding place. Kiba, once she locates one, set up traps nearby. But don't spread the perimeter too wide."
"No problem!" Kiba barked.
Hinata activated her Byakugan, her white eyes glowing faintly. After a moment of scanning, she said,
"Found it. There's a hollow tree not far ahead—it's really well hidden."
"Perfect. Let's move!" Hayate said decisively. He cast one last glance at the fallen enemies on the ground, steadied himself, and stood. Then he reached out and took Hinata's hand.
The sudden touch made Hinata jolt like a startled rabbit. Her cheeks turned crimson as she looked up at him.
Brother Hayate's hand… it's so big, so warm, so strong… so safe…
"Hinata, lead the way," Hayate said, his gaze forward and tone steady. "Team Eight—hand in hand, we advance and retreat together."
Her hand was soft—and she didn't pull away.
Hinata Development Plan… Phase One: Complete.
They walked for a while before Hayate spotted a massive tree towering above the rest—at least twice the height of the others. It was the largest one he'd seen since entering the Forest of Death.
At first, he assumed the hiding spot was beneath that enormous trunk. But after searching around and finding nothing, he couldn't help but sigh.
"The concealment's really something…"
"Brother Hayate, what are you looking for? The tree hole's right here." Hinata pointed toward a nearby, rather ordinary-looking tree.
Hayate followed her finger—and nearly twitched. The so-called "tree hole" was barely big enough for a dog to crawl through.
"Kiba, you handle the traps. I'll… go see if there's anything edible nearby. Hinata, stay here."
"Got it!"
"Okay!"
Hearing their synchronized replies almost made Hayate snap to attention and salute. But he managed—barely—to restrain himself through sheer willpower.
As he walked off, he glanced down at his right hand. Then his thoughts drifted back to Orochimaru.
That guy… why didn't he come after us once he found Sasuke? Was it disdain? Or did he lose interest after achieving his goal?
He shook his head. It didn't matter. The fact that Orochimaru hadn't shown up was a blessing. Why bother questioning good fortune?
In the end… yeah, let's call it what it is: cheap luck.
A short while later, Hayate stumbled upon an apple tree.
"Nice! Finally, something good," he said with a grin, leaping up to pick a dozen apples before teleporting back.
"Brother Hayate, did you pick apples?" Hinata asked, smiling as he reappeared.
He immediately understood—she'd been watching over him with her Byakugan the whole time, worried he might run into danger.
She really was keeping an eye on me…
Of course, the reason he hadn't let her go forage herself was precisely because he didn't want her getting hurt.
By the time he returned, Kiba had already finished laying out traps with efficient precision. The three of them sat together in the cramped space, eating apples to replenish their strength.
They took turns keeping watch while the others rested.
Hayate and Kiba eventually lay down on the damp ground. As their breathing steadied, Hayate heard Kiba's faint snoring beside him.
Thirty system points left…
He mentally reviewed his stats. After finishing his last mission, he'd earned 300 points—but that feeling of being a "rich man" had vanished fast. Now he was broke again.
Better keep twenty for emergencies. That leaves ten to invest. How can I spend them to boost combat effectiveness? I can't just keep relying on the three Great Jade Rasengans like some washed-up loser…
No answer came to mind. His gaze drifted to Hinata's blurred silhouette nearby, and his eyelids grew heavy. Before long, he was asleep.
Meanwhile, not far away—
After leaving the cursed seal on Sasuke, Orochimaru had intended to pursue Hayate's group for amusement. But just as he was about to move, a shadow blocked his path.
"Orochimaru… it really is you!"
Standing before him was the examiner of the second Chūnin Exam—the kunoichi with a love for dango and a fiery spirit: Mitarashi Anko.