Soon, the kitchen curtain was pulled aside, and Naruto emerged, carrying two steaming, fragrant dishes.
One was sweet and sour pork, bright red and appetizing, its sweet and sour aroma instantly spreading through the air; the other was stir-fried pork with green peppers, a savory scent emanating from the wok.
"Just a little longer."
He carefully placed the dishes on the small table in the center of the living room, smiled at the eagerly watching sisters, and then turned to go back into the kitchen, where Naruto's busy movements could immediately be heard.
The rich aroma from the dishes on the table spread even more unrestrainedly.
"It smells so good, Big Sister!"
Hanabi, enticed by the scent, bounced off the sofa and pounced into Hinata's arms like a small cannonball, wriggling restlessly on her lap, her small head straining to look towards the dining table.
Hinata quickly caught her sister, and though she couldn't help but secretly swallow, she gently patted Hanabi's back and softly comforted her:
"Hanabi, be good, and wait patiently for Naruto-kun! We'll eat together once all the food is ready."
Her gaze also involuntarily drifted towards the two dishes, which were perfect in color, aroma, and taste. She felt immense admiration for Naruto's cooking skills and looked forward to the meal even more.
Looking at the two dishes already on the table, Naruto secretly congratulated himself: it was a good thing his Shadow Clone had prepared some food in advance, otherwise, there might not have been enough.
A moment later, the steam in the kitchen gradually dissipated, and Naruto emerged again, carrying two large, overflowing bowls.
The aroma from these bowls was different from the previous dishes.
As for whether Hinata and her sister would like what he made, Naruto wasn't sure, but he could confirm one thing:
Everything on this table was what he himself loved to eat!
He placed the large bowls in the center of the table:
One bowl was steamed shredded carrots mixed with flour, then seasoned with sesame oil and minced garlic, yielding a soft, glutinous texture with a hint of sweetness.
The other bowl was braised noodles with green beans and shredded pork, its rich sauce coating the noodles that had absorbed all the essence.
Considering Hinata's astonishing appetite, which might even surpass Choji's, Naruto also specially brought out the pre-heated plain steamed buns, placing them on a separate plate.
He meticulously placed the warmed milk, chopsticks, and small serving bowls in front of Hinata and Hanabi.
Then, Naruto was the first to pick up his chopsticks, clasped his hands together, and solemnly said, as was his habit, "I'm going to eat!"
Hanabi, who had long been restless from the aroma, immediately grabbed her chopsticks and, in a childish voice, eagerly followed suit, shouting, "I'm going to eat!"
The small living room was instantly filled with the warm aroma of food and the joyous atmosphere of an impending meal.
Inside the dining room of the Hyuga Clan's main residence.
Looking at the table full of exquisite but somewhat cold dishes, prepared according to strict standards and etiquette, Hyuga Hiashi sat upright, quietly waiting.
Clan rules were strict, especially during meal times.
A moment later, the designated mealtime had passed, but his two daughters were still nowhere to be seen. Hiashi's brows furrowed, and his authoritative gaze swept towards the maid who was usually primarily responsible for Hanabi's care.
"Have the two young ladies not arrived yet?"
His voice was steady, yet carried undeniable pressure.
The maid, sensing the patriarch's displeasure, immediately bowed her head even more respectfully and cautiously replied, "Lord Patriarch, the two young ladies... do not seem to have returned home yet. They left in the afternoon and have not been seen since."
Hiashi's brows furrowed even deeper.
That child, Hinata, would occasionally return late after school, likely to clear her head alone outside. He had heard a little about this but hadn't delved deeper.
But what about Hanabi?
Hanabi was still young, and her schedule was usually regular. She would occasionally go out to play but generally would have returned home by this time for evening lessons or to prepare for dinner.
Both daughters returning late simultaneously and without any news was an extremely rare occurrence in his strict household.
A hint of doubt and a faint unease, like a tiny drop of ink falling into clear water, slowly spread and rose within him.
Both daughters returning late without any news was too unusual.
He suddenly stood up, his wide kimono sleeves fluttering with the movement.
"I will go out and look for them myself."
An indescribable yet unusually clear bad premonition clung to him, preventing him from sitting calmly at home and waiting.
He quickly filtered through the places his two daughters might go in his mind.
Hinata was introverted, and Hanabi was still young; their friends in the village were few and far between.
Almost instantly, the first place that came to Hiashi's mind was the home of that blond boy—Uzumaki Naruto.
Although deep down he still had reservations about interacting with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and really didn't want to step foot in that child's residence, at this moment, a strong paternal intuition, combined with rational analysis, clearly told him: they should be there.
He no longer hesitated, his face grim, and strode out.
When Hyuga Hiashi followed the address to that apartment and raised his hand to knock on the door, a faint, slightly flustered sound of footsteps came from inside.
The one who opened the door was precisely the daughter he was looking for—Hinata.
Father and daughter, one inside the door, one outside, their eyes met.
Hinata's face instantly lost all color, her Byakugan eyes widening slightly in shock.
"Big Sister, who is it? Is it Big Brother Naruto's friend?"
Hanabi, lying on the living room sofa, contentedly rubbing her full, round belly, heard the commotion and lazily turned her head towards the door.
Hinata stiffly turned back, giving her sister a smile uglier than a cry, and then, as if resigned, fully opened the door, revealing the scene outside.
There stood Hyuga Hiashi's tall, somber figure, shrouded in the lingering glow of the setting sun, unmoving at the doorway.
Orange-red light shone from behind him, casting a long shadow into the entrance, emanating an indescribable sense of loneliness and oppression.
Just then, Naruto, wearing an apron and with dishwashing foam still on his hands, heard the commotion at the door and poked his head out from the kitchen, casually saying:
"Is that Kiba...?"
His words abruptly stopped as he recognized the visitor, his tone instantly becoming somewhat reserved and surprised: "...It's Hyuga Uncle..."
"It's Hyuga Uncle..."
Damn it, I was so focused on secretly learning Gentle Fist from Hinata and Hanabi that I forgot about the Old Man.
At the same time, Hyuga Hiashi, whose face was so grim it could almost drip water, didn't waste any words. The veins around his eyes instantly bulged, and he activated his Byakugan in an instant.
Those pure white eyes coldly swept over the scene inside the house.
The leftover food on the dining table, his younger daughter rubbing her belly on the sofa, and his elder daughter in front of him, along with Naruto in an apron at the kitchen doorway.
His tone was terrifyingly calm, without a hint of emotional fluctuation: "My daughters... have truly caused you trouble."
These words were like a cold stone, dropped into the silent entryway.