A meal of four dishes and one soup, three meat and one vegetable. The two actively participated in the nation's "Clean Plate Campaign," eating until only a trace of oil was left.
After the meal, Naruto lay on the bed, feeling a sensation different from outside. The bed itself was a dragon bed produced by the space, and while the house didn't have the two-meter-thick defensive walls of the one built outside, it gave him an inexplicable sense of security.
Especially the sound of running water from the kitchen, which completely put him at ease.
Hinata, washing dishes, heard the clattering noise from next door and used her Byakugan to glance over. She said, "They're making quite a racket, Naruto-kun."
Naruto also heard the commotion, comparable to demolition or renovation. "Don't mind them. There's no one else in this building anyway, so they won't disturb anyone."
Naruto's living arrangement was quite unique: a small building in a convenient location, with only him as a resident. Previously, there was a chubby old lady downstairs, but she had moved out too.
One had to admit, that old schemer Danzo's rumors were quite effective.
At the very least, Naruto was rather grateful to him. It spared so many neighborhood disputes! Living in an entire building alone was incredibly comfortable.
After washing the dishes, Hinata filled a large basin with hot water and went next door.
When she returned, she was holding a cat in each arm: a fat cat in her left hand and an orange tabby in her right.
However, the change in environment seemed to make them a bit uncomfortable, as Fishcake was currently looking for a place to hide.
Setting down the orange tabby, Hinata smiled and pulled Ginger's paw from her neckline. A necklace dangled from its claw. "Stop messing around..."
Naruto, lying on the bed with his head propped on his hand, watched the entire spectacle. As expected of a cat from that glasses-wearing girl who stuffs cats; the proficiency was high.
Ginger, it's your turn next.
Testing the water temperature to make sure it was suitable, Hinata gently placed the two cats into the water. Fishcake remained still, while Ginger began to splash violently, sending large amounts of water flying.
Ginger, well done! Next comes the anticipated...
As he was thinking, Hinata picked up a towel and moved her hands up and down so fast that an ordinary person couldn't even see them, catching all the splashing water on the towel.
Wet body, Naruto thought, dumbfounded. Where was the promised temptation?
Seeing no benefits to be had, Naruto took out a piece of meat and tossed it over. "Give this for it to hold in its mouth."
With water on her hands, Hinata accurately judged the trajectory and lifted Ginger. Ginger clamped onto the flying meat, and after being set down, it looked back at Hinata with a meaningful gaze, then lay by the basin, holding the meat, no longer moving.
The look in its eyes probably meant: Go ahead, I won't resist anymore.
As a Ship Girl's auxiliary Ship Cat, it wasn't afraid of water, but it needed its mouth plugged.
With the cat calm, bathing was quick. Naruto looked at the Gráol Stone pendant Fishcake was playing with and wondered, "Has its color faded?"
When the stone was retrieved from Hyde, it was emerald green, but now its color was noticeably lighter.
"It has indeed faded. Perhaps it's being consumed," Hinata speculated as she rubbed the cat. She couldn't figure out why it was losing its color.
"Then give it to me later; I'll recharge it a bit." Life force, he had plenty of that. The Yin-Yang Release Fox's daily spilled chakra from drinking cola was enough to replenish it.
At worst, he'd let it drink a few more sips, considering it a tribute to his main wife.
Bathing the cats, drying the cats, and fearing they might catch a chill, Hinata moved quickly. Wrapping them in dry towels, Hinata carried the two cat-bundles into the kitchen and click, lit the stove.
Hearing the sound, Naruto cleared his throat and mischievously said, "Stewed cat soup, that's soup made from cat meat..."
"Ah..." The small misunderstanding nearly made Hinata, who was using a glass box to warm the cats, drop the box with a gasp.
"Heheheh," Naruto chuckled mischievously. It felt so good to be home.
In the afternoon, Naruto took Hinata and Shunfu to patrol their old clearing. In the evening, he saw Hinata home.
Staying for a while during the day was fine, but spending the night would be like dripping potassium permanganate into his old father-in-law's eyes.
Even in this world, cohabiting with an underage girl before marriage was an unacceptable act.
As for after marriage, that was equally unacceptable. She wasn't even an adult yet, and you'd marry her?
During this time, nothing beyond friendship occurred. After all, Naruto wasn't a per
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