Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Good Night
Chapter 184: Good Night
"Sasuke is still the same—weak and moody. Every time he comes back from a mission, he shows up just to get beaten up..."
"The Fifth Hokage keeps trying to get me to take his place, trying to teach me how to handle village affairs. But I refused. Me, a Hokage? Not happening..."
"Tsunade-sensei is very kind to me. I heard she was close to my mother, though she says my personality is more like my father’s..."
"I can tell Sasuke is still lonely, just like I used to be. But the difference is... I’ve learned to live with it. He hasn’t."
. . .
Long time no see.
After their training that day, Ryosuke had dinner with Naruto, and the two chatted late into the night before finally saying their goodbyes and heading home.
It had been over a year since they last saw each other—there was a lot to catch up on. But most of their conversation revolved around training and spiritual growth, with only a handful of everyday topics mixed in.
As for village politics, dirty schemes, or the lingering shadows of the Sarutobi Hiruzen era—they didn’t mention any of it. As if those things didn’t exist. As if they were irrelevant tonight.
It wasn’t the time to bring up old grudges or unpleasant memories—not on a night like this.
Both Ryosuke and Naruto understood this instinctively.
After all, training and getting stronger had become the core of their lives.
In the beginning, it was probably Ryosuke who influenced Naruto’s mentality. But over time, after going through exhausting and painful experiences, Naruto came to appreciate the simplicity of training.
They both found comfort in practice—not as an escape from reality, but as a conscious choice. They didn’t want to waste time on things that didn’t matter to them.
Maybe that’s why they were two of the very few people who could truly be called friends in each other’s lives.
. . .
Late at night.
The street was quiet. Not a single soul in sight.
As Ryosuke walked home, he occasionally sensed the subtle presence of Anbu hidden in the shadows. They glanced at him, only to quickly look away—likely recognizing who he was.
I wonder if Hinata and the others are still waiting for me...
The thought made him both anxious and hopeful.
He hadn’t expected to come home so late, so he hadn’t told his family anything that morning. He knew Naruto would have a lot to say after so long, but he hadn’t anticipated how much of that time would be devoted to Sage Mode training.
And... it wasn’t even finished yet.
Learning Sage Mode in one day might sound absurd, but Ryosuke truly had a shot.
Still, out of caution, he hadn’t rushed into the final stage—drawing in natural energy and refining Sage Chakra.
Even though he hadn’t completed the full training, just being able to sense and perceive high-level energy like natural energy was already a major breakthrough.
You had to take things one step at a time.
After all, if you tried to leap too far ahead, you might tear something important.
Besides, during today’s training, Ryosuke had awakened an ability unique to the Tenseigan. That alone was a surprising bonus.
"You’re still waiting for me..."
When he arrived at his home, he quietly opened the door and stepped inside.
Passing through the courtyard, he spotted a faint light still glowing from within.
His heart warmed at the sight—quickly followed by a surge of guilt.
His earlier hope that someone might be waiting for him had turned real, and now that it had, the guilt was even stronger than the warmth.
He hadn’t meant to be this late.
Next time... I should remember to tell them beforehand. I have a family now.
Tiptoeing forward, Ryosuke approached the living room.
Only one small lamp remained lit.
There, at the table, Hinata—her long, haze-blue hair cascading down—was sleeping with her head resting on her folded arms. Her back was to him.
Several plates sat on the table, each one covered.
Even without lifting the lids, Ryosuke could tell from a single sniff—these were all his favorite dishes.
She must’ve prepared them for dinner. And when he didn’t come home, she saved them as a midnight snack for him.
Warmth filled his chest.
He stepped forward.
Her sleeping face, serene and peaceful, lacked the liveliness she usually showed when awake—but in this stillness was a kind of elegant calm that made him reluctant to disturb her.
One minute... two minutes...
He stared, silently captivated by this familiar face that made his heart ache in the best way.
Should he wake her up? Explain why he was late and take her back to her room?
No. That would be clumsy—and honestly, kind of low EQ.
Besides... did he really want to disturb such a peaceful moment?
Of course not.
He smiled wryly at himself. Maybe he should just pick her up gently, carry her to bed, cover her with a blanket, turn off the light, and leave quietly.
Yes. That sounded right.
He raised his hand slightly, picturing the scene in his head.
Wait... I should kiss her on the cheek before turning off the light and leaving.
He added that part in his mind, nodded in satisfaction, and chuckled softly.
Now that’s romantic. Straight out of a drama.
Ryosuke was pleased with his plan.
But just as he reached out to lift her, he froze.
What if she wakes up?
Even in sleep, people could sense movement—especially a ninja like Hinata. She was far more sensitive than most.
She’d definitely wake up.
Ryosuke was sure of it.
So... what’s the best way to carry her without waking her up?
He pondered.
Maybe I could use a genjutsu—let her sink into a sweet dream for a little while...
But would she be mad?
After all, he was coming home late. No alcohol, no lipstick stains—but still, late.
One thought after another crowded his mind, halting his movements.
He frowned slightly.
Even while training in Sage Mode, he’d never felt so conflicted.
And yet, there was something comforting about this dilemma.
"Hmm..."
Just then, a soft murmur escaped her lips.
Hinata stirred, sensing a gaze on her. Slowly, she began to wake from her dream.
All of a sudden, Ryosuke, who had still been standing beside her in confusion, became a little flustered.
What should I do?
Should I use a genjutsu to keep her asleep, or wait for her to wake up on her own?
As far as he could remember, he—someone who had never truly expressed love—was terrible at handling moments like this. Just like when facing the rare displays of care from their father, Hyuga Hiashi, he always felt a certain pressure.
But soon, he didn’t need to think about it anymore.
Because Hinata had opened her tightly closed eyes and was staring at him.
For some reason, Ryosuke suddenly felt nervous.
He stood there, silently, waiting for her to speak.
But Hinata’s gaze was slightly unfocused—she still seemed trapped between sleep and wakefulness.
She stared at him for a long moment, blinking slowly. Propping herself up with some effort, she twisted her neck and mumbled, "You’re back."
There was no questioning, no frustration—just that simple line.
"Ha~ I’ll go heat up the food for you. I didn’t expect it to be this late."
After sitting up, Hinata yawned and tried to stand with visible exhaustion. "Auntie has to wake up early tomorrow to cook, so I let her go to bed first."
It sounded like she was casually explaining why he had found her asleep at the table.
Strands of hair clung to her cheeks, likely from when she’d been leaning on her arms.
"I’ll do it. You go to bed early," Ryosuke said.
The little explanation she had offered suddenly felt unnecessary. But of course, Ryosuke wouldn’t let her get up to heat food.
Still not fully awake, Hinata paused and slumped back down.
Leaning lazily on the table, she waved her hand weakly. "Then warm it up yourself."
Nodding, Ryosuke turned to grab the plates—but after a moment’s hesitation, he said, "I’d better take you back to your room first."
"No need... just go quickly," came her soft reply.
Hinata yawned again and waved him off with a sleepy flick of her fingers. "I’ll wait here for you."
Seeing how tired she looked, Ryosuke didn’t argue. He quickly picked up a few plates from the table and went to the kitchen to reheat them.
In less than five minutes, he returned with steaming food and two sets of bowls and chopsticks in his hands.
Though he’d already eaten earlier in the evening, Ryosuke didn’t feel full anymore.
But he sat down anyway. For her.
Across from him, the girl sat with her eyes half-closed, looking dazed and sleepy.
In the quiet living room, there was no other sound.
Only a dim light above the square table cast a soft glow.
Ryosuke and Hinata sat across from each other, the small circle of light surrounding them like a bubble of warmth.
They didn’t mind the darkness outside its reach.
"Want to have some midnight snack together?"
Ryosuke’s voice came out gently. He knew she should be asleep, but he still asked. He couldn’t help it.
"Mm... forget it. I haven’t been exercising lately. I’ve gained weight."
Her voice was low and slightly nasal. Hinata leaned against the table, propping her cheek with her palm. "You eat. I’ll watch."
She stared at him, her sleepy eyes struggling to stay open.
For a moment, Ryosuke couldn’t even tell if she was fully awake or half-dreaming.
"Sorry," he said softly, scooping a bite of food. "I should’ve come home earlier. Should’ve told you I’d be late tonight."
Bite after bite, he ate while explaining himself.
"Something came up earlier. Naruto and I only had time to talk at night."
His tone carried a hint of guilt. He knew he hadn’t given her enough time. Some of his choices had always been selfish.
"...It’s okay," Hinata said after a while. Her voice was calm. "You came back so late... it must’ve been something important to your training."
She paused briefly.
"But Naruto should’ve improved a lot, right? I mean, he has two of the Sannin training him. Maybe... did you two spar?"
"Yeah," Ryosuke nodded. "He’s made real progress."
"You won."
Her voice was soft, but certain. A gentle smile bloomed on her lips.
"Of course," he replied, with a small smile of his own.
"Hey~ I knew it. My Ryosuke is the strongest in the world."
She chuckled a little after she said it, her tone unconsciously filled with joy. Then she smiled sheepishly, embarrassed at her own words.
But before long, sleep tugged at her again. Her eyes drooped. Her voice faded.
Bite...
The only sound left in the room was the quiet clink of a spoon tapping against a porcelain plate.
Watching her fall asleep again with her head resting on her palm, Ryosuke sighed softly and finished his food in silence.
After wiping his mouth and hands with a tissue, he stood and walked to her side.
"I’m full. Time to go to bed," he whispered near her ear.
Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder and bent down, slipping one arm under her knees and the other behind her back.
With a light push, he lifted her easily—like a fragile rag doll.
Though still drowsy, Hinata instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder.
Step by step, Ryosuke carried her into the bedroom in a proper princess carry.
He placed her gently on the bed, pulled the covers over her, and brushed the loose strands of hair from her cheeks with his fingers.
"...You’re so nice..."
Hinata opened her eyes and smiled drowsily.
She wasn’t drunk. Even in her half-asleep state, she clearly felt everything he was doing.
"Good night," Ryosuke whispered with a warm smile, turning to leave.
But before he could take a step, Hinata’s hand gently tugged on his.
He turned around, slightly confused—and when their eyes met, he suddenly felt like he could see exactly what she wanted.
After a brief pause, Ryosuke bent down and lightly touched her forehead with his lips.
"Good night."
He said it again.
This time, Hinata didn’t stop him.
Instead, she responded in that same gentle voice—
"Good night..."
IDK if you like the story (Tensura) that i found, i only chose this because of the high ratings and i notice that there’s no one translating this.
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