Shoi, ever the opportunist when it came to teasing Hinata, shifted closer to her, his hand resting casually on her lower back.
"You know, Hinata," he started with a mischievous grin, "for someone who's supposed to be the future leader of the Hyuga Clan, you still get embarrassed so easily."
Hinata felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She gave him a sidelong glance, her lips pressed together in mock annoyance. "Shoi, stop it," she muttered, though her tone was more embarrasedthan serious.
But Shoi, enjoying every second of getting a rise out of her, leaned a little closer.
"What? I'm just saying... pretty soon, you'll be my wife. Gotta get used to me, right?" He gave her a cheeky smile, lightly poking her side.
Hinata bit back a smile, trying to maintain her composure. "That doesn't mean you get to tease me whenever you feel like it," she replied, crossing her arms.
Shoi chuckled, his hand lingering at her waist as if testing how much he could get away with.
"Hmm, I guess I can hold off... but only if you admit that you like it when I tease you."
Hinata rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "You...," she said softly, shaking her head. "Let's just focus on the mission for now."
Shoi gave a mock sigh, leaning back. "Fine, fine."
Hinata, though still blushing, felt warmth in her chest. Despite his teasing, she was grateful to have Shoi by her side.
As they continued their journey, the quiet stillness of the road started to feel unnerving. Hinata, still scanning the area with her Byakugan, suddenly tensed.
Her eyes narrowed, and her body shifted slightly, alerting Shoi to the change in her demeanor.
"Shoi," she said quietly, her voice calm but serious, "we're not alone."
Shoi's teasing grin faded instantly, his posture shifting from relaxed to ready in an instant. "How many?"
Hinata's gaze darted to the forest lining the path. "Four—no, five. They're hiding just ahead, waiting to ambush us."
The cart slowed as Haruto, sensing the tension between his escorts, looked over his shoulder nervously. "Is... is something wrong?"
Shoi cracked his knuckles, his usual lightheartedness replaced with sharp focus. "Seems like some bandits have decided to join us."
Hinata stepped back, her expression calm but alert, as she prepared to watch the fight unfold. She knew Shoi needed this experience, and she trusted his abilities completely.
"Stay back, Haruto," she instructed, her voice steady. "Let him handle this."
Shoi grinned, the thrill of the challenge lighting up his features. "No worries! I've got this."
As the bandits emerged from the trees, they looked confident, underestimating Shoi's abilities. The leader, a muscular man with a scarred face, sneered.
"What do we have here? A couple of kids playing hero? Hand over your valuables, and we might let you leave with your lives."
Shoi's smile only widened. "Valuables? Nah, I think I'll keep those. But you're welcome to try and take them if you'd like." His confidence radiated, as if he was toying with them.
With a swift movement, Shoi charged forward, utilizing his taijutsu skills to dodge the first bandit's attack.
He moved fluidly, evading blows with ease, and countering with quick punches and kicks. The bandits quickly realized they were outmatched.
Hinata watched intently, her Byakugan allowing her to track every move.
She could see the bandits' formations breaking as Shoi picked them off one by one.
"Come on! Is this the best you've got?" Shoi taunted.
The bandit doubled over, and Shoi quickly spun around, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Looks like you need some practice!" he shouted to the remaining bandits, who exchanged worried glances.
Hinata felt pride swell in her chest as she witnessed Shoi's skills and determination.
He was holding his own, and she couldn't help but cheer him on silently from the sidelines.
Just as one of the bandits lunged at him with a dagger, Shoi sidestepped with ease, using the bandit's momentum against him to throw him into a nearby tree.
The leader of the bandits, now visibly frustrated, growled, "You think you can take us all on? We'll show you what real strength is!"
Shoi smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Bring it on. I'm just getting started!"
However, as the fight dragged on and Shoi began to tire, more bandits emerged from the shadows, surrounding him. he realized it was time to escalate.
"Alright, time to pull out the big guns," he muttered under his breath.
he simply reaches into his ear. To the casual observer, it might seem as though he's merely scratching or cleaning his ear.
However, with a quick flick of his wrist, a golden rod emerges from his ear canal. This rod, seemingly insignificant at first, extends rapidly, growing longer and thicker until it reaches its full length.
Shoi smirked as he brandished the Ruyi Jingu Bang, now fully extended, its golden glow radiating power.
The bandits' eyes widened in disbelief, frozen in place by the sight of the staff materializing from what appeared to be nowhere.
Their mouths hung slightly open, their confidence shattered as they stared in awe at the weapon Shoi wielded.
The leader of the bandits, the one who had sneered at them moments before, took a step back, his face pale.
"W-what... what is that?" he stammered, his bravado crumbling as fear crept into his voice.
One of the other bandits, trembling, muttered under his breath, "That's impossible... where did he get that thing?"
Hinata, standing to the side, had her own moment of shock. Her Byakugan had allowed her to see the entire process—the staff had started as nothing more than a hair-thin sliver before rapidly growing into the powerful weapon Shoi now held.
She had never witnessed such a technique before, and it left her momentarily speechless. Her eyes were wide, her usual calm demeanor broken by sheer surprise.
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