Chapter 16: The Bunking Quartet - The White Eyed Princess of Konoha

### Chapter 16: The Bunking Quartet The Third Generation and Hinata chatted idly, watching as Hinata slowly devoured enough food for ten people, bite by tiny bite. Just how large was Hinata's appetite? In the original TV series, there was a time when Hinata and Naruto had a ramen eating contest. Naruto only managed a few bowls before he was about to burst, while Hinata ate dozens without breaking a sweat. One bowl doesn't fill me, forty-six bowls aren't enough!!! After patting her little tummy, despite having eaten food for ten, Hinata’s slender waist remained as trim as ever, with no sign of a bulge. Who knows where all that food disappeared to. The Third Generation was quite taken aback. With such an appetite... it's fortunate Hinata was born into the Hyuga clan; any ordinary family wouldn't be able to afford it! "Grandpa Third, I’m heading home!" The Third Generation slowly got up, chuckling, "The older one gets, the more they babble on. It’s already late, and I have to go back and handle official duties. Until next time!" "Goodbye, Grandpa Third!" As soon as the Third stepped out, Hinata couldn't help but breathe a long sigh of relief. Even though the Third Generation was very amiable, Hinata was still incredibly tense, afraid that a poor choice of words might unwittingly earn the Third's apprehension. ... Hinata found the conversation with the Third Generation a bit unexpected, but her day-to-day life carried on as usual. Just a few days later, Hinata had completely forgotten about her meeting with the Third Generation and went on with her routine of eating and drinking, often playing around with Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba—her mischievous comrades. Naruto still hadn't joined the bunking quartet. The nine young ninjas wouldn't be placed in the same class until graduation. For if everyone had different levels of progress, a teacher going too fast wouldn't be fair to the slower students, and too slow wouldn't be either for the advanced ones. Iruka had been Naruto's teacher for six whole years. That was the Third's decision. He had keen insight into people and believed that only someone with Iruka's personality could keep Naruto from falling into darkness. Now, Hinata had entered the Third Generation's radar as well. However, her identity made the Third a bit hesitant. In the classroom, Hinata was collectively shunned by the group of girls led by Ino, with Sakura having joined them. Due to Hinata's presence, Ino and Sakura didn't fall out because of Sasuke. Instead, having a common rival brought them closer. Sometimes, when Hinata got annoyed by them, she'd take it out on Ino and Sakura during taijutsu lessons. To handle those two weaklings, Hinata only needed a couple of gentle taps to make sure they couldn't stand for hours. And yet, Hinata's restraint was such that the teacher couldn't really say much. 'Crunch! Crunch!' Having learned new points, Hinata lost interest in continuing to listen. Sitting at the back of the class, shielding herself from the teacher's gaze with her book, she shared a bag of chips with Choji. With ample pocket money, Hinata naturally didn't need to keep pinching Choji’s snacks. Each day, she brought plenty of snacks to school, sharing them with Choji. Shikamaru, on the other hand, pretended to nap, curious about who between Hinata and Choji truly belonged to the Akimichi clan. 'Crunch! Crunch!' The teacher's anger boiled over. Eating snacks in class was one thing, but munching so loudly? Did they not regard the teacher at all? "Choji! Hinata! Chewing snacks in class—go stand outside!" And still feeling unappeased, he dragged the other two slackers into it. "Shikamaru! Kiba! Sleeping in class—you too, out!" The four of them slinked out to the hallway, exchanging glances, a hint of joy gleamed in their eyes. Who’d obediently stand as punishment! Standing outside seemed like a penalty, but to the foursome, it was a treat. "Byakugan!" Hinata activated her Byakugan. Seeing the teacher still passionately lecturing, she nodded at her companions, and the four sneaked open the corridor window, climbed out, and leaped onto the playground. In truth, Hinata was a bit surprised. She had initially thought guys like Choji and Kiba, the underachievers, would be in a different class. But they were quite like her after all. While they appeared unfocused in class, they grasped the material well. Hinata glanced at Choji, noticing that sneaky fellow brought a pack of chips even while standing outside. Clever devil. Shikamaru stared at the sky, hands behind his head, thoroughly at peace. "They’re taking a stroll, huh?” Kiba suggested. “No, I’m beat!” Hinata and Shikamaru simultaneously refused, Hinata then added with a grin, “Lunchtime’s close. Let’s go get some BBQ!” "BBQ!!!" Choji's eyes sparkled. His allowance mostly went to snacks, leaving him with nothing for BBQ splurges. Only someone like Hinata, a young lady of a well-off family, could afford to treat everyone to a meal. “If no objections, let's move!" Having already acquainted themselves with the academy's layout, they knew precisely how to slip out unnoticed. Sneakily scaling the walls, the quartet made a rapid dash toward the BBQ joint. Swaggering in with irreverent steps, Hinata boldly led the charge through the BBQ restaurant door, "Four seats, please!” The owner of the BBQ spot, no stranger to these four, knew them as heirs of the Leaf's elite families; it was impossible not to. “At this hour, shouldn’t you all be in school?” Hinata replied coolly, "Classes ended early today." After all, misleading others was part of a ninja's essential training. As Kakashi had said, every technique in ninjutsu is designed to deceive your opponent. Hinata wasn’t a mischievous liar, but a competent ninja. The owner seemed skeptical, but accommodating them regardless, showed them to their seats. “What’ll it be?” Glancing at the menu, then at the BBQ owner, Hinata said calmly, “Hold on!” Gathering her companions in closer, Hinata whispered, “Hand over your pocket money!” “But didn’t you say you were treating?” Shikamaru protested. Hinata shot Shikamaru a warning look, matter-of-factly responding, "Of course, I’m treating, but we’re all chipping in. Treating and paying aren't the same thing." Recalling his mother, Shikamaru refrained from arguing further, acknowledging silently that women, regardless of age, can be quite formidable. Kiba was unfazed, and Choji obediently forked over his allowance, compelling Shikamaru to do the same. Pocketing her friends' allowances, Hinata slapped the table playfully, "Let’s order!" The BBQ owner: "..." Without having witnessed the shakedown, the owner might have genuinely believed Hinata was a little tycoon. Both Hinata and Choji were huge eaters. Hinata calculated the amassed pocket money and ordered several pounds of meat. Shikamaru and Kiba ate less, so with the bill split, Hinata and Choji were definitely getting the better deal. Sometimes, Hinata pondered why the Leaf didn’t have any all-you-can-eat places. But then, seeing the Akimichi clan in their entirety, Hinata suddenly understood. Opening an establishment like that in the Leaf might lead to bankruptcy...