Just coming into contact with something new, anyone would become addicted for a while. In the past, Ino would either play with string games or ninja games, but now she is not yet qualified to learn her family's ninja techniques. The ninja school primarily teaches cultural knowledge, with very few practical exercises. Ino and Sakura currently can't even perform the Body Flicker Technique. Therefore, being able to walk on trees for the first time and break free from gravity is incredibly appealing and fun for Ino. Unfortunately, her chakra is currently too low. Perhaps because of this, Ino suddenly cannot find the feeling she had earlier and begins to fail repeatedly.

Yagyu is not surprised by this. The hardest part of climbing a tree with your feet is not chakra control, but rather the need to multitask. When one foot successfully sticks to the trunk, attention subconsciously shifts to the other foot. While gathering chakra, it’s easy to overlook or disrupt the balance of the first foot. Yagyu also struggled with this at first.

When Ino's chakra ran out and she was panting heavily, Yagyu suddenly said to Sakura, "Sakura, why don't you give it a try?"

"Mm."

Sakura nodded vigorously, having wanted to play for a long time. She raised her two fingers in the hand seal and headed toward the large tree, which Ino had already left small footprints on. The sight of Sakura stepping on the trunk stunned Ino. Just as Sakura placed one foot on the trunk, she lifted the other and stepped out, her body forming a perfect ninety-degree angle. Maintaining the hand seal, Sakura walked slowly upward.

One step, two steps, three, four, five, six, seven steps...

When Sakura reached over three meters off the ground, she finally made a mistake and her petite body began to fall.

"Ah..."

Startled, Sakura cried out, instinctively closing her eyes. But when her body stopped falling, the anticipated pain did not arrive. Instead, a familiar voice entered her ears, just like when someone had pulled her out of darkness.

"Don't be afraid. I told you I would protect you."

Opening her misty eyes, Sakura looked at Yagyu, who was holding her, and was completely enchanted.

Yagyu set Sakura down and praised her, "I didn't expect that among the three of us, you're the best at chakra control, Sakura."

"Exactly... Sakura, you are usually too low-key," Ino nodded in agreement.

"Not really... I just got lucky," Sakura said, lowering her head shyly.

Seeing this shy girl, so much like Hinata, Yagyu couldn't help but marvel at how frightening love-struck minds can be. Who would have imagined that this incredibly ladylike girl would awaken a violent second personality, completely changing her temperament?

Yagyu actually has a good impression of Sakura, the protagonist whose popularity has been surpassed and crushed by the supporting character. In the past life, many people disliked her because when watching the manga and anime, they would view it from Naruto's perspective. But if viewed from Sasuke Uchiha's perspective, one would see that Sakura and Ino were just like Obito Uchiha, ultimate sycophants.

Those who often play the role of sycophants know how high and mighty those being flattered tend to feel. Who doesn't want such a sycophant? Especially after "Boruto" came out, Sakura's charm as a wife helped her regain a good number of impression points. Yagyu didn't know how many times he had watched the "Cactus Series."

Now that the manga and anime have become reality, how could Yagyu possibly let such an ultimate sycophant go to someone else?

Next, Sakura continued to challenge the large tree. Unlike Ino's instability, Sakura climbed the tree for the second time and reached five meters high. In less than five attempts, she successfully made it to the top of the tree, easily mastering this technique that the ninja school doesn’t even teach.

"How beautiful!"

Sakura exclaimed as she stood high up, gazing at the snow scenery in the distance. Just when Ino, who had been exhausted, saw this scene, she was instantly filled with motivation and wanted to continue challenging the large tree.

However, Yagyu stopped her, reminding, "Don't rush. Wait until your chakra recovers before trying again. This technique not only tests talent but also emotional stability; it can't be perfected in just a day or two."

"When you're at home, you can lay down a mattress on the ground and practice against the wall."

"…Okay."

Ino looked a bit unwilling but still obediently nodded. Seeing her like this, Yagyu was sure she would practice hard when she got back. After all, Ino is a very proud girl, and within their circle, she is also Sakura's big sister. It would be unacceptable for Ino to be surpassed by her younger sister, whom she was supposed to protect.

This competitiveness is exactly what Yagyu wanted to see. Teaching them techniques that the lower ninjas learn in their first year also serves Yagyu's own intentions.

The three of them stayed in the woods until lunchtime, and only then did Ino and Sakura reluctantly head home. After parting with the two girls, Yagyu did not go home immediately but planned to buy some ingredients.

At that moment, white snowflakes began to fall from the sky again. Passing by a park, Yagyu suddenly heard the shouts of children nearby.

"You white-eyed monster, can't you even apologize?"

"Kneel down and apologize to me!"

"…"

Yagyu initially didn't want to get involved, but the words made him stop in his tracks. As if recalling something, a strange expression appeared on Yagyu's face. "What a coincidence."

And sometimes reality is full of such coincidences.

As Yagyu walked toward the source of the noise, he quickly saw two boys pushing a girl. Facing their bullying, the girl did not resist but merely lowered her head to wipe her tears, silently crying. However, her delicate demeanor only made the two boys more aggressive as they pressed her shoulders, forcing her to kneel.

Smack—

At that moment, two snowballs flew in and hit the boys in the face simultaneously.

"That hurts! Who is it?"

The snowballs knocked the two boys back, and their vision became blurry.

"Wow..."

Before they could wipe the snow off their faces, two more snowballs flew in, accurately hitting their faces. This time, the snowballs came much faster and with greater force, directly knocking them down to the ground.

With their faces reddened from the hits, the two boys began to cry without any dignity.

"Get lost! Do you want to eat more?"

The tears melted the snowflakes, allowing the two boys to see the person who ambushed them. Seeing the other party throwing snowballs, they didn't even think about getting revenge and hurriedly got up and ran away in fear.

After using his shuriken throwing skills, which had earned him high marks in the exam, to drive away the two little brats, Yagyu walked up to the stunned girl and smiled, "It’s you again, lost once more?"

"Yagyu... Yagyu-kun."

Seeing the boy before her, Hinata's cute face, which was either blushing from crying or from the cold, turned even redder. The joy surging in her heart instantly dispelled the grievances she had felt earlier.

"Why didn't you fight back just now?"

Yagyu asked curiously, "If I remember correctly, your practical score in taijutsu is quite high."

"I... I..."

Hinata instinctively lowered her head, her fingers habitually spinning. Perhaps because she was too nervous, she didn't know how to explain it to Yagyu.

"Hinata-san..."

At that moment, a voice reached Yagyu and Hinata's ears.

A young man wearing a green vest and a ninja headband, with a pair of white eyes, came running from a distance, holding a bag in his hand.

Seeing this scene, Yagyu instantly understood.

Clearly, Hinata had been targeted by those two boys while waiting for her clan members. After all, in the eyes of children, those with white eyes are as detestable as the fox demons mentioned by their parents.

So, Yagyu smiled and said, "Don't be so kind in the future. When you're bullied, you need to fight back. Otherwise, they'll feel accomplished and continue to bully you, and might even bully others."

"Only by scaring them will they dare not bully others."

"Alright, your clan members are here. See you at school."

After saying that, Yagyu turned and walked away.

Looking at Yagyu's departing figure, Hinata's mind suddenly recalled scenes from two years ago.

Back then, Yagyu was much shorter than he is now. But even then, he dared to go out alone at night.

Whether it was the Yagyu of the past or the Yagyu of now, he is so impressive!

Admiring emotions quietly began to sprout.