Chapter 43: [Quest 6/100]

Kael closed the apartment door behind him and leaned against it for a moment. The quiet felt heavier than usual. He brought up the System screen with a thought.

[Quest 6/100 : Make Hinata your bitch]

[Time limit : 1 week]

The wording sat there like a bad joke. Not "spend time with her." Not even "make her fall for you." Make her his bitch. The System never chose soft language when a harsher option existed. He already knew from previous quests what that usually meant—something degrading, something that stripped away pride or resistance until the target submitted completely.

He exhaled and let the screen fade.

One week. I don’t have to solve it tonight.

He dropped onto the couch, stared at the ceiling for a while, then eventually forced himself to sleep.

---

The next afternoon he left the apartment with no real destination. Walking helped him think, or at least helped him pretend he was thinking. The village streets were calm under the soft sunlight. Civilians moved between shops. A few genin ran past on some errand. Kael kept his hands in his jacket pockets and let his feet carry him wherever they wanted.

He turned down a quieter side street and stopped.

Hinata was crouched near a low wall, holding out a small piece of dried fish to a skinny calico cat. The cat approached cautiously, sniffed, then took the food. Hinata’s expression was soft and focused, the same gentle look she always wore when she thought no one was watching.

Kael felt something twist in his chest.

Do I really have to hurt her feelings because of a quest?

She was the last person he wanted to break. Sweet, shy, the kind of girl who fed strays and apologized for existing too loudly. The System’s demand felt especially ugly when he looked at her like this. For the moment he decided to set the quest aside. He could figure out the degrading part later. Right now he just wanted to talk to her without an agenda.

He walked closer and crouched down a short distance away so he would not startle the cat.

Hinata noticed the movement and turned. Her eyes widened.

"N-Naruto...!"

Her voice came out small and startled. She nearly dropped the remaining fish.

Kael offered a small smile. "You’re feeding the cat."

Hinata’s cheeks colored immediately. She looked down at the calico as if it might somehow explain her presence. "Y-yes... it looked hungry. I... I sometimes bring food when I walk this way."

She was clearly still embarrassed about leaving the picnic early. The way her shoulders hunched said she had spent the night and morning worrying about what everyone thought of her sudden exit.

Kael reached out slowly and scratched the cat behind the ears. The animal leaned into his hand without fear.

"You left early yesterday," he said, keeping his tone light.

Hinata’s fingers tightened around the empty wrapper. "I... I wasn’t feeling well. I’m sorry for leaving without saying much."

He saw the discomfort on her face and decided not to press. "It’s fine. Happens."

A short silence settled while the cat finished the last of the fish and began cleaning its paws. Kael glanced at Hinata.

"You like cats?"

This time her answer came easier, almost happy. "Yes. They’re... quiet. And soft. I like watching them."

He smiled again, genuine this time. "Yeah. They’re all right."

He had a paper bag from Kushina tucked under one arm—lunch she had packed that morning with the firm instruction that he was not allowed to live on ramen alone. The smell of grilled fish and rice drifted out faintly. He shifted the bag and stood up.

Without really thinking about it, he reached out and ruffled Hinata’s hair the same way he had just petted the cat. ℯℯ𝘭.

"Good girl."

The words left his mouth before his brain caught up.

Hinata froze completely. Her face went from pink to deep red in under a second. Kael’s own realization hit a moment later.

She’s not the cat. What the hell am I doing?

He pulled his hand back quickly, suddenly awkward. "Uh... I have to go. Lunch. And... stuff."

Hinata managed a tiny "B-bye..." while still staring at the ground, both hands now clutching the empty wrapper like a lifeline.

Kael took two steps away, then stopped and looked back.

"Wait. Do you want to hang out sometime later? Just... walk around or something."

Hinata’s head snapped up. Shock, disbelief, and something fragile and hopeful all crossed her face at once. For a second she seemed unable to form words. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "O-okay."

Kael nodded once, gave a short wave, and continued down the street before the moment could turn more awkward.

---

Hinata remained crouched by the wall long after he disappeared around the corner.

Her heart was beating so hard she could feel it in her throat. Naruto had spoken to her. He had pet the cat with her. He had touched her hair and called her good girl—her face still burned at the memory. And then he had asked her to hang out. Alone.

She pressed both hands to her cheeks and hid her face against her knees.

Me and Naruto... alone...

The thought was almost too much. She stayed like that until the calico cat rubbed against her leg and reminded her the world was still moving.

---

Kael walked the rest of the way home with the lunch bag under his arm and the same conflicted feeling sitting in his chest. He had not mentioned Ino. Hinata had almost asked—he had seen the question form on her face for a brief second after the picnic comment—but she had swallowed it. He was grateful. Any answer he gave right now would either hurt her or dig him deeper into a mess he did not yet know how to handle.

The quest timer continued its quiet countdown at the edge of his awareness.

One week.

He still had no idea how he was supposed to turn someone as gentle as Hinata Hyuga into what the System demanded.

For today, at least, he had chosen not to try.

---

Give me power!!!