When Izayoi returned home, he didn't immediately start cooking or take a shower.
Instead, he walked into his room and came out carrying a locked box.
Judging from Izayoi's serious expression, the box must contain something extremely valuable.
Even the key to the lock was hidden in a secret compartment in the living room.
When he opened the box, it wasn't filled with scrolls or weapons, but rather a red ceramic… piggy bank.
"Little pig… farewell."
Izayoi held the piggy bank in his hands, his voice and hands trembling slightly, his expression filled with sorrow.
After saying this, he turned his head away, closed his eyes, and smashed the piggy bank onto the ground with force.
The ceramic piggy bank shattered into pieces instantly, revealing a pile of coins scattered across the floor.
Izayoi crouched down and began picking up the coins and bills one by one, just as he had done over the years, stuffing them into the piggy bank.
This money was saved from the monthly compensation he received and the earnings from the D-rank missions he had completed during this period.
As for the inheritance left by his parents, it had long been used up.
After all, he wasn't just supporting himself—he also had to feed a bottomless pit.
If it weren't for the monthly compensation from the village, which stopped only after he became a Genin, Izayoi would have been forced to eat tree bark and wild grass.
After gathering the money into a bag, Izayoi added the 23,000 ryo he had just earned and threw it in as well.
Then, he grabbed the bag and headed out, arriving at a shop.
With a loud thud, Izayoi placed the bag heavily on the counter and pointed at something, saying, "Boss, this bag contains 388,300 ryo. I want to buy a film camera. Use the remaining money to buy film and photo development materials."
"Alright, thank you for your patronage!"
The shopkeeper's enthusiastic voice immediately rang out.
Not long after, Izayoi walked out of the shop with a camera in hand.
"Finally got it. It's not too late."
Izayoi held the camera lovingly, smiling to himself, "Although I can't record the memories of my childhood with Hinata, I can now capture Hanabi's growth. It's worth it!"
"I'm broke now, and the food in the fridge probably isn't edible anymore. I'll go hunting and have a barbecue tonight."
…
"Oniichan, wake up! The sun's already up."
The next day, Izayoi, who suffered from chronic oversleeping, once again enjoyed the princess's wake-up service.
However, this time, it wasn't the elder princess who woke him up, but the younger one.
Feeling a slight itch on his nose, Izayoi opened his eyes, and in his blurry vision, a delicate and adorable little face slowly came into focus.
Hanabi, dressed in a yellow-brown kimono, was sitting on top of Izayoi, leaning forward and holding her bangs, using her hair to tickle Izayoi's nose and face.
"You're so mischievous. Next time you fall asleep, Oniichan will do the same to you," Izayoi said with a laugh, pinching Hanabi's little cheeks.
"Hehe… it was my sister who told me to wake you up, Oniichan. If you're mad, blame her," Hanabi immediately leaned into Izayoi's hand, shifting the blame.
"…You go out first. Oniichan still needs to wash up."
"Okay."
After playing with Hanabi on the bed for a while, Izayoi patted her little bottom, signaling her to get off.
Hanabi, wearing white long socks, jumped off the bed and ran out, which explained why there was no sound at all.
After a quick wash, Izayoi opened the drawer of his desk and took out the camera stored inside.
As soon as he stepped out of his room, the first thing Izayoi saw was Hinata bustling around in the kitchen.
At this moment, Hinata wasn't wearing her usual white coat and black trousers. Instead, she was dressed in a white kimono with purple and white petal patterns on the obi, cuffs, and hem.
Her long black hair was tied up into a bun at the back of her head.
She wore an apron and was skillfully flipping a frying pan with a spatula.
Meanwhile, Hanabi was at the dining table, wrapping seaweed around rice balls. Seeing this scene, Izayoi instinctively held his breath and tiptoed with his camera, searching for the perfect angle that harmonized with the light.
Click—the sound of the shutter captured a timeless moment: the Hyuga Sisters, one standing and the other kneeling, both in kimonos, busy with their respective tasks, their backs facing each other.
Hearing the shutter sound, both Hinata and Hanabi turned to look.
"A camera!"
Seeing the camera in Izayoi's hand, Hanabi's eyes lit up. She took off her gloves and ran over, her face filled with excitement. "Oniichan, when did you buy this camera?"
"Yesterday."
"Oniichan, let me see!"
"Be careful with it. I spent 300,000 ryo on this, using up all my savings and the money I earned from missions," Izayoi said as he handed the camera over, reminding her.
Hearing this, Hanabi vigorously wiped her hands on her expensive kimono—which probably cost enough to buy several cameras—before carefully taking the camera.
"Oniichan, how do we see the photos?"
"You'll need to develop them first. After breakfast, I'll teach you how to develop photos."
"Yay! Oniichan, let's take a photo together too!"
"Not yet. Let's wait until your sister finishes cooking. We'll take a group photo then—it'll be more meaningful."
"Mm-hmm…"
Watching Izayoi and Hanabi play around, Hinata's lips curled into a blissful smile.
After Hinata finished preparing breakfast and Izayoi and Hanabi finished wrapping the rice balls, the three of them sat at the dining table, holding seaweed rice balls, and took their first group photo with bright smiles.
Izayoi sat in the middle, with the Hyuga Sisters on either side.
The one responsible for taking the photo was Izayoi's Shadow Clone.
After all, a selfie stick couldn't compare to a Shadow Clone.
After breakfast, the three of them stayed in Izayoi's room, drawing the blackout curtains, and began developing the photos.
"So beautiful…"
Looking at the artistic photo of the Hyuga Sisters, Hanabi, unable to find the right words, could only exclaim in awe.
Hinata, on the other hand, stared at the group photo, her eyes sparkling.
At that moment, the young girl shared the same regret as Izayoi.
If only they had a camera when they were younger—they could have documented their growth together.
But… it wasn't too late now.
And so, for the rest of the day, Izayoi and the Hyuga Sisters went around taking photos.
First, they took pictures in various places around the house—the living room, balcony, dojo, and yard…
Then they went outside, visiting familiar abandoned training grounds and scenic waterfall spots, capturing countless photos—some solo, some of two, and some of all three together.
As they passed by a large tree, Hinata, in a rare moment of initiative, tugged at the sleeve of the robe Izayoi had specifically changed into. Her face flushed as she made a request: "Izayoi-kun, could you use the Transformation Technique?"
Hearing this, Izayoi was momentarily taken aback.
Then, following Hinata's gaze to the tree, Izayoi finally understood and nodded with a smile: "Sure, let's do it together."
"Okay."
Hinata nodded happily. After Izayoi performed the Shadow Clone Technique, the two stood facing each other and simultaneously formed hand seals: "Transformation Technique!"
As the white smoke dissipated, two children with chubby cheeks, dressed in ordinary clothes, stood beneath the tree, smiling at each other.
Then, they both turned to Izayoi's Shadow Clone and beamed with radiant smiles.
With a click, the moment was forever preserved.
(End of Chapter)