Naruto: The Eterikami Clan

After leaving Hayashi Metal Works, Ryujin strolled through the bustling village streets, his golden eyes taking in the vibrant scenes around him. Merchants called out their wares, children darted between adults, and the air was filled with the mingling scents of fresh bread and sizzling meat. Yet, amidst the lively atmosphere, Ryujin's sharp senses prickled with awareness. A familiar presence shadowed him, moving with caution but not enough to escape his notice.

A knowing smirk tugged at his lips. Hinata, he thought, amused by her attempt at subtlety. Deciding to indulge in a little mischief, Ryujin disappeared in a blur, moving so swiftly he seemed to dissolve into the wind. Before Hinata could react, he reappeared silently behind her.

"Who are we looking for?" he murmured, his voice low and teasing as he leaned close to her ear.

Hinata let out a startled gasp, spinning around with wide lavender eyes. "Ahh! Y-you!" she stammered, her voice trembling as she clutched her chest. "You almost gave me a heart attack!"

Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she averted her gaze, the heat of his presence too close for comfort.

Ryujin chuckled softly, leaning back with an easy grin. "If you're going to follow someone, you should at least learn how to conceal your chakra… and your scent. I could smell you from a mile away."

Her blush deepened, and she clenched her fists, flustered. "I-I wasn't following you!" she sputtered, fumbling for a response. "I was just… going in the same direction!"

"Uh-huh. Sure you were." His tone dripped with playful skepticism, his arms crossing over his chest. "Then where exactly were you headed?"

Caught off guard, Hinata froze. "I-I… um…" she stammered, her words trailing off as she struggled to come up with an excuse.

Ryujin's grin widened, his golden eyes gleaming with mischief. He leaned in just enough to make her squirm. "Relax. I'm just messing with you," he said, straightening up. "But seriously, if you want to be stealthy, you've got a lot to learn."

Hinata's embarrassment gave way to determination. She straightened her posture and took a deep breath. "M-maybe you could teach me?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with resolve.

Ryujin raised an eyebrow, surprised by her request. Then, with a small nod, he replied, "Sure. But only if you can keep up." Without another word, he vanished, leaving behind a rush of wind.

Hinata blinked, momentarily stunned, before a faint smile spread across her lips. Determination lit her lavender eyes as she readied herself to follow.

The scene transitions smoothly to her pursuit:

Ryujin deliberately kept his pace just fast enough to challenge her, weaving effortlessly through the forest and leaping between trees. His movements were fluid, a blur of silver hair and emerald eyes against the backdrop of the dense woods. He glanced back occasionally, ensuring she could keep up without faltering.

To make her journey safer, he discreetly dispatched a few shadow clones to patrol the area, warding off potential threats like wild animals.

After a while, they arrived at the storage house Ryujin had been working on with his clones. Once a decrepit structure, it now stood clean and functional, a testament to his meticulous efforts. Landing gracefully on the ground, Ryujin leaned casually against a nearby tree, arms crossed, waiting for Hinata to catch up.

Moments later, Hinata stumbled into view, her breathing labored, and her face flushed from exertion. Sweat glistened on her brow as she landed unsteadily, her legs trembling from the chase.

Ryujin, in stark contrast, stood composed, not a single drop of sweat marring his face. His steady breathing and calm demeanor only amplified her frustration.

"Wow, you made it," he remarked with a playful grin. "Not bad, though you look like you just ran a marathon."

Hinata shot him a tired but determined glare, wiping her brow. "You… didn't even break a sweat," she muttered between gasps, both amazed and slightly annoyed.

Ryujin shrugged nonchalantly, the faintest smirk playing on his lips. "What can I say? Train harder, and maybe one day you'll catch up." He pulled out a water bottle from a nearby bag and extended it to her. "Here. You earned it."

Hinata hesitated before accepting, her fingers brushing against his as she took the bottle. Her cheeks flushed again, though this time she wasn't sure if it was from exhaustion or his teasing.

"Thank you," she mumbled, taking a sip and stealing a glance at him. Despite her initial embarrassment, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. For all his smugness, she could see the hint of encouragement in his eyes.

And for the first time, she thought that maybe, just maybe, this wasn't a terrible idea.

"Just know your training is about to be Hell" He said and Hinata's face paled.