"Haruki!"
Unbeknownst to her, Konan’s face was covered in tears.
She stood at the doorway, shouting at the figure that was getting further and further away. Unfortunately, the person in front never looked back.
Tears stread from Konan’s eyes.
How could this be? Everything was fine just a mont ago.
"Haruki..."
[Ding!]
[System detected Konan’s pain value 5000]
[Your Cursed Spirit Kenjaku’s rank has increased to 15%]
Konan’s legs felt weak, and a terrifying thought made her dizzy. She clutched the doorfra tightly, her vision blurred. "Will you still co back...?"
Would Haruki still co back? Would they ever see Haruki again?
"What happened?"
Jiraiya, holding a bucket full of seafood, looked at the three children in confusion.
He had only left for a mont, how did it beco like this?
Why did Haruki suddenly leave?
Didn’t he say he would stay for dinner?
And why was Konan so sad?
She was so upset she looked like she might faint.
Nagato stood rooted to the spot, his soul seemingly having left his body.
Jiraiya looked at Yahiko. Yahiko choked back a sob, and a line of tears suddenly flowed from his eyes. He imdiately wiped them away with his sleeve, stubbornly unwilling to admit his sadness.
[Ding!]
[System detected Nagato’s pain value 10000]
[Your Cursed Spirit Kenjaku’s rank has increased to 25%]
Nagato moved, slowly sitting on the floor, his hands wrapped around his knees, not saying a word.
Jiraiya looked at the three children, then at Haruki, who had already disappeared.
He walked over to Yahiko, patted Yahiko’s shoulder, and asked, "Yahiko, did you and Haruki have a fight?"
These four children were closer than family, how could such a fierce argunt break out?
"It wasn’t a fight." Yahiko sniffled.
He looked at Jiraiya, and his emotions, which he had just managed to compose, burst forth in tears again when he t Jiraiya’s concerned eyes, "He changed!"
"Jiraiya-sensei!"
"Haruki changed!"
Yahiko hugged Jiraiya and cried loudly.
Jiraiya gently patted his back and asked, "How did Haruki change?"
"He... he’s been following... following Hanzo... for Hanzo... he said I... he knew I... I hate Hanzo..." Yahiko spoke incoherently.
Although Yahiko’s words were jumbled, Jiraiya still understood his aning.
It turned out that Haruki had been following Hanzo and working for him all this ti. Jiraiya felt this was both unexpected and, at the sa ti, sowhat expected.
Haruki was originally an orphan from the Land of Rain. It was understandable for him to join Agakure and work for Hanzo.
To be honest, Jiraiya didn’t dislike Hanzo. One could even say he admired Hanzo. But Yahiko seed to deeply resent Hanzo.
Children’s minds are simple. He couldn’t grasp the deeper aning, so he attributed the current situation of Agakure to Hanzo.
Yahiko, who viewed Hanzo as an enemy, couldn’t accept Haruki becoming Hanzo’s subordinate, which led to a dispute with Haruki.
"He just left... I won’t... won’t forgive him..." Yahiko sobbed.
Jiraiya sighed.
...
Haruki ran wildly on his way back to the village. Along the way, he humd a song in good spirits.
"Today is a good day..."
"Everything you wish for will co true..."
[...]
Before dark, Haruki arrived at the main gate.
"Haruki!"
The mont Mizuna saw Haruki, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"You’re finally back. Did you see your friends?" Mizuna opened the iron tower for Haruki to enter.
Haruki nodded.
Mizuna’s eyes widened in surprise. Haruki actually found them.
"Why are you still so unhappy after seeing your friends?" Mizuna looked at Haruki’s dispirited appearance and asked worriedly.
"I wanted them to co to Agakure with , but they refused..." Haruki told Mizuna disappointedly.
So that was it.
Mizuna smiled wryly and shook his head, explaining to Haruki, "Haruki, not everyone is as brave as you. They also don’t have the outstanding talent you do. If they ca here, they would encounter danger."
"I will protect them!" Haruki looked at Mizuna and said firmly.
Mizuna smiled helplessly. "But you can’t protect them their whole lives. There will be tis when you’re not around. What will they do then?"
Haruki slowly lowered his head and said, "Big brother Mizuna, you’re right. I was too selfish..."
Mizuna looked at his forlorn expression and comforted him with a pained heart, "How could Haruki be selfish? Haruki is the bravest and most amazing child I’ve ever seen."
"Really?" Haruki looked up, cautiously looking at Mizuna.
"Of course, it’s true." Mizuna said firmly.
"Then I will continue to work hard in the future. I will beco the bravest and most amazing ninja big brother has ever seen." Haruki promised earnestly, word by word.
Mizuna: "..."
He smiled and nodded. "Good."
[Ding!]
[System detected Mizuna’s affection value 1000]
[Your Companion Cursed Spirit Rika’s rank has increased to 63%]
After saying goodbye to Mizuna, Haruki returned to his single apartnt.
Through the eyes of the crows, he saw that Suzaku and the other two had already begun to pack their bags.
According to a ninja’s speed, if they set off tonight, they should reach the border where the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire et by noon tomorrow.
Haruki quickly packed his ninja tool bag, slung his long sword over his back, put on his raincoat, left a note, closed the door to his single apartnt, and set off with Suzaku, Sakikawa, and Kurogaya.
Rain still enveloped Agakure.
The rain gently tapped on Haruki’s raincoat. He was like a shadow rged with the night, clinging to the shadows of a giant water pipeline.
Haruki remained motionless, his breathing suppressed to an extre low, almost rging with the sound of the rain.
Not far away, three Agakure ninjas on duty were on their routine patrol.
Rain flowed down their hat brims and headbands. Their steps were steady, and their gazes sharply scanned their surroundings, not missing a single corner.
The different perspectives provided by dozens of crows allowed Haruki to easily find a route to avoid these patrolling ninjas.
Haruki’s footsteps were light and silent, not splashing a single drop of water when he landed.
The complex terrain ford by Agakure’s discarded machinery, giant condensing iron towers, and layers of pipes beca his natural cover.
Haruki weaved through the gaps, moving further and further away from the center of Agakure.
Guided by the crows, he subrged himself in the water and, after a period of underwater stealth, skillfully bypassed the line of sight of the watchtowers and fixed sentries.
Leaving the most heavily guarded area, Haruki breathed a sigh of relief.
He quickly ran forward, his figure speeding through the rainy night.
Leaving the confines of Agakure, Haruki took a deep breath, and cold air mixed with water vapor rushed into his lungs.
Several crows flapped their wings above Haruki’s head as he chased after Suzaku and the others.
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