Chapter 171 Nobody Remembers Her

"It's so late, there are still people inside the memorial tablet."

Obito Uchiha noticed a white figure standing in the distance and found it rather strange.

Haruko also noticed the figure that hadn't moved for a while, following his words.

Given the gloomy and cold atmosphere around her, along with the rustling of leaves, Haruko swallowed hard and silently hid behind Obito Uchiha.

Haruko gently tugged at his sleeve, making sure he was there to shield her before cautiously asking, "Obito, are there ghosts here...?"

"ghost?"

Obito Uchiha hadn't initially made that connection, but now that she brought it up, his nerves inexplicably tightened.

But she still stubbornly replied, "There are no ghosts in the world..."

Haruko glanced down at his shaking legs and instantly labeled Uchiha Obito as "someone you absolutely can't go out with at night."

However, at the memorial to the heroes, there were only the two of them and the white figure in the distance. Haruko felt that given Obito Uchiha's stubbornness, he definitely wouldn't call out before her.

So Haruko confidently instructed him, "Who's wandering around in a white cloak in the middle of the night? Obito, go and check."

"Me?!" Obito Uchiha exclaimed in surprise.

Realizing he had spoken too loudly, he quickly covered his mouth. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the white figure was not moving.

Seeing that he didn't make a move, Haruko used a provocation tactic, saying resentfully, "Obito is a coward."

"I..." Obito Uchiha instinctively wanted to retort, but quickly lowered his voice, turned his head away in embarrassment and anger, and grabbed her hair, "I'm not a coward!"

"Then you go!"

Haruko patted his shoulder earnestly to encourage him, snatched her hair back, and immediately found cover to crouch down, showing him her supportive eyes.

"..." She definitely did it on purpose!

Obito Uchiha glanced furtively at the white figure still standing on the high ground, clenched his fists, and was filled with inner turmoil.

In the end, the desire not to lose face in front of Haruko prevailed, and Obito Uchiha reluctantly walked up the stairs.

When he was just one step away from the white figure, Obito Uchiha began to have thoughts of retreating.

Just as he was wavering between "losing face" and "saving his life," he suddenly felt a push from behind.

His eyes widened, and he hesitated for a moment before heading to the white figure. Uchiha Obito froze, too afraid to look up and see if the person was a ghost.

Haruko's stroke of genius: Obito, go!

"You are..." came a slightly aged voice.

Obito Uchiha felt a strange sense of familiarity, but couldn't quite place where he had heard it before. So, he mustered his courage and cautiously looked up to peek.

"The Third Hokage?" Obito Uchiha was startled.

The solemn and serious middle-aged man in front of me could only be the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He was wearing a white cloak symbolizing the Hokage, and the red cloak he usually wore was in his hand; no wonder they didn't recognize him at first.

He had come alone, but heard the commotion below from afar. When Hiruzen Sarutobi realized it was two children, he didn't pay much attention. However, he didn't expect them to come to him on their own initiative.

He vaguely recognized the child wearing orange goggles in front of him.

It seemed to be a boy from the Uchiha clan, who looked only four or five years old, which stirred a sense of nostalgia in him.

Nostalgia? Nostalgia for whom? Asma?

This is the most correct and only answer, but Hiruzen Sarutobi always felt that he had forgotten something very important.

What exactly did he forget...?

"Obito, is he a demon disguised as the Hokage?"

A naive and childlike voice echoed, as if it had traveled across mountains and seas and through time and space to play in Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears.

With trembling eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked eagerly ahead and saw a girl with beautiful black hair and innocent eyes.

Her face was mostly veiled by a thin white veil, and despite wearing a heavy and exquisite kimono, she seemed like a light and radiant soul returning to the world as she ran towards him.

Haruko ran behind Obito Uchiha to hide, and curiously peeked out to observe the demon who was impersonating the Hokage.

Feeling her scrutinizing gaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi tensed up for some reason.

Haruko couldn't believe it really was the Third Hokage. She whispered to Obito, "Do all Hokage have such strange quirks?"

What kind of quirks?

Obito Uchiha's curiosity was piqued by her, and it wasn't until he heard her answer "pretend to be a ghost to scare people" that he realized they were making fun of the Hokage in front of him!

He panicked and tried to explain, but found that the Third Hokage's gaze seemed to be looking behind him, not at him.

Isn't Haruko right behind him?

Could it be that the Hokage has been angered by Haruko?

Realizing this was a possibility, Obito Uchiha's heart clenched.

Haruko kept urging him to express his opinion, showing no appreciation whatsoever for their current predicament.

You idiot!

Just as Obito Uchiha was terrified that they might be dumped here, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked them hesitantly, his tone a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

"Little sister... what's your name?"

Meeting his fearful and disappointed gaze, Haruko instinctively used her usual words to respond, looking back at him earnestly: "My name is Flower Fairy."

"Hello!"

Obito Uchiha was surprised that she was still talking so inappropriately at a time like this, and hurriedly tried to scold her.

But when he turned his head, he saw her slightly moist eyes and wondered what was wrong with her.

Although he was also immersed in the emotions in her eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi saw them more deeply and clearly than Obito Uchiha.

Almost certain of something, he crouched down and gave a warm, amiable smile.

"Really? What brings the Flower Fairy to our Konoha?"

Haruko sensed the kindness and peace emanating from him, and her grip on Obito's back tightened slightly as she responded stubbornly.

"Because the Flower Fairy was abandoned..."

As soon as she spoke, the only two people present fell silent.

Obito Uchiha knew that she usually liked to make up strange things, but when he heard the desolation in her words, he couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Moreover, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was already over half his life, looked as if he had experienced a major change in his life. His facial features were aged and weathered, and his deep eyes were gradually becoming misty.

He didn't know how to start, so he opened his mouth but only let out a sigh.

Seeing that he didn't reply, Haruko was a little disappointed and pulled Uchiha Obito toward their original destination—the gravestone of the star.

"There are no words..."

Haruko gently stroked the stone tablet, touching its cold surface, and the tears that had been welling up in her eyes trembled and fell straight down.

Obito Uchiha was also somewhat taken aback, "How come there's a nameless monument here?"

Haruko placed her hand beside the stone tablet and softly said, "No one remembers her anymore..."

******

The list of recipients of gratitude as of March 22, 2024:

grateful--

K, the rascal, sent 4 inspiration capsules.

A love letter delivered with a gentle touch x2, flowers x2

Two love letters from Huai Zhixin, plus flowers.

A love letter sent to me, filled with longing and infatuation.

Yuan Kun, who loves potato pancakes; Atallo from the Great Wind Agency; and flowers given by Uchiha Xueyi.

Yun Cheyun from Ancient Desert Island, Yuan Kun who loves potato pancakes, Deep Sea Dragon, Tang Xiaoyu from the North, Math tortured me to the point of being covered in wounds, Gulu Gulu Meow, Mo Wentian who loves red bean jelly, Early Summer.Starry Sky, Sun Ao who loves bayberry distilled liquor, Moon...., Half Summer SS, Red-Clad Xiang Yi Sai Gao, the smoky and chaotic Brother Gu, Purple Sweet Potato Porridge, Fisherman's Song, Jin Xiula from Nanning, Xuan Chun, Salt and Pepper, and the book given by Bai Lu for generating electricity for love.

Thank you for the gifts! The author is so touched! The Third Generation Pirates puff on his pipe and give a cool, crooked smile └(^o^)┘