Chapter 22 Travel and Departure

Yamanaka Ino, who had gone to ask the question, exclaimed in surprise, becoming the center of everyone's attention, "A trip?!"

"Travel?" Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji looked at each other and repeated.

Ino Yamanaka realized she was speaking too loudly and quickly covered her mouth. She then hurriedly asked Naruto, "Really? Haruko went on a trip?"

"Yes, Haruko's parents asked her to take a leave of absence, saying she won't be back for a week."

Naruto Uzumaki lay listlessly on the table, completely lacking enthusiasm when the topic came up.

They were chatting and laughing together on the way back under an umbrella that day (Naruto was the only one chatting and laughing), but suddenly the next day he told him he was going on a trip, acting like he couldn't wait.

It just so happened that it was a day off, and Uchiha Sasuke even received an invitation to have lunch at her house. After lunch, Haruko brought up the matter with the two of them the next morning.

"It just so happens that Dad is going to Sunagakure on a mission, so we just went along for a visit." Haruko Hayama said apologetically.

"Sunagakure... It sounds like a place full of sand. What's there to visit?" Naruto Uzumaki muttered unhappily.

Uchiha Sasuke then remembered something else, "So rushed? Your illness isn't..."

Haruko quickly interrupted him, "I was just about to say that. Actually, after being with you guys for so long, I feel like my illness has gotten a lot better! There's a term for it, you know... desensitization therapy!"

"Desensitization therapy?" Naruto Uzumaki frowned, not quite understanding the term.

"It's about leaving my friends for a while to get used to not having them around. If I get used to it, my illness will be completely cured!" Haruko Hayama silently wiped her sweat.

As expected of the reason she came up with after staying up all night, it not only allowed her to jump out of the protagonist circle naturally, but also cured the illness she made up. It was killing two birds with one stone!

"Oh! Is that so?" Naruto Uzumaki, being so naive, was happy for her. "That's great, Haruko!"

"Hahaha……"

Haruko apologized to the two of them in her heart again, but when she glanced at them, she suddenly met Sasuke Uchiha's black eyes, which seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. She guiltily looked away.

"..." Sensing something unusual in her reaction, Uchiha Sasuke remained silent.

"Ahem!" Haruko coughed lightly, bringing the topic back on track. "So Naruto and Sasuke need to get along well, okay? No arguing, and definitely no fighting. If there's a conflict, sit down and discuss it calmly..."

She rattled off a long list of instructions, her voice tinged with worry, like an elderly mother about to embark on a long journey but concerned about her two grown sons at home.

Even though they were used to her nagging, this was the first time they had ever heard her give such a long explanation.

Naruto Uzumaki, who was already restless and fidgety, couldn't contain himself and asked her, "Haruko, will you be gone for a long time?"

Haruko paused for a moment, "Going away for a week, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, it's just that Haruko said so many things to remind me, as if she's going to leave for a long time."

Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "It was just my imagination, wasn't it? Haruko will be back soon!"

Seeing his intense gaze fixed on her, awaiting a definite answer, Haruko forced a smile.

Finally, he answered him in a muffled voice, "...Mm."

...

"You've been waiting for a week?" Yamanaka Ino turned her head in surprise to look at Nara Shikamaru and the others sitting behind her.

The moment their eyes met, Nara Shikamaru immediately turned his head away, pretending he wasn't listening to them. Then he realized he was making a fool of himself and awkwardly turned his gaze back.

Fortunately, Ino Yamanaka didn't notice his little actions and returned to her seat after asking Naruto Uzumaki.

She sighed and said enviously, "That's great, you can take time off to travel."

With a snack in his mouth, Choji Akimichi asked, "Shikamaru didn't know Haruko went on a trip?"

"Why do I need to know? My relationship with her isn't that good, is it?" Nara Shikamaru replied irritably, finding his words unpleasant.

To his surprise, as soon as he said that, Yamanaka Ino and Akimichi Choji on either side of him looked at him in astonishment, making Nara Shikamaru, who was caught in the middle, feel very uncomfortable.

Just as he was about to question the two, Yamanaka Ino suddenly burst into laughter as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world, slapping the table repeatedly with her hand, "Hahaha! Choji, did you hear what he said?"

"I heard that. It's really strange that Shikamaru would say such things while meaning nothing," Akimichi Choji teased the protagonist of the conversation with a smile.

"What's so funny about it...?"

Nara Shikamaru was so teased by them that his dead fish eyes were showing. The key was that he couldn't argue with the two of them by himself, so he could only suffer in silence.

Not content with that, Yamanaka Ino put her hand on his shoulder, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and said, "Hey, you're not upset because Haruko went on a trip without telling you, are you?"

The playful atmosphere suddenly froze, and Yamanaka Ino felt her subordinate Nara Shikamaru's shoulder stiffen.

Surrounded by laughter, Nara Shikamaru felt a nameless rage rise within him. He abruptly stood up and roared out words laced with coldness.

"Stop joking!"

His sudden outburst caught the two people next to him off guard, and the atmosphere froze for a few seconds.

Nara Shikamaru controlled his emotions and, after calming down, spoke again with some annoyance, "...Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom."

Before they could respond, Nara Shikamaru left as Akimichi Choji awkwardly got up to make way for him.

Choji Akimichi was left watching his retreating figure, stammering, "But, class is about to start..."

On the other side, unable to bear seeing Naruto Uzumaki so listless and dejected, Sasuke Uchiha closed the book in his hand.

"Don't spread bad luck there."

Faced with his mockery, Naruto Uzumaki could barely refute him this time, saying weakly, "I'm not unlucky."

"You two are always glued together, aren't you? Wouldn't it be better to separate for a while now?"

"It's not good at all... I haven't seen Haruko for a whole week."

"She won't miss you."

Sasuke Uchiha's calm conclusion made Naruto Uzumaki straighten up immediately, his eyes showing displeasure as he looked at him. "What do you mean?"

Sasuke Uchiha glanced at him expressionlessly and said calmly, "Do you really believe in this 'friendship addiction'? You're too gullible."

"Hey!" Remembering Haruko's instructions before she left that morning, Naruto Uzumaki, suppressing his anger, retorted, "What makes you think Haruko is lying!"

"That sounds like a lie, and even if it were true, judging from her recent reactions, she clearly doesn't want to talk to you anymore."