Chapter 234 We have no future, right?

The Yin Seal is a medical sealing technique developed by Tsunade. It allows one to accumulate chakra in their forehead during normal times, and then release a large amount of chakra when needed.

However, the conditions for using the Yin Seal are very strict. Apart from the initial training, one should try not to use ninjutsu in order to store chakra on ordinary days.

It's a pity that Haruko's skills, honed over three playthroughs, have now turned her into a fragile character who can only rely on physical attacks.

Tsunade, under the pretext of "protecting her during her training," stayed by Haruko's side every day, dragging her around to play all the time except during training, as if she wanted to make up for all the years of missing friendship.

When Jiraiya and the others came to find Haruko, Tsunade would always turn them away with the righteous excuse that "Haruko needs to train in peace," revealing her double standards.

Unable to win a fight or an argument, Jiraiya could only secretly talk to Haruko when Tsunade was in a hurry to relieve herself.

"That woman Tsunade is too domineering! Why can't I come to see you!"

Haruko stood in front of the bushes, looking at Jiraiya who was hiding his large, cramped body, and found it somewhat amusing. "But Jiraiya really doesn't have anything important to discuss with me."

"Where do I not have anything important to do?!"

Unable to bear seeing his image tarnished in his beloved's eyes, Jiraiya rolled his small eyes and said in a serious tone, "I've come to discuss the plot of my next book with you."

It was obvious that the reason was made up on the spot. Haruko helplessly brushed the leaf off his face. "It took me several years to write the first book. If I write another one, I'm afraid I'll have to wait until Jiraiya becomes an old man."

Startled by her words, Jiraiya pouted and muttered under his breath, "My work is the culmination of years of accumulated knowledge. How can the shoddy novels on the market compare to mine!"

"Yes."

"..."

With his white, spiky hair and long face, he exuded an aura of displeasure.

"Jirai needs to be more mature." She said this, but under his resentful gaze, Haruko helplessly patted his spiky hair.

"Hmph, a man is a boy until he dies!"

Jiraiya, who was easily appeased, then took out two fruits from his pocket and ate them with her behind Tsunade's back.

Just like that afternoon many years ago, the arrogant white-haired brat emerged from the bushes, hiding from the bad-tempered Tsunade, and took out the delicious fruit he had discovered during his day and night training, handing it to his crush who was squatting in front of the bushes, watching him curiously.

"Since Jiraiya is so free, why don't he take Obito to train?"

Words of despair escaped the lips of the one she secretly loved.

"..." Jiraiya slowly raised his hand and wiped his face. His heart was in turmoil.

"Jiraiya?"

"I heard you, I heard you." Jiraiya took a big bite of the fruit in a huff. "Why do you always want me to take care of that brat? Being a disciple of the Sannin isn't easy."

Haruko silently pierced his proud exterior, "You used to complain about why you didn't have disciples when you saw others do."

"I didn't!" Jiraiya retorted angrily, not expecting her to still remember this.

"You also think highly of Obito, so why are you getting more and more arrogant the more I talk to you, just like Tsunade?" Haruko put her hands on her hips, completely baffled by their mentality.

Upon hearing that Tsunade shared the same opinion as him, Jiraiya's pursed lips twitched even lower.

He's nothing like that fierce woman; he's a mature and steady handsome toad messenger!

Haruko could tell from his expression that he was unhappy. She sighed and began to skillfully deceive him, "After all, Jiraiya is someone I acknowledge and trust. I only feel comfortable entrusting this important task to Jiraiya."

"Really?" The simple-minded hedgehog-like hair perked up instantly.

"Really, really, I believe that under Jiraiya's tutelage, Obito will definitely make great progress!"

Watching Jiraiya leave, beaming with energy and laughing heartily, Haruko wiped away non-existent sweat, relieved that he was still as gullible as he was when they were children.

I hope Jiraiya can keep Obito occupied for a while and prevent him from noticing that something is wrong with him.

If Haruko's biggest worry in the second playthrough was Orochimaru, then in the third playthrough, her biggest worry was Obito Uchiha.

He was a sincere and passionate boy to everyone, and they had been together since childhood. Although he always said he would never care about her again, he was always there for her no matter what happened. If he heard the news of her death, he would probably never forgive himself.

Recalling the despair on Nagato's and the others' faces when they looked at her, Haruko made a decision in her heart: she would die in a silent moment.

*

I've been calculating the time, and it's almost time for Gaara to be born.

Previously, we learned from Gaara's memories that his mother died after giving birth, and his father, the Kazekage, sealed Shukaku into Gaara's body in order to protect the village.

If we want to change Gaara's fate, starting from this moment is crucial.

Haruko, who hadn't yet mastered the Yin Seal, couldn't use chakra, so she simply dragged Tsunade, who was always sticking to her with nothing to do, along to Sunagakure.

The night before her departure, she went to see Hiruko, whom she had never had a chance to meet before.

Strangely enough, given Hiruko's dark and clingy personality, aside from the occasional mechanical bird peeking at her, he never came to see her even once.

Arriving at Hiruko's house at the address Tsunade reluctantly gave her, the door opened by itself before Haruko could knock, as if it had been waiting for her arrival, yet remained indifferent and unwilling to reveal its expectations.

Upon entering the dimly lit room, Haruko closed the door and it took her a while to adjust to the faint light.

Seeing the figure sitting with his back to the large blue screen, Haruko tentatively called out, "Hiruko?"

Her voice echoed in the small room, and after a few seconds came Hiruko's barely audible reply, "Haruko, you're here."

"Your room is so dark. It's bad for your eyes."

Haruko walked straight to his side, and when she saw his lifeless face, she froze on the spot. Startled and frightened, she patted his shoulder and asked, "Hiruko, what's wrong?"

Hearing her urgent question, Hiruko turned her stiff neck, her gaze still lifeless.

"You took so long to come see me."

His low, hoarse voice cut into Haruko's conscience like a knife. After figuring out what had happened, Haruko sat down next to him with a guilty conscience.

She apologized to him earnestly, word by word, "I'm so sorry, I've had too many things to do."

Looking into her bewildered, bright black eyes, Hiruko shook her head slowly after a few seconds, "I'm sorry."

"I forgot you, and I refused to acknowledge your existence. It was my fault, I'm sorry, I deserve to die."

His voice gradually choked up.

"Do you hate me? You despise me, right? That's why you see everyone else but not me, because you'll never forgive me, right?"

In this empty room, even the sound of tears falling to the floor was clearly audible.

"We...don't have a future, right?"