Chapter 12 Be a Quiet Friend
Especially when Naruto Uzumaki kept pestering him for a definite answer, and even touched Haruko Hayama's blinking eyelashes, Shikamaru Nara mumbled something indistinctly.
"Well... I guess... I probably would... suffice it?"
While I appreciate your affirmation, Shikamaru...
Is it so hard to admit you're my friend? Have I brought shame upon you?
Haruko silently shed tears in the morning.
The only one who was happy was Naruto Uzumaki. He went up to Haruko Hayama and coaxed her, saying that although Shikamaru Nara was not as considerate, understanding, or handsome as him, he was much better than Sasuke Uchiha with his tomato-head hairstyle.
Nara Shikamaru: ...
Haruko stared at him with teary eyes in the morning, successfully stopping Naruto's impassioned speech. After a few seconds of silent arguing, Naruto finally gave in.
"Then let me think about it some more. I'm sure I can find you a better friend than Uchiha Sasuke!"
Naruto pushed Shikamaru Nara to his seat next to her, told him to take good care of Haruko Hayama, and then ran away.
For some reason, Haruko Hayama had a sense of déjà vu—"My dear son, don't move from here, I'll go find you some friends."
Haruko Hayama and Shikamaru Nara were left staring at each other in bewilderment.
Nara Shikamaru slumped on the table, complaining, "What are you guys up to now? This is so troublesome, don't drag me into this."
"Again?" Haruko asked herself, wondering if she and Naruto had caused any trouble before.
"And that disease of yours that you'll never die a good death..."
Haruko quickly interrupted him, "No, no, no, Shikamaru, that's not true! I haven't lost my mind!"
"Anyone with a brain knows this is a lie. Why are you lying to Naruto?" Nara Shikamaru showed no awareness that Naruto was brainless.
Haruko awkwardly looked away from him, unsure how to explain, "Well..."
"Why? You should like Naruto quite a bit, right?" Nara Shikamaru asked, puzzled. "This illness sounds like you don't want to be associated with him. Only someone as oblivious as him wouldn't understand that."
"I really like Naruto... but reality is complicated, full of all sorts of unavoidable hardships!"
Haruko patted his shoulder with an air of maturity and wisdom, her tone full of vicissitudes, which made Nara Shikamaru hesitate and straighten up.
"Then why do you want to be friends with me?"
“Because Shikamaru is different,” Haruko Hayama answered without hesitation.
Nara Shikamaru isn't part of the main cast, so he's different from Uzumaki Naruto. He's just an ordinary friend she should make friends with!
But Nara Shikamaru heard these words in a completely different way. His heart skipped a beat, and he scratched his ear uncomfortably, causing the tips of his ears to turn crimson.
Even though I know Haruko Hayama is a straightforward idiot who always says things that are easy to misunderstand, but...
Hearing these things still makes me overthink.
Nara Shikamaru, his face flushed, pushed away Hayama Haruko, who was trying to get closer to see what was wrong, and coughed lightly, feigning composure, "You really are an idiot."
"Huh?"
Admittedly, Naruto wanted to find a replacement for the tomato-headed guy, but he couldn't resist Haruko's pitiful pleas, and finally, with great backbone, he proposed to give Sasuke a period of observation.
"So you two... what are you doing at my house again!"
Sasuke Uchiha leaned angrily against the door, only one hand visible, scanning them warily.
Haruko replied in a whisper, "Come and deepen your bond with Sasuke!"
"What?" Sasuke Uchiha couldn't quite hear her and looked at her strangely. "Why are you speaking so softly?"
"Doesn't Sasuke like quiet friends?"
"..." Then why don't you just stop talking altogether?
Suddenly recalling Haruko and Naruto's unique sign language exchange earlier, Sasuke Uchiha's lips twitched. He was speechless for once, unsure of what to say in response.
"...And what about this guy?"
Sasuke Uchiha decided not to confront her directly and pointed to the blond-haired man following behind Haruko Hayama.
Naruto, who was already annoyed and had been resting his head on his hand behind him, suddenly exploded, "What do you mean! I came here specifically to accompany Haruko, not to see you!"
"Haha... Let's deepen our relationship together."
Haruko laughed it off, but seeing that Sasuke Uchiha was becoming more wary, she quickly added, "Why don't we go train together? I recently discovered a new skill... no, a new genjutsu."
"A new genjutsu?" Sasuke Uchiha became slightly interested in this.
"Great! Great!" Naruto Uzumaki exclaimed excitedly.
Standing by the pond at the Uchiha clan's residence, Haruko Hayate calmed herself and quickly formed hand seals: "Genjutsu: Misty Spirit Butterfly Technique!"
When their eyes met, an invisible ripple instantly appeared before their eyes.
Many tiny, shimmering white butterflies quietly fluttered around them, more and more of them, and as they danced, the scenery around them gradually became hazy, with swarms of white mist floating around.
“This is…” Uchiha Sasuke took out a kunai and cut the white butterfly in front of him.
But after the white butterfly broke in two, it turned into tiny flashes and disappeared. In its place, more and denser white butterflies surrounded him. Uchiha Sasuke immediately broke out of the encirclement and ran away, but the white butterflies relentlessly pursued him.
The white butterflies seemed to have no offensive capabilities; they were merely there to obstruct his vision and provide cover for the formation of the white mist, making it impossible for him to discern directions.
Hey! You two!
Uchiha Sasuke called out to them, but received no response. The white mist thickened, and he could not even see any other color besides white.
The unexpected situation startled Sasuke Uchiha for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and carefully observed his surroundings.
"That's amazing!"
Although Naruto Uzumaki was also trapped in the mist and white butterflies, his reaction was completely different from Sasuke Uchiha's. At the thought of learning such a powerful genjutsu, he even jumped up with joy.
Before Sasuke Uchiha could continue his investigation, Haruko Hayashi dispelled the genjutsu at the perfect moment. "How was it? Pretty, right?"
"Mmm!" Naruto exclaimed with admiration, his eyes sparkling.
Uchiha Sasuke stepped forward and grabbed her arm, urging, "Try again, I've found a way to break this."
Haruko was slightly surprised, not expecting him to be so interested in this illusion.
When she stared at him with curiosity, Sasuke Uchiha realized that his reaction was a bit too much. He awkwardly let go of her arm and turned his head away without saying a word.
Haruko chuckled softly, "Sasuke, if you're interested, just say so. Don't be shy."
"Me? Shy?!" Sasuke Uchiha stared wide-eyed in disbelief, quite annoyed.
Naruto Uzumaki stood beside him, hands on his hips, teasing him: "You're so angry you've turned into a real tomato head!"
"..."
Seeing that she was about to drive Uchiha Sasuke away, Haruko quickly stopped him and began today's lesson.
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