Chapter 167 The Hero Who Became a Star
"Kakashi seems to be in a bad mood today," Haruko, who was secretly observing Kakashi Hatake, reported to them.
Nohara Rin leaned on the table next to her, humbly asking, "How did you figure out Haruko?"
Haruko adopted a mysterious posture, touching her smooth chin. "His eyebrows look two shades more withered than usual!"
“...Haruko really pays attention to details.” Nohara Rin gave an awkward yet polite smile.
Obito Uchiha, sitting upright on the other side, scoffed, "What's so interesting about him?"
Haruko thought for a moment, then turned to stare at the orange goggles in front of him. "Obito, why don't you take off your goggles and take a look?"
Are you saying I'm blind?!
Obito Uchiha glared at her angrily, hardly believing that she would actually speak up for his opponent.
Haruko silently turned her back to him again and suggested to Rin Nohara, "Let's go listen to Kakashi's tragic gossip!"
"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Nohara Rin hesitated, besides not knowing whether Hatake Kakashi was really in a bad mood.
Obito Uchiha grabbed Haruko by the back of her hair, angrily interrogating her: "When did you become so familiar with that guy?"
Pulled up to look at the ceiling, Haruko, taking advantage of the fact that he couldn't see the guilt in her eyes, started making up a whole story: "Kakashi suddenly came to my house and tried to kidnap me, but luckily I'm good at talking, and with my sincere persuasion, he turned over a new leaf!"
Obito Uchiha extracted key words from her words and guessed the truth: "So you went to his house, got scolded by him, and ended up leaving in a sorry state?"
Unexpectedly, his words hit the nail on the head, and Haruko's struggling movements froze, cold sweat appearing on her face.
Obito Uchiha released her and cruelly punished her, "No candy for three days."
"What!" Haruko looked sharply at the demon who had pronounced her fate, feeling as if her whole being was about to shatter.
Seeing that Obito Uchiha's attitude was unusually firm this time, Haruko came to Kakashi Hatake's table with a disheartened look, gazing affectionately at this gossip figure she had acquired in exchange for three days of candy.
Kakashi Hatake: ?
Haruko wiped her eyes with her sleeve, tears welling up in her eyes. "Kakashi, I can feel your pain. Tell me what's making you sad!"
"What are you putting on this time?"
Kakashi Hatake looked at Haruko, who was crying quite earnestly, Rin Nohara, who looked embarrassed, and Obito Uchiha, who was pouting unhappily.
Haruko's demeanor suddenly changed, and she looked at him seriously, saying, "As your friends, we want to share your sorrow!"
Nohara Rin nodded in agreement, while Uchiha Obito scoffed, clearly showing his disdain for the statement.
Kakashi Hatake, unusually, didn't criticize them. He remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly struggling with something.
Finally, she slowly spoke: "My father's comrade-in-arms, she... became a star."
“Stars…” Nohara Rin was stunned, her hand involuntarily tightening around the hem of her skirt.
Haruko's prediction came true. Although it was a one-sided rival, Obito Uchiha felt saddened upon hearing of the warrior's passing.
Haruko asked softly, "What kind of person was that comrade-in-arms?"
Following her words, Kakashi Hatake recalled their few meetings in his mind.
"She is a... very strange older sister. After the first meeting, you will encounter her in various strange ways."
"She always tries to take off my mask, and she will use rice balls to trick me into calling her 'sister.' When she sees a hole that I accidentally made in my clothes, she will patiently sew it up for me. She often nags me to cherish the days I spend with my dad... She's a strange person."
"But she wasn't annoying. Just when I was worried that she might pop out from somewhere again, my dad told me that she had turned into a star."
"Her appearances were always unexpected, and so were her departures; she hadn't even told me her name."
Kakashi Hatake spoke calmly, as if he were merely recounting the events of his encounter with her, but as he spoke, he gradually drifted into a daze.
After speaking, he became absorbed in his own world and did not react to their various emotions.
Nohara Rin turned her head away, unable to bear it. In this era of war, even they were war reserves carefully protected by Konoha. The sacrifices never disappeared, and the rushing to the front never stopped.
She was just an ordinary girl, yet she could learn of another tragedy by the white scraps of paper that occasionally fluttered in the streets and alleys.
Ending the war was everyone's hope, and saving the wounded was the direction she could strive for.
That's why Nohara Rin aspired to become an excellent medical ninja, and it was at this moment that she solidified this idea.
Nohara Rin said softly, her voice heavy with sorrow, "War... it really has never left us for a moment."
"Go ahead and cry if you want to. I won't laugh at you now..." Obito Uchiha awkwardly patted his shoulder.
Haruko gave him a reassuring smile, "Then she must be the brightest star in the sky, and the most delicious rice ball flavor!"
Hearing her unconventional words of comfort, Kakashi Hatake couldn't help but smirk slightly beneath his mask, reverting to his usual sarcastic remark: "What star tastes like a rice ball?"
Looking into her deep, gentle eyes, Kakashi Hatake suddenly seemed to see the shadow of that strange older sister... that radiant, song-like soul.
Kakashi Hatake snapped out of his reverie and met Haruko's worried gaze. He wondered if he was missing that strange older sister too much. When he saw Haruko, he even thought their eyes were the same, even though he hadn't known that strange older sister for very long.
They actively petitioned to go and pay their respects with Kakashi Hatake, and the next morning they gathered together and went to the memorial to the heroes.
This place is the final resting place of the heroic bones of those who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield; their flesh and blood remain, but their deeds are immortal.
The heroine's tombstone was easy to spot. Almost all the fellow travelers they met along the way were there to mourn her. She was remembered by many after her death, and she had made countless contributions during her life. Their hearts were filled with even more respect for her.
Standing quietly not far from the tombstone, Orochimaru watched as one person left and another came up, his golden eyes now dark and obscure.
Jiraiya pulled a stack of crumpled papers from his backpack. These were the fruits of his labor, writing his novel day and night. He gently stroked each word on them, saying, "How useless I am. I've only just finished writing all this, and I haven't even had a chance to let her see it yet."
"I'm the useless one..." Tsunade clenched her fists, feeling the pain of her nails digging into her skin, as if this would make her feel a little better.
Jiraiya didn't look away, but he noticed her movements out of the corner of his eye. "Alright, if she sees this, she'll feel sorry for you again."
Upon hearing his words, Tsunade bit her lip, but tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Orochimaru remained silent, as if everything around him was irrelevant, like he was watching a black-and-white play, and the people's grief-stricken expressions were utterly ridiculous.
Who died? Haruko is still alive. We made a promise; she'll wait for me in the future...
Orochimaru closed his eyes tightly, pulling away the sorrow that had involuntarily arisen within him. When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with ruthlessness. Without a second thought, he turned and left.
Watching his figure gradually disappear into the distance, Jiraiya felt utterly exhausted as the manuscript he had painstakingly crafted day and night fell from his hands.
It drifted away in the wind, scattering in all directions.
As they brushed past each other on the only path leading up and down, a familiar scent lingered in the air. Orochimaru's snake eyes narrowed, and he looked behind him with an inexplicable hope, only to see four small children climbing the stairs one by one.
Orochimaru's carefully constructed composure finally crumbled under the weight of his momentary lapse of judgment. He lowered his head, concealing his vulnerability from everyone.
Who gave you permission to die before me...?
As Haruko huffed and puffed as she climbed up the hill, she recalled the person she had just passed and felt a little strange. She stopped and looked back, only to see the long-haired man with his head down, his expression unreadable.
Strange, why does this feel somewhat familiar?
With a slight frown, before she could figure out where she had seen this before, Haruko heard Obito Uchiha's reminder from ahead and put her thoughts aside to continue moving forward.
******
The list of recipients of gratitude as of March 21, 2024:
grateful--
The character summon was given by Madam Jiang, who loves duck soup.
K, the one who sent the update reminder charm
Yun Cheyun from Ancient Desert Island sent a urging talisman for updates.
The Jade Book from Tiandan Pavilion sent a urging talisman.
Li Xibai was the beautiful woman who gave him the bubble tea.
Lin Xiu, who likes spear ants; Sun Ao, who loves bayberry distilled liquor; Sprite-flavored pig; Shan Qing Hua Yu Ran; Yun Cheyun from Gu Mo Island; Wang Haiyong from Xiao Haozi Island; Yu Zi Ge; Hong Yi Xiang Yi Sai Gao; Chu Xia; Xing Kong; Wei Yang; Mo Wentian, who loves red bean jelly; Math tortured me to the point of being covered in wounds; Ye Ye Ye; Lu Lu Lu Lu Xiao Chen; Wu Zong Shi, who loves homemade ice cubes; Yue...; Jin Xiula from Nanning; Xuan Chun; Yu Shu from Tian Dan Ge; Gulu Gulu Miao; Ban Xia SS, who sent this as a gift for love.
Thank you so much for the gifts! The author is so touched! Lin sends a loving hug (ε )
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