Chapter 182 Is this what you wanted me to see?
After calming himself down, Jiraiya awkwardly led Haruko forward, opening his mouth but not knowing what to say.
He kept regretting in his heart that he was such a grown man, yet he had still embarrassed himself in front of Haruko...
Haruko noticed his embarrassment and considerately pulled her hand away and ran forward.
Before Jiraiya could react, Haruko, who was some distance away, turned around and waved to him with a bright smile.
"Jiraiya!"
Looking at young Haruko's lively and unrestrained smiling eyes, Jiraiya suddenly felt as if he had returned to their own youthful days.
He was still that mischievous boy who loved to follow Haruko around and play pranks.
The line between reality and memory is blurred. Haruko from two different time periods overlaps at this moment, and Jiraiya, with his youthful arrogance, smiles and waves to her.
"Come and pay!"
Good, Jiraiya is back to reality.
With a helpless smile, Jiraiya called out to her, "I'm here!"
After sending Haruko back to the Uchiha territory, the sky turned crimson, and the setting sun cast a particularly lonely shadow on Jiraiya's solitary figure.
When Haruko turned her head to look at him curiously, Jiraiya smiled and waved, signaling her to hurry home.
Even after she was no longer in sight, Jiraiya remained still, quietly savoring the feeling of her leaving his side.
I still feel really bad...
Even recalling everything again is so painful for Jiraiya. When he thinks about the other three who don't even remember Haruko's existence, the struggle in his heart finally comes to a conclusion.
Perhaps part of it was out of loyalty to her teammates, but more than that, she wanted everyone to remember her existence.
After returning home, Jiraiya wrote a letter and asked Asuka to deliver it to Tsunade, who was traveling far away.
Still harboring a vengeful streak, Jiraiya went to find Hiruko first, leaving Orochimaru until the very end.
Hmph, Orochimaru can go and immerse himself in his research!
So, during the week that Obito Uchiha was sulking, Haruko would always "bump into" the spiky-haired uncle after finishing her training.
Haruko:......
As I've said before, seeing rich but brainless people all the time isn't exactly a pleasant experience.
But today was a little different. When Jiraiya came to find her, he was accompanied by a beautiful, androgynous white-haired man in a long robe.
Haruko blinked curiously. "Jiraiya, is she your girlfriend?"
"How could that be? I would never have such a disgusting relationship with him!" Jiraiya's pupils widened in shock, and he quickly jumped away from Hiruko's side.
Haruko nodded meaningfully, "I see, it's a love that's not accepted by society!"
Seeing that she wouldn't listen to his explanation, Jiraiya slipped behind her and stared at Hiruko with ill intent, looking like a respectable young man being harassed.
Hiruko showed no reaction. He looked at the short girl in front of him indifferently, seemingly not understanding why Jiraiya had brought her here.
Jiraiya rubbed his chin curiously and whispered in Haruko's ear, "Haruko, how much will it cost to see your true face this time?"
"Not for sale right now, I'm under a crackdown." Haruko said in a dejected tone.
"A crackdown?" Jiraiya's eyes widened, and he abruptly stood up. "Who? Who dares to hit you!"
She seemed poised to beat the other party to a pulp the moment she opened her mouth.
"No, it's because Jiraiya bought too much candy last time. Fugaku found out and confiscated it all. He also told me not to talk to the person who paid for my money."
As she spoke, Haruko took a few steps to the side, resolutely distancing herself from him.
Fugaku? Uchiha Fugaku?
Jiraiya thought about it carefully and realized that Haruko's current adoptive parents were quite nosy!
He completely forgot that he had previously told Haruko not to go with other people.
"What should we do then?" Jiraiya squatted down again, dejected. "How can we show Haruko's face to that old man?"
"Uncle?"
Haruko glanced at the aloof and outstanding Hiruko, then at the rugged and roguish Jiraiya, her eyes unable to conceal her disdain for Jiraiya's lack of self-awareness.
"..." Jiraiya, who completely understood her gaze, pursed his lips.
Hiruko, who had been standing opposite them, lowered his eyes, refusing to look at their intimate conversation that seemed oblivious to everyone else.
Haruko's round eyes darted around, a sly glint in them. "Then Jiraiya can owe me for now. I'll tell you when I think of something!"
Jiraiya nodded with delight, not yet fully realizing Haruko's shamelessness, afraid that she might regret it.
So they both secretly chuckled, thinking they had made a profit.
Without any hesitation, Haruko removed her veil, revealing to Hiruko her innocent face, exactly as she remembered.
Hiruko's fingers trembled slightly as she clenched her fist. She looked at Jiraiya and said in her usual calm voice, "Is this what you wanted me to see?"
Before, Jiraiya could make excuses for not recognizing Haruko, but now that he had seen Haruko's face, Hiruko was still unmoved. Jiraiya was furious and walked straight up to him, grabbing his collar.
Don't tell me you've forgotten Haruko!
Even when faced with Jiraiya's fierce gaze, Hiruko remained unmoved, scoffed, and slapped his hand away.
Straightening his collar, Hiruko spoke to Jiraiya's bewildered expression, "Haruko is dead. Isn't that something you and I both know?"
Ignoring Jiraiya's even more furious gaze, Hiruko continued, "It happened just recently. What are you doing now? Finding a replacement?"
Jiraiya, unable to bear it any longer, rushed forward and punched him, mercilessly knocking him to the ground. His chest heaved with indignation as he cried out, "How dare you talk to her like that!"
He casually wiped the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, stood up, dusted off his robe, and turned to leave.
Haruko looked at Jiraiya, who was still angry, and Hiruko, who had already walked away, with some confusion.
Did she drive Jiraiya's lover away?
Jiraiya inadvertently revealed his hurt. After calming down, he noticed Haruko looking a little lost, went over, knelt down, and apologized to her.
"I'm sorry, it's my fault... I misjudged him," Jiraiya explained to her somewhat flusteredly. "I didn't expect... I didn't expect him to react like this..."
Haruko cupped Jiraiya's face in her hands, interrupting his mutterings, and said earnestly, "It's not Jiraiya's fault, Jiraiya is fine!"
Like a large dog that has been comforted and relaxed by its owner, Jiraiya raised a hand and wrapped it around her wrist, rubbing against her palm.
Don't hate me, Haruko...
＊
Habits are a terrible thing. When you get used to doing something, staying in a certain place, or being with a certain person, you lose the courage and energy to live without those habits.
Especially for Hiruko, he was used to chasing his dreams under Haruko Hayama's gaze, used to silently staying by Haruko Hayama's side, used to being with Haruko Hayama...
Separation from him would only bring Hiruko several times more disorientation.
He used to be alone, and after forgetting his memories, he became alone again.
For some reason, while immersed in her own cold and desolate world, Hiruko felt an unusual loneliness.
He always felt a longing, just a longing...
After returning to Konoha, he handed over the intelligence data he had collected over the years and argued that he could stay in Konoha thereafter and would no longer need to go out on missions.
Sitting quietly on the floor in the dimly lit room, Hiruko let his thoughts wander.
I really want to...
Whom do I miss so much?
A goal to pursue, a fulcrum in life.
But... who is that?
******
Thank you so much, K, for the inspiration capsule! Your bonus chapter has arrived! (づωど)
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