Chapter 193 Me Before
"What did he lie to you about?" Hiruko's eyes narrowed, determined to get to the bottom of it.
"He lied..." Haruko was about to say when Orochimaru interrupted her.
"It's a private matter between the two of us." Orochimaru's icy golden snake eyes swept across Hiruko's unfriendly face, as if mocking his exasperation. "Besides, what's it to you?"
Hiruko's face darkened. For a moment, he really wanted to disregard the situation and attack Orochimaru directly, blowing him up until he was just a snake skin.
But when he caught a glimpse of Haruko watching him curiously, Hiruko suppressed his murderous intent and gave her an ugly smile.
Haruko, who just wanted to watch the drama unfold: It's a pity they didn't fight...
“However…” Orochimaru suddenly brought his alluring face close to Haruko’s and said in a voice that the two of them could hear, “My feelings are all real, and perhaps I will get a chance in the future.”
In the instant Haruko was taken aback, Orochimaru stepped back, pressed his index finger against her bloodless lips, and made a "shh" gesture towards her.
It's as if it's saying that this is a secret between the two of them, and a feeling that only concerns the two of them.
Haruko unconsciously tightened her grip on Tsunade's shoulder.
Orochimaru must have really liked, or even loved, her from before...
When Haruko came to her senses, she realized she had already asked the question: "What kind of person was I before?"
Tsunade answered enthusiastically, "Haruko is an incredibly gentle person, thoughtful and considerate. Being around you makes me feel comfortable and happy."
"And he's very kind, treating everyone equally." Jiraiya glanced at the two porcelain-white faces opposite him. "He doesn't even have prejudice against dark, cold reptiles!"
"Jiraiya, if you're in such a hurry to die, I can send you on your way." Orochimaru slowly licked his lips with his tongue.
Jiraiya snorted, "You think you can kill me?"
“If you wish, I can generously help you,” Hiruko added calmly.
Seeing that they were about to start arguing again, Haruko crossed her arms and made a stop gesture, "Stop arguing! I haven't finished listening yet!"
Since Haruko had spoken, Hiruko didn't press the matter further. When she returned to the original topic, her tone softened considerably. "Haruko is so warm; she's my only sunshine."
"Although he sometimes says some foolish things, he's not annoying," Orochimaru concluded after careful consideration.
One minute he says his feelings are real, the next he calls her stupid. Does Orochimaru actually like her?
Haruko said that she really couldn't understand Orochimaru.
Tsunade, thoroughly disapproving of the ulterior motives these grown men harbored, sneered and said disgustingly, "Haruko said she loves seeing you all getting along peacefully and showing each other respect~"
As expected, the three of them were left speechless for a moment, feeling both disgusted and unsatisfied by her words.
Haruko remained silent. She noticed that when they talked about her in the past, their eyes shone with a deep affection and expectation.
She must have been a very outstanding person back then, right?
Haruko, with a mix of confusion and uncertainty, pressed, "Is there any difference between now and now?"
Unexpectedly, Tsunade frowned and thought about it carefully. "I don't think so? But Haruko was very healthy when she was little, and she often took us out to play."
"I know!" Jiraiya said with a hint of pride. He was the first person to have contact with the current Haruko. "The current Haruko really likes money!"
Orochimaru recalled how the child's eyes had lit up when he said the entire laboratory could be hers, and agreed, "Indeed, Haruko didn't seem to have this kind of hobby before."
"It's just money. All the money I've earned from my research can buy half of Konoha and give it to her." Hiruko began to seduce Haruko with his family fortune.
As expected, Haruko's mouth dropped open when she heard this, but what she was thinking was: I really want to fight these rich people!
Seeing the three men start another round of arguing—comparing their family fortunes—Tsunade had no choice but to quickly carry Haruko forward.
“But if I had to say what the biggest difference is…” Tsunade met Haruko’s gaze, who was looking at her curiously, “it would undoubtedly be that we can still have you.”
Looking into Tsunade's undisguised joyful smile, Haruko seemed to be burned and awkwardly looked away.
They really, really... miss Haruko Hayama...
*
"Haruko, are you alright? Are you feeling particularly unwell?" Nohara Rin looked at Haruko, whose face was slightly pale, and her eyebrows furrowed.
Lying in bed, Haruko coughed twice before weakly replying, "Don't worry, Rin, it's just a common cold."
"That's all?" Obito Uchiha raised his voice. "Do you know how worried I was!"
When Obito Uchiha saw her lying there sickly, still giving him a fawning smile, he was both angry and heartbroken.
After learning that Haruko was in poor health, he took good care of her every day, making sure she was kept warm and protected from the cold wind, and strictly controlling her diet, etc.
Haruko was initially pleased that with him by her side, she hadn't been sick again, but today she learned that he had collapsed.
Where exactly was it that wasn't properly protected... Obito Uchiha gritted his teeth and kept blaming himself.
“I know, Obito cares about me the most.” Haruko skillfully stroked his hair.
He was about to lash out, but seeing Haruko's sickly face, Obito Uchiha fell silent.
Kakashi Hatake placed the candy he had bought on the way to her pillow, saying, "You may not be able to eat it, but seeing it might make you feel a little better."
Unexpectedly, Haruko's eyes lit up. She first glanced furtively at the supervisor, Uchiha Obito, and seeing that he turned his head away, indicating that he was letting things go, Haruko smiled gratefully at Hatake Kakashi.
Was it because of her illness? Kakashi Hatake inexplicably felt that Haruko looked very pitiful.
Feeling an urge to get close to her face, Kakashi Hatake snapped out of his reverie, silently raising his hand to rest on his other wrist, dispelling his strange thoughts.
Nohara Rin changed the towel draped over her head and said in a soft voice, "Haruko, you should rest well. We won't bother you. We'll play together again when you're better."
"Take your medicine properly, don't skip it just because it tastes bitter," Obito Uchiha reminded him with some concern.
Haruko stared at him intently and said, "Obito is so long-winded."
"You bastard..." Obito Uchiha tried hard to suppress his anger.
Even when you're sick, you still manage to be so infuriating!
Kakashi Hatake stood up, paused for a moment when he noticed Haruko's strange look at him, and then left the room unhurriedly at Obito Uchiha's urging.
The surroundings suddenly became quiet again. Haruko lay on the bed, her pupils unfocused as she stared at the wooden ceiling, silently venting her chaotic emotions.
Is it because I'm sick? I feel like crying all the time...
******
The list of recipients of gratitude as of March 28, 2024:
grateful--
K, the one who sent the update reminder charm
Fu Hua (ヾ) gave me a like
It's Xiaoyu, not Xiaoyu; Red-clothed Xiangyi Saigao; Sprite-flavored Pig; yyim; Nian Ziyi; User 10691483; Smoky Gu Xiong; Mo Wentian who loves red bean jelly; Tang Xiaoyu from the North; Early Summer.Starry Sky; Qiancha Jun; Wang Haiyong from Little Mouse Island; Xuan Chun; Fisherman's Song; kuoall; Moon; Jin Xiula from Nanning; Lin Bai; Lin Chenlin who likes wild geese; Yun Cheyun from Ancient Desert Island; Why did I get Xiao's gift of "Powering Up for Love" in the big pity draw?
Thank you for the gifts! The author is so touched! The three ninjas are sitting here waiting for a pat on the head |ω`)
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