Chapter 198 The Moment Obito Uchiha Was Away
"Sorry, sorry! I met another elderly lady who needed help on the street!"
Obito Uchiha, holding Haruko's hand, arrived at the duel venue just in time. Glancing at the passing mark on the clock, both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
"Obito's chances of running into old women are really high," Nohara Rin remarked as she walked over to Haruko and patted her back to help her catch her breath.
Haruko, having caught her breath, replied resentfully, "I guess they were lying in wait. I didn't expect Obito's looks to be so popular with the elderly."
"What strange things are you saying!"
Obito Uchiha scolded her, but it was true that he and Haruko almost missed the deadline this time, so he didn't continue to hold a grudge against her.
Kakashi Hatake sighed, "Let's get in quickly."
This is a forest battle between two teams. Since Minato Namikaze's team has an extra member, Haruko Uchiha, the physically weak Haruko will serve as a substitute and will not have to play for the time being, waiting outside.
Haruko always welcomes anything that allows her to be lazy.
After resting for a while, Haruko saw that Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai had finished their duel and were leaving the arena, so she went over to chat with them.
"Kurenai! Asuma!" Haruko happily took Kurenai's hand upon seeing her long-lost friend. "You two are still as inseparable as ever!"
Kurenai looked around and, not seeing the usual supervisor who always appeared beside Haruko, asked, "Isn't Obito with you?"
"Obito's competing inside," Haruko said, pointing proudly to herself. "I don't need to participate in the duel because I'm physically weak!"
"This shouldn't be something to be proud of..." Sarutobi Asuma remarked.
"Hmph, Hiruzen said this is a privilege I can have!"
I was genuinely worried about her health and specifically instructed her to follow her wishes in the duel, but I never expected to see her become so proud of Hiruzen Sarutobi, who didn't even need the match footage: ...
Minato Namikaze, who was watching the duel with Hiruzen Sarutobi using a crystal ball, hesitated before speaking.
"Lord Hokage, shall we take a look at the situation inside the arena?"
Ever since Obito Uchiha brought Haruko over, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was originally focused on observing the duel in the arena, would switch the crystal ball to Haruko's image every now and then, as if he was keeping an eye on her situation, which made Minato Namikaze, who was standing next to him, feel a little helpless.
Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed twice to cover his embarrassment and said in a conciliatory tone, "Just a little longer, just a little longer."
The conversation between Haruko and Sarutobi Asuma, as shown in the crystal ball, continues.
"Hiruzen? You mean the Third Hokage?" During his rebellious phase, Sarutobi Asuma instinctively didn't want to call him "Dad."
"Hmm!" Haruko said with a little excitement, recalling Hiruzen Sarutobi's earlier affirmation. "Speaking of which, Asuma should call me aunt!"
"Huh? Why?" Sarutobi Asuma frowned, not understanding how she had jumped to this strange topic.
Haruko didn't say much, after all, Sarutobi Asuma knew nothing, and he wouldn't understand even if she said something. In the end, her expression simply said, "Those who know, know."
Sarutobi Asuma: ?
Ignoring her bewilderment, Sarutobi Asuma pressed on, somewhat annoyed, "Your tone is so friendly, do you see the Third Hokage often?"
Not sensing any negative emotions in his expression, Haruko shook her head. "It's not often, but we can still meet if we want to."
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi said that, Haruko had actually only been there three or four times in all this time. Most of the time, Hiruzen Sarutobi had Jiraiya and the others who came to see her deliver messages.
After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was extremely busy as the Hokage, and Haruko could only hear the sound of documents being reviewed while sitting in the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Asuma, who had initially breathed a sigh of relief, felt his heart leap into his throat again upon hearing the second half of her sentence, and unconsciously clenched his fist.
He kept saying he was too busy and didn't have time to guide her, but even Haruko could see him whenever she wanted...
"Asuma?" Noticing his changed emotions, Kurenai called his name worriedly.
"I'm fine." Knowing that it had nothing to do with Haruko, Sarutobi Asuma calmed down. "I'll go back now."
After saying that, Sarutobi Asuma left, leaving Haruko and Kurenai standing there somewhat at a loss.
"Did I say something wrong?" Haruko asked anxiously, watching Sarutobi Asuma's figure recede into the distance.
“It’s not your fault, Haruko.” Kurenai patted her hand. “Asuma and his father seem to be getting more and more estranged lately.”
"Huh? Is it because Hiruzen is too busy to take care of Asuma?"
"Part of it. Maybe it's because he hasn't received recognition from both his father and the Hokage that he's so frustrated?" Kurenai Yuhi wasn't too sure either, and Sarutobi Asuma had started mentioning the Hokage to her less often.
"Is that so?" Haruko stared blankly at the direction where Sarutobi Asuma had disappeared.
Asma...
Soon after Kakashi Hatake and the others finished their duel, they came out. Kurenai Yuhi greeted them and then left first.
Haruko looked at them expectantly, "How did your competition go?"
Rin Nohara and Kakashi Hatake exchanged a glance, then silently looked at Obito Uchiha, who hadn't uttered a sound since they came out.
Haruko gleaned something from their attitude and leaned closer to Obito Uchiha, asking, "Obito, what happened to you in there?"
"It's nothing!" Obito Uchiha shouted, then ran away, on the verge of tears.
Nohara Rin whispered to Haruko, "Obito ate a candy before the duel, and when he tried to unleash a Fire Release technique during the duel, he choked on the candy."
"Really?" Haruko's eyes widened, first in disbelief, then she burst out laughing. "Hahahaha! Obito has done just about every embarrassing thing!"
Seeing her smile, Nohara Rin couldn't help but chuckle softly.
I feel really bad for Obito, but that scene was just too funny!
Kakashi Hatake approached Haruko and asked, "How are you doing outside?"
"What do you mean, how?" Haruko asked, puzzled.
"Well..." Kakashi Hatake scratched his head, but ultimately didn't say it.
Haruko suddenly understood what he hadn't said. Was Kakashi worried that she might feel disappointed since she was the only one who didn't participate in the battle?
Haruko's impression of Kakashi Hatake was refreshed once again. She took his hand with her other hand and, seeing his stunned expression, softly replied, "I had a great time resting outside!"
"Is that so..." Kakashi Hatake looked down at her hand that was holding his, slightly lost in thought.
Haruko nodded. "Besides, we've fought together many times before! This one more time won't make a difference!"
When they met her radiant smile, both Nohara Rin and Hatake Kakashi were momentarily stunned.
It seems they can only sense Haruko's various emotions of intimacy—whether it's happiness or reluctance to part—in the moments when Obito is not around...
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Thank you Nancy for the inspiration capsule! Your bonus chapter has arrived (,,)ノ゛
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