Chapter 277 The Sealed, Beating Heart
Kakashi Hatake gave a self-deprecating laugh, then, hearing the sound of a door opening and closing behind him, concealed the loneliness in his eyes.
Haruko walked up to him and smelled the strong odor of alcohol emanating from him. Worried, she asked, "Kakashi-sensei, are you really drunk?"
"fine."
"Are you sure you can get home safely by yourself? How about we take you home?"
"Is it inappropriate to use such words to describe me?"
"Well... how about Kakashi-sensei takes me back?"
Kakashi Hatake looked into her sparkling eyes and uttered a hesitant sound of doubt from his throat.
"Huh? Am I the one who's drunk?"
"I'm a little worried about girls walking alone at night. Aren't you worried about me, Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi Hatake glanced at Haruko Hayama, who was full of anticipation, and then at the two kids on either side of her, their eyes filled with barely concealed wariness.
He gave a curt "hmm" with no expression.
"Eh—" Haruko Hayama exaggeratedly clutched her heart.
Naruto wagged his tail and eagerly raised his hand: "Haruko, I'll take you home! I'll take you home!"
"Tsk." Uchiha Sasuke glanced at him speechlessly.
Before some blond idiot could start yelling and questioning him, Sasuke Uchiha put his arm around Naruto's neck and pulled him forward before Naruto could react.
"In that case, we'll be going now."
As an arrogant Uchiha, he wasn't good at heart-to-heart talks, and as Kakashi Hatake's disciple, he wasn't particularly respectful of his teacher.
But... it's nothing, I just did it.
As the sounds of Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha arguing faded into the distance, Haruko Hayama smiled at Kakashi Hatake, whose eyes were lifeless.
A beautiful young woman and a mature young man walked side by side on the street.
Judging from the silhouettes of the two walking together under the moonlight, the girl's unique vivacity accompanied the young man, even dispelling his original indifference.
Haruko turned to look at him in the morning. "Is Kakashi-sensei not very happy today?"
Just as he was about to utter a perfunctory remark, Kakashi Hatake subconsciously wanted to respond patiently, word by word, to her.
He paused for a few seconds before speaking: "...I just remembered an old friend."
"An old friend? Is it a friend of Kakashi-sensei?"
"He was my former teammate."
The dim light of the streetlamp slid across his profile, and Haruko seemed to see endless longing in Kakashi Hatake's eyes.
Kakashi Hatake's gaze seemed to penetrate her gaze and look at someone else.
Haruko smiled slightly in the morning.
"She's someone very important to Kakashi-sensei, right? I have a feeling there's some gossip I don't know about."
Slightly tipsy and warm, Kakashi Hatake chuckled and agreed to her request.
"He's a very important person, but gossip... I'm afraid it will disappoint you."
"Was Kakashi-sensei rejected?"
Kakashi Hatake paused, his eyes flashing with barely perceptible emotions, but his tone remained calm.
I guess so.
The warmth and moonlight enveloped his sharp features.
Despite his undeniably handsome and aloof appearance, the melancholy in his eyes softened his sharpness, giving him an air of decadence and deathly stillness.
Thinking that she had brought up some sad memories, Haruko patted his thin arm in the morning to comfort him.
"It's alright, Kakashi-sensei. Although you're getting old, you're still as handsome as ever!"
"..."
Kakashi Hatake's gloomy demeanor vanished completely, and his droopy eyes revealed his signature dead fish-like gaze.
"I look like I'm only in my early twenties, right?"
Hearing his incredulous question, Haruko Hayama's face showed a complex expression, which eventually turned into pity.
"If that's what Kakashi-sensei thinks, then that's how it is."
"..."
Before they knew it, they had arrived at Haruko's house.
Having completed his mission of delivering the person, Kakashi Hatake turned to leave.
Haruko quickly called out to him, "Kakashi-sensei, remember to drink some honey water when you get back, or you'll have a headache tomorrow."
"good--"
Kakashi Hatake's departing shadow was stretched long and lonely by the moonlight, as if he was trying his best to maintain his fragile shell.
Haruko was stunned for a few seconds, then shouted at him.
"Kakashi-sensei! I'll make an exception for tomorrow, so I won't blame you for being late!"
Kakashi Hatake seemed too lazy to answer her, so he raised his hand, waved it in the air, and then put it back in his pocket.
The lone traveler under the moon bears everything alone.
...
The door was opened by large, slender fingers, and then all pretense and pretense were left behind.
Kakashi Hatake dragged his tired legs to the bedside, then turned over and collapsed onto the floor.
In the empty room, only his breathing could be heard.
The soft light filtered through the fluttering white gauze curtains, falling on him like rain.
The light was soft and faint, yet it inexplicably made Kakashi Hatake feel blinded, and he slowly raised his left hand to shield his face.
After a long while, he finally sat up again.
His listless gaze shifted to the photo frame placed on the cabinet.
The photo displayed in the frame is a group photo of the Water Gate team. Everyone in the photo is smiling, except for him.
As a young boy, he stood on the far right of the photo, arms crossed and expressionless, like a little wolf keeping everyone at arm's length.
No wonder Obito Uchiha often said that he was putting on airs.
That's true.
However, the proud Obito Uchiha wasn't much better. He often deliberately struck a cool pose when taking photos, his expression revealing his smugness.
This group photo is an exception; Obito Uchiha in it has a bright smile and his cheeks are even flushed pink.
Kakashi Hatake remembers that when they were taking pictures, Haruko Uchiha thought he was too noisy, so she quickly grabbed his hand and shouted, "Uncle, hurry up and take the picture!"
This moment was captured in time.
Obito Uchiha's intentions were crystal clear.
This was also the best possible reason for his disappearance.
Based on his behavior before his disappearance, Obito Uchiha must have remembered all his memories at that time.
His disappearance was undoubtedly because of... Haruko Uchiha.
As if all traces of their existence had been erased by history, this photograph, symbolizing the Watergate team, now only shows the four of them.
And, a vacant spot for someone.
Kakashi Hatake couldn't help but gently touch the empty space with his fingertip, his mind automatically filling in the image of Haruko Uchiha smiling at the camera.
The photo frame reflected Kakashi Hatake's face in the moonlight, making him somewhat lost in thought.
After staring at it quietly for a few seconds, he reached up and lifted the headband covering his left eye, revealing a thin, vertical scar underneath.
It wasn't very deep, and it has faded a lot over time.
Kakashi Hatake unconsciously touched the scar on his left eye; his fingertips were cool, unlike Haruko Uchiha, whose hands were warm.
Gradually, her fingers slid across the corner of her eye, adorning it.
Just like someone else who touched it, with only a slight touch and gentle caress, it left behind a subtle and lingering feeling that stirred the heart.
As time flows by, the inexplicable excitement of those early days is now veiled by a thick layer of gauze, never to see the light of day again.
He tried his best to stop thinking about Haruko Uchiha and focus his attention on other things.
In this way, he will not have to suffer from the hidden pain for the time being.
But the results were minimal.
Before I remembered her, all I could think about was her.
After remembering her, all I could think about was her.
The calmer the surface of the ocean, the more turbulent its depths. These surging waves, unable to subside, only torment the ocean itself.
It was precisely because he knew all too well that she was not Uchiha Haruko that his long-dormant heart began to beat so laboredly and darkly.
"Haruko..."
******
The list of recipients of gratitude as of July 16, 2024:
grateful--
Repairing, repairing, repairing~ 5 complimentary bubble teas.
A reminder charm sent by the celestial sphere, shimmering waves, and the moon, a love letter, and a bubble tea.
A fat, silly goose sent a reminder to update the chapter.
Frog frog frog. The free bubble tea.
Two love letters from Zhang Yu
Rongmeizi, a love letter and flowers delivered by Oliver's flying broom.
Braised Rabbit Dazai Osamu, a gift from Whale Ruoran, give it a thumbs up!
Han Ying, praised by everyone in the AOTU World, Yi Su Yuan, and flowers given by Luo Xin who loves Wendy.
Jiu Youyu, Empera Alien of Yancheng Mountain Island, Teacher Lu Renjia's Update Kick, Uzumaki Rasengan, Mu Xue Shuyu, Leng Leng Qingqing's Clay Figurine, Lin Lingnuo, Xian Tian Bo Guang Cai Yue, Yi Su Yuan, Sanhao Squirrel, Yuanwei^, A Yu Zhen Di C, Handsome Cat., Please Eat Strawberries~ 3 Gifts Generated with Love
Sliver_w, Babuzel, Yan Yiyue, Uchiha Grace, ZSEO, Fusang Qin's Love-Powered Electricity x2
Piano lacquer craftsman, early summer starry sky, Sakurai Yuki, blueberry who loves mangoes, tsuki Jia, you win if you read novels without thinking, Xia Youjie in one bite, Wu Ziyun, username 30239160, I don't believe this pen name still exists, ★★●, user 39455140, user 25240891, Old Moon, Su He, Wu Xun Qi Li, Porcelain Family's Little Rabbit, I will recommend good books and give them away with love.
Thank you for the gifts! The author is so touched! Shikamaru casually flashes a cool smile (*ˉ︶ˉ*)
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