Chapter 292 Acknowledging her affections
Their journey back to Konoha was a stop-and-go affair, taking them five days to return.
As soon as they stepped into the village, Nohara Rin grabbed Hayama Haruko and headed in one direction with a clear purpose.
"Master..." Haruko quickly changed her words after uttering the first syllable, "Rin, where are you taking me?"
Nohara Rin, who was in a hurry to get on her way, did not hear the wrong way of addressing her, and did not try to hide it, so she answered her directly.
"Go see your master to check your body. I can't see the problem, but your master will definitely be able to."
Nohara Rin stared ahead, her face full of stubbornness, convinced that there would definitely be a solution.
Hearing the certainty in her tone, Haruko didn't say anything more or struggle, which was considered an admission of her actions.
Perhaps, Haruko Hayama also harbored a sliver of hope.
However, the price of fate is irreversible.
"What?! You used your ability again?!" Tsunade stood up from her chair in disbelief.
Looking at Nohara Rin's serious nodding expression, and then at Hayama Haruko's unsure and evasive eyes, Tsunade was truly furious.
Under the combined constraints of Tsunade and Rin Nohara, Haruko Hayama received a full medical check-up.
By the time it ended, the sun had already set halfway down the horizon, and the area outside the window was a mix of firelight and other lights.
Thinking of Tsunade's calm and composed demeanor, Haruko Hayama could comfort herself that there was definitely no major problem.
She straightened her clothes and quietly walked to the door, trying to eavesdrop on Tsunade and Rin's conversation outside.
Tsunade said, "The test results are all normal."
Hearing this, Haruko Hayashi and Rin Nohara outside the door both breathed a sigh of relief.
Nohara Rin's expression softened. "That's good. I saw Haruko vomit a lot of blood, and I thought something had happened to her."
"Something has indeed happened."
Under Nohara Rin's astonished gaze, Tsunade's bright eyes showed signs of anxiety.
“I examined Haruko before, and the situation was exactly the same as now. She seemed perfectly normal, but her bodily functions were slowly deteriorating.”
"How can someone be in a state of collapse without showing any visible problems? I've never seen a case like this before..."
“I was shocked at the time. I spent almost every day in the lab researching this situation. I promised myself that I would definitely figure it out within two years, but... I got stuck at the most crucial point.”
"Master, do you mean we can only watch Haruko's body deteriorate?"
Nohara Rin moved closer, her emotions running high, and looked at the woman in front of her, who was known as the medical genius of the ninja world, with pleading eyes.
The helplessness she felt years ago washed over Tsunade again in the same scene, and she lowered her eyelashes.
“That’s right, Haruko’s decline this time came suddenly, but judging from the rate of decline, we still have time.”
"Is there no other way?"
"have."
As Rin Nohara eagerly awaited her reply, Tsunade slowly uttered: "Orochimaru's research on immortality."
After that, Haruko didn't listen carefully to what they were saying anymore.
The orange-red glow of the sunset cast intermittent light upon her as the curtains fluttered.
Her bangs, tinged with the afterglow of the setting sun, hung down, obscuring all of Haruko's expressions.
When Tsunade and Rin Nohara entered the room again, they saw Haruko Hayama sitting quietly in a chair, turning back to smile at them.
"Tsunade, how am I?"
Faced with her curious and unaware smile, Tsunade felt a lump in her throat, her chest heaving.
Tsunade feigned nonchalance, raising the corners of her mouth and waving her hand to comfort her.
"Everything is normal, so don't worry. The vomiting of blood is probably because you used up too much chakra while treating the Sand Ninja and also used your eye technique."
Upon hearing that she was alright, Haruko stood up happily.
"That's good, you scared me to death! I told you I'm perfectly healthy!"
The lively girl's voice dispelled much of the gloom that had been hanging over the other two.
Rin Nohara, her smile strained, turned her head slightly and caught the sadness hidden beneath Tsunade's smile. Her lips, which had been half-fallen, finally drooped.
Haruko pretended not to notice their odd behavior and continued to smile.
"Speaking of which, Tsunade, aren't you going to welcome me back?"
"What do you want, please..."
Tsunade's helpless smile froze as soon as she finished speaking, and almost instantly, she looked up at Haruko Hayama in disbelief.
Her lips trembled. "You...you...what did you call me?"
"Tsunade! Lady Tsunade!"
A clear, cheerful voice echoed throughout the room.
The wish she had been longing for day and night was fulfilled without warning, causing Tsunade's eyes to well up with tears.
Seeing the black-haired girl opening her arms to her just as she remembered, Tsunade took a step forward and, filled with longing, rushed into Haruko Hayama's arms.
Tsunade choked back tears as she hugged her old friend tightly, "Haruko... I missed you so much..."
Almost suffocating from her grip, Haruko tightened her face, trying to convince herself to accept her overwhelming love.
"I miss you too. I've said it before, we'll definitely meet!"
Having gone through several breakups and reconciliations, Tsunade recovered her composure quickly, and she didn't want every encounter with Haruko to be heavy.
Tsunade loosened her embrace, her eyes still misty, and teased, "It's really hard to see you."
As they looked at each other, Haruko and Tsunade both laughed.
On the way home, Nohara Rin insisted on walking her home, so Haruko walked back with her side by side in the morning.
Haruko said apologetically, "Rin, I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth back then."
Nohara Rin shook her head and replied bitterly, "I should be the one apologizing, for I was so unaware that I had forgotten about you for so long."
"This isn't your fault, and I forgot about you all too. So... it's a draw!"
Hearing her interesting conclusion, Nohara Rin smiled faintly.
The redness around her eyes was still quite noticeable, and she looked fragile when she smiled, but Nohara Rin was always a combination of resilience and tenacity; her inner strength was countless times greater than her outward appearance.
That's why Haruko Uchiha told Rin Nohara about a distant, happy place.
She was confident that Rin Nohara could create the future era through her perseverance and dedication.
Haruko exclaimed, "Rin is really amazing now, her fame is no less than Tsunade's."
“My master told me about your expectations for me.”
Nohara Rin wiped the corner of her eye with her fingertip, encouraging herself, "I need to work harder to be worthy of your pride!"
"Then I'll take over looking after Lin this time!"
As the sun set in the quiet alley, Nohara Rin heard the most moving confession of her life.
Her pure and innocent confession came from the moon, which she silently gazed at day and night, and returned her with equal or even more dazzling brilliance.
She was finally able to admit that she was in love with Haruko.
...
Life seemed to return to tranquility after that.
Because she abandoned Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha to participate in the Sunagakure aid mission alone, Haruko Hayama was criticized by both of them.
Haruko coaxed them gently for several days before finally managing to appease them both.
Specifically, it was about appeasing Uchiha Sasuke.
Under Sasuke Uchiha's disdainful gaze, Naruto Uzumaki was only angry for a brief minute before happily circling around Haruko Hayama.
The Hokage issued instructions to adjust the positions of many ninjas in order to strengthen Konoha's defenses.
Kakashi Hatake was also transferred there, and during his absence, another teacher took charge of Class 7.
"I am Yamato, your class teacher."
A burly man with brown short hair and a face and forehead protector smiled warmly, as if afraid they might not welcome him.
He turned to the side, revealing a black-haired, fair-skinned boy behind him.
"This is Sai. During the time I was in charge, he received my guidance along with you all."
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