Chapter 9 A Close Friend with a Wealthy Family Background
If she can help Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha become friends, she can retire gracefully and return to a normal life.
Furthermore, her ordinary friend Nara Shikamaru doesn't need to get involved in the main characters' group!
Shikamaru, I saved you from a very dangerous situation, you should thank me properly!
Haruko was overjoyed, marveling at her own intelligence, completely forgetting that she was the one who pushed Shikamaru Nara towards Naruto Uzumaki.
"Haru... Haruko... What's wrong?"
Naruto Uzumaki's voice trailed off as she shook him, and after being freed from her grasp, he still felt dizzy and pressed his head against her hand.
"Let's go, Naruto! We're going to avenge you now!" Haruko was in high spirits, her fists clenched, determined to succeed.
"Revenge?" Naruto Uzumaki sensed something was wrong.
The thought of her future, freed from the main characters' circle, made Haruko Hayama unable to contain her joy, and she chuckled. Next to her was Naruto Uzumaki, who, though unaware of what was going on, laughed along with her.
On the surface, she was saying she was there to interrogate him, but in reality, Haruko Hayama was already eager for the two of them to spark a friendship.
She immediately led Naruto to Sasuke's house, while Naruto, who was hiding the truth and stubbornly trying to save face, nervously followed behind her, trying to persuade her to come back.
"Haruko probably doesn't know where he lives, right?"
"I don't know, but I do know where the Uchiha clan's territory is. Once I get there, I can just ask around."
"Oh..." Naruto Uzumaki was still unwilling to give up. "I'm actually quite magnanimous. I won't hold it against that guy this time. How about we go back?"
“No, you should hold it against me.” Haruko Hayama placed her hands on his shoulders with a righteous air.
If you don't care, where does your friendship even begin?
Standing in front of Sasuke Uchiha's house, Naruto Uzumaki finally realized that the matter was settled and began to mourn for himself in his heart.
"Is anyone home?" Haruko knocked on the door.
After a while, the door was pushed open, revealing a slender and tall boy behind it.
He looked to be about 12 years old, with his medium-length black hair neatly tied up. His features were delicate and soft, yet not effeminate, and his eyes, as bright as obsidian, stared at the two of them.
Judging from his appearance, he should be Sasuke Uchiha's older brother.
Itachi Uchiha looked them up and down. "You are..."
Haruko bowed slightly. "Excuse me for bothering you, we are Sasuke Uchiha's classmates. Is he home?"
Upon hearing that they were Sasuke Uchiha's classmates, Itachi Uchiha softened his tone and said, "Yes, I'll take you in."
Following behind him, we passed through the winding eaves and corridors, and a green landscape came into view, with ponds, ancient trees, koi, stone paths, and flowing water surrounding the corridors.
The two children were drawing a house that was half the size of a school, and their mouths were agape involuntarily.
Haruko couldn't help but exclaim, "Naruto, you're going to be rich!"
No wonder Naruto Uzumaki, as the protagonist, lives such a simple life; it turns out he has a close friend with a wealthy family waiting for him here!
She even mourned for Uchiha Sasuke, who was part of the main cast... She's the one who should be mourning! What a despicable rich person!
Equally amazed by the grandeur of Sasuke Uchiha's clan, Naruto Uzumaki didn't even notice what she was saying, instead enthusiastically pointing into the distance and sharing his observations with her.
Uchiha Itachi turned his head and saw the two children looking radiant and full of energy, and his smile widened.
"My name is Uchiha Itachi, and I am Sasuke's older brother."
Bringing her back to reality by his voice, Hayama Haruko realized she hadn't introduced herself yet. She continued, "I'm Hayama Haruko, and this is Uzumaki Naruto."
"I didn't expect Sasuke to have friends visiting so soon."
Itachi Uchiha had been worried about his younger brother's arrogant personality for a long time, but seeing how lively they were now, he was immediately relieved.
Sasuke Uchiha, who was not present, was furious: They were just classmates!
Uchiha Itachi slowed his pace, walked up to Haruko Hayama, and said with a smile, "I've heard him mention you."
"Me?" Haruko Hayama pointed to herself in surprise.
Did she really offend Uchiha Sasuke unintentionally?!
Sasuke Uchiha, who was extremely annoyed and resentful after being overtaken by Haruko Hayama one day, so much so that his older brother asked him what happened and, in doing so, revealed his rival's name: ...
After crossing the corridor to the end, Itachi Uchiha led them to the backyard. Before they saw him, they heard the sound of shuriken flying out.
"Sasuke, your friend is here to see you."
"friend?"
Sasuke Uchiha paused in his movements, and when he saw two familiar heads peeking out from behind his brother, he froze on the spot.
Is he hallucinating?
Otherwise, how could he have seen his brother talking intimately with his opponent?!
"Excuse me, Sasuke!"
Not daring to admit that she was there to question him, Haruko greeted him with a smile.
Naruto Uzumaki, standing beside him, made a face the moment their eyes met, which made Sasuke Uchiha's expression fall as well.
After Itachi Uchiha left, the atmosphere between them became tense.
Sasuke Uchiha spoke first, "What is it?"
When it came to her golden retriever being bullied, Haruko Hayama immediately put on a stern face. "Uchiha-kun, didn't the teacher say that fighting in private is forbidden? Besides, you already won in the training, so why are you still causing trouble for Naruto?"
"Me, causing him trouble?"
Sasuke Uchiha turned his gaze to Naruto Uzumaki, who looked guilty beside her, and seemed to understand something. He chuckled and then said, "You can't beat them, so you've come to get someone to back you up?"
Enraged by his dismissive words, Naruto Uzumaki suddenly exploded, "Who said I couldn't beat you? I was just unprepared!"
"You were the one who provoked me first, weren't you ready?" Uchiha Sasuke crossed his arms, waiting to see his reaction.
As expected, Naruto's mouth moved faster than his brain. He said angrily, "Not being ready is not being ready!"
"Naruto provoked them first?"
Haruko was stunned. She turned to look at Naruto Uzumaki, who was frozen in place. His strange behavior along the way was finally explained. Haruko sighed and rubbed her forehead.
Naruto Uzumaki, at a loss, tried to salvage his image, "No, Haruko... it's just that he said something really irritating!"
"A bottom-ranked student is a bottom-ranked student; they can't blame others for their own weakness."
Uchiha Sasuke snorted coldly, clearly displeased with his act of distorting the truth.
"Alright, Naruto." Haruko Hayashi pressed down on Naruto, who was about to explode again, and looked apologetically at Sasuke Uchiha. "I'm sorry, it was really Naruto's fault this time. He even came to our door. It was really rude of him!"
Sasuke Uchiha didn't reply, but merely raised an eyebrow, which was taken as tacit acceptance of her apology.
"Haruko..." Naruto called out her name.
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