Chapter 107 Shikamaru's Unawareness
Before Haruko could catch up with Sasuke Uchiha, Shizune appeared out of nowhere, smiling and inviting her to Tsunade's place.
Haruko Hayama: ...Is Tsunade still having someone spy on me?!
But since she had asked Tsunade for help, Haruko reluctantly went with Shizune to pick up Tsunade, who had just finished a meeting with the higher-ups. Tsunade, who had been feeling listless during the meeting, immediately beamed when she saw Haruko outside.
"Oh dear, my shoulders are so sore. Haruko, you wouldn't mind massaging them for me, would you?"
"...I am no longer someone you can enslave at will!"
Haruko, sulking, was led away by Tsunade with a smug arm around her, while Shizune watched their interaction with satisfaction.
"Huh, Shikamaru? And Uncle Nara too!"
Haruko saw Nara Shikamaru walking up with his father, having broken free from Tsunade's restraints, and happily went to greet him.
While his father was talking to that woman, Nara Shikamaru led Hayama Haruko aside.
"What are you doing in a place like this?" Nara Shikamaru's voice was still weak and listless.
You can't exactly say you were kidnapped and threatened, can you...?
Haruko replied helplessly, "Picking up and dropping off senior leaders, carrying out the itinerary."
"...What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Shikamaru, what are you doing here?"
Nara Shikamaru scratched his head in distress. "I don't know either. My dad sent me."
Upon hearing this, Haruko looked curiously at the two adults who were talking, along with Shikamaru Nara.
"It's been a long time, Lady Tsunade." Nara's father bowed to her with a serious expression.
Tsunade replied with a smile, "Oh, the brat from the Nara family..."
Nara's brat?
Haruko broke out in a cold sweat in the morning. Although Jiraiya had told her it was the same thing, seeing the age gap between Tsunade's self-destruction again was still quite terrifying.
Nara Shikamaru whispered in her ear, "Haruko, who is this young and arrogant woman?"
Young X, arrogant √
Haruko Hayama decides to be kind to the world and not reveal the mystery of Tsunade's age.
"Tsunade-sama, who is even older than Shikamaru's father, should become the Fifth Hokage."
Kindness was shown, but not entirely.
Nara Shikamaru's lips twitched upon hearing her words. "No way, bigger than Dad..."
Seeing his incredulous expression, Haruko secretly smiled.
"What are you talking about?" Tsunade appeared behind Haruko Hayama with a sinister look.
Seeing that she had startled both children, Tsunade stood up smugly, put her arm around Haruko Hayama, and said, "I'm leaving now," before taking the dejected Haruko Hayama away.
"Shikamaru! I'll come find you tonight!" Haruko Hayama's last words faded into the distance.
Nara Shikamaru was left standing there in shock, "That was actually the Fifth Hokage..."
Nara's father walked up to him and said with a sly smile, "Hey Shikamaru, that guy is the strongest and most handsome person in the world."
Nara Shikamaru sighed in annoyance.
"I'm really bad at dealing with women."
"She seems gentle and kind, but she's actually very clingy, making it hard to understand what the relationship is really like."
"Besides, she's surrounded by people, saying a few words here and a few words there. It's practically like she's manipulating men at will."
Anyone who didn't know better would think he was talking about the Fifth Hokage.
Nara's father stared at the oblivious Nara Shikamaru, thinking, "This guy... he's definitely missing Haruko."
Feeling that his son's love life was a long and arduous journey, Nara's father put his arm around his son's shoulder.
"Men become useless without women. You'll understand when you get to that age."
Nara Shikamaru cursed his father in his heart: He always felt ashamed in front of his mother, yet he could say such things.
Nara Shikamaru was certain that he could never become a man like his father.
＊
When Haruko opened her eyes again and saw the familiar room, she felt much more at ease.
The interview trip didn't seem to last very long, but why do I feel so nostalgic about it all?
"Haruko, are you up yet?"
A knock came at the door, accompanied by Bai's soft voice.
"Get up, get up!"
After getting ready in the morning, Haruko went downstairs, and Shiro greeted her with a smile as usual.
Since returning with Haruko Hayama, although Shiro considers himself her follower and tool, the Hayama family treats him as Haruko's older brother. In particular, Hayama's mother, who likes Shiro's gentle personality, treats him like her own child.
Bai usually stays at home doing housework with Zaojian's mother, which also makes him a kind of bodyguard, since both of them have complicated identities.
Moreover, Bai has never liked killing. Compared to fighting, he prefers the peaceful daily life he has at the Zaojian family home.
Previously, Shiro could occasionally sneak a peek at Haruko Hayama, but her interview trip was too rushed, and when Shiro returned from running errands that day, she discovered that Haruko Hayama had already left.
Therefore, Shiro cherishes this time especially now that Haruko is at home in the morning.
"...That's enough, Shiro, I can't eat that much." Haruko Hayama helplessly refused Shiro's loving attempt to feed her.
Seeing the expressions on his and his parents' faces that said, "Our Haruko has lost weight since she went out," Haruko felt that they hadn't just found a follower, but rather a powerful figure.
Because Kakashi Hatake is still resting, Haruko is able to avoid doing missions as soon as she gets back, which is a rare treat.
Today's goal is: to be bored all day!
Seeing that Haruko looked like she had nothing to do, Shiro thoughtfully offered to teach her some knitting to pass the time.
"The white knitwear is amazing."
Hearing her praise, Bai blushed slightly, "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, Auntie. I'm far inferior to you."
Humble, too humble.
Haruko looked at the intricate knitting in his hands and the basic pattern in hers, realizing that she was no match for a boy... So she silently asked Shiro for advice on more advanced patterns.
It's not shameful; this is called learning from the barbarians' superior techniques to control them!
"Is the white one a scarf?" Haruko Hayama asked curiously.
He had only started knitting it before, but now that it had grown a bit longer, Haruko could vaguely see that what he was knitting seemed to be a scarf.
Bai tidied up the part that had been finished knitting. "That's right, the weather has gotten colder recently, so it's about time to start knitting a scarf."
"Oh..." Haruko was a little conflicted. Should she switch to knitting a scarf too?
As if sensing her thoughts, Bai Qian smiled and said, "This is for Qingzi. I don't know if you will like it."
"Did you knit this for me?" Haruko Hayama was a little flattered.
It was already beautifully made of white, with delicate purple petals interspersed among the pure white stripes. When Haruko found out it was made for her, she couldn't wait to wear it right now.
"It's so pretty, I'm sure I'll love it!" Haruko Hayama exclaimed excitedly, her face flushed.
Looking into her bright, sparkling eyes, Bai couldn't help but recall that winter in the Land of Water when he was a child.
His cold, hard past was filled with warmth by the appearance of Haruko Hayama.
That petite, innocent snow sprite is now by my side...
Coming back to her senses, Bai Jingjing watched the afternoon sunlight fall on Zaojian Qingzi. Every smile and gesture of hers was deeply imprinted in her mind; she was undeniably beautiful.
Especially when he only has eyes for himself, Bai can't help but feel his desire growing.
He knew that love is about possession, but also about protection.
******
Thank you for reminding me of the update reminder charm a dear friend sent me! Your bonus chapter has been delivered~(▽)~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com