Chapter 40: Will white-haired Shikotsumyaku die young? Not a cha
nce.
After rushing for two days with Tayuya in tow, Haruko finally saw the gates of Konoha Village.
"This is Konoha?" Tayuya followed behind, looking left and right like a country bumpkin who had just entered the city.
"We're here. This is it."
The curtain of the Ichiraku Ramen Shop swayed gently in the breeze.
Haruko pointed to the small shop ahead, his steps unconsciously quickening.
Tayuya looked up at the unassuming Ramen Shop, stunned.
Was this really the home of the man she viewed as a god of slaughter? It was just a roadside stall?
Ignoring Tayuya, Haruko lifted the door curtain.
"Dad! Ayame! I'm back!"
It was the afternoon break, so there were no customers in the shop, and Ayame was wiping down the tables.
"Oh? Brother Haruko! You're back!"
Seeing Ayame standing there safe and sound, Haruko felt his tightly wound nerves instantly relax.
"Where's Dad?"
"Dad's in the kitchen. Dad! Brother Haruko is back!"
"Oh! Haruko!" Teuchi poked his head out from the kitchen, wearing his signature gentle smile. "How was it? Did everything go smoothly on your trip?"
Seeing that familiar face, the last shred of worry in Haruko's heart dissipated.
"Hmm... some things happened." Haruko gave a simple reply, then pointed to Tayuya behind him. "Let me introduce you. This is Tayuya. She is my... cough, she's someone I brought back to help out at the shop."
Tayuya hid behind Haruko, nervous, and secretly sized up the shop's environment.
This kind of warm, family-like atmosphere was something she had never experienced before, leaving her both longing for it and feeling at a loss.
"Tayuya, what a cute child," Ayame said, bending down. "Hello, I'm Ayame."
"H-hello, Sister Ayame." For once, Tayuya gave a response that matched her age.
Teuchi walked out, wiping his hands with a smile. "Tayuya, right? Welcome, welcome!"
He scrutinized Tayuya. Although she looked a bit tired, her clothes were new, and she was reasonably clean.
She was in much better shape than Kin Tsuchi had been when she arrived. It seemed Haruko had taken his words to heart.
"You haven't eaten yet, right? I'll go cook some ramen for you."
Just as Haruko was preparing to sit down and get some well-deserved rest—
"Boss, the side dishes are prepped. Should I serve them now?"
The voice was soft and seductive, carrying a natural charm.
To Haruko, however, it sounded like a thunderclap.
The woman who walked out of the kitchen was wearing an Ichiraku Ramen Shop uniform apron. Her long black hair, which had originally been loose, was neatly tied behind her head, and her excessively beautiful face wore a professional, business-like smile.
Taketori Kaede.
The woman who had tried to forcibly "borrow seed" from him back at the Taketori Clan grounds.
The next second, Haruko shot up like an arrow released from a bow, flashing to stand in front of Teuchi and Ayame.
"Dad, get out of here, quickly."
The Kunai in Haruko's hand was wreathed in wind blades, his center of gravity lowered, ready to pounce at any moment.
His killing intent surged forth, palpable and heavy. A constant stream of Natural Energy flooded into his body, and the temperature of the entire Ramen Shop seemed to drop by several degrees.
He didn't care what this woman wanted, nor did he care about whatever bullshit plans the Kaguya Clan had.
But she shouldn't have—she absolutely shouldn't have appeared here, right by Teuchi and Ayame's side.
"Brother Haruko?!" Ayame was startled by this sudden turn of events. Even though the freezing killing intent wasn't directed at her, it still made her tremble.
As for Kaede, who was facing Haruko directly, she was now frozen stiff, unable to move.
Back at the clan grounds, she had assumed that being knocked unconscious by Haruko that night was just because she had been careless.
Now she understood that he had shown mercy back then. This suffocating sense of oppression even gave her the illusion that if she moved, she would die.
Just as the battle was on the verge of breaking out—
Clang! A crisp sound rang out as a large soup ladle struck Haruko on the head, shattering the tense atmosphere.
"Haruko, what are you doing? You come back and start shouting about killing right away! Look how scared you've made Ayame!"
Teuchi remained in his striking posture, his brow furrowed so deeply a fly could get stuck in the wrinkles.
Haruko tilted his head slightly. Catching a glimpse of Ayame huddled in a ball, he finally suppressed his killing intent, though he kept a close watch on Kaede's every move.
Released from the pressure, Kaede raised her hands and slowly backed away. "I am here to apologize this time."
"...Go wait for me in the alley across the street."
Haruko kept his eyes on Kaede until she left the shop before he finally relaxed his stance.
Turning around, he saw Teuchi comforting the frightened Ayame. It seemed Kaede hadn't done anything to them.
"Dad, why is she here? Do you know who she is?"
"Miss Kaede came to the shop two days ago, saying she was here to apologize to you. Since you weren't here, she just stayed to help out. She didn't explain the details, and I didn't ask, planning to wait until you returned to talk about it."
Haruko nodded, preparing to go "take care" of the problem—or at least get her under control.
Reason told him that if Kaede had wanted to do something, she would have done it already. But he didn't want to gamble, and he didn't dare to.
Seeming to sense his intentions, Teuchi reached out and held Haruko back.
"Haruko, don't be so quick to burn bridges. I know you're worried about our safety, but at least listen to what she has to say first..."
Haruko took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Hmm, I understand. I'll try to resolve this peacefully."
...
"Give me one reason not to kill you."
In the dim alley, Haruko engaged in a "friendly" conversation with a "nuclear" smile, while Kaede was so emotional that tears were welling up in her eyes.
"I am... I am here to apologize."
Kaede pulled a letter from her clothes, her hands trembling as she handed it to Haruko.
"The Clan Leader has deeply reflected. Our methods were too radical due to anxiety, and we offended you."
She swallowed hard, not daring to look Haruko in the eye, and said with her head bowed:
"Shikotsumyaku... You are the Kaguya Clan's only hope now. Your white-haired Shikotsumyaku is the purest form of bloodline atavism."
"But an overly powerful Kekkei Genkai can become a burden on the body. According to clan records, those with white-haired Shikotsumyaku mostly die from the bloodline disease between the ages of 12 and 16. Very few have lived past 18."
"The Clan Leader was afraid that you would... before you could leave behind an heir. That's why back then..."
He tore open the envelope and quickly scanned through it. The content was essentially the same as what Kaede had said—an apology, an explanation, a request, and a clarification.
'Hmm, although they haven't given up, at least they don't plan to use force again. They're willing to provide resources... but what's the price? Better not use them unless absolutely necessary."
Kaede took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, and looked up with a complex expression in her eyes.
"Following the Clan Leader's orders, I am here to protect your safety, take care of your daily needs, and... when you are willing, assist you in continuing the bloodline."
"If you show any signs of the bloodline disease, I will use the secret techniques taught by the clan to help alleviate it. But most importantly, please refrain from developing or using Shikotsumyaku."
Haruko recalled that in the original story, Kimimaro died of the bloodline disease at 15, so he knew she wasn't lying.
However—
Haruko felt the Natural Energy in his body continuously nourishing his cells.
—The old guy probably couldn't imagine in his wildest dreams that not only would he not have the bloodline disease, but he would actually become more and more energetic.
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