Chapter 41: A New Relationship
"So, you're here to be my nanny?" Haruko teased.
"...That's one way to put it. To continue the family bloodline, that is how I was trained."
'Trained? So this woman was trained as a tool for reproduction and service? She even said she was the first one before. This Kaguya Clan in the Land of Fire is really..."
Although it was off-putting, Haruko also understood that the Kaguya Clan would not give up on obtaining the bloodline.
If he drove this one away, there was no telling what other tricks they might pull, so it was better to keep this one under his nose.
Moreover, although she had been knocked down by his punch earlier, Kaguya Kaede was still a Ninja, at least at the Chunin level.
The other party already knew how important Teuchi and the others were to him, so as long as they intended to maintain a relationship with him, they had to protect the Ramen Shop.
Now that Kin Tsuchi and Tayuya had not yet grown up, she could be considered immediate combat power.
"You can stay. However, we must agree on three rules."
Haruko leaned in closer, his voice so soft it was like a whisper, yet it made Kaguya Kaede's hair stand on end:
"First, put away those Ninja schemes of yours. If I find out you dare to have any twisted thoughts about the people in the shop, I will dismantle your bones, one by one, to make soup."
Kaguya Kaede trembled all over; she did not doubt for a second that Haruko was capable of doing it, so she nodded like a pecking chicken: "Yes! I understand! I absolutely won't!"
"Second, do not expose my relationship with the Kaguya Clan, or your identity as part of the Kaguya Clan, for the time being."
"Uh... actually..." Kaguya Kaede hesitated.
"You've already exposed it?"
"Yes... I registered as a Konoha Genin under the identity of the Kaguya Clan." Kaguya Kaede pulled out a Konoha headband from her bosom. "But your identity hasn't been mentioned to the outside world yet."
"Tsk, fine. Then keep it a secret. Third, keep a low profile in Konoha. The current situation in Konoha is much more complex than it appears on the surface; don't get involved."
"Yes." Kaguya Kaede breathed a sigh of relief, then, as if remembering something, hesitated and pulled an envelope from her bosom. "Um... the Clan Leader also wants me to go greet the Hyuga Clan."
Haruko raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"
"The letter is for Lord Hyuga Hiashi. The general content is to tell them that you are a candidate for the clan leader within the clan, and they hope the Hyuga Clan will look after you a little, for the sake of the friendship between the two clans."
"Heh, that's quite thoughtful of them."
Haruko sneered. Calling it "looking after" was also a way to create a fait accompli—first the Hyuga, then Konoha, and finally, completely solidifying it, turning the fake into reality and tying him to their ship.
Haruko didn't necessarily reject getting on the Kaguya Clan's ship, he just didn't want to be the clan leader and shoulder the responsibility of an entire clan.
And keeping his identity hidden for now was because he was already embroiled in the dispute between the Uchiha and Konoha.
Currently, he was just a civilian Genin, still within the "controllable range" that Konoha could tolerate.
If he became the heir to a clan from another village with a Kekkei Genkai, the nature of the situation would change. Not to mention Danzo, even the Third might not be able to tolerate it.
"Hmm... the greeting still needs to be made, but we need to change how it's phrased."
"Just say the clan wants me to gain experience. Tell the Hyuga they don't need to give me any special care for now, and keep it a secret from Konoha as well."
Kaguya Kaede was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood Haruko's meaning: "I understand, if you think this is safer."
Haruko waved his hand: "Alright, if there's nothing else, you go to the Hyuga side first, I'll go back to the shop and tell Dad."
"Um..."
"Hmm?"
Kaguya Kaede leaned in close to Haruko, her eyes alluring: "You said before that if it was just an ordinary approach, you wouldn't refuse..."
Haruko felt goosebumps rising: "You... cough, take care of business first, I still have to go make my mission report."
...
After informing Teuchi that the two had reconciled and that Kaguya Kaede would continue to stay at the shop, Haruko went to the mission hall again—missions always had to be submitted.
He wrote very briefly on the report: encountered Evil God Cult members, was targeted as a live sacrifice by them, and subsequently eliminated them.
Regarding the intelligence on the Evil God Cult, Haruko only mentioned the effects and activation conditions of the Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood, similar to what he told Jiraiya.
As for the immortality, he only mentioned in passing that "the opponent had tenacious vitality," and claimed to know nothing else.
Just kidding, if he wrote that in detail, guys without a bottom line like Danzo and Orochimaru would definitely try it, and he didn't know how many people would die.
It was better for this kind of crooked path to rot in his stomach.
When he returned to the shop, it was exactly dinner time.
"...Isn't this too crowded?"
The small shop had a full six employees, and the counter only had nine seats—and that was after an expansion and renovation.
At the same time, Haruko thought of another problem—where would everyone sleep at night?
Kin Tsuchi was living in his old room, now Tayuya had also come, and with Kaguya Kaede... there was simply no room for everyone here!
Not to mention his current bachelor apartment; one guy living with three girls, no matter how you looked at it, it wasn't right.
"What a pain..." Haruko rubbed his temples.
Haruko grabbed his money bag, turned around, and walked out.
Ayame noticed Haruko, who had just returned and was about to leave again: "Brother Haruko, where are you going?"
"Buying a house... no, renting a house!"
Since he couldn't solve the problem of too many people, he would solve the problem of the house.
Problems that could be solved with money were not problems.
...
That night, Haruko dangled a brand-new brass key, standing in front of a detached small building.
This place was not far from the Ichiraku Ramen Shop, had a small courtyard, and most importantly—it was big enough, with many rooms.
Haruko paid three months' rent upfront and got the keys.
When he returned to the Ichiraku Ramen Shop, he ran into Kaguya Kaede, who had just returned from the Hyuga Clan Compound.
"How was it?"
"Lord Hiashi expressed understanding and will keep it a secret for the time being."
At this moment, Teuchi walked out of the shop: "Oh, Haruko, where did you go? There is something I need to discuss with you..."
"Dad, I rented a bigger house. It's too crowded for Kin Tsuchi and Tayuya to live in the shop." Haruko rubbed his nose, "There are plenty of rooms, do you and Ayame want to move in together?"
Teuchi nodded: "Hmm, then that's fine. Ayame and I won't move; it's convenient to live in the shop and we're used to it. A big house is expensive, right? Is your money still enough..."
"No problem, Dad. I earned a tidy sum from this mission." Haruko patted his chest.
"Hmm, then I'll have Kin Tsuchi pack her luggage. If you need help, just say so."
Kaguya Kaede suddenly leaned over: "Me, me, me, I want to move in too!"
"You?" Haruko glanced at her sideways, "Where have you been staying these past two days?"
"I've been staying in an inn, it's so expensive to pay by the day..."
"Oh, then you can just stay in my old bachelor apartment."
"That won't do! I am your personal bodyguard! And..."
Kaguya Kaede stepped forward and whispered in Haruko's ear: "In case your Kekkei Genkai illness flares up, only I know the secret technique to alleviate it. If we don't live together, what if something happens?"
The warm breath blew on Haruko's ear, making it itch, and her scent went straight into his nostrils.
'Hiss—this vixen. If we really live together, I'm not sure I can hold myself back."
Although he wasn't uninterested, Haruko didn't intend to touch Kaguya Kaede until she truly became one of his own.
Moreover, this body was still too young, and he wasn't prepared to be a father, especially at this critical juncture where a storm was approaching.
Teuchi looked thoughtfully at Haruko, then at Kaguya Kaede, and suddenly spoke: "Haruko, it's indeed inconvenient for a big boy like you to take care of two little girls. With Miss Kaede helping to look after them, I'll feel more at ease."
???
'You too, Dad?"
But thinking about it carefully, it made sense. Kin Tsuchi was already nine years old, and Tayuya was about the same. For teenage girls, there were indeed many things that were inconvenient for him to get involved in.
'Forget it, the house is big enough anyway, just consider it hiring a free nanny and bodyguard."
"Fine." Haruko waved his hand helplessly, "Then everyone, let's move."
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