Chapter 46 Konoha's 60th Anniversary, New Year's Worship Ceremony
The Third Hokage had just walked out of the visual range of Ichiraku Ramen when the kindly smile on his face completely vanished.
He paced slowly through the night, reviewing the conversation in his mind.
"It's fortunate I came to see him in person..."
The Anbu couldn't tell, but as a "Professor of Ninjutsu," the Third Hokage had noticed the rich Natural Energy on Haruko from the very first glance.
That level... it could no longer be explained by mere innate talent.
Recalling Anko's report that the cursed seal's flare-up was alleviated by Haruko using some method, the answer was obvious.
This kid's application of Natural Energy was likely already approaching the threshold of Sage Mode.
As long as he could master Sage Mode, he would be a powerful combat asset, at the very least on par with Jiraiya.
Coupled with that terrifying Chakra control and learning ability...
If nurtured properly, he could become the next "Yellow Flash," or perhaps even the next "God of Shinobi," securing Konoha's stability for decades to come.
With the older generation's Fourth Hokage and his wife dead, Orochimaru having defected, and Tsunade and Jiraiya having left the village; the strongest of the middle generation, Might Guy and Kakashi, one was a one-time ace and the other lacked the ability to turn the tide; and the new generation finally had Shisui unlock the Mangekyo, only for him to pass away young just as he was making a name for himself.
Konoha now desperately needed a top-tier combat force capable of deterring other nations. A talent like Haruko could absolutely not be left alone, much less allowed to run away.
As for that woman from the Kaguya Clan... there was no time to deal with her for now; the Uchiha matter had to be handled first.
He had considered kicking the Kaguya Clan out directly, but it didn't seem wise to be too hasty now.
The two were living together; if he forced the issue and drove Haruko away, the loss would outweigh the gain.
He would observe for a while longer and figure out their exact relationship first.
...
Ever since the Third Hokage came to "check the water meter" that night, the following days had been calm.
Aside from Kaede occasionally reminding him that someone was watching, and Haruko feeling a sense of being spied upon from time to time, life was quite peaceful.
'Telescope Technique... the old man has marked me, too."
Although there was nothing shameful going on, being spied on constantly was still annoying.
'Sooner or later, I'll learn a barrier technique to block you!"
Time slipped away to the end of the year without him noticing.
The last day of the 59th year of Konoha, New Year's Eve.
In the detached house with a small courtyard that Haruko rented, there was a lively, chaotic scene.
"Wow, Tayuya, what are you wrapping? A kiwi?"
"Huh? As long as it's edible, who cares!" As soon as she finished speaking, she pressed down hard, and the dumpling wrapper tore a hole.
"That... Tayuya, actually, what HaRoko~kun taught us should be like this..."
According to Konoha's customs, one should eat New Year's Eve soba noodles tonight. But Haruko's habit, etched into his DNA from his previous life, insisted on having some dumplings.
In previous years, it was just Teuchi, Ayame, and Haruko celebrating, but this year there were three girls: Kin, Tayuya, and Kaede.
A group of people surrounding the table wrapping dumplings truly felt like a family.
"HaRoko~kun, you're too fast!" Ayame called out, looking at the table that was about to be covered in dumpling wrappers.
"No! I'm not fast! I'm not fast at all!" Haruko put down the rolling pin with a dark expression—naturally, he wouldn't use Ninjutsu to spoil the mood for New Year's Eve dinner.
"Why don't you let me verify tonight whether Lord Haruko is fast or not~" Kaguya Kaede leaned into Haruko's ear, her breath sweet like orchids.
Haruko moved aside expressionlessly: "You're getting more and more brazen. Don't do this in front of so many people."
It had to be said that this woman lived up to being specially trained; her skills in housework were fully maxed out. Even though it was her first time wrapping dumplings, she caught on very quickly.
Soon, dinner was ready.
Teuchi walked in carrying a large basin of freshly boiled soba noodles, his face beaming with a fatherly smile.
"Alright, alright, everyone sit down. It's so lively this year. In previous years, it was just me, Ayame, and Haruko guarding the shop."
Ayame untied her apron and sat down next to Haruko, looking at the table full of dishes and the circle of people, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
"Yeah, it feels like the house has suddenly gotten so much bigger."
Kin obediently poured drinks for everyone, Tayuya, despite looking annoyed, snatched Haruko's bowl to help him serve noodles, and Kaede elegantly took charge of handing out chopsticks.
Haruko watched this scene, and the string in his heart that had been pulled tight relaxed a little.
This was right.
No fighting, no schemes, just piping hot food and this group of "family" who were a bit noisy but very real.
This scene had only existed in childhood memories even in his previous life.
This was the kind of idyllic life he wanted to live.
...
The next morning, the six of them went to the shrine together for the New Year's visit.
As soon as they arrived, Haruko regretted it.
It was a sea of people.
The swarming crowd had surrounded the shrine so tightly that one had to queue just to squeeze in.
Looking at the long, dragon-like line, Haruko, who didn't have much faith to begin with, instantly wanted to go back.
"Should we just go back?" he tentatively suggested. "With so many people, who knows how long we'll have to wait?"
Ayame flatly refused: "No! The New Year's visit is a very important ritual; we can't be sloppy about it!"
"Yeah, yeah!" Kin chimed in from the side, "It's the first time celebrating New Year's with everyone, we have to experience it completely!"
Even Tayuya nodded rarely: "Big brother, I want to go in and see too. It's my first time at a shrine."
Since it had come to this, Haruko had no choice but to resign himself to his fate.
Just as they were slowly inching along at the back of the line, a familiar voice called out.
"Haruko?"
Haruko turned his head and saw Uchiha Itachi walking toward them, with a beautiful girl with long, straight black hair following him—Uchiha Izumi.
Itachi scanned the group of young women around Haruko, a flash of surprise in his eyes: "New Year's visit?"
"Yeah, forced into it." Haruko shrugged, "I slept late yesterday; I originally wanted to sleep until noon."
Uchiha Izumi couldn't help but chuckle: "HaRoko~kun is still the same."
Izumi was also Haruko's classmate at the Ninja Academy, and unlike Itachi, they had spent a solid six years together.
However, like Inuzuka Hana, they were just classmates; they weren't even that familiar, and they hadn't seen each other since graduation until today.
"Sorry for not changing. But what about you? Any... pro... gress?" Haruko raised an eyebrow mischievously.
"I..." The unexpected counterattack caught Izumi off guard. She blushed, her eyes darting around, "Oh my there are so many people here for the visit"
Itachi looked at the long line, thought for a moment, and said, "There are too many people at the shrine ahead; queuing will probably take two hours. If you don't mind, would you like to go to our Naka Shrine instead?"
Haruko instinctively wanted to refuse.
Are you kidding? Although it had the facade of a shrine, that was the headquarters where the Uchiha Clan held secret meetings to plot a coup!
Why would an outsider like him join in? What if he was mistaken for an accomplice?
But before he could speak, Teuchi smiled and said, "Oh, that would be very much appreciated!"
Ayame nodded from the side as well: "Yeah, we've never been to Naka Shrine before; this is a rare opportunity!"
Looking at Itachi again, he noticed the other party was looking at him with an expectant gaze.
He understood: Itachi was looking for an opportunity to talk.
The Anbu couldn't enter Naka Shrine, and now there was a reasonable excuse of a New Year's visit.
"...Forget it, cross that bridge when I come to it."
Haruko took a deep breath, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying: "Then I'll trouble you, I... ta... chi."
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