Chapter 57: Monkey Brother Monkey Brother~
Anko thought for a moment, organizing her words.
"Haruko's strength... is very strong. His talent for Taijutsu and Ninjutsu is above mine. He can learn my Ninjutsu almost after seeing it once, just like... just like Kakashi Hatake-senpai."
"Furthermore, he can tame Natural Energy. In his own analogy, Natural Energy in its natural state is like a wild horse without reins, and he can tame them into little ponies."
"Oh..."
The Hokage narrowed his eyes. No wonder when he saw Haruko this time, he could barely see any Natural Energy radiating from him; it seemed he had tamed it.
"What level has his combat power reached now?"
"Inscrutable. When I sparred with him, I used almost all my strength and was still subdued by him, and he didn't even use a single technique that could have killed me... It was as if I was the Genin trying to snatch the bells."
The Hokage nodded, not showing too much surprise.
"What about his personality?"
"Just as it appears—lazy, with no ambition; it doesn't seem to be an act. But his judgment of the situation is very sharp. In handling the Fuma Clan matter in the Land of Rice Fields, his methods were as sophisticated as an adult's, not a child's. Furthermore..."
Anko briefly recounted the conversation between Haruko and Kazahana Koyuki.
"'The people need someone who can make them live well, not someone who was born well,' huh... Indeed, not like a child at all."
The Hokage narrowed his eyes.
"What about that woman from the Taketori Clan?"
"Haruko doesn't seem to have those kinds of intentions toward her. Because he knows he's been dragged into the dispute between the Village and the Uchiha, he currently has no heart to develop relationships with anyone."
"I see." The Hokage nodded. "By the way, how are you getting along with Haruko?"
"Pretty... good? I taught him the Summoning Technique, and he taught me how to control the Cursed Seal. Under his guidance, I can now suppress the Cursed Seal's rampages on my own."
"Hmm, that's a good thing. But what I wanted to ask is, you two young people have been out on missions for so long, has there been any... progress?"
Anko's eyes shifted: "Pro, progress? What kind of progress?"
"You're twenty this year, aren't you? Not exactly young anymore." The Hokage looked at her with a smile. "Although that kid Haruko is a bit lazy, he's handsome and strong. If you're interested, you'd better hurry up. Not to mention anyone else, just those few young girls living with him..."
Anko's face turned red to the roots of her ears instantly.
"Ho... Hokage-sama, what are you saying! Who... who would be interested in that brat! I... I am his teacher! And he's so lazy, who would like someone like that..."
Watching Anko wave her hands incoherently, the Hokage smiled even more happily.
"Alright, go on. Take him out on missions more often; don't let him just rot away at that Ramen Shop."
"Ye... Yes!"
Anko rushed out of the office as if fleeing, forgetting even to close the door.
Looking at the empty doorway, the Hokage convergence his smile, a profound light flashing in his eyes.
"Even after so many years in Konoha, he still has no sense of belonging..."
He thought Haruko was just protecting himself, but he hadn't expected he had even made preparations to flee Konoha—that Kaguya Kaede must be his fallback plan.
It was a pity he discovered it too late; doing anything to that woman now would only scare Haruko away.
He could only appease him for now and slowly peel him away after the Uchiha matter was resolved.
Moreover, the "Will of Fire" couldn't restrain someone with his own thoughts.
Fortunately, Haruko still had attachments. As long as that shop was still in Konoha, and Teuchi was still in Konoha, even if Haruko ran away for a moment, he would eventually come back.
"I must have the Anbu pay more attention to that shop."
...
Returning to the Ichiraku Ramen Shop, Haruko felt he might have returned at the wrong time.
"Hey! You bald idiot! I've served you the noodles, what else do you want? Think it's hot? If you think it's hot, blow on it yourself! Do you want me to blow on it for you? Are your hands broken or is your mouth rotten?"
Tayuya stepped on the customer's stool, looking like she was about to start a "Ninja World War" with the customer.
The unlucky middle-aged man with a receding hairline was stunned, holding his chopsticks and shivering, not knowing if it was out of fear or anger.
Teuchi was sweating profusely in the middle, trying to smooth things over: "Sorry, sorry! This child is new and doesn't know the rules. This bowl of noodles is on the house, on the house!"
Haruko rubbed his brow, feeling his knuckles cracking.
"Tayuya."
Hearing the familiar voice, Tayuya froze instantly. The ferocity on her face hadn't completely faded, and she forced a look of surprise, causing her expression to look very distorted.
"Bi... Big Brother! You're back!"
"Go to the back and wash the bowls. If you don't finish washing them, you don't get to eat."
Tayuya shrank her neck, that arrogant air instantly vanishing, and she scurried into the back kitchen.
Sending the guest away, Teuchi wiped the table and sighed: "Haruko, this child Tayuya... she's a good worker, but her temper is really too hot. I can't stop her at all."
"How about we send her to the Ninja Academy too? That place grinds down a person's temper. Look at Kin Tsuchi, she's been much more sensible after going to the Ninja Academy."
Haruko thought about it and felt it was indeed feasible.
"Alright, I'll talk to her."
"Then I'll leave it to you." Teuchi breathed a sigh of relief.
Haruko turned to the back kitchen and found the aggrieved little figure.
"Tayuya, tomorrow I'm taking you to the Ninja Academy to go to school."
Tayuya was stunned for a moment, then bristled: "What?! School?! I'm not going! Big Brother, I want to follow you and train!"
"You can't even recognize all the characters. If I give you a Ninjutsu scroll, can you understand it? How much basic Ninja knowledge have you mastered? I have to go on missions, do you expect me to teach you all of this?"
Tayuya opened her mouth, unable to speak.
"Go to the Ninja Academy and make up for the basics." Haruko patted her shoulder. "After that, I'll teach you real Ninjutsu."
After a while, she extended her little finger: "Pinky promise!"
"...How old are you?"
"Pinky promise!"
Haruko helplessly extended his hand and hooked his little finger with hers.
Only then did Tayuya hum with satisfaction and turn to continue working.
...
Detached residence.
Haruko pushed open the door. Kin Tsuchi was doing homework in the living room; Tayuya and Kaede hadn't returned from the shop yet.
"Big Brother Haruko, welcome back." Kin Tsuchi looked up and greeted him obediently.
"Yeah." Haruko responded, took out the scroll from his robe. "I have something to do, you continue with your homework."
"Okay~"
Haruko walked into the yard and spread out the scroll.
This wasn't a contract like the one at Mount Myōboku where you write your name to summon various toads, but a one-on-one contract.
"Summoning Technique!"
Poof!
As the smoke cleared, a monkey about a meter tall, wearing a tiger-skin skirt, appeared in the yard.
It scratched its head and looked Haruko up and down: "You're the new contractor? You look pretty young."
"Yeah." Haruko nodded. "My name is Haruko, what's your name?"
"I don't have a name." The monkey spread its hands. "In our Ninja Ape Clan, only the Monkey King has an exclusive name. Us juniors are all called 'Hey' or 'That monkey'."
"Then I'll give you one." Haruko thought for a moment. "How about 'Wukong'?"
"Wukong? Does this name have any meaning?"
"Legend has it that there was a monkey who fought his way into the Divine Court, and his name was Wukong."
The monkey's eyes lit up: "I like this name... But let's be clear, I don't have the ability to fight into the Divine Court. I'm not like Lord Enma who can turn into a golden staff, nor do I have such a hard body."
"It doesn't matter. Your main task in the future is to deliver letters, run errands, and occasionally help out with chores."
"That's no problem, leave it to me."
"Yeah, that's it. I'll summon you when I need you."
"Yes..."
Poof!
Wukong turned into a puff of white smoke and disappeared.
Returning to his room, Haruko picked up a pen and paper.
Speaking of naming the monkey, the first thing that came to mind was Monkey Brother, which naturally led to "Journey to the West".
Since he was idle anyway, he might as well write it out.
It was basically copying, then adapting it to the situation of the Ninja World. It wasn't too difficult, and he could earn some extra money.
Adaptation isn't random fabrication? Whatever, no one in this world has read the original version.
The pen tip hovered over the paper. Haruko suddenly smiled.
Books full of metaphors like this are understood differently by different people. But—
"Who cares? If I want to write it, I'll write it. Even if I've completely fictionalized the worldview and people force it to match their own reality, then I can only say, it's all over-interpretation."
He wrote the first line: "Before the chaos separated and the world was in turmoil, vast and boundless, unseen by anyone..."
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