Chapter 67: Foreseeing the Future?
Returning to the guest room, Haruko lay directly on the newly made rocking chair.
That fight just now was truly exhausting, especially the final clash between the Rasengan and the Kaiten; my wrists are still aching faintly from the impact.
"Next time, I won't fight no matter what..."
Thinking back calmly, it was really just a sparring match, and a Genin fighting a Jonin at that; losing is just losing, there was no need to go as far as using the Rasengan.
It's just that as the battle progressed, the instincts of the Kaguya Clan gradually took over my rationality, and I didn't consider any options other than fighting.
Simply put—I lost my head.
It wasn't until I sent Hyuga Takashi flying and Hinata ran over to me with a look on her face as if she were about to cry that my rationality regained the high ground.
"It's not like there wasn't a harvest, though... Hey!"
Haruko raised his hand and released a shockwave, but it only kicked up a cloud of dust.
"...As expected of the Main Family's secret technique; I couldn't learn it just by watching once. I can study it when I have time."
Moreover, this fight made Hiashi value me even more. He even hinted that as long as I asked, I could stay until the Uchiha Clan Massacre Night was over.
Unfortunately, Haruko didn't plan on staying that long.
Living in the Hyuga Clan Compound was indeed safe; that old schemer Danzo would have no chance to make a move there.
However, there were too many inconveniences.
First, my movements weren't free; with so many pairs of Byakugan around, sneaking out was almost impossible.
Secondly, it was easy to get dragged into Hyuga affairs. Hiashi's words, "If you encounter any difficulties, just send someone to report it," sounded like good intentions but were actually a form of binding.
The most important thing is—
Haruko narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.
That old thing, Danzo, had to be dealt with. And to make a move, I would need a perfect alibi.
Living in the Hyuga Clan Compound made my whereabouts too easy to confirm, which was actually detrimental to my operations.
"I should leave the village... I'll leave once Uchiha Itachi has made up his mind."
As for now? Naturally, it was time to relax properly and replenish the energy I'd expended in the morning.
...
Two days later in the evening, Haruko received a letter delivered by a crow.
It was called a letter, but it didn't contain any content; it was just a blank piece of paper.
But Haruko understood; this was Uchiha Itachi contacting him.
The information on the blank paper was the same as the note he had stuffed into Uchiha Itachi's noodle bowl back then.
That same night, Haruko snuck out of the Hyuga Clan Compound and arrived at the same time and place to meet the same person.
"Haruko, you were right..." Uchiha Itachi was still looking at the river, speaking without turning his head.
"Did Danzo approach you?"
Haruko didn't ask if Uchiha Itachi had made up his mind. Since the other party had come, the answer was already very obvious.
Uchiha Itachi finally turned around. The tear troughs under his eyes were deeper, and he looked as pale as a ghost that had crawled out of hell.
"Everything is as you said—two choices."
"So, which one do you choose?"
"Neither." Uchiha Itachi raised his head, a resolute light flickering in his eyes. "I choose the third path you spoke of."
'It worked!"
Striking a pose of victory in his heart, Haruko nodded expressionlessly.
"Then, let's start detailing the mission. Time, target, action plan..."
"Before that..." Uchiha Itachi interrupted Haruko. "I need to tell you about one... no, two situations. Two figures who cannot be ignored."
"Uh-huh, go ahead."
"The first is... do you remember the 'dead man' I told you about before? He calls himself, " Uchiha Madara "."
"Heh." Haruko sneered. "Judging by the deeds of Uchiha Madara that I've read about, I am 99% certain that he is not him."
"I also think he isn't. But he is very strong, and he has a space-time Ninjutsu. I had originally intended to ask for his cooperation."
"Then continue to ask for his cooperation." Haruko wore a cunning smile. "Look, doesn't that provide a scapegoat? What is the other one?"
"The other is my father; he has a Mangekyo Sharingan. The so-called Mangekyo Sharingan is..."
'Listening to this description, it sounds like foreseeing the future and Tsukuyomi? This Uchiha Fugaku is even stronger than the TV version..."
Listening to Uchiha Itachi's explanation, Haruko felt a headache coming on.
Once a story becomes reality, there are always some deviations, just like with the Land of Fire's Kaguya Clan, and this time it was Uchiha Fugaku.
"You mean your father can foresee the future?"
Haruko had to be sure; this would significantly affect his plan.
"It should have limitations. At the very least, he did not foresee your existence, nor has he mentioned your plan."
"You say he can't see the Uchiha's future..." Haruko rubbed his chin. "Then does he actually support that matter or not?"
Uchiha Itachi was silent for a moment.
"Father... actually, he is also very conflicted. He doesn't want to confront Konoha, but he also doesn't want the Uchiha to be suppressed by Konoha. Right now, the voices of the radicals are too loud; he has no way to suppress them."
Haruko thought about it and felt it wasn't a big problem.
"Hmm, then we can try to win him over. The general plan is like this..."
Uchiha Itachi listened, frowning: "That's a truly bold plan... There are many uncertain points; isn't the risk a bit too high?"
"How could there be no risk in this matter?" Haruko rolled his eyes. "Besides, aren't those points with the highest uncertainty even more troublesome in your plan?"
"I... you are right..."
Uchiha Itachi was left speechless. His original plan was indeed rougher, not even deserving to be called a plan.
"Alright, the risk isn't as high as you imagine." Haruko patted Uchiha Itachi's shoulder. "Otherwise, what do you think I had you prepare those things for?"
"I understand. Leave the preparations to me."
"Then it's settled." Haruko waved his hand and turned to leave. "I will leave the village in these next two days. If there is any situation, contact me using the method we just discussed."
"Hey, Haruko..."
Uchiha Itachi's voice came from behind, causing Haruko to stop in his tracks.
"Hmm? Any other questions?"
"I always feel... that you seem to know a lot of things? You give me the feeling... like my father, able to foresee the future?"
"...That's true. Having known each other for so long and said so much, even a fool should have some sense of it."
"This is a difference in experience, Uchiha Itachi." Haruko turned around, putting on the appearance of a world-weary uncle.
"This might sound a bit harsh, but... to be honest, it's not that I know a lot, but that your experience is insufficient."
"You have lived in the environment of Konoha, the number one Ninja village in the Ninja World, since you were a child, and you are the young master of the Uchiha family. Who are the people you come into contact with the most? Elders within the clan, high-ranking officials of Konoha, colleagues in the Anbu..."
Haruko shrugged. "They are all that small handful of people standing at the pinnacle of the Ninja World."
"And me?" Haruko pointed to himself. "Before coming to Konoha, I was wandering outside, so I've seen more people than you. Pot-bellied nobles, rogue Ninjas, refugees fighting wild dogs for food... These people, let alone within the Uchiha clan, you can barely see anywhere in the whole of Konoha."
"How do different people solve problems when they encounter them? Once you've had enough contact, you can naturally predict it. So, it's not that I have any special ability; I've just seen more, that's all."
Uchiha Itachi listened silently, his brows slightly furrowed.
He had learned about some of Haruko's experiences and could determine that what he said was the truth.
Intuition told him this wasn't the whole story, but Uchiha Itachi did not intend to continue questioning.
Who doesn't have some secrets, and it might even be a rather terrible experience.
"Thank you. If it weren't for you..."
"Don't thank me. If I could, I'd rather stay as far away from this matter as possible." Haruko turned around and didn't linger.
"I understand."
Haruko disappeared into the night, leaving Uchiha Itachi standing alone by the river, gazing at the pitch-black water.
Want To Read More Chapters? Check Out 80+Advanced Chapters At PA Treon
patreon.com/SloppyGuy