Chapter 69: Deception
The hot spring town in the Land of Hot Springs.
It was a moderately sized town, famous for its hot springs.
There were several hot spring inns in town, and business was booming.
Compared to the atmosphere of FUNFUN Street, which was filled with hormones and monetary transactions, this place was clearly more suitable for a proper family vacation.
Teuchi chose an inn that looked decent and opened rooms for everyone.
Originally, Anko had wanted to share a room with Haruko, but under the strange gazes of the others, she backed down.
In the end, Haruko and Teuchi shared one room, Kaede and Ayame shared another, and Anko stayed with Kin and Tayuya.
After dinner, Haruko lay down on the bed in the guest room early, closing his eyes, his ears catching the sounds drifting from the neighboring rooms—Teuchi and Ayame were discussing tomorrow's itinerary, while Anko was guiding Kin and Tayuya in their training.
Everything was as usual.
Until half an hour later, when the door was pushed open a crack.
Kaede slipped in through the gap, still wearing her outdoor clothes, her face wearing an indifferent expression.
After confirming there was no one else around, she sat down gently beside Haruko and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Anko saw that you were asleep and went to the lobby to drink. I went out for a stroll; she noticed me, but didn't make a move."
"Mm." Haruko rolled over. "Continue tomorrow."
Over the next few days, Haruko perfectly implemented his travel policy of "lying flat in a new place."
Except for group activities, he spent most of his time setting up a lounge chair near the inn to bask in the sun, then going to bed early at night.
Meanwhile, Kaede always went out at night and returned before dawn.
This "regular" routine soon became something Anko got used to.
Aside from mentioning it to Haruko the next day, Anko did not question Kaede's nocturnal activities.
After all, if Haruko didn't have an opinion, why should she, an outsider, stick her nose in? Kaede was an adult, too; everyone was entitled to their own personal hobbies.
Come to think of it, alcohol prohibition was one of the three prohibitions for Ninja, yet she drank often enough. As long as it didn't affect the mission, it was fine.
On the fifth day.
Haruko hid in the shadows, watching the "Haruko" in the courtyard who wore his own face.
That was Kaede.
She was sprawled out on a rocking chair with a book covering her face, her posture so lazy to the bone that even Haruko felt like kicking her a couple of times.
"Yo, kid, playing dead again?"
Anko walked over carrying two bottles of sake, looking like she wanted to have a drink with Haruko.
The "Haruko" on the lounge chair didn't get up, only lazily raising a hand to wave it, the voice perfectly simulated through Transformation Jutsu, carrying that perfunctory tone: "I'm not an adult yet, Anko-sensei, you drink it yourself."
"Tch, boring kid."
Anko rolled her eyes. Not suspecting a thing, she strolled back to the lobby to start drinking.
In the shadows, the real Haruko nodded with satisfaction. "Very good, Anko didn't figure it out."
But someone else had figured it out.
The next morning, after they switched back, Teuchi pulled Haruko aside alone.
"Haruko, I support whatever you plan to do, but you must be careful. If it really doesn't work out, we can always start over."
"As expected, I couldn't hide it from Dad..." Haruko scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed: "Don't worry, Dad, I know what I'm doing. If it really doesn't work, I'll let it go."
The group traveled around the locations near Konoha, visiting them one by one.
On this day, they arrived at Tanzaku Town.
Besides being famous as the Land of Fire's renowned gambling city and entertainment hub, Tanzaku Town was also home to an ancient castle designated as a cultural heritage site of the Land of Fire—Tanzaku Castle.
A few years later, the Sannin would reunite in Tanzaku Town, and a chaotic battle would reduce this place to ruins.
"Wow! It's so tall!"
Standing beneath the castle keep, Ayame tilted her head back, letting out an exclamation of wonder, clearly having never seen the world.
"It is indeed spectacular. This kind of architectural craftsmanship is difficult to replicate even today." Kin chimed in from the side, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Even Kaede couldn't help but take a few extra looks at the towering castle tower.
Only Haruko had a constipated expression on his face.
This was the legendary cultural heritage site?
Just this?
Having visited the Forbidden City several times in his past life, looking at this "ancient castle" before him, Haruko's internal evaluation was only one thing: it was too small. It was just like an enlarged castle tower; there was nothing interesting about it.
"Hey, kid, what's with that 'just this' look on your face?" Anko keenly caught Haruko's disdain and slapped him on the back. "This is the famous Tanzaku Castle! Do you even know how to appreciate it?"
"Ah, yes, yes, yes, it's so... spec... tac... ular." Haruko recited insincerely, even clapping twice in coordination. "It would be such a pity if Tsunade kicked it to pieces."
"Lady Tsunade? What nonsense are you talking about?" Anko didn't catch the second half of the sentence.
"Nothing, I said this building is really white."
The group climbed up to the castle keep.
Gazing into the distance, the bustling scene of the entire Tanzaku Town came into view. In the distance were rolling mountains, and nearby were the bustling streets; the wind seemed to carry the sound of clashing dice.
Haruko leaned against the vermilion railing, watching the crowd below moving like ants, feeling bored.
Suddenly.
"Caw—"
A crow landed abruptly on the railing.
It tilted its head, its black bean-like eyes staring at Haruko for three seconds, then it pecked the railing three times with its sharp beak.
This was the signal.
Uchiha Itachi's signal.
It meant: Act tonight.
"Shoo, shoo, I don't have any food for you." He waved his hand casually, as if shooing away an ordinary annoying bird.
The crow flapped its wings and took off, circled in the air once, and then sped off in the direction of Konoha, disappearing into the vast clouds in the blink of an eye.
Haruko withdrew his gaze, turned around, and said to the still-excited group: "It's getting late, let's head down."
That night, in the inn room.
Haruko changed into night gear and organized his Ninja tool pouch.
"Tonight, you transform into me. Lie on the bed and stay in a sleeping state. Anko might come, but she won't come in. Dad knows, but don't drag him into this. I will be back before dawn."
"I understand." Kaede nodded without any hesitation. "Go do what you need to do. Leave this side to me."
She walked up to Haruko and opened her arms to hug him tightly.
"Honestly, according to my duties, I should stop you." Whispering in his ear, Kaede quickly pecked Haruko on the lips.
"You have to come back... I still want to revive the clan with you..."
"Don't worry, I have no intention of risking my life." Haruko walked to the window, pushed it open, and began to use Natural Energy to mask his presence.
Kaede walked to the mirror and began preparing for the Transformation Jutsu. Haruko jumped out of the window, his body landing silently in the night, and dashed off in the direction of Konoha.
In the inn behind him, "Haruko" lay on the bed, closed her eyes, and her breathing became even and deep.
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