Chapter 134: When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do
Under the Sharingan, Izumi could clearly see the stone projectile enlarging in her eyes.
Clang—
Izumi changed her target at the last moment. The Kunai in her hand hacked at the stone projectile, and it was knocked flying with just a single touch.
But this touch also slightly altered the projectile's trajectory. Combined with Izumi desperately twisting her body away, the projectile grazed her cheek and flew past.
Seeing Shiseki's cheek bulge again, Izumi didn't give him another chance to fire. She kicked him in the chin, forcibly closing his mouth.
The subsequent battle had no suspense.
With the sneak attack failed and his final trump card exposed, Shiseki knew he had no chance of winning and simply conceded after a few rounds.
The winner is Uchiha Izumi.
...
As the final match settled, the eight candidates advancing to the third stage of the Chunin Exams were determined.
The preliminaries have officially ended. Next, we will proceed with the bracket drawing for the third exam.
1. Muta Aburame (Konoha) 2. Ryūzetsu (Hidden Grass Village)
3. Uchiha Izumi (Konoha) 4. Akimichi Maruten (Konoha)
5. Haruko (Konoha) 6. Atsui (Kumogakure)
7. Inuzuka Hana (Konoha) 8. Maki (Hidden Sand Village)
Seeing the results of the draw, Haruko couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, suspecting that the draw had been rigged.
The three outsiders were all matched against Konoha, and it was almost impossible for an outsider to face another outsider.
Furthermore, he and Izumi, the strongest from Konoha, were placed in the upper and lower halves of the bracket respectively. The most difficult opponents among the outsiders, Atsui and Maki, happened to be on his side, and he had to fight the one Konoha disliked the most, Kumogakure, first...
Haruko couldn't help but glance at Atsui, who happened to be looking over as well.
Great! Atsui turned to Haruko with an excited face. I saw you use a Chakra blade earlier, and I've been wanting to have a match with you!
Oh... Haruko replied perfunctorily, his mind already elsewhere.
I wonder how Karin is doing.
After the Third Hokage finished explaining the rules and announced that the third exam would be held in a month, everyone dispersed.
...
After leaving the Forest of Death, Haruko didn't rush back to the Ramen Shop but instead detoured to that apartment.
Pushing open the door, Karin was curled up in the corner of the bed. Upon hearing the movement, she suddenly looked up. A flash of panic crossed her red eyes, which then turned into a kind of near-desperate longing.
Haruko...
Yeah. Haruko closed the door behind him, his peripheral vision sweeping over the pile of emergency food, which remained untouched.
Could this girl have been waiting for me the whole time without even eating?
Karin carefully approached and looked up at Haruko.
Um... what should I do now?
First, change your clothes and change your hair color. Haruko opened the cabinet and took out a set of ordinary civilian clothes and a bottle of hair dye. That red hair of yours is too conspicuous; dye it black for now.
Oh, okay.
Karin took the items and quickly began to change.
Haruko turned around, facing away from her, and began to calculate in his mind.
Should I send her to Taketori Village? Or maybe send her to the Fire Temple to stay for a while?
Poof!
While he was thinking, a small Slug appeared in front of Haruko amidst a puff of white smoke.
Lord Haruko, Lady Tsunade has something she wants me to convey.
...What does my master have to say?
Lady Tsunade says: 'You have quite a lot of nerve, kidnapping an important person from another village just like that. But since you've already saved her, take good care of the child until I return to Konoha to deal with it. Also, stop trying to dump your troubles on others!"
...Didn't she say to report her name if anything happened?
Haruko's mouth twitched.
He had initially done it with the mentality of giving it a try, and he really should have notified her, so he had the Slug mention it to Tsunade. He hadn't expected Tsunade to value Karin so much.
Alright, I understand.
After the Slug disappeared, Haruko turned back around. Karin had already changed her clothes and was holding the hair dye, looking at a loss.
Don't know how to use it?
Um...
Forget it, I'll do it.
Haruko took the hair dye and motioned for her to sit down.
His fingers ran through that signature red hair. Haruko's movements were very practiced—he had dyed his own hair a few times in his previous life, so this small task was no problem at all.
Karin sat stiffly, feeling Haruko's fingers wandering through her hair. That warmth made her feel a bit overwhelmed.
Haruko... to you, am I just a convenient add-on?
Pretty much. But since I saved you, I won't just abandon you. I'll find a way out for you.
Karin lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Haruko thought she was going to cry and was wondering whether to comfort her, but then he heard a soft chuckle.
A convenient add-on, huh... Karin raised her head, her eyes shining with a strange light. Then I'll work hard to make myself useful. At least I won't become a burden.
???
This reaction... something's not right...
Haruko looked at her expression and felt a chill run down the back of his neck.
Never mind, forget it for now.
Half an hour later, Karin's red hair had turned black. With a high-collared trench coat covering most of her skin, no one would recognize her without looking closely.
Alright, you'll stay at my place for now.
Your place?
I have a detached house in Konoha; it's safer there. Haruko paused. However... it's better if you don't go out and show your face for a while.
I understand. Karin nodded obediently.
...
Night fell.
The temporary lodging for Hidden Grass Village was a regular inn arranged by Konoha.
After the preliminaries ended, " Karin " had been stuffed into a sack and brought back to the inn with the team.
—Of course, this " Karin " was Haruko's Shadow Clone.
Thud!
The team leader casually threw the sack into the room.
Stay here honestly. We're leaving Konoha first thing tomorrow morning. Don't cause me any trouble.
Yes... The Shadow Clone crawled out of the sack, pretending to be as timid as Karin.
The team leader didn't even glance at her before turning and entering his own room.
The Genin also returned to their rooms to rest; today's preliminaries had exhausted them quite a bit.
After entering the room, the Shadow Clone didn't act immediately but sat quietly on the bed, waiting.
Time passed minute by minute.
In the middle of the night, the inn fell into silence.
The Shadow Clone opened its eyes, the pupils having turned white—Byakugan.
The entire inn was in full view.
There were quite a few from Hidden Grass Village, three teams totaling twelve people.
However, only nine remained now.
Found you...
Because the team members were all dead, the team leader who had come to the Ramen Shop to cause trouble was now sleeping alone in his room.
The Shadow Clone silently pushed open the window and climbed along the outer wall to the outside of the team leader's room.
The window was locked.
Hmph, as expected of a Jonin... too bad you met me.
The Shadow Clone channeled Natural Energy, extended it through the window gap into the room, and unlocked the window from the inside.
Sliding into the room, the Shadow Clone stood by the bed, looking down at the guy who had once acted so arrogantly at the Ramen Shop.
The Kunai in its hand glowed with a faint Chakra light—this was to ensure a fatal blow.
Puchi—
The Kunai slashed across the team leader's throat, and blood sprayed out.
He opened his eyes wide, wanting to shout, but realized his trachea had been cut, and his mouth was covered, so he couldn't make a sound at all.
In the moonlight, a petite figure stood at the head of the bed, holding a dripping Kunai—it was Karin.
But with these practiced movements, and this strength that didn't fit a girl, was this really Karin?
With doubt, the team leader's consciousness gradually sank, and he completely lost his breath.
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