Chapter 135: Bringing Another Girl Home?
When Haruko pushed open the door of the detached house, the interior was quiet.
"Hmm?"
His keen senses detected a slight abnormality.
He had originally only set up a Barrier Ninjutsu for anti-reconnaissance in the detached house, mainly to prevent spying from the Anbu and the Old Man Third Hokage.
But now, this house actually had an additional layer of unactivated defensive Barrier Ninjutsu.
'It should be Kaguya Kaede's handiwork... Did something happen?"
Sensing no immediate danger for the time being, Haruko led the somewhat restrained Karin into the house.
"This house has an anti-reconnaissance barrier. As long as you don't go out, no one will be able to find you."
Haruko pointed to a guest room on the first floor: "You'll stay in this one. Everything is provided inside; you can arrange it to your liking. Don't enter other people's rooms."
"I have some business and need to head out for a bit. I'll bring dinner back for you. If you're hungry, there's food in the kitchen; feel free to eat whatever you like."
After settling Karin in, Haruko didn't stay long in the detached house. He turned around and headed toward the Ichiraku Ramen Shop.
He hadn't had his customary post-event bowl of noodles yet, and since he'd already brought back the trouble that was Karin, he had to give his family a heads-up first.
...
At night, the expanded hall of the Ichiraku Ramen Shop appeared exceptionally spacious, with the dim yellow lights emitting a sense of warmth.
"Brother Haruko, congratulations on making it to the finals!"
Just as he lifted the noren curtain, Ayame quickly came forward to greet him, a sincere smile on her face.
Teuchi also poked his head out from the back kitchen. Although he didn't speak, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes showed he was in an excellent mood.
"Hmm? You already know?"
"Oh, Haruko, you're back..." Anko was eating and drinking at the counter without any regard for her image, waving at him while holding a skewer of dango.
"If only my students were as strong as you. Not a single one made it to the finals; it's really frustrating me."
It was obvious that Anko had delivered the news. She seemed to be binge-eating because Ichi and the others had all been eliminated.
—After all, among the six teams that passed the second stage, only her team had been entirely eliminated in the preliminaries.
"Uh... Actually, Ichi and the others worked very hard..."
Haruko also came to the counter and sat down beside her.
In this joint Chunin Exams, the main teams from various villages started at the Chunin level. It could be said that it was several grades more difficult than a normal Chunin Exam.
Ichi and his team had essentially touched the threshold of becoming Chunin. If it were a normal Chunin Exam difficulty, at least one of the three should have been able to enter the finals.
"I know... munch munch... We were just along for the ride, which is why I'm so annoyed."
"Oh, Jonin Ninja Anko, calm down." Teuchi served a bowl of ramen to Haruko and gave Anko a cup of mung bean paste. "This cup is on me."
Gulp... "Anyway, congratulations on making it to the finals." Anko picked up her cup and clinked it against Haruko's bowl.
"I originally thought you'd go celebrate with your teammates before coming to report the news. I didn't expect you to come back alone."
"Ahaha... Isn't there something I need to take care of..." Haruko buried his head in his noodles, feeling a bit guilty.
"Boss, pack up the rest. I'll have it as a late-night snack." Probably thinking Haruko wanted to celebrate with his family, Anko prepared to leave.
"There's still a month until the third stage. This time is to wait for the audience to gather and to give you time to collect information on the other candidates. Although with your strength, you might not need it... anyway, don't let it go to waste."
After giving her advice, Anko stood up and walked out the door, disappearing into the night.
"Brother Haruko, congratulations on entering the third stage of the exam."
"I knew Big Brother would have no problem."
"Darling, you must be tired. Why don't you 'relax' well tonight..."
"I'm really looking forward to seeing Brother Haruko's heroic posture on the field in a month."
"Yeah, when the time comes, let's close the shop and all go watch together."
After Anko left, his family gathered around to offer their congratulations, making Haruko's heart feel warm.
After a brief celebration, Haruko mentioned the main business while eating his noodles: "Speaking of which, when was the barrier at home added?"
Haruko looked at Kaguya Kaede, but Kaguya Kaede just shook her head with an expression like she was watching a show.
"Ah? Big Brother, you already found out? I wanted to give you a surprise..."
Seeing Tayuya's somewhat disappointed look, Haruko raised an eyebrow: "You set it up?"
"Yeah, I figured the house didn't have a defensive barrier, so I followed the one you set up in the shop and made one." Tayuya puffed out her chest, which hadn't fully developed yet. "So, it's pretty well done, right?"
"Not bad, it's quite good." Haruko was quite gratified that Tayuya had become self-taught ahead of time. "Then I'll leave setting up barriers to you in the future."
"Oh, leave it to me!"
After finishing dinner, Haruko packed some food before returning.
"Brother Haruko, didn't you eat enough?"
"No. I met a child of a friend's family during the Chunin Exams. There were some changes at their home, so they're staying in my detached house for now. I went home early to handle that."
"Hmph... I see..."
Ayame didn't ask further—Haruko hadn't brought the person to the Ramen Shop, clearly not wanting them to have too much contact.
"Darling, you've brought another girl home again~" Kaguya Kaede teased.
"Don't overthink it. She'll probably only stay until the end of the Chunin Exams." Haruko explained without changing his expression as he took the takeout box from Ayame. "Also, that child is... well, quite timid. Don't scare her when you see her."
...
When he pushed open the door of the detached house, Karin was sitting on the sofa in the living room, as restless as a cat in a new environment.
"Have you eaten anything?...Apparently not." Haruko placed the takeout box on the table. "Eat up. Ichiraku Ramen, a Konoha specialty."
"Th-thank you."
By the time Karin had almost finished eating, footsteps were heard from the yard.
Bang.
The door was pushed open, and three women filed in one after another.
"You're the new girl Big Brother brought back?" Tayuya crossed her arms, looking Karin up and down. "You look pretty ordinary..."
Karin was startled by Tayuya's fierce gaze and subconsciously shrank back.
"She looks like a frightened little deer."
Kaguya Kaede gently hugged Karin, her gaze lingering for a moment on the skin hidden under Karin's trench coat collar. "Don't be afraid, Tayuya-chan means no harm."
Kin Tsuchi looked at Karin's signature red hair and tilted her head curiously: "My name is Kin, she's Tayuya, and that slightly strange big sister is Kaguya Kaede. We'll be living together from now on. If Tayuya is mean to you, tell me, and I'll tell Brother Haruko for you."
"Oh, right. It's best not to go to Brother Haruko's or Sister Kaguya Kaede's rooms at night. If you want someone to talk to, come to my room." Kin added.
"Didn't I tell you not to scare her?"
"I was just saying hello... My bad, my bad, Big Brother, I was wrong."
Watching Haruko and Tayuya's playful bickering, Karin's tense body relaxed slightly.
These women before her had very different personalities. Although the pink-haired one looked fierce, she could feel that the atmosphere in this house... was actually more relaxed than anywhere else she had ever been.
Want To Read More Chapters? Check Out 80+Advanced Chapters At PA Treon
patreon.com/SloppyGuy