After leaving Orochimaru's Laboratory, Haruki felt in high spirits.
Since he had acquired the Sage Body, his recovery ability was astonishing. Although he hadn't tested it, he thought he could probably match Karin in terms of recovery ability.
So, getting pricked by just ten needles was nothing.
However, after being kicked out, he felt a bit at a loose end for a moment.
Haruki thought for a while and then headed to the Ninja Academy.
"Youth means scoring goals without end!"
He heard a familiar voice in the distance. Looking up, he saw Might Guy and Kakashi playing against each other on the basketball court.
Guy was extremely excited, creating a green whirlwind on the court.
But Kakashi seemed totally unmotivated.
It seemed that, just like in the original story, he had been forced to become Guy's lifelong rival.
Haruki couldn't help but smile. Even a cool and aloof guy like Kakashi couldn't maintain his image when he met Guy.
It's really terrifying.
All Haruki could do was wish Kakashi good luck.
But he didn't see Obito Uchiha.
Come to think of it, Minato Namikaze and the other two were going to the Land of Fire, so there was no one to teach him for the time being.
Where the hell had this guy gone?
Haruki raised two fingers, spreading his Chakra sensing ability.
Obito had his diamond Kunai on him.
He soon spotted Obito's figure at The Third Training Ground.
He used the Shifting Body Technique.
Obito came into his view.
At this moment, Obito was standing on the river, making Hand Seals with both hands.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Obito opened his small mouth, and a huge fireball about one meter in diameter appeared. It skimmed over the water, creating clouds of mist, and finally landed on the flat ground in the distance, leaving a dark crater.
"Hahaha!"
Obito burst out laughing. "I did it!"
But he couldn't stay cool for more than three seconds.
His over - excitement and the large amount of Chakra consumed by the Great Fireball Technique made him lose control of his footing. With a splash, he fell into the river.
But he seemed to be used to it. There was no sign of panic after he fell into the water, and he swam to the shore.
Obito shook the water off his body and then used Fire Release to ignite the fallen leaves to dry his clothes.
He took out a set of clothes from his bag and changed into them. Finally, he noticed Haruki.
"Teacher, you... you saw that?"
As he spoke, Obito looked a bit shy.
"What the hell would I be looking at you, a little kid, for?" Haruki couldn't help but grumble.
Obito scratched his head and asked, "Teacher, what are you doing here?"
"It seems that your recent training results are pretty good."
Haruki sat opposite him. He had also heard the substitute teacher's report on Obito's recent situation.
Obito was either studying or training. He even communicated with Rin Nohara less than before, but his physical confrontations with Kakashi had increased.
Kakashi must be under a lot of pressure.
Guy and Obito, the two idiots in his mouth.
Haruki couldn't help but recall a saying - women only slow me down when I draw my sword.
But he knew that it wasn't because Obito's feelings for Rin Nohara had diminished. Instead, he had become more mature and had abandoned the most childish way of getting her attention by acting silly.
"Teacher Minato and Sister Mikoto taught me well."
Rarely receiving praise from Haruki, Obito couldn't help but smile, but he was humble in what he said.
"Regarding the social survey during the summer holidays, the five of us will set off soon."
"Five people?" Obito thought he had misheard.
"Yeah, me, Tsunade, you, Kakashi, and Rin."
"Kakashi is going too?"
"That's right."
"..."
Obito's face fell a bit. He had thought it would be a two - person world with Rin Nohara, but unexpectedly, it was still a group outing for three.
"I'll teach you three at that time. Don't let Kakashi look down on you."
"Of course not!"
Mentioning Kakashi, Obito suddenly got excited like a kid on a sugar rush and cast aside his previous dejection.
What a little brat.
Haruki couldn't help but smile.
Suddenly, his mind stirred. The Wood Clone that was tracking Minato and the other two sent back information.
After saying goodbye to Obito, he activated the Flying Thunder God Technique. The space shifted, and he appeared in a forest.
In an open space in the distance.
Minato was starting a fire. Mikoto was nowhere to be seen; she should have gone hunting, while Kushina was holding the little fox.
Haruki turned his head to the other side. A Ninja dressed in the style of the Cloud Hidden Village was also starting a fire.
An invisible fragrance spread.
Suddenly, the little fox jumped down and ran into the forest.
"Hey, wait for me."
Kushina quickly got up and chased after it.
Minato was about to say something but then realized something and stayed where he was.
Haruki sniffed. This fragrance seemed to be specifically for foxes, similar to the allure of catnip to cats.
He is really smart, though.
Watching this Cloud Ninja transform into his appearance, Haruki couldn't help but sigh. He was well - prepared.
"Teacher?"
Kushina didn't suspect anything at first because she saw the little fox eating his roasted meat.
"Kushina."
The Cloud Ninja showed Haruki's signature smile. "I was going to follow you guys, but unexpectedly, this little fox recognized me. Since you're here, have a taste."
With that, he handed her a skewer of roasted meat.
"Thanks, Teacher."
Kushina took a bite and her face froze. "This taste is wrong... You..."
The next moment, she felt dizzy.
Haruki formed Hand Seals and summoned another Wood Clone to follow Kushina and the three Cloud Ninjas that had appeared.
"Where's Kushina?"
Mikoto came back carrying two little white rabbits.
"She was bored and ran off with the little fox."
Minato took the little white rabbits from her, cut open their bellies, and started to deal with them.
But after a moment, Mikoto felt uneasy.
She stood up and asked, "Why hasn't she come back yet?"
Minato was slightly stunned, and a look of surprise immediately appeared on his face.
"Let's go and check."
He put down the little white rabbits and followed the direction Kushina had gone. He found the remaining campfire and the unconscious little fox.
"It's Poison."
After examining the little fox, Mikoto's face changed drastically. "Kushina has been captured!"
"Search separately. The campfire is still warm, so they shouldn't have gone far."
Minato made a prompt decision, chose a direction, and ran off.
And Mikoto took another path.
A few minutes later, she saw Kushina lying in a pool of blood.
A feeling of fear welled up in her heart.
She trembled and reached out her hand.
There was no breath, and her heart had stopped beating.
Her mind went completely blank in an instant, and a surge of fury welled up in her heart.
Her eyes were filled with a chilling coldness, and Three-Tomoe appeared. A bone-chilling coldness spread as the violence in her heart flared up.
The surrounding land turned into powder in an instant.
At this moment, Mikoto seemed like a man-eating beast.
But her Sensor ability told her that there was no one around.
She had no way to release her pent-up emotions.
She only felt that the whole world had turned blood-red.
Mikoto closed her eyes and hugged Kushina. Silently, a killing intent emerged, like the precursor of a storm.
Haruki forced a smile and rubbed his forehead.
How should he explain it later?
But after waiting for a long time, he still didn't sense the explosive Chakra from Mikoto.
Normally, once she awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, her Chakra should have seen a sharp increase.
Did it fail?
Haruki hesitated for a moment and sighed. Was it really so difficult to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan?
He walked up to Mikoto.
"Mikoto."
Hearing the familiar voice, Mikoto looked up.
Haruki was able to see her eyes, the Three-Tomoe.
He squatted down and patted Kushina, and the body vanished instantly.
"This is just a clone. Kushina isn't dead."
"..."
Mikoto opened her mouth and suddenly understood the truth. She lowered her head. "Is it the same old trick as when I first awakened the Genjutsu?"
"Sorry."
Haruki reached out his hand, but the next moment, it was grabbed by Mikoto.
He couldn't help shuddering.
Mikoto's eyes spun rapidly at this moment. Three-Tomoe joined together, taking the form of a triangular shield-shaped blade.
"Teacher, don't lie to me again next time."