Chapter 108

Leaving Orochimaru's laboratory, Haruki felt good.

Since he obtained the Sage Body, his recovery ability was astonishing. Although he hadn't tested it, he felt he could probably compare to Karin.

So ten needles were nothing.

However, after being kicked out, he felt a bit idle.

Haruki thought for a moment and went to the ninja school.

"Youth is about scoring goals, never stopping!"

He heard a familiar voice from afar and looked up to see Guy and Kakashi playing against each other on the basketball court.

Guy was excited, creating a green whirlwind on the court.

But Kakashi looked uninterested.

It seemed like, just like in the original work, he was forced to be Guy's lifelong rival.

Haruki couldn't help but smile. Even Kakashi, the cool guy, couldn't maintain his demeanor when faced with Guy.

It was terrifying.

He could only wish Kakashi good luck.

But he didn't see Obito.

Speaking of which, Minato and his team were going to the Land of Fire, so no one was teaching him.

Where did that guy go?

Haruki raised two fingers, spreading his chakra senses.

Obito had his diamond kunai.

He soon found Obito at the third training ground.

Using the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared there.

Obito came into view, standing on the river, hands forming seals.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Obito opened his mouth, and a large fireball about one meter in diameter appeared, skimming over the water, creating steam, and eventually hitting the ground, creating a large black pit.

"Hahaha!"

Obito laughed, "I did it!"

But he wasn't cool for more than three seconds.

He got carried away, and the Great Fireball Technique consumed a lot of chakra, causing him to lose control and fall into the river.

However, he seemed used to it and swam to the shore without panic.

Obito shook off the water and used Fire Style to dry his clothes.

He took out a set of clothes from his bag and changed, finally noticing Haruki.

"Teacher, did you… did you see?"

He asked, a bit shy.

"?" Haruki couldn't help but tease, "Why would I watch a little kid like you?"

Obito scratched his head and asked, "Teacher, why are you here?"

"Looks like your training has been going well."

Haruki sat across from him, having heard the substitute teacher's report about Obito's recent activities.

He was either studying or training, and his interactions with Rin had decreased, while his physical confrontations with Kakashi increased.

Kakashi must be under a lot of pressure, dealing with both Guy and Obito.

Haruki couldn't help but think of a saying, women only slow me down.

But he knew Obito wasn't less affectionate towards Rin, just more mature and had stopped using childish tricks to get her attention.

"It's all thanks to Minato-sensei and Mikoto-sensei's teaching."

Obito smiled at Haruki's rare praise but remained humble.

"We will soon depart for the summer social survey, the five of us."

"Five?" Obito thought he misheard.

"Yeah, me and Tsunade, you, Kakashi, and Rin."

"Kakashi is going too?"

"Yes."

"…"

Obito's face fell. He thought it would be a world for him and Rin, but it was still a movie for three.

"I'll be teaching you three. Don't let Kakashi look down on you."

"I won't!"

Mentioning Kakashi, Obito became energized, abandoning his earlier gloom.

Such a kid.

Haruki couldn't help but laugh.

He then felt a subtle movement in his heart and received information from the wood clone.

After saying goodbye to Obito, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear in a forest.

In a clearing in the distance.

Minato was making a fire, Mikoto was nowhere to be seen, likely hunting, and Kushina was holding a little fox.

Haruki looked to the other side and saw a ninja from the Hidden Cloud Village making a fire.

An invisible fragrance spread.

The little fox suddenly jumped down and ran into the forest.

"Hey, wait for me."

Kushina quickly got up and followed.

Minato was about to speak but realized something and stayed put.

Haruki sniffed; the fragrance seemed specifically targeted at foxes, like catnip for cats.

Quite clever.

He watched as the Cloud Ninja transformed into his likeness, impressed by the thorough preparation.

"Teacher?"

Kushina initially didn't suspect anything because she saw the little fox eating his roasted meat.

"Kushina."

The Cloud Ninja showed Haruki's signature smile, "I was following you, but this little fox recognized me. Since I'm here, have a taste."

He handed her a skewer of roasted meat.

"Thanks, teacher."

Kushina took a bite and froze, "This taste is wrong… you…"

The next moment, she felt dizzy.

Haruki formed seals to summon a wood clone to follow Kushina and the three Cloud Ninjas.

"Where's Kushina?"

Mikoto returned with two rabbits.

"She got bored and followed the fox."

Minato took the rabbits, gutted them, and began to process them.

But after a while, Mikoto felt uneasy.

She stood up, "Why isn't she back yet?"

Minato was surprised and quickly realized something was wrong.

"Let's go look."

He put down the rabbit and followed Kushina's path, finding the remains of a campfire and the unconscious little fox.

"It's poison."

Mikoto checked the fox and turned pale, "Kushina was captured!"

"Split up and search, the fire is still hot, they can't be far."

Minato quickly made a decision and ran in one direction.

Mikoto took another path.

Minutes later, she found Kushina lying in a pool of blood.

Fear surged through her.

She reached out with trembling hands.

No breath, no heartbeat.

Her mind went blank, and rage filled her heart.

Her eyes turned cold, three tomoe appearing, freezing coldness spreading as her fury grew.

The surrounding land shattered instantly.

Mikoto looked like a fierce beast.

But her senses told her no one was around.

Her emotions couldn't be released.

She felt the whole world turn red.

Mikoto closed her eyes, holding Kushina, her killing intent growing silently like a storm.

Haruki sighed, rubbing his forehead.

How to explain this?

But after a long wait, he still didn't sense an explosion of chakra from Mikoto.

Logically, awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan should cause a surge in chakra.

Did it fail?

Haruki hesitated, sighing, wondering if awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan was truly this difficult.

He walked to Mikoto.

"Mikoto."

Hearing the familiar voice, she looked up.

Haruki saw her eyes, still three tomoe.

He crouched and patted Kushina, whose body vanished.

"It was just a clone, Kushina is not dead."

"…"

Mikoto realized the truth and looked down, "Is this another illusion like when I awakened my Sharingan?"

"Sorry."

Haruki extended his hand but was grabbed by Mikoto.

He was surprised.

Mikoto's eyes spun rapidly at this moment, and the three magatama connected together, forming a triangular shield sword shape.

"Teacher, don't lie to me again."