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Uchiha Haru, Yuhi Kurenai, Uzuki Yugao, Sarutobi Asuma, Might Guy, and Hayate gathered together, quickly assigned their missions, and set off to carry them out.
For some strange reason, both Asuma and Hayate seemed especially energized and eager, displaying an unusual level of drive and initiative.
They even went so far as to take on extra tasks from the others.
Seeing this, Might Guy's eyes sparkled with admiration. "This is youth! Youth should be about pushing your limits and fighting with all your strength!" he shouted, before eagerly joining Asuma and Hayate.
Yuhi Kurenai and Uzuki Yugao were both stunned by the sudden shift.
"What's gotten into them today?"
"Did they take the wrong medicine?"
Might Guy was easier to understand. Someone like him defied normal logic anyway—those who understood, understood.
But Asuma and Hayate?
Why were they fighting over such grueling work? Still, Uchiha Haru didn't mind at all. He took his time with the tasks, neither rushing nor slacking off.
If others were willing to do the work for him without asking anything in return, why not let them? Free labor was always welcome—he wouldn't mind having a few more like them around.
Night.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery-white glow over the land. Everything it touched seemed cloaked in a soft veil of light, transformed into pale shades like reflections on still spring water.
Little Hinata lay in a rocking chair in the courtyard, gazing up at the deepening azure of the night sky. Her thoughts, however, remained on the day's events.
On the way home, the housekeeper had said a great deal to her. Then, after returning, her father also spoke at length.
She understood some of it—but not all.
They were all people of Konoha, so why did it feel like they were so distant from each other?
And… would she really never get to see her brother Haru again? Never speak to him again?
In front of Hinata's large, bright Byakugan eyes, the stars began to blur, and a different memory flickered to life.
It was a snowy afternoon.
A little girl, no older than three or four, walked alone down a secluded path. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, and her hands and feet numb. Looking closely, one could see that this girl resembled a younger Hinata.
The wind howled, kicking up snow from the trees and ground, making the cold even sharper.
Little Hinata pulled her coat tightly around herself and pressed forward.
But she didn't get far.
A group of older boys blocked her path.
"Stop right there! Hand over all your money, or you're not getting past!"
"I-I don't have any money…"
Hinata's voice trembled as she instinctively backed away.
"No money?" the leader scoffed. "Then let's find out for sure!"
With a wave of his hand, the other boys surrounded her.
"No… I really… I really don't…"
Tears welled up in her eyes as she shook from fear, stepping back further—until she tripped on a stone buried beneath the snow and fell.
The boys closed in, ready to strike.
Hinata curled into herself, head buried in her knees, ready to endure the pain.
But the blows never came.
Instead, a calm, gentle voice reached her ears.
"It's okay. You can get up now."
Hinata looked up.
The boys had vanished.
In their place stood a tall, handsome boy, hand extended toward her.
Even as a child, she only had one thought.
How could anyone be so good-looking?
That boy—of course—was Uchiha Haru.
He helped her to her feet, brushed off the snow, and walked her home.
The final image in Hinata's memory was of a boy leading a little girl through a world of soft pinks and whites, their forms growing smaller in the distance.
Behind them, two sets of shallow footprints were left in the snow.
The marks of a shared memory.
"Brother Haru…"
Hinata murmured, a soft smile forming at the corners of her lips.
Just then, a shadow flashed before her eyes. The world turned black, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.
Elsewhere, after several hours of intense labor, Uchiha Haru and the others finally completed their mission. They were utterly exhausted.
Especially Asuma and Hayate, who had pushed themselves the hardest—both were staggering, barely able to walk.
Even Might Guy, known for his stamina, was only slightly better off.
Their earlier plans for a sparring match? Completely forgotten. They didn't even have the strength to mention it.
Yuhi Kurenai and Uzuki Yugao were also feeling drained.
Even though they had taken on the lightest workload, they were still women—physically weaker by comparison—and neither specialized in taijutsu.
Their fatigue was understandable.
Uchiha Haru, however, looked untouched by exhaustion.
With the blood of the Otsutsuki running through his veins, this level of effort meant nothing to him.
The six of them walked the darkened path back home, shadows cast by the moon trailing behind.
Suddenly, Haru halted.
Something felt off.
Turning his head sharply, he caught sight of a figure dashing through the treetops in the distance, illuminated briefly by the moonlight.
The figure was carrying something—and definitely wasn't from Konoha.
But Haru didn't call out. He didn't react much at all.
To him, Konoha was not an ally. Not anymore. Not after everything between them and the Uchiha clan.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
So why should he intervene?
But then… he froze again.
His senses picked up a familiar chakra signature.
Hinata!
The figure was carrying Hinata!
If it had been anyone else, he would've turned a blind eye. But Hinata was different.
He wouldn't, and couldn't, ignore this.
Seeing him stop so suddenly, Yuhi Kurenai frowned. "What's wrong?"
Everyone else turned toward him as well.
Haru narrowed his eyes toward the darkness ahead. "Someone just infiltrated. That way," he said quietly.
"Infiltrated?"
The word immediately shifted the mood.
A possible breach was no small matter.
It had to be reported.
Might Guy rushed to Haru's side, mimicking his stance and peering into the distance.
But all he saw was moonlight and shadows.
"Heh. What foreign infiltration?" Asuma scoffed. "Impossible."
Though his heart had skipped a beat when Haru first said it, Asuma quickly recovered.
It didn't make sense.
As the son of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Asuma's knowledge surpassed that of most ninjas. He had the experience and context to analyze such a situation rationally.
A full-blown infiltration into Konoha?
Unlikely.
Or so he thought…
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This Week Bonus Chapter - 200 Power stones
2nd Bonus Chapter - 400 Power Stones
3rd Bonus Chapter - 600 Power Stones
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📢 Support the Novel & Read Ahead!
Love the story and can't wait to see what happens next?
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Thank you for reading, and I truly appreciate your support! 💖
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