Chapter 144: Wanting to Open a Window, You Have to Say You Intend to Tear Off the Roof
The third round of the Chunin Exams was approaching day by day, and the number of outsiders in Konoha was gradually reaching its peak.
Dignitaries and political figures from the Land of Fire and surrounding areas poured in, just to watch this multi-nation joint event.
Business at the Ichiraku Ramen Shop was also rising with the tide.
Haruko was behind the counter dealing with customers, but his mind was calculating the match.
'The first round is against Atsui. The Third's intention is for a fierce fight, to bring about an overwhelming victory..."
Welcome—
New customers came in, and Haruko habitually greeted them.
Haruko, long time no see. You've grown taller and stronger too.
But when he looked up and saw who it was, his body instinctively stiffened for a moment.
Taketori Sanuki, the patriarch of the Kaguya Clan in the Land of Fire, was wearing an exquisite kimono, followed by a woman with a figure so hot it was criminal.
The woman had long, dark brown curly hair, and her tight-fitting Ninja outfit outlined extremely exaggerated curves, as if the thin fabric was about to burst.
She kept her head down, her expression carrying a kind of tamed dullness, just like a doll that had just come off a production line in some factory.
It has been a while. Over half a year, right?
Haruko remained calm on the surface, but he was already prepared to form seals and activate the Barrier Ninjutsu in the shop at any moment.
With your old bones, aren't you afraid of falling apart running all the way to Konoha?
Haha, for such a grand event as the Chunin Exams, I had to come and see the future prodigy of our Kaguya Clan.
Sanuki didn't mind Haruko's coldness at all, pulling up a stool and sitting down, his eyes scanning the shop, "Where is Kaede? Is that girl in the back kitchen?"
She's washing dishes. Since you're here, go see her.
Before long, Kaede walked out wiping her hands. Seeing Sanuki, her body visibly stiffened, and she then bowed unnaturally: "Patriarch."
Sanuki stared at Kaede's stomach for a full three seconds, then sighed deeply, his tone full of disappointment: "It's been half a year, Kaede. Why is there no movement in your stomach? Is the Kaede shui of Konoha bad, or are you... too lazy?"
Kaede touched her stomach, her face flushed red, but she didn't refute him.
Tap, tap—
Hey, old man. Haruko tapped the table, "I haven't settled the score with you for the drugging incident in Taketori Village half a year ago, and now you're running to my shop to point fingers. Do you really think I don't have a temper?"
How could that be? I know the temper of the Kaguya Clan all too well...
Sanuki laughed dryly, waving his hand to avoid the serious issues: "That was an accident before, all for the sake of the clan. Haruko, you must understand my painstaking efforts. If your pure Shikotsumyaku has no successor, it's a loss for the whole clan!"
He turned to the side and pulled the brown-haired girl behind him to the front.
Let me introduce her. This is Ni, the most outstanding girl in the young generation of the clan. Although her bloodline is slightly inferior to Kaede's, her physical fitness is top-notch.
Haruko glanced at Ni and suddenly felt she looked familiar.
'This face... the cyborg in "The Will of Fire"? No, that's eight years later. She shouldn't have met Hiruko yet... I didn't expect her to be from the Kaguya Clan too."
Ni admires you very much. She heard you have pure Shikotsumyaku and are so young and promising, so she has always wanted to meet you.
Taketori Ni bowed obediently in front of Haruko: "Greetings, Lord Haruko, please take care of me."
Haruko frowned: "Speak directly if you have something to say."
Hahaha, you're still so straightforward. Sanuki smiled, "It's like this, Ni is a child with no relatives left in the family, and she's quite lonely. Why don't you let Ni stay with you?"
Stay with me?
Yes. Sanuki looked matter-of-fact, "Look, it's quite hard for Kaede to take care of you alone, wouldn't it be better to have someone else help?"
Besides, reviving the clan's bloodline is your mission as the next patriarch. It's quite normal to have a few more women, no one can pick any faults.
Haruko looked at the scene before him, feeling it was absurd.
This old fox, half a year ago he wanted to lock him up like a stud horse, and when he found it didn't work, he switched to a soft policy—sending beauties, offering status—all to tie him to the Kaguya Clan's wagon.
I remember saying I won't be any next patriarch. Haruko flatly refused.
Oh, don't say that. You have the purest bloodline in our clan; if you don't become the patriarch, who will?
Whoever wants to be it can be it, I won't. Haruko waved his hand, not wanting to listen to his nonsense anymore.
Also, don't treat people like items to be sent around. Kaede is Kaede, and I accept her because she is her. She is my woman now, not a tool for the Kaguya Clan. As for this one... He glanced at Ni, "Take her back where she came from. This isn't a shelter, and it's certainly not your breeding station."
Ni kept her head down, her body trembling slightly.
Haruko! Sanuki's voice rose a few notches, "What kind of attitude is this? I am the patriarch!"
Then I can leave the Village, and you won't be able to control me. I wasn't from the Village anyway.
Sanuki's old face turned blue and white. He had lived for so many years and had never been disrespected like this by a junior to his face.
You... are you trying to betray your ancestors? You have the blood of the Taketori flowing in you!
You are just the patriarch of the Land of Fire branch. Haruko looked at him expressionlessly, "I am also establishing my own branch, just like how the Kaguya Clan split into the Hidden Mist Taketori and the Land of Fire Taketori back then."
The atmosphere froze to the extreme.
Ni's body shook even more violently.
Sanuki looked at those emotionless gray eyes of Haruko, and his back felt a chill.
He suddenly realized that the boy in front of him was no longer the stray child he could manipulate at will, and "establishing his own branch" was definitely not an empty threat.
Cough... since you're not in the mood to talk about this now, Haruko...
Sanuki took a deep breath, forcing himself to stand up while maintaining the dignity of an elder.
I still have to visit the Hyuga Clan, so I won't disturb you anymore. Ni, let's go.
Ni hurriedly stood up and followed behind him. Before leaving, she glanced at Kaede quickly; there was no resentment in that look, but rather a hint of light called "envy."
It wasn't until the shop door closed again that Kaede let out a long sigh of relief and leaned over with some worry: "Haruko, is it really okay to contradict him like that? Establishing your own branch is a bit too..."
I was just saying it; I wouldn't do something so troublesome. I just wanted to make him retreat in the face of difficulties. Actually, that guy's strategy is about the same; maintaining the status quo is his bottom line.
Haruko slumped back into his chair and pulled Kaede into his arms.
Master Oogway once said: If you want to open a window, others will disagree, but if you say you want to tear off the roof, then they will agree to let you open the window.
That sounds a bit reasonable...
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