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"You—what's the matter?"
Uchiha Haru waited a while, but when neither Yuhi Kurenai nor Uzuki Yugao said anything, he took the initiative to break the silence.
The two women, their minds momentarily blank, snapped out of it at his words and quickly remembered the reason they had come.
Kurenai spoke first. "It's like this…"
"We just received a mission, but one of our teammates is still recovering from an injury. So… we'd like to ask if you could join us, Haru-kun."
"At the Konoha Military Police Force, Clan Head Fugaku has already approved it."
Finally, Uzuki Yugao added softly, "So… will you?"
Since the Security Division had already arranged the transfer, Uchiha Haru had no reason to refuse. He agreed readily and without hesitation.
Afterward, Kurenai and Yugao gave Haru a brief rundown of the mission as the three of them began walking toward the rendezvous point.
It was just a standard C-rank mission—one that didn't even require them to leave the village. Simple, but tedious. It required extra manpower, which explained why Haru had been asked to join.
In addition to Haru, Kurenai, and Yugao, another team would be working the mission alongside them: Gekkō Hayate, Sarutobi Asuma, and Might Guy.
The Uchiha district was located at the edge of Konoha, so after leaving the compound, they walked a short distance before finally arriving at the heart of the village.
But the moment they stepped into the busier streets of Konoha, Haru immediately noticed something strange.
People standing at a distance would whisper as they passed. Yet the moment he got close, conversations would abruptly end, and every gaze sharpened with suspicion and wariness.
Haru didn't need to ask what was going on.
Of the three of them, both Kurenai and Yugao were born and raised within Konoha's inner districts. The villagers had no issue with them.
No, this atmosphere was clearly aimed at him—or more accurately, at the Uchiha clan.
The tension between the village leadership and the Uchiha had clearly spread to even the most ordinary civilians.
Even common villagers now carried a deep-seated hostility.
Still, Haru's expression remained unreadable. Calm and indifferent from start to finish.
He didn't have a fragile heart. What these people whispered, what they thought—none of it mattered to him. It wasn't even worth acknowledging.
But for Yugao and Kurenai, the walk had grown visibly uncomfortable.
They had asked Haru to help, not expecting the journey itself to become so strained. The conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha was no secret, especially not to seasoned kunoichi like them.
Even so, both women had always hated fighting. Peace was what they truly hoped for.
In their hearts, they wished the Uchiha clan and Konoha could coexist in harmony.
But they were only Chūnin—low-ranking in the grand scheme. There was nothing they could do to change the tide of this growing rift.
As the uneasy silence around them thickened, both women subconsciously glanced toward Haru, worried that he might be offended by the cold stares and whispers.
But when they saw his face—still calm, still carrying that distant handsomeness without even a flicker of emotion—they quietly sighed in relief.
The three quickened their pace. No one wanted to linger under the weight of such heavy eyes.
And just then, a soft voice called out from nearby, tinged with surprise and shyness.
"B-Brother Haru!"
The three turned around in unison.
The voice was small, innocent, and sweet—like the chime of a bell. And although not loud, it carried clearly through the quiet street.
A little girl was waving at them.
She looked to be around six or seven years old. Short, dark-blue hair framed her porcelain face, which was so delicate it almost seemed carved from fine china. She was undeniably adorable.
But the most distinctive feature? Her pale, opalescent eyes—Byakugan.
She was of the Hyuga clan.
And not just any Hyuga. This girl was Hyuga Hinata, the eldest daughter of the clan leader.
"Hinata!"
Yugao and Kurenai both smiled warmly and waved back.
They clearly liked the shy, soft-spoken child. Even Haru's usually aloof expression softened as he looked at her.
In his previous life, Haru had always had a favorable impression of Hinata.
Now, after traveling through time and sharing several small interactions with her, that impression had only deepened.
Of course, it wasn't romantic. She was just a child—barely seven years old.
This warmth was something different. A simple affection, almost protective.
Little Hinata looked at them with her jewel-like eyes, then quickly lowered her head, her cheeks tinged pink.
She had suddenly become shy.
"Miss! Miss Hinata!"
A voice interrupted them.
A middle-aged man, dressed like a well-trained servant, hurried over. His expression tensed the moment he noticed Haru standing nearby.
His demeanor changed instantly—panic and caution flashing in his eyes.
He grabbed Hinata's hand and immediately pulled her away, speaking hurriedly in a low voice by her ear.
The girl looked confused and tried to resist, turning her head back toward Haru's group, but she was too small, too weak to break free.
She was swiftly taken away.
The whole scene played out in a matter of seconds.
Kurenai and Yugao were both caught off guard.
They didn't understand why Hinata had suddenly been dragged off so urgently.
But Haru had already seen through it.
This was about his identity. About the Uchiha.
Hinata was still a child. She might not fully understand the political tension surrounding her.
But her caretaker certainly did.
Anyone chosen to watch over Hinata—the Hyuga heir—was no ordinary servant. Maybe not strong in combat, but wise and discerning enough to see the implications of such a meeting.
Hinata, a Hyuga noble, standing publicly and affectionately greeting an Uchiha.
In today's political climate, such a scene could be spun dangerously.
The Third Hokage might overlook it—but Danzo wouldn't.
A single rumor could lead to scandal. Disgrace. Even punishment.
And so, the servant had acted immediately, shielding his charge from potential backlash.
It was the most logical move.
Hinata's identity was too important to risk. As the next in line to lead the Hyuga clan, any association with the Uchiha—especially during this period of tension—was taboo.
"Let's go," Haru said quietly.
His voice was low and indifferent. He turned and walked away.
"Ah—right!" Kurenai and Yugao quickly followed.
Neither brought up what had just happened.
There was nothing more to say.
The three continued walking, the weight of recent events still lingering silently between them.
But they said nothing. And for a time, silence was enough.
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