After Uchiha Haru, Yuhi Kurenai, and Uzuki Yugao departed, a white figure slowly emerged from between the tree trunks deep in the dark forest.
He gazed in the direction the trio had vanished, a cold and intrigued smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Discovered already? Such sharp senses..."
"To think he killed Kurosuki Raiga of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen so easily..."
"This is getting more and more interesting."
…
Elsewhere, Uchiha Haru and the others moved swiftly after surviving Kurosuki Raiga's ambush.
After a few hours of relentless travel, they finally delivered the item to the Land of Fire's Daimyo and completed their mission.
Following a brief rest, they returned to Konoha.
The mission—especially the intense battle with Raiga—gave Haru a solid grasp of his current strength.
Empowered by the Otsutsuki lineage in his bloodline, he'd undergone a qualitative leap in all aspects.
Most notably, his taijutsu had seen the most dramatic growth.
His raw power, speed, and reflexes had reached a level where even elite jonin known for physical prowess paled in comparison.
On top of that, his regenerative capabilities and stamina gave him a near-invincible edge. Even when struck by Raiga's Lightning Release, he hadn't flinched.
He could endure the searing pain of lightning coursing through his body, regenerate from it, and remain standing.
His Sharingan provided insight leagues beyond the average ninja.
He could spot the gaps in enemy movements and the flaws within their ninjutsu.
When combined with his terrifying physical abilities, unrelenting endurance, and near-instant recovery, this made him a true monster on the battlefield.
That's how he'd managed to dispatch Kurosuki Raiga—a member of the Hidden Mist's dreaded Seven Ninja Swordsmen—with such apparent ease.
It bolstered his confidence tremendously.
While he was still a few steps behind powerhouses like Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito (the masked man masquerading as Madara), those were true Kage-level monsters.
But this was only his first simulation.
He still had four more opportunities ahead.
From those, he could draw out four powerful abilities.
By the time the Uchiha Massacre arrived… maybe, just maybe, he'd be able to stand against both Itachi and Obito.
When Uchiha Haru, Yuhi Kurenai, and Uzuki Yugao returned to Konoha, they immediately reported the mission to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Upon hearing they had encountered Kurosuki Raiga—a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—on their mission route, the old Hokage was visibly surprised. And when he learned it had been Haru who killed Raiga, his surprise deepened into silent astonishment.
He gave Haru a long, probing look, but in the end, said nothing.
Once he had understood the details of the mission, he dismissed them.
It was sunset.
The golden glow of the setting sun stretched the shadows of the three across the ground.
Not far from the gates, they encountered a group of young ninjas.
The moment they saw the trio, they waved and ran over excitedly.
However, all of them rushed straight to Yuhi Kurenai and Uzuki Yugao.
Uchiha Haru was left standing alone on the side, completely ignored.
Though they were physically near him, the vibrant scene seemed to belong to an entirely different world.
Haru simply shook his head and turned to walk toward the heart of the village.
After living in this world for so many years, he had long grown accustomed to this kind of treatment.
"Uchiha Haru-kun!"
Yuhi Kurenai's voice rang out behind him.
He paused and turned slightly.
The last rays of sunlight spilled across his figure, lighting up his face like molten gold.
His face—flawless, sculpted, otherworldly—seemed momentarily divine under the glow.
Yuhi Kurenai, Uzuki Yugao, and several other kunoichi present stared blankly, frozen.
Especially Kurenai and Yugao.
In that moment, they were transported back to the battlefield… recalling the faint, calm smile on Haru's face as he stood against the deadly might of Kuroki Raiga.
He turned fully to face them.
They were still silent, dumbstruck.
All the male ninjas nearby wore unfriendly expressions, particularly the one with black hair, a goatee, and a cigarette dangling from his lips.
His glare was sharp enough to cut steel.
Uchiha Haru recognized him immediately.
Sarutobi Asuma—son of the Third Hokage.
And he also knew Asuma had long harbored feelings for Yuhi Kurenai, though she had never returned those feelings clearly.
Now, it looked like Asuma considered him a romantic rival.
Haru felt mildly annoyed, but didn't care much.
The enemies he needed to face were Danzo, Uchiha Itachi, and Uchiha Obito.
Asuma?
Just a brat still stuck in the academy of life.
Not even worth mentioning.
"Is something the matter?"
Haru's voice was calm as he looked at Kurenai.
"Ah… uh…" Kurenai quickly looked away, unable to meet Haru's eyes.
A soft blush crept up her cheeks. She forced a smile to mask her nervousness.
"Well, Haru-kun… we just completed the mission, so we're planning a small get-together tonight…"
"No thanks. I've got other things to do."
He cut her off coldly before she could finish.
Then turned and walked away.
He hated noisy crowds.
More importantly, did they have any idea what time it was?
The Uchiha Massacre was only a few days away.
He couldn't afford to waste even a second.
He had to grow stronger—fast.
There was no time for frivolous socializing.
"…Oh…"
The light in Yuhi Kurenai's eyes faded instantly, and the hopeful glimmer was replaced by quiet disappointment.
Her lips parted as if she wanted to call out to him again—but nothing came.
Uzuki Yugao stood beside her in silence, watching Haru's retreating back.
She sighed softly.
She had thought that after facing such a deadly enemy together, surviving such a brutal fight, their relationship would have at least grown closer.
But it hadn't.
He was still the same.
Uchiha Haru—the man who kept the world at arm's length.
As if no one could ever step into the fortress around his heart.
He was a man shrouded in mystery.
"No matter what, Kurenai invited him so kindly and he rejected her like that."
"If you don't want to go, then fine—but don't act like you're above the rest of us."
"Such arrogance… ugh."
Asuma muttered bitterly behind them.
Suddenly, he felt a pair of cold, piercing gazes lock onto him.
Yuhi Kurenai and Uzuki Yugao were staring at him, unblinking.
Sensing the mood shift, he forced a laugh. "W-What? I didn't say anything wrong."
"Asuma, I won't allow you to talk about Haru-kun like that," Kurenai said, her voice calm but firm.
"Neither will I," Yugao echoed, equally serious.
With that, the two kunoichi turned and walked away without another word.
Asuma stood there, stunned.
What just happened?
He had only said a few words.
Why were they so angry?
He'd known Kurenai for over ten years.
She had barely known Uchiha Haru for a few days.
And yet…
He sighed.
Is being handsome really that important?