After cutting in and devouring those targets, Haruma buried the weapons that had fallen from their bodies, and as though nothing had happened at all, he returned to the inn in the small town.
Shino, who had already gone back to their room at the inn, saw Haruma come in, and did not notice anything amiss about him.
If Haruma had killed them, Shino's insects would have surely detected the stench of blood lingering on his body. If he had killed them, those with sharper perception might even have sensed the murderous aura clinging to him.
But Haruma had not killed anyone. Instead, he had devoured them whole, leaving behind neither blood nor traces of violence. That was why there was neither scent of blood nor aura of killing about him.
This was the perfect crime.
...
The following day, it was not until afternoon that Team 8 finally began their journey back to Konoha. They had no choice, since it was rare for them to leave the village, and with no one around to restrict her, Kurenai had gone off to drink, then soak in the hot springs, and afterward slept until noon the next day.
Already half drunk, she naturally did not notice that one of her students, after only a short trip, had somehow returned richer than even she was.
Though Haruma had not encountered any formidable enemies during this mission, the harvest he gained was astonishing nonetheless. Especially in terms of wealth, he had gone from penniless to affluent in an instant.
Although much of the money could not be withdrawn just yet, the cash on hand was more than enough for him to purchase several storage scrolls, as well as explosive tags, soldier pills, and the like.
With storage scrolls, the next time he went on a mission, he could withdraw his hidden money, seal it away, and then bring it back to the village.
For this reason, Haruma's mood was particularly bright. Perhaps it was due to this turn in fortune.
A few days after their return to Konoha, Kurenai no longer took Team 8 on C-rank missions, but instead returned to their usual routine of D-rank assignments.
None of them complained. For them, simply having had the chance to leave the village once was already satisfying enough.
On this day, after finishing his training with Hinata and giving her some guidance in medical ninjutsu, Haruma parted ways with her in the street, intending to head to the ninja tools shop to finally purchase the storage scrolls he had long desired.
On the way, Haruma caught sight of a figure that he had never met before, yet recognized instantly at first glance.
White hair. A straw hat. Dark skin. And that large wooden chest carried on his back…
Wasn't this Tauna?
The very same Tazuna tied to Team 7's first C-rank mission, the prologue to the Land of Waves arc in the original tale?
At that thought, Haruma nearly rushed off immediately to find Kurenai and convince her to seize the escort mission from Team Seven.
But in the very next second, Haruma calmed himself. He could not act so rashly. Otherwise, it would be nearly impossible to explain to Kurenai.
Without a reasonable explanation, Kurenai, who had only just taken Team 8 on their very first C-rank mission, would never so soon accept a second one.
Even if she did, without a reasonable explanation, the Third Hokage might not assign Tazuna's escort mission to Team 8.
Thus, to openly and legitimately cut in on Team 7's assignment was impossible.
Unless… one resorted to unscrupulous methods.
Haruma hesitated only a few seconds before his gaze hardened with resolve. He would cut in on Team 7!
Though if he simply waited, once the Third Hokage died, he could plunder graves without restraint, the truth was that corpses would never compare to the living.
A living elite jonin was a prize beyond measure.
There were indeed many elite jonin in Konoha, but Haruma could not devour them. There were many more in the wider world, but the chances of encountering one by luck were slim.
Zabuza Momochi, however, was one of the rare elite jonin wandering outside in the original series' early chapters.
If Haruma could devour Zabuza and Haku, who followed him, he could obtain a second kekkei genkai, along with Zabuza's strong water style jutsu. Water Release ninjutsu and the Ice release of the Yuki clan.
By then, possessing two kekkei genkai and potentially S-rank jutsu, Haruma would be, in name and in truth, an elite jonin. Within any of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, he would stand as a central pillar, a cornerstone of their military might.
Save for Kage-level shinobi, the elite jonin were the strongest of all ninja, capable of accomplishing innumerable feats.
With that kind of strength, his future grave robbing would certainly be far easier.
Thinking thus, Haruma's resolve grew firmer.
He donned a pair of sunglasses, and from a distance, cast a genjutsu of hypnosis upon Tazuna.
In an instant, just as Tazuna was preparing to head toward the Hokage's office, his steps faltered, and beneath the brim of his straw hat, his expression turned vacant.
Though soon after his gaze cleared, he did not continue toward the Hokage's building, but instead wandered off the bustling street, turning into a deserted alley.
"From now on, you will answer whatever I ask."
Haruma followed him into the alley. Taking advantage of the lack of witnesses, he channeled Yin Release chakra into Tazuna's mind, amplifying the sharingan's able genjutsu.
"Are you in Konoha to commission a mission?"
"Yes. I am being hunted by mercenaries hired by Gato in the Land of Fire. I came to Konoha to request a mission, to have shinobi escort me back to the Land of Waves," Tazuna answered dully.
"And have you already placed this commission?"
"Not yet. I was just on my way to the Hokage's building to learn about the mission's rank and fees."
"Good. Then you don't need to commission anything. Forget that you were chased to Konoha. Instead, you came here to pick someone up, and I am that person."
"Yes… I wasn't chased here. I came to pick someone up…" Tazuna repeated blankly.
"Now go, get your travel papers approved. I will find you later."
After completing the last of the hypnotic suggestions, Haruma vanished from the alley in a flash, then went to request three days' leave from Kurenai.
His excuse was that he had suddenly thought of a new combination technique and wanted time to develop it.
Kurenai, hearing this, granted him leave readily enough, but with the condition that once he had mastered it, he was to demonstrate it to her immediately.
Haruma agreed without hesitation.
With the free days secured, he went to the ninja tools shop, purchasing storage scrolls, explosive tags, and soldier pills.
After storing the supplies at home, Haruma transformed into the form of a small child carrying a wooden chest, and went to rendezvous with Tazuna in the back streets.
Along the way, he purchased a wind chime from a roadside stall.
When he finally met Tazuna again, the old man had already obtained his travel papers.
To leave Konoha, outsiders needed to register their entry, then receive stamped approval from the Hokage's office. Only then could they pass through the village gates.
Any other attempt to enter or exit would immediately alert the Barrier Corps, who would then dispatch shinobi to apprehend the intruder.
Such offenders would be thrown into Konoha's prison, interrogated by the Intelligence Division, and at the very least tortured, or even have their memories read, to ensure they were not enemy spies.
This requirement applied not only to outsiders, but also to Konoha's own shinobi and villagers. To leave, one needed an official travel permit.
Yet this method only worked against those unfamiliar with Konoha, or against the weak.
The truly strong had other ways.
Chime, chime, chime…
"You may pass."
As the clear notes of the wind chime drifted through the air, the two chunin guarding the gate fell momentarily into a daze.
When they returned to their senses, they resumed their duties as though nothing had happened.
Glancing at the stamped travel papers, then at the pair before them, an old man and a child, each carrying a wooden chest, they felt not the slightest suspicion, and allowed them through.
Thus, Haruma and Tazuna departed from Konoha without incident.
From beginning to end, the two guards never noticed anything amiss.
They did not realize that their minds had already been invaded by Yin Release chakra, ensnared within the genjutsu that Haruma had cast through the sound of the wind chime.
For in this world, genjutsu were not limited to ocular techniques alone.
There existed auditory genjutsu as well, such as those of Tayuya, one of Orochimaru's Sound Four, who played her flute to weave illusions.
In truth, save for the exclusive mangekyo sharingan techniques, all genjutsu were simply applications of Yin Release chakra. So long as one's Yin Release was strong enough, and their mastery of genjutsu deep enough, almost anything could serve as a medium to cast illusions.
Having devoured the greatest genjutsu master in shinobi history, and now being guided by Konoha's foremost genjutsu specialist as his sensei, Haruma had long since grasped such techniques.
His method of slipping past the guards was one he had learned from Uchiha Itachi, who with but a glance had once led Kisame Hoshigaki boldly into Konoha, despite knowing the village was warded with barriers.
And now, Haruma too could stride openly out of Konoha.