Haruma's secret departure from the village had gone completely unnoticed.
When there were no missions, Hinata's curfew was especially strict. Unless Haruma and the Ino–Shika–Cho trio came to ask her out, she almost never left home.
As for Ino, Haruma had gone to see her only a week ago. Right now, she had no reason to seek him out.
So, when the three day holiday ended, Team 8 resumed their D–rank missions.
After finishing one such task, Kurenai inspected Haruma's training results from those three days.
"This is… unbelievable!"
Kurenai, Hinata, and Shino stared wide eyed in astonishment at the combination jutsu Haruma had just performed.
Kurenai, being Kakashi's peer, was especially shaken. In Haruma's technique, she saw the reflection of a once legendary shinobi, and she couldn't help but ask with excitement, "Haruma, how did you come up with this?"
"I was inspired by the genjutsu you taught me, sensei, and also by what you once mentioned about Shisui Uchiha."
Haruma answered modestly: "You said that during the Third Shinobi War, Shisui became famous across the ninja world with his sharingan genjutsu combined with the Body Flicker Technique, which became known as the Phantom Body Flicker. Naraku clone is different from ordinary clones, and my Body Flicker is decent. So, I thought why not try to combine the two into something similar to the Phantom Body Flicker?"
Hearing this, Kurenai's face filled with admiration. "A brilliant idea. Your Body Flicker and genjutsu are nowhere near Shisui's level, of course, but this combination, Body Flicker paired with Genjutsu: Naraku Clone, truly deserves to be called a weakened version of the Phantom Body Flicker. So long as your opponent's chakra isn't overwhelming, so long as they can't instantly disrupt their chakra flow, and their Yin chakra isn't stronger than yours, this jutsu will give you a clear advantage in same level battles."
By the end, Kurenai's tone betrayed her excitement.
This was far more than just "an advantage."
Haruma was still only a genin. What genin could already create a combination jutsu?
Such deceptive, reality blurring clones would be a crushing advantage at the genin level. And developing such a technique required strong foundations in both the Body Flicker and genjutsu, meaning Haruma's chakra control had already reached a terrifyingly advanced degree.
No wonder, back in his fourth year at the Academy, he had already mastered sensory techniques, genjutsu, and even basic medical ninjutsu.
"Haruma… you're amazing…"
Hinata's pale eyes shone as she gazed at the boy being praised by Kurenai. Their time training together had bore rich fruit. Now, Haruma filled not only Hinata's sight and her heart, but even her dreams.
This was how secret affection was born.
At this pace, in a few more years, Hinata would be completely molded by Haruma's influence.
The training "exam paper" Haruma submitted after three days left Kurenai very satisfied. It further solidified her resolve to let Team 8 participate in the upcoming chunin Exams.
From then on, she stopped assigning them D–rank missions, and instead took them through a string of C–rank missions.
The chunin Exams were not only a platform for genin to advance, but also a stage for allied nations to measure each other's strength.
Especially when hosted by a great ninja village, the exams were never just about that village's own shinobi. Large numbers of genin from neighbouring countries would come to participate each time. Many of them were not fresh graduates, but veteran genin who had failed in past exams, battle hardened shinobi who had killed, bled, and gained extensive mission experience.
And the chunin Exams always involved combat, often bloody combat.
Kurenai knew Team 8 had to be prepared for that. So she arranged not only routine C–rank missions, but also had the Third Hokage assign them tougher ones like hunting dangerous beasts, wiping out bandits, missions that honed coordination, intelligence gathering, and teamwork.
Haruma, Hinata, and Shino did not disappoint. No matter the task, they completed it near perfectly.
What impressed Kurenai most was Haruma's leadership. She saw in him a maturity far beyond his age, a breadth of knowledge befitting the Academy's top student. Whether in ninja arts or general education, he was impeccable.
With such qualities, once Haruma was promoted to chūnin, she could name him captain of Team 8, able to lead missions on his own.
Time flew, and by the end of June in Konoha Year 60, the chunin Exams were only days away.
In these days, many unfamiliar faces appeared in the village. On the streets, one could see shinobi wearing forehead protectors of other villages, foreign participants in the exam.
Many of the freshly graduated genin were confused by this sudden influx. But not Team 8.
Unlike Team 7, who were notified after Kakashi preregistered them, Team 8 had already been briefed by Kurenai during their string of C–rank missions. She had asked for their opinions, and Haruma's answer was, of course, "I'll participate."
Seeing Haruma choose to enter, Hinata and Shino followed without hesitation.
From then on, during missions, they silently worked to improve their coordination. Haruma, though capable of easily crushing enemies, deliberately suppressed himself to keep his performance only slightly above Hinata's and Shino's level—ensuring their teamwork grew.
By the time their tally of C–rank missions reached double digits, Team 8 had shed all hesitation. As their de facto leader, a single gesture from Haruma was enough for Hinata and Shino to instantly understand his intent.
Their synergy had reached the level where they could entrust their backs to one another.
With the exams looming, Kurenai, Asuma, Kakashi, and the others gave their students a rare few days of rest.
During this break, Haruma and Hinata reunited with the Ino–Shika–Cho trio for a long overdue meal.
But the gathering, though equal in number, had one familiar face missing and a new face added.
The absent one was, of course, Sakura Haruno, whose eyes now only Sasuke and who had never once sought them out since graduation.
The new face was Shino Aburame, Haruma and Hinata's current teammate of six years.
Haruma had not excluded him. He knew well that Shino's cold exterior hid a reserved and awkwardly passionate heart.