Chapter 111: Activate!
At the entrance of the Ramen Shop, Haruko was squatting on the ground 'playing with sand."
'This position... should be about right."
Haruko pulled a stone slab engraved with runes from his robe and placed it into the dug hole.
'I really have to rely on myself..."
This set of Barrier Ninjutsu was something he had cobbled together temporarily; the materials were the ones he had bought at FUNFUN Street earlier.
Without chakra metal as a base, the effect would definitely be worse, and when the Ramen Shop was expanded, it would have to be dismantled and rebuilt, which felt like a waste of materials.
But after what happened yesterday, he really didn't dare to delay any longer—even though Teuchi still insisted there was no need.
Two barriers: one for external defense, which could block attacks and enemies outside; one for internal suppression, if anyone blind enough caused trouble in the shop, they would be directly suppressed by the barrier and left at the mercy of others.
'Haruko! You brat, you're slacking off again!" A boisterous voice came from behind.
Haruko's hand shook, and he almost dropped the last stone slab in his arms onto the ground.
He looked back and saw Anko leading three sweaty Genin walking towards him.
" Anko-sensei, if you shout any louder, all of Konoha will know I'm not doing any real work." Haruko clapped his hands and stood up, looking at her with dead fish eyes.
Anko was still wearing her signature fishnet outfit and trench coat, full of spirit and revealing an alluring wildness.
Behind her were three acquaintances: Mino Ichi, who had become sturdier and darker; Maki Retsu, who had shed a bit of his bookishness; and an arrogant-looking acquaintance—their former classmate, Kamano, who had filled the spot after Haruko transferred out of Anko's class.
'Just finished escorting that idiot Shiranami to Ge Cheng Mountain, I'm exhausted." Anko plopped down on the bench. " Teuchi-san, four bowls of char siu ramen!"
'Haruko!" Mino Ichi grinned and walked up. 'Long time no see!"
'It has been a while." Haruko reached out and squeezed the muscles on his arm. 'Look at that, you've made quite a lot of progress."
'That's right!" Ichi patted his chest. 'I'm going to make a big splash in this Chunin Exams!"
Maki Retsu pushed up his glasses, his tone much calmer. 'Haruko, I heard you're participating in the Chunin Exams too?"
'Yeah, I was nominated." Haruko spread his hands. 'No choice."
'Then you'd better be careful." Maki Retsu said meaningfully. 'The Ninja from outside the Village coming this time are no pushovers."
'Heh, they're the ones who should be careful... You guys should be careful too; this isn't the only chance for the Chunin exam. The difficulty will be very high this time, don't force it if you can't."
'That's really big talk." Kamano suddenly spoke up, with a hint of provocation. 'You lazy bum, just pray you don't run into me."
The scene fell into a dead silence.
Anko picked her ear, feeling like she had auditory hallucinations.
Ichi covered Kamano's mouth and apologized with a smile. 'Uh, Haruko, don't mind him. Kamano is just like that, mouthy, he doesn't mean anything by it."
Maki Retsu's eye twitched as well, and he quickly added, 'Yes, yes, we're just here to eat some ramen and catch up."
The two of them had seen Haruko charge into a crowd and go on a rampage with their own eyes; that scene was still their nightmare.
Even now, both of them felt they were no match for last year's Haruko, and they didn't dare to imagine how strong he was now; in any case, he was definitely someone not to be provoked.
'Whatever." Haruko yawned, completely unbothered. " Kamano, you're still the same as ever."
As a classmate, this guy had once tried to pick a fight in school because he was jealous of Uchiha Itachi's popularity with girls, and then he was ruthlessly taught a lesson by reality.
As for his strength... he was considered among the top of his year, but only among ordinary people.
Let alone clan Ninja like Izumi and Hana, he might even be worse than Ichi and Maki Retsu, who had skipped grades.
'Why are you so afraid of him? Let me tell you, when we were in school..."
'Please, just stop talking..."
Dragged by Ichi and Maki Retsu on either side, Kamano was dragged into the shop, looking unconvinced.
...
Night fell.
The Ramen Shop closed its doors, and the Barrier Ninjutsu installation and testing were completed.
Haruko called Kaede, Kin Tsuchi, and Tayuya together.
'I'll teach you how to activate the barrier."
'Eh?" Kin Tsuchi blinked. 'Can we use it too?"
Tayuya was eager to try. 'Oh! Big brother is finally going to teach us the real stuff!"
'Of course." Haruko nodded. 'In case I'm not around, you need to be able to protect yourselves."
Kaede looked at Haruko thoughtfully. She knew that Haruko was preparing for the worst-case scenario.
'Activating the barrier is very simple, just inject Chakra into this node."
Haruko pointed to the two fixed ornaments behind the counter. 'The defense barrier is this one, the suppression barrier is that one. Did you memorize it?"
'Yeah!" Kin Tsuchi nodded vigorously.
Tayuya curled her lips. 'It's that simple?"
'For you, it's that simple." Haruko shrugged. 'But if you had to set it up yourselves, that would be a different story."
'Come on, try it one by one... Hmm?"
He suddenly felt a gaze staring at this place from the void.
It was that Old Man who had nothing to do all day, only holding a crystal ball to peek at the women's bathhouse... oh no, to observe the Village.
'Since you want to watch, I'll let you watch to your heart's content."
A wicked smile curled at the corner of Haruko's mouth.
'Ahem, Konoha hasn't been peaceful these past two days, I'll teach you another self-defense move."
As he spoke, he began to form hand seals, even secretly injecting Natural Energy.
'Watch closely, this move is called—Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar!"
...
In the Hokage Office, the Third was concentrating on watching the ball.
'This child is becoming more and more like I was back in the day, it's just that he's too lazy... Hmm? He's teaching Ninjutsu? Let me see this kid's teaching level—"
The next second.
It was as if a supernova had exploded in the crystal ball!
A blinding white light slammed directly into the Third's face, also illuminating the entire office.
Bang—!
Two Anbu kicked open the door and rushed in.
" Hokage-sama!"
'Is it an enemy attack?!"
'No... it's nothing." The Third rubbed his eyes, waving his hand with a wry smile. 'Just... a child's prank."
The Anbu returned to their posts, and the light in the crystal ball gradually dissipated.
The Third stared at the blank crystal ball, silent for a long while.
Finally, he couldn't help but laugh.
'This kid... oh well, it really is my fault."
Peeping was not an honorable thing to begin with, especially when the other party already had a lover, so getting countered was deserved.
And...
'This is what a child should be like."
A flash of relief crossed the Third's eyes.
Haruko had always been too mature and too calm, as if he were a world-weary adult in his thirties or forties.
'Maybe it's the sense of security brought by his strength that has allowed him to relax a little."
That's a good thing.
Those with a sense of security are the ones who won't easily go to extremes.
The Third couldn't help but recall what Haruko had said earlier: 'The Grass Village almost ceased to exist."
He had no doubt that if something had really happened to Teuchi, Haruko would have slaughtered his way over.
What was even more terrifying was that Haruko actually had the strength to single-handedly slaughter his way through the Grass Village.
'Need to have 'Bing' keep a closer eye on him. As for the Barrier Ninjutsu... let him be."
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