Chapter 13: The Date

Orochimaru once again carefully reviewed the intelligence report.

In the report, Kabuto cautiously presented his own analysis.

At present, their core objective had not been exposed—the abduction of Sasuke Uchiha, to make him Orochimaru’s reincarnation vessel.

Even within the Hidden Sound Village, only Kabuto fully understood how determined Orochimaru was to obtain Sasuke.

Yet it was undeniable that Konoha’s vigilance and alertness were continuously rising, and after confirming the death of the Fourth Kazekage, Sunagakure was also increasingly inclined to side with Konoha.

The plan to bring about Konoha’s collapse had almost no chance of success—it was originally just a pretense for the mission to kidnap Sasuke.

Kabuto advised reason above all, suggesting they abandon the original plan and seek another opportunity to capture Sasuke.

However, Orochimaru vetoed the idea.

“Kabuto’s vision is still too narrow,” he mused.

In Orochimaru’s eyes, Kabuto’s strength was roughly on par with Kakashi Hatake’s, and thus his perspective was limited.

Orochimaru’s own undisclosed goals went far beyond mere desire for Sasuke.

There was also his murderous intent toward his teacher, and a strong curiosity about a girl named Haruna.

Of course, most importantly—

He possessed far more brilliant and numerous trump cards and strength than anyone imagined.

Even if the plan failed, Orochimaru was confident he could successfully withdraw from Konoha.

As for the rest of the Sound ninja—

Ah, were the lives of disposable pawns something that Lord Orochimaru needed to worry about?

So why couldn’t he continue his operation?

The strong have no scruples.

“Teacher, could you have foreseen that I would achieve such success today?”

Imagining the panicked regret on Hiruzen Sarutobi’s face as he neared death, Orochimaru felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him.

To be honest, Orochimaru cared little for the title of Hokage, but just because he could forgo it didn’t mean his teacher could.

Losing to Jiraiya might have been tolerable, but the teacher had abandoned him in favor of that junior, Minato.

Then the Third Hokage completely denied his ideals and ninja way.

It was utter humiliation, betrayal, and negation!

“I will infiltrate Konoha once more—under the identity of the Fourth Kazekage.”

Orochimaru replied calmly.

A deadly confrontation, long overdue and known in its truth by both him and his teacher, was about to unfold in Konoha.

He wanted Sasuke. He wanted the Third Hokage dead.

And, of course, he wanted the Sky Curtain as well.

Orochimaru, who prided himself on being at the forefront of ninja world’s quest for truth and knowledge of countless obscure subjects, still found the Sky Curtain a fresh and unprecedented phenomenon.

As for the mediocre girl Haruna, Orochimaru barely gave her a thought—he planned merely to snatch her up casually for study.

Only the Sky Curtain warranted more than a passing glance from Orochimaru.

Haruna was at best just a remote controller for the Sky Curtain.

Truthfully, it was only because capturing the Nine-Tails was troublesome that the remote controller wasn’t handed to someone else.

Orochimaru cared only about his own path to immortality.

He would prove to his teacher and the world—

Only those who survive to the very end and live eternally can claim the true ninja way.

“Could the plan to bring about Konoha’s collapse trigger the Fourth Great Ninja War?”

Recalling the Sky Curtain’s live broadcast, a cold smile curled on Orochimaru’s lips.

Very good.

He whispered softly, “It will begin with the death of the Third Hokage.”

“The ninja world has grown too rotten. Let the winds of change blow.”

...

Temari never expected such an S-rank covert mission would fall to her.

“Me, to deal with Orochimaru?”

She pointed at herself, shocked, looking at the lead jonin, Maki.

“Because you are the child of the Fourth Kazekage, the best suited to approach him and buy us time against Konoha.”

Maki’s expression was grave. “None of us expected Orochimaru to not flee, but to boldly return to Konoha.”

Even under the guise of the Fourth Kazekage.

Even though everyone knew the Fourth Kazekage had long since been killed by him.

Temari fell silent.

It wasn’t that she was unwilling to avenge her father, nor lacking the resolve to sacrifice for the village, but...

“Besides you, Gaara and Kankuro could also undertake the mission. But Gaara is reckless and cold, and Kankuro—you know him well. Do you think they can handle such a delicate infiltration and negotiation task?”

Temari said nothing.

“You are the eldest daughter of the Fourth Kazekage, the hope of Sunagakure.”

Maki spoke with difficulty, “And... the key to maintaining harmony between us and Konoha.”

“Your teacher will assist you in completing the mission. If anything happens, he will risk his life to cover your retreat.”

At this, Maki grew even more ashamed, unable to meet Temari’s eyes.

No matter how it was spun, it was still sending a student into danger.

But what else could Sunagakure do?

After the Third Great Ninja War, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind was deeply disappointed in Sunagakure’s war performance and cut military funding.

Since then, the village’s finances heavily depended on the Fourth Kazekage’s bloodline ability to extract gold from the desert sands.

Yet even relying solely on him, the budget was tight, and ninja training increasingly inadequate.

Otherwise, the Fourth Kazekage would not have been tempted by Orochimaru to betray Konoha and take such risks.

In short, with Sunagakure’s talent dwindling, there was no one else to hunt down the traitorous Orochimaru except a young successor like Temari.

At this thought, Maki felt ever more ashamed and pained.

Temari was steady and intelligent, exceptionally gifted; had she grown normally, she would have become a pillar of Sunagakure’s future.

Yet now they needed her to risk everything for the village.

Seeing her teacher’s guilty, heavy gaze, Temari’s mind raced.

She thought of her father’s death.

Sunagakure’s elite genin were all trapped deep within Konoha; if they could not regain the ally’s trust, Sunagakure’s future would be precarious.

She thought of her brother’s future.

Gaara could befriend Konoha’s heroes and become Kazekage.

She thought of her own identity.

She was the Fourth Kazekage’s daughter, respected by many in Sunagakure.

She was Gaara’s elder sister, yet had failed to care for him properly.

She was Temari, a ninja of Sunagakure.

“I understand.”

The golden-haired girl exhaled slowly, then resolved firmly, her voice decisive.

“I will fight to complete the mission and honor the alliance between Sunagakure and Konoha.”

Maki patted Temari’s shoulder.

Hearing those words, he knew she fully grasped the mission’s political necessity and had attained a truly noble resolve.

He needed no further urging; even if it meant death, Temari would strive to fulfill the mission.

Temari had a broad perspective; among her peers, she was the most sensible and mature, best suited to rise to leadership.

To entrust such a young, talented child with a high-risk alliance mission...

Maki was a ninja in the purest sense, rarely pondering matters of war and peace, focusing solely on missions.

Yet at this moment, he couldn’t help but wonder how long the true future of peace would still take.

For some reason, Maki suddenly yearned eagerly for the next Sky Curtain broadcast.

Temari was also thinking of the Sky Curtain broadcast.

In truth, the situation was already good.

She knew what a bright future her risk would bring, and had already learned the truth about her father’s death.

Without the Sky Curtain, and proceeding according to the original plan, she did not know how dire Sunagakure’s situation would have become.

It was precisely because of the Sky Curtain’s prophecy that Konoha was willing to conspire with them against Orochimaru.

The Sky Curtain was a precious asset with strategic decisiveness.

Temari exhaled slowly.

She thought that besides herself, others were also fighting on different fronts, striving for the continuation of the Sky Curtain.

She was not alone.

A sense of solidarity and comfort blossomed within her heart.

That reckless, straightforward blond boy, and that snow-like, gentle Konoha girl.

They must be fighting desperately as well.

*

Haruna and Naruto were diligently trying to date.

Ten days had passed since the last Sky Curtain interval—a third of the way through—and their affection level had reached 45, progressing steadily.

But no one could guarantee that future Sky Curtain demands wouldn’t become stricter, so they still sought more ways to increase their affection.

True intimate acts had yet to be requested—for such things were unseemly and inappropriate at their age.

But requirements like holding hands during dates were clearly listed in the mission briefing.

Today was their first official date mission, but Naruto was uncharacteristically late.

“Can you even be late for a date?” Haruna teased upon seeing him. “How am I supposed to feel fluttered if you’re late?”

Hearing her blunt words, Naruto’s cheeks flushed slightly; he didn’t know where to put the bouquet in his hands.

Since they had become closer, Haruna’s speech was no longer distant as before but carried a sense of partnership.

Still, Naruto struggled with her straightforwardness—how could she always talk about feeling fluttered?

The lecherous sage had told him it was because Haruna didn’t like him yet.

A girl doesn’t get shy around a boy she doesn’t feel for.

Indeed, Haruna’s eyes had never shown shyness around him, only eagerness to complete the mission.

She even said after today’s date she needed to go claim her work injury compensation.

…Ah!

Haruna noticed the flowers in his hand. “Are these for me?”

“Yeah.”

Naruto hurriedly offered the flowers as if presenting treasure, his carefully rehearsed lines forgotten, leaving only awkward, dry words:

“I hope you like them.”

A large bunch of fresh yellow roses wrapped in pale blue paper, dotted with pretty baby’s breath flowers.

Elegant, fresh, and cute.

It was the first time Haruna had ever been given flowers.

Embarrassingly, her first thought was that such a beautifully wrapped bouquet must have been very expensive.

Only afterward did genuine happiness dawn.

Someone had given her flowers!

Naruto watched her expression and relaxed when he saw she seemed to like them.

He explained, “They had red roses too, but I saw the yellow ones and thought they suited you better, so I bought these.”

Haruna smiled gently. “They’re beautiful, thank you!”

Seeing her smile, Naruto finally felt fully at ease and explained his tardiness.

“Picking out clothes took longer than expected.”

Picking clothes?

Haruna was surprised, then noticed Naruto wasn’t wearing his usual somewhat rustic tracksuit.

He had chosen a black T-shirt and shorts, no forehead protector, as if he’d just washed his hair that morning; his blond hair was fluffy and handsome.

His blue eyes were like the sky—clear and boundless.

Though not yet as dazzlingly handsome as the future Naruto in the Sky Curtain, he was a bright, vigorous young boy.

Naruto was indeed quite good-looking.

She finally began to understand some of the reasons why her future self might feel fluttered.

“If all goes well, our affection level should increase again.”

The girl said happily, “Our date got off to a great start.”

What affection level increase? Great start?

Naruto was initially puzzled, then suddenly realized why Haruna said that.

She was appreciating him!

Is… that what she meant!?

“Let’s hold hands.”

“And eat, hug, go on dates… I think our affection level can grow a lot today—hey?”

Haruna suddenly noticed. “Naruto, why is your face so red?”

“And why are your ears bright red too?”

Naruto: qwq

Well, first dates are supposed to be a little embarrassing!