8 Heartbeat Points

Jiraiya led Haruna and Naruto into the office and gestured for them to sit on the long sofa. The Third Hokage was in a meeting, so he was responsible for guarding these two precious assets. At this point, Haruna and Naruto were undeniably S-rank figures of utmost importance to the Hidden Leaf.

"Wait here for a bit. The old man is in a meeting with the Hidden Sand delegates. Once he’s finished, he’ll come to discuss your situation."

The interrogation results from the Anbu were already in. The Hidden Sound had indeed conspired with the Hidden Sand to plot against the Leaf. Furthermore, upon learning that the Kazekage was dead and that the Hidden Sand would eventually form an alliance with the Leaf, Baki had confessed to all the details of the conspiracy and expressed a willingness to join forces with the Leaf to deal with the Hidden Sound.

Hidden Sound Ninjas: "How despicable!"

In any case, the authenticity of the Sky Screen broadcast was now beyond doubt, and it had confirmed Naruto’s status as the Child of Prophecy.

How wonderful.

Thinking this with a sense of ease, Jiraiya observed the young boy and girl before him. Haruna sat at the end of the sofa, her legs pressed together and her hands resting on her knees—a very proper posture. Naruto sat at the other end, his peripheral vision clearly darting toward the young girl, yet he seemed held back by something, unable to speak.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. How interesting.

Jiraiya felt a bit more relaxed now, and his mind drifted toward his own creative pursuits. The Sky Screen was something the ninja world had never seen before, and it was clearly shaping the destinies of many. If this were a story... the great literary master of the Hidden Leaf felt his fingers itching to write.

He began to imagine how he would handle this setup in his own work. If he were the author, after the first broadcast, the male and female leads would move into a phase of deep interaction. Through this, they would discover the many misunderstandings between them, feeling the trembling resonance of their souls amidst the pleasure and pain of their physical forms. There was also the path of war and peace, and the struggle between the future and reality—all of which could be integrated into the Sky Screen’s premise. In short, he would write it in whatever way provided the most ultimate sensory experience for his readers.

Then again, this wasn't a novel; this was reality. And his Child of Prophecy seemed to be following a traditional, pure love route—nothing fancy.

In high spirits, Jiraiya decided to provide some assistance to his promising student. He actively tried to liven up the atmosphere: "Actually, it’s not a big problem. No need for such heavy expressions. We have already received a warning about the future; fate can be turned around."

That was not necessarily true. Haruna shook her head inwardly. The current fate deviation value was only 9 points—not even a fifth of the way there. She was not satisfied. Haruna would never allow herself to fall short and end up in futile regret just because she didn't try hard enough now.

Her gaze fell upon the broadcast reward. Haruna had always hated taking risks, especially high-stakes ones that didn't match her fragile constitution. Even if it meant a high return upon success—when had peerless good fortune ever favored an ordinary person like her? But this time, she had to accept it. Because this was the greatest trump card she could reach in a life that had never favored her and had shown no signs of brilliance—

[Do you wish to use the first broadcast mission reward: A limited-time experience card for leg health enhancement?]
[Note: If the second broadcast is not successfully completed, the initial reward will be rescinded.]

What would it mean if the leg health enhancement were taken back? Infirmity? Disability? Or perhaps... the total loss of her legs?

The Sky Screen was either a warning of her future or a poisoned gift from fate; once accepted, there was no turning back. Yet, the young girl’s expression remained calm, almost completely devoid of fluctuation as she chose to accept. No one could tell that just a moment ago, she had thrown her own destiny onto the gambling table.

In truth, Haruna’s palms were already slick with sweat. This was the first time she had resolved to stand against fate—that massive, unknowable, and terrifying enemy. In the face of such a formidable foe, Haruna had previously retreated in awe, tamely choosing to accept whatever arrangements were made for her. But this time, she could not back down.

She had never hurt anyone. If fate were to strip away even the meager happiness she had earned through her own sweat—then the current fate was wrong! To resist it was an act of justice; why should she lose? She deserved to win!

"I will definitely do my best," she murmured softly. It was unclear whether she was answering Jiraiya or herself.

Seeing Haruna in a foul mood, Jiraiya winked at his student, signaling him to make a move. He had already created the opportunity, hadn't he?

"Pervy Sage, it’s because you keep making small talk that everyone feels uncomfortable," Naruto retorted righteously. "Who could be in the mood to chat right now?"

"Haruna," he then turned and encouraged, "let's do our best together."

***

???

Jiraiya stared. This kid hadn't learned anything else, but he had certainly learned how to change his face, stepping on his master to start a conversation, had he? He was displeased, but immediately realized this was also material. Regardless of whether it was positive or negative, one had to admit, did it not stir up the urge to create? In a sense, Naruto and Haruna were both filled with precious inspiration.

Jiraiya was completely speechless. "Fine, I won't bother you then. You two chat; I'm tired, I'm going to sleep!" He sat in the single sofa in the corner, closed his eyes, and immediately began snoring like thunder.

Naruto was shocked. He had been counting on the Pervy Sage to set the stage again so he could talk to Haruna. And now he had fallen asleep at light speed!?

Haruna... hmm... Haru.

Thinking of that intimate nickname, Naruto felt his cheeks grow slightly warm. Never mind, it was actually quite good that the Pervy Sage was asleep. If he were awake, Naruto would certainly be too embarrassed to test the waters with Haru.

After fidgeting on the sofa for a while, the boy grew increasingly restless, until he could no longer hold back.

"Haru—"

But before the final intimate syllable could escape his lips, he met the girl’s cool, light-brown eyes.

"—Haruna," Naruto nearly bit his tongue.

Seeing him looking dazed, Haruna couldn't help but frown. "What is it?"

Naruto blurted out, "Nothing, nothing! I just wanted to ask if you were thirsty; I'll pour you some water."

"I'm not thirsty."

"Oh, that's good, haha."

The conversation ended there, and Naruto retreated back to his spot, crestfallen.

In the corner, Jiraiya’s snoring paused slightly, then resumed as usual. *No way, he actually forgot his lines?!* Jiraiya thought, feeling frustrated. *I heard the first syllable, and he actually swallowed it back down??* Naruto was the Child of Prophecy, and his personality was usually quite open and brave; how could he be so timid when facing his future wife? It was—it absolutely had to be used as material!

Jiraiya’s creative drive reached its peak at that moment; he had even imagined the image of the male lead. *The next book will be about a protagonist who is useless at everything except being kind, yet somehow manages to bumble his way into a harem.* He felt this new genre of novel would definitely have great appeal!

Little did he know that watching Naruto suddenly shrink back, the girl was also at a loss for words. Haruna had thought Uzumaki would have more to say, and she had been preparing to think very seriously about her answer. After all, if she wanted to change her fate, she had to start by changing her distant relationship with Uzumaki. Yet, she had been ready for battle, and Uzumaki had fled before the fight even began.

Now that the conversation had come to an abrupt halt, what should she do? Take the initiative to strike up a conversation? But what should she say?

"Um, Uzumaki—"

The girl paused as soon as she started. She rarely spoke to boys and couldn't think of any interesting topics, nor did she know how to open a conversation in a more attractive way.

"Hm?"

However, the moment her voice trailed off, the blonde boy’s ears perked up, and his eyes lit up as he looked at her. Seeing her remain silent, Naruto asked excitedly, "What is it? What is it?"

His positive, enthusiastic attitude made it seem as though he had been waiting for this moment all along. No matter what she said, he would surely respond with passion immediately. Haruna unexpectedly drew confidence from his friendly reaction.

Her tone softened. "I—"

*Knock, knock, knock.*

The door was suddenly rapped. Haruna let out a sigh of relief. Naruto’s expression showed disappointment. The sleeping Jiraiya almost choked—he had been holding his breath, listening intently! *Who on earth is so bad at reading the atmosphere?*

When the Anbu who had come to deliver the message caught a glimpse of Jiraiya’s expression, he felt a surge of emotion. *As expected of the Sannin who cares deeply for the village; his concern for the village never wavers for a moment. Truly a role model for us all.*

The Anbu said in a low voice, "The Third Hokage requests that Genin Naruto Uzumaki and Haruna proceed to the Hokage’s office."

***

The Third Hokage had been lost in thought at his desk, but when he saw the two children follow Jiraiya in, he revealed a kindly smile.

"Forgive me, I have been in meetings with the Hidden Sand delegates and haven't been able to attend to you."

Naruto was understanding. "It's fine, the village's safety is truly most important."

Haruna added politely, "You have worked hard."

The Third smiled, observing the two calmly. In truth, ignoring other factors, Naruto and Haruna were quite well-matched in terms of personality. One was straightforward and passionate, the other steady and calm.

"The trigger for the Sky Screen broadcast is related only to the two of you, and your safety is of vital importance to the village. I must say, you are the great heroes behind the village's safety this time. I don't even know how to reward you."

Naruto asked, "So, Third Hokage, is everything the Sky Screen said true?"

"It is true," the Third said with satisfaction. "Naruto, you truly grow a great deal in the future and contribute much to the world. You are an excellent child."

However, the boy’s face did not show the excitement or pride the Third had expected.

"Then what about Haruna’s illness, and her legs?" He was more anxious. "If it’s all true, she must not be injured again."

The Third was slightly surprised, though this question had already been under consideration by the village. "I will assign Anbu to focus on protecting you both. The village has also raised its alert level and is formulating comprehensive countermeasures against Orochimaru's attack. The most important thing you need to do now is cooperate with the village's work and keep yourselves safe in your daily lives."

Haruna and Naruto both nodded.

"There is one more point that has yet to be explored," the Third asked. "Haruna, what do you think the 'Heartbeat Value' for the Sky Screen’s countdown represents?"

Finally, they were discussing this. Haruna felt a slight tightening in her heart. Jiraiya might have avoided the topic out of propriety, never mentioning the countdown that everyone had seen. But that 100 Heartbeat Value was the first hurdle fate had placed before her; she could not avoid it. Jiraiya could ignore it, but she could not deceive herself.

"The next broadcast is in 720 hours," she said. "The Heartbeat Value is likely a requirement placed upon one or both of us."

The Third’s eyes showed a glimmer of admiration; he hadn't expected this quiet girl, who seemed to speak so little, to have such a clear mind. This was, in fact, the conclusion reached by the village’s high-level officials. The problem was that the war had ended over a decade ago, and even the Ninja Academy no longer taught extreme courses like charm techniques. The people of the current Leaf had a very low acceptance for such things. Setting children up to extract information from the Sky Screen sounded less than honorable. Just thinking about how to bring it up, to force the Will of Fire upon them, gave the Third a headache.

*...Should I just let Danzo handle it?* In his most desperate moments, he had even considered turning to his old friend. But then, realizing how a Hokage shouldn't just pass the buck, he braced himself to handle it. It was fortunate that Naruto and Haruna were in a "cooling-off period" in the future, and their ages were appropriate, making it less awkward to bring them together. If he had to force Haruna to do this with someone like Jiraiya or Kakashi... *hiss.* The Third figured his reputation would be ruined for good.

Haruna said, "Referencing the previous conditions that triggered the Sky Screen, this Heartbeat Value should also point to a similar situation. It requires us..."

As she reached this point, the girl felt as if her throat were clogged with sticky rice; she could barely make a sound, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She clenched her fists and stated clearly, "It should be requiring me and Uzumaki to develop positive appreciation and affection for each other."

She had said it herself in the end. She didn't need anyone to speak for her; she would take a stand—

"I am willing to change the future between him and me."

[Fate Deviation Value: 10]

The unexpected happened. As the girl uttered these words, the needle of her fate gently ticked forward one notch. It seemed as though even fate itself was applauding this small but persistent courage. The first step taken by a mortal was always worth rewarding.

As her fate deviated, the inwardly delighted Haruna turned her head by chance and caught the gaze of the blonde boy. It turned out that while she was speaking, Naruto had been watching her the entire time. And at this moment, in the boy’s eyes, a faint, shimmering light was dancing.