Takasaki Started Writing in His Diary

By age, Takasaki and Chiyo were a terrible match!

If Takasaki was a boy, Chiyo could have been his grandmother.

But why did Chiyo want information about Takasaki?

Ebizo felt he had to get to the bottom of this, or he would never be able to rest easy.

He didn't want the sister who had always been by his side to be thinking about someone else, even if that someone was just a boy.

"Big Sister."

Ebizo hurried a few steps to catch up with her. "What's your relationship with Takasaki? Why do you want information about him?"

"He..."

Chiyo instinctively wanted to tell him about the Diary.

But just as she was about to speak, she suddenly felt a sense of danger envelop her. It was as if she would die the moment she revealed even the smallest detail about the Diary.

She knew the Diary's rules, of course, and wouldn't dare disobey them.

"Sorry, Ebizo. I can't tell you the specific reason I want information about him. I can only say it's personal, and has nothing to do with the Land of Wind."

She added for good measure, "Takasaki is very important to me. You have to help me with this."

Ebizo fell silent for a moment. His wrist trembled slightly, but in the end, he nodded. "All right. I'll help you."

"That's enough walking for today. I'm going home. As soon as you get any information about Takasaki, you have to tell me." Chiyo turned and left.

Even if Ebizo investigated Takasaki, it would take at least a few days.

Chiyo wasn't putting all her hopes in him. She wanted to go home and continue studying the Diary.

Ebizo watched Chiyo's back as she walked farther away, saying nothing.

Only when the dust kicked up by the strong wind gradually obscured her figure did he let out a sigh. "If Chiyo wants information about Takasaki for personal reasons, then it's probably got something to do with romance."

Ebizo suddenly remembered the moment earlier, when Temari had asked Lord Kazekage if he had any information about Takasaki.

He clearly remembered how Chiyo, who had been distracted throughout the meal, had instinctively turned to look at Lord Kazekage.

So Chiyo had already been thinking about Takasaki then.

In fact, she had been thinking about Takasaki this whole time.

But usually, the person Chiyo thought about was him.

Even when it came to a simple pastime like taking a walk together after dinner to help with digestion, Chiyo was usually the one who invited him.

Now, though, she was so preoccupied with Takasaki that she practically ignored him.

And Chiyo wanted information about Takasaki for personal reasons.

If it wasn't love, what else could it be?

"An autumn romance?" Ebizo's feelings were complicated.

In theory, he wasn't Chiyo's husband, just her younger brother. He had no right to interfere with her love life.

The problem was, Chiyo was the only family he had left by his side.

Rather than his older sister, Chiyo was more like his life partner.

If she really started an autumn romance with Takasaki, wouldn't she leave him?

The thought made Ebizo feel a little miserable. "Just who is this Takasaki guy? How did he manage to get both Temari and Chiyo thinking about him?"

He had always been tolerant and kind toward the younger generation, but now, whenever he thought of Takasaki's name, he felt strange.

It was almost as if some younger man had stolen his love away.

In a one-story house in Konoha.

The Haruno family home.

After lunch, Sakura Haruno went out with her parents to buy some seasonal food.

Sakura, who was usually lively and talkative around her parents, was unusually quiet today. She walked along, looking distracted.

Her parents assumed she was worried about her written exam results, so they tried to reassure her. "Sakura, don't worry. You're a good student. You'll definitely pass the written exam. The ones who really need to worry are the dead-last students in your class who don't study."

Sakura smiled but said nothing.

She wasn't thinking about her exam results. She was thinking about what Takasaki would write in his next diary entry.

She'd been pretty obvious about offending Takasaki in the exam room today. He'd probably write about her in his diary, right?

The main thing was...

If he wrote something that reflected badly on her, would the system reward her or punish her?

Sakura was really uncertain.

"Sakura, that little boy over there looks so handsome," her mother said, pointing.

It was Sasuke, wearing a blue Uchiha uniform, hands in his pockets as he looked at the price of the three-colored dango at a street stall.

Sakura glanced over and nodded perfunctorily. "Mm-hm, I see."

She was still mulling over the Diary.

The thing was, Takasaki had already handed in his exam paper early that morning and left before the test was over. He still hadn't written anything.

What was Takasaki doing?

Until she saw the next entry in his diary, Sakura couldn't stop worrying.

She walked another dozen meters before suddenly reacting. Turning around, she grabbed her mother's wrist and said excitedly, "Mom, that boy just now is the most handsome boy in my class! His name is Sasuke! He's also top of the class!"

"He's handsome and gets good grades, so how come you only recognized him just now?"

"Huh?"

Sakura stared at her in surprise.

It was as if she'd suddenly realized something was wrong.

That was right. In the past, even if Sasuke was hidden among the crowds on a busy pedestrian street, she would spot him immediately as long as he was within her field of vision.

But this time, there weren't many people on the street. Her mother had pointed Sasuke out to her right away, and yet she'd only recognized him after the fact.

What was going on?

That made no sense.

Sakura realized why.

She'd been thinking so hard about Takasaki that she'd gotten distracted and overlooked even her beloved Sasuke.

Sakura suddenly felt annoyed. It's all Takasaki's fault! I didn't recognize Sasuke right away because of him. He'd better hurry up and write in his diary. I'm waiting to read it. I can't focus on anything else until he does.

The sun set.

Eight o'clock in the evening.

Night fell over the streets of Konoha.

The Hyuga Clan Mansion.

The Training Room.

Hanabi cried out as Hinata struck her with a palm, sending her flying seven or eight meters before she hit the floor. She got up and burst into tears. "Hinata, you said you'd go easy on me! Why did you hit me so hard?"

"I... I..."

Hinata stared at her palm, dazed.

She had made sure to hold back.

Once she came to her senses, she hurried over to help Hanabi up and wipe the tears from her cheeks. "Sorry, Hanabi. I'll be more careful next time."

She had deliberately held back during this sparring match with Hanabi.

Usually, in a situation like this, Hanabi would eventually defeat her. But this time, she'd won with ease.

Sure enough, after receiving another reward from Takasaki's Diary, she'd grown even stronger.

After calming Hanabi down, Hinata returned to her room.

She locked the door, drew the curtains, and eagerly took out the Diary to check it. The anticipation in her eyes faded.

There was no new content in the Diary.

If Takasaki had written a new entry, then after she'd helped him cheat in the exam room today, he should have mentioned her name a few times, right?

She suddenly remembered making a pinky promise with Takasaki at Ichiraku Ramen that morning.

The moment the skin on her little finger had touched Takasaki's, she'd felt a jolt, like an electric shock. Even now, thinking back on it made her heart flutter.

"I wonder if Takasaki has ever made a pinky promise with a girl before."

A faint blush spread across Hinata's cheeks.

Konoha Bay Apartments.

Takasaki slumped on the balcony, drenched in sweat.

After finishing his exam, he'd met Naruto at Ichiraku Ramen and eaten ramen with him. Once he got home, he'd focused on grinding his ninjutsu.

Takasaki checked the stats for his Clone Technique.

They had originally been: [Level 3 Clone Technique (360/500) (2 points of chakra)]

Now they were: [Level 4 Clone Technique (0/1000) (2 points of chakra)]

He had raised it by another level.

The effect of raising it from level 2 to level 3 was a shorter casting time and a 100% increase in power.

Takasaki took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve. "Clone Technique!"

The Clone Technique had originally required Hand Seals with both hands, but now Takasaki could perform it with just one.

At level 1, Takasaki could create two clones.

At level 2, he could create four.

Now...

Eight clouds of smoke appeared around Takasaki.

In just one second, his chakra formed eight clones.

Putting aside the Substitution Technique and Transformation Technique, this dead-last student in his class had become better at the Clone Technique than most Konoha Genin.

Most importantly, reaching level 4 in the Clone Technique was the requirement for unlocking the next diary entry.

"My chakra's all used up, and I've nearly run out of stamina. Training in ninjutsu is so exhausting. At last, I can enjoy writing in my diary!"

Takasaki went to the bathroom and took a shower. After drying his hair, he went to the desk in his bedroom. With a thought, he took the Diary out of his mental space and began to write.

At the same time.

The Ninja Academy, in Kurenai Yuhi's private office.

Kurenai Yuhi had been grading papers late into the night. She had just lain down on the recliner and closed her eyes, hoping to rest for a bit, when she suddenly opened her eyes. She felt it in her heart. "Takasaki's started writing in his diary!"

She immediately got up and turned on the light.

After making sure the office curtains were drawn and the door was locked, she went to her desk, took the Diary out of her mental space, and began to read it carefully.