Sora Hyuga seemed to have taken him for a soft persimmon!
It was not as simple as giving him a squeeze!
Nor would he stop after one hard squeeze!
He intended to keep squeezing him whenever he had nothing to do, felt bored, or was in a bad mood!
Araki merely kept a low profile and did not want trouble, so when trouble came knocking, he would inevitably deal with it.
Chapter 24: A note, a bond!
Araki ran toward his training grounds, occasionally scattering pepper powder as he went.
The powder drifted through the air and clung to branches, giving off a pungent smell that could interfere with tracking to some extent.
Only...
Araki was not scattering the pepper powder to conceal his scent now.
He was doing it to leave a scent!
Araki and Sora Hyuga had taken another route on their way there. The route he was taking as he left alone was entirely different.
The scent of the pepper powder might be discovered later, or it might not. In any case, he would cause as much confusion as he could.
There was never anything wrong with being cautious!
Araki did not scatter pepper powder continuously, which would have been like laying a thread and instead provided a trail. He scattered some every so often.
Only after reaching a relatively bustling part of the village did he stop scattering pepper powder.
It was very late now.
Many shops in the village were still open, their dim yellow lights casting hazy halos in the night.
Laughter occasionally drifted out from inside.
Compared with the real world, Konoha was not very advanced, resembling an ancient era, but its nightlife lasted every bit as long as that of a modern city.
The main reason was that many of those who went out on missions returned to the village very late. Keeping shops open longer not only provided these ninja with good food, but also brought in additional income.
While out on missions, ninja ate almost nothing but Military Rations Pills meant to stave off hunger, which had no particular flavor. Once their missions were complete, their minds relaxed, leaving their bodies intensely fatigued and making them all the more helpless before good food.
Araki passed through the bustling area without any intention of eating there. Merely leading the scent there was enough.
The crowded, noisy area would add more possible suspects, making the Konoha Military Police Force's investigation more difficult.
Of course...
Araki did not believe the Konoha Military Police Force would find Sora Hyuga's burial site at all.
Soon.
Araki passed through the village center and returned to the forest.
His earlier sprinting had not cost him much stamina. He had not burned through it as quickly as he did during his usual training.
Much of the time, Araki had needed to deliberately slow down to accommodate Sora Hyuga's pursuit, or he would have easily left him behind.
"Back to training!"
Araki returned to the area where he trained every day. Now, without any feeling of being followed, his spirits eased, and he seemed to throw himself into nature's embrace as he began training hard, sweat pouring from him.
Early the next morning.
Araki walked over the ground lit by the dawn and returned to his home.
In truth, Kushina living there had not affected his life much. After all, he had never come home at night before, either.
When he reached the door, he immediately spotted a schoolbag and a note by the entrance.
"Hmm?"
Araki recognized his schoolbag at a glance. Kushina must have been the one to leave it so openly outside the door.
"Wasn't she worried someone would steal it...?"
Araki gave a helpless, wry chuckle. He found that Kushina trusted the villagers a little too much. It was not as though there were no thieves in the world. Konoha had plenty of crime, and theft was a common occurrence.
Although there was nothing special in his schoolbag, he would still have to buy new books if he lost them. Moreover, a key weighed down the note on the bag, and it was none other than his house key.
"Did she leave?"
Araki's eyes suddenly lit up when he saw the key. If Kushina had left to live somewhere else, that would actually leave him more relaxed and free.
At that thought.
Araki immediately looked at the note.
[Araki:
I have some things to do over the next few days, so I won't be able to come home or attend school. You don't need to worry about me. I've already arranged my leave with the school.
This is your key. You forgot to take it when you went out last night. I'm leaving it here because I'm worried you won't be able to get into the house while I'm away.
If everything goes smoothly, I'll be back in a few days.
If I don't make it back...
You must step out of the shadows, embrace a better life, try making friends, earn more people's recognition, and find meaning in your existence.
Your friend, Kushina]
After reading the note, Araki had to admit that Kushina's handwriting was truly beautiful. Her small, delicate strokes showed none of her usual overbearing nature, seeming more like those of a gentle, attentive little girl.
"Thank you."
Araki read the words again and quietly uttered those two words.
The note's contents were very simple.
There was nothing particularly emotionally stirring about them.
Just simple concern.
But...
Within those caring words, Araki felt an indescribable warmth.
He did not need concern or understanding, much less anyone's recognition. He had his own plans and was carrying them out step by step.
Nothing outsiders did could affect him.
Araki already possessed considerable mental fortitude. On top of that, he was a transmigrator, and his sense of connection to the ninja world differed from that of its natives. He could view this world from a more detached perspective.
Even so...
Araki still felt warmed by Kushina's words.
"She probably went to replace Mito as the Nine-Tails' vessel. She left me this note before going. She doesn't even know what lies ahead for her, or whether she'll live or die, yet she's still worrying about me..."
Araki shook his head with a wry smile. He knew very well that this note had thoroughly brought the two of them closer.
Not on the surface, but in their hearts. In a ninja's words, it was a bond.
Araki had been avoiding forming any bond with Kushina because something like that might bring him more trouble.
But as he read the note.
For a single instant.
He had felt an impulse to disregard all that trouble.
Although the impulse vanished almost as soon as it appeared, it made Araki keenly aware that the bond between him and Kushina had truly undergone a transformation.
The next moment.
Araki tucked the note into his ninja tool pouch, along with his house key.
Immediately afterward.
He picked up his schoolbag.
And walked toward the Ninja Academy...
Chapter 25: Ibuki-sensei's unspoken woes
Araki arrived at the Ninja Academy as usual and once again sat in the corner where few people would notice him.
Seats at the Ninja Academy were not assigned.
Everyone could change seats.
Whoever arrived first could claim a better spot.
However, as time passed, the students gradually found seats they felt comfortable in and tacitly continued sitting there, without much further switching.
There were still occasional changes, though.
After entering the classroom, the students would all cast seemingly casual glances toward Kushina's seat at the back. When they did not see her, they withdrew their gazes, concealing the entire process well and trying hard to keep anyone else from noticing their little thoughts.
Araki did not deliberately observe the other students in class. He merely caught sights like these when he occasionally looked up, reminding him of all those times back in school when he had always liked to let his gaze settle on the prettiest girl in sight...
The students in his class were doing the same thing now.
Some of the bolder, more outgoing students would gather around during breaks, taking the initiative to chat with Kushina or give her things.
But the shyer students merely watched her silently, without taking any concrete action.
Tap, tap, tap...
As footsteps rang out, the classroom immediately fell silent.
Almost everyone knew Ibuki-sensei had arrived. Those distinctive footsteps were not something children like them could produce.
Soon.
Just as everyone had expected.
The footsteps stopped at the classroom door, and a head peeked around the doorframe. It was Ibuki-sensei.
"Class begins."
Ibuki-sensei walked up to the lectern and bowed to the class. After speaking, he swept his gaze around and first noticed the empty seat where Kushina usually sat.
Kushina had requested leave.