C-rank mission!
Haruko's eyes sharpened.
Obito... is finally making his move.
"Anko-senpai, when did Itachi leave?" Haruko asked.
"Just now... but they won't actually depart for a little while."
Anko's tone turned playful again.
"If you hurry now..."
"You can still catch up!"
Just set off.
True.
If she chased after them now, she might make it.
But...
"No, Anko-senpai."
"I doubt I could even run out the door right now..."
Haruko forced a bitter smile, feigning exhaustion.
Anko's expression softened with sympathy.
Her teasing mood shifted to annoyance at Orochimaru, muttering under her breath before finally leaving.
Haruko retreated to her room in silence.
Hot water. Food. A bath. Sleep.
She went through the motions mechanically, collapsing onto her bed—but her mind refused to settle.
This might be happening earlier than in the original timeline.
But Haruko was certain: Itachi's Sharingan awakening would likely occur during this mission.
Now, she was torn.
Should I... stop Itachi?
As her long-standing imagined rival—and the reason she'd been forced into cross-dressing—
The later Itachi awakened his Sharingan, the better.
The later it happened, the less time he'd have to master it.
And the greater her advantage would be during the "Night of the Uchiha Massacre," when she'd finally reveal her identity.
But the real question was... how?
Short of knocking Itachi out and dragging him back, convincing him to abandon the mission would be nearly impossible—and suspicious.
Maybe I should just let it happen?
Her own training wasn't lagging.
If she kept grinding her skills, turning Shikai from a "technique" into second nature, mastering Hakuda, Hohō, and Bakudo...
She might not fall behind Itachi.
And if she could achieve Bankai within seven years?
Her chances would skyrocket.
Besides.
Itachi's Sharingan would awaken eventually.
Stopping it once wouldn't stop it forever.
It's inevitable.
Letting things play out might not cost her much.
But...
What if?
What if mastering Shikai alone took her all seven years?
What if, by a hair's breadth, an enraged Itachi ended up just slightly stronger?
What if, after revealing herself, Obito and Itachi teamed up against her?!
It's not impossible.
Haruko's brow furrowed.
Debts must be repaid when the time comes.
The moment she shed her disguise, who knew how Itachi would react?
Better to prepare early.
She rolled out of bed, gulped down two large glasses of water, and finally steadied herself.
Then—
Back to bed! Recover stamina!
According to Anko, Itachi's team wouldn't depart immediately.
Factoring in the travel time before Obito could strike...
She had enough time to recuperate.
Haruko ran through possible plans.
Making Itachi turn back is out of the question.
Too hard to explain, too risky.
Then the only option is... stopping Obito!
Of course, she had no confidence she could actually halt the masked Uchiha.
But right now, it was the only move she could test.
Even if she failed, she could at least see if Shinigami abilities could counter Kamui.
Senbonzakura's slashes wouldn't work. Kidō attacks? Unlikely.
But Bakudo... that might be a different story!
What if it works?
She had to try.
Her mind made up, Haruko closed her eyes—though her lips still curved in that practiced smile.
Three months of brutal training had honed her ability to smile even in sleep.
---
Meanwhile.
The mission team set off, fully prepared.
Their destination: the Land of Rice Fields.
Two days to get there, one to return.
Their escortee wasn't a shinobi, so two days was already pushing it.
After a brief exchange, they departed.
For Itachi, his first mission outside the village didn't stir much excitement.
He'd been on battlefields since he was three.
This was nothing compared to what he'd seen.
The only thing he looked forward to was returning to Konoha and sharing the news with Haruko.
One step closer to Chunin...
Haruko was different.
Orochimaru had recognized her talent, and under his tutelage, her strength was soaring.
She might not even need mission experience to qualify for the Chunin Exams.
His father had warned him.
If you don't work hard, the gap between you two will widen.
That couldn't happen.
He'd promised to protect Haruko!
The team pressed on, steady and uneventful.
But in the shadows, a single eye opened the moment they left Konoha.
"Hatred for Konoha..."
"Let it begin with the taste of loss."
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