Everything was developing in a good direction. They had achieved things they never dared to dream of before.
The people of Nibi no Utsu adored them, and the cancerous tumors had been removed. Nibi no Utsu was like a spring sprout after a heavy rain, full of vitality, about to begin its vigorous growth.
At this moment, Haruki said he was leaving, that he was going to leave Nibi no Utsu.
What kind of joke was this?
Nibi no Utsu was only able to reach this point today because of Haruki, but at such a crucial time, he wanted to leave.
How could Yahiko accept this?
He couldn't accept it.
Why did Haruki always have to leave them?
Why did Haruki always prioritize other things over them?
"Haruki..."
Konan's voice trembled, her eyes filled with deep fear and unease.
Why had it come to this again?
"Why do you have to leave again..." Konan's eyes were already red.
Watching this scene, Kojiro and the others tacitly remained silent. Their gazes shifted back and forth between Haruki and the other three.
Kojiro and the others had always been able to tell that the relationship between these four youths was extraordinary. But they hadn't expected the bond between the four youths to be so deep.
When one person left, the remaining three felt as if a part of their body had been taken away.
And Haruki's presence seemed to be the center of the entire team. His departure, for the remaining three, was like their hearts disappearing.
Only Nagato remained silent. He quietly looked at Haruki, waiting for his explanation.
Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato's reactions were all within Haruki's expectations.
He looked at Yahiko and Konan, saying helplessly, "Because I have more important things to do."
Yahiko said loudly, "What could be more important than achieving our ideals?"
Haruki smiled, his gaze burning as he looked at Yahiko. "Nothing is more important than achieving our ideals. What I am going to do is to achieve our ideals."
Yahiko was stunned.
Konan sniffled, looking blankly at Haruki.
"Although the war in the Land of Rain has stopped, the war in the Ninja World is still ongoing."
Haruki had barely finished speaking when Yahiko eagerly said, "But we don't have the power to stop the war in the Ninja World yet."
"Didn't you say it, Haruki? We have to accumulate strength first, to have the power to stop the war."
Yahiko used Haruki's past words to try and stop him.
Haruki lowered his head, saying helplessly, "Yes, we indeed don't have the power to stop the war right now. But I still can't stand by and watch others suffer."
"When I saw the refugees in Nibi no Utsu, I thought, there must be many more people in the Land of Grass who need help. I want to help them."
"I may not be able to stop the war but I can heal their wounds. At least I can protect them."
Haruki slowly raised his head. After his gaze swept over everyone, he said seriously, "Moreover, I can also spread our ideals while helping others, attracting more people to join us."
"What about Nibi no Utsu?" Yahiko looked at Haruki. He didn't want Haruki to leave.
"Yahiko, Konan, Nagato." Haruki called out their names one by one.
Then, he looked at Kojiro and the other two. "And Kojiro, Genra, Muramasa, I am very relieved to leave Nibi no Utsu to you."
"You will lead Nibi no Utsu to grow, won't you?"
Haruki looked at them with hope.
Kojiro sighed helplessly. "I thought you were the most mature among them, now it seems I was mistaken. To want to go to the Land of Grass, that's truly bold. That place is the battlefield of Iwagakure and Konoha. Getting caught in the war can lead to death."
Kojiro's eyes held worry.
"I know." Haruki nodded, a gentle smile on his face.
"I am not someone who hasn't experienced a battlefield."
"It is precisely because I deeply understand the horrors of the battlefield that I want to go to the Land of Grass to save more people."
"To know that there are people in the world suffering greatly and yet remain indifferent is too difficult for me."
Deep compassion was revealed in Haruki's eyes.
"Now that the matters of Nibi no Utsu are finally resolved, I feel relieved. I can finally go to the Land of Grass." Haruki showed a sense of relief.
"I'll go with you." Nagato, who had been silent, suddenly blurted out this sentence.
Yahiko and Konan looked at Nagato in shock.
Haruki immediately refused, "No, Nagato, the battlefield is very dangerous."
"I won't be a burden to you." Nagato stared intently at Haruki as he spoke.
"You are not a burden to me. I just don't want to put you in danger." Haruki shook his head firmly.
If Nagato stayed by his side, it would be difficult for him to collect negative emotion points, and he was afraid his persona would collapse.
"If Nagato goes, I'll go too." Yahiko seemed not to have heard Haruki's refusal and quickly expressed his stance.
"Then I'll go too." Konan, as if afraid of being left behind, followed closely.
Haruki: "..."
Do you think the battlefield is an amusement park?
On the battlefield between Iwagakure and Konoha, even Haruki would have to develop stealthily, let alone Yahiko and Konan. Nagato barely had the strength to protect himself.
"You stay here and help me look after Nibi no Utsu." Haruki said to Yahiko and the others.
"Only by entrusting Nibi no Utsu to you can I feel at ease." Haruki said, looking at Kojiro and the other two, and Yahiko and his two companions.
"But we're very scared." Konan sniffled.
The battlefield was too terrifying, they were afraid Haruki wouldn't come back or they would receive some terrible news.
"Konan."
Haruki held Konan's hand.
"I promise you, I will definitely return safely."
"Our dream has only just begun, how could I possibly leave you?"
Konan sniffled. She looked at Haruki and said, "We'll be in Nibi no Utsu, you must remember to come back and see us often."
Haruki breathed a sigh of relief.
If he said that, Konan and the others should give up on going to the Land of Grass with him.
"Okay, I promise you."
"I will definitely come back to see you often."
(End of Chapter)
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