CHAPTER 127: I’LL PROTECT EVERYONE

The sea returned to calm.

Haruki and the others stood on the shore, watching Jiraiya’s boat disappear into the horizon.

Konan stood beside Yahiko, gazing reluctantly in the direction Jiraiya had left, her gaze not retracting even after he was out of sight.

The sky grew darker and darker. Large, dark clouds gathered above their heads.

Haruki looked at Yahiko and the others and said, "Let’s go inside. It’s going to rain soon."

Haruki didn’t want to stand there like an idiot, getting drenched.

"Mm." Yahiko nodded and strode towards the wooden house.

Haruki glanced at Konan, then at Yahiko’s rapidly retreating back, speechless.

Yahiko, like an ox, only knew to walk by himself. Couldn’t he take care of the sad Konan?

Haruki’s lips twitched. He comforted Konan while leading her towards the wooden house. After two steps, he realized something was wrong. He turned his head and saw Nagato still standing there blankly.

He wasn’t new to Nagato’s slow mind. He had no choice but to go back, take Nagato’s other hand, and lead both of them towards the wooden house.

As soon as his front foot entered the wooden house, large raindrops began to patter down.

Haruki let out a sigh of relief.

As soon as he finished sighing, he realized he didn’t need to be afraid of getting wet at all. After all, he could easily control mercury to solidify into an umbrella above his head.

Haruki walked towards the tatami mat. For a while, he didn’t hear any footsteps.

He turned back and saw that Konan was standing at the doorway, looking at the wooden house, as if her soul had been taken away by Jiraiya.

"..."

Haruki was powerless to complain. He went to look at the other mind blowing contestant.

Nagato stood blankly at the doorway, more terrifying than Konan. It was as if he had no soul at all.

Haruki took a deep breath, resignedly got up, and pulled the two dazed individuals to sit on the tatami mat.

After Konan and Nagato sat down, Haruki relaxed.

Just then, Yahiko, who had been silent, jumped up from the tatami mat as if he had been electrocuted.

Haruki’s eyes twitched as he looked at Yahiko.

What kind of trouble were these three going to cause?

Yahiko stood in place, looking seriously at Haruki, Nagato, and Konan.

Jiraiya had left, and he was the oldest here. He had to shoulder his responsibilities. Yahiko patted his chest.

"Haruki, Nagato, Konan!"

He loudly called out their names.

Haruki raised his eyes, staring at Yahiko.

Konan, immersed in sadness, was startled by Yahiko’s powerful shout. She quickly looked up at Yahiko, her eyes full of confusion.

Nagato, however, was not startled by Yahiko. He calmly raised his head. His gaze passed through his red hair and landed on Yahiko.

"I’ve decided. From today on, I will take good care of you all." Yahiko promised.

"I will protect you all well." Yahiko declared as if making an oath.

Haruki: "..."

Konan’s gaze involuntarily shifted towards Haruki for a moment. Haruki’s gaze met Konan’s. The two of them tacitly looked away.

"I will also protect everyone." Haruki also said.

His gaze seriously swept over Yahiko and the others, adding, "I will protect you with my life. You are more important than anything."

[Ding!]

[System detected Nagato’s Affection Value +10000]

[Ding!]

[System detected Konan’s Affection Value +10000]

[Ding!]

[System detected Yahiko’s Affection Value +10000]

[Currently collected Affection Value totals 30000. Your Love Curse growth value has increased to 27.5%]

Yahiko’s face turned bright red as he stammered loudly, "Who... who wants your protection? I am... I am the big brother! I should be the one to protect you all!"

He slowly lowered his head, his lips moving, his voice like a mosquito. "You... are also more important than anything..."

Tears welled in Konan’s eyes. She wiped the tears from her face.

Although Jiraiya had left, Haruki, Yahiko, and Nagato were still here, weren’t they?

They were still together.

As long as Haruki, Yahiko, and Nagato were there, she wasn’t afraid at all.

Haruki stretched out his hand and placed it on the table.

He reached out to Nagato opposite him and Yahiko beside him and said, "As long as we are always together, there’s nothing to be afraid of."

[Ding!]

[System detected Nagato’s Affection Value +10000]

[Ding!]

[System detected Yahiko’s Affection Value +10000]

[Ding!]

[System detected Konan’s Affection Value +10000]

[Currently collected Affection Value totals 30000. Your Love Curse growth value has increased to 30.5%]

Yahiko unhesitatingly grasped Haruki’s hand. Nagato tightly held Haruki’s other hand. Konan also held Yahiko’s and Nagato’s hands respectively. Their hands were joined, just like their hearts.

In a trance, Yahiko and the others seemed to return to that time at the cave.

Their first meeting with Haruki.

They ate together, faced enemies together, became disciples together...

And became each other’s family.

[Ding!]

[System detected Nagato’s Nostalgia Value +3000]

[Ding!]

[System detected Yahiko’s Nostalgia Value +3000]

[Ding!]

[System detected Konan’s Nostalgia Value +3000]

[Currently collected Nostalgia Value totals 9000. Your Cursed Spirit Choso’s rank has increased to 62.3%]

So warm.

Konan looked at Haruki, Yahiko, and Nagato, as if to imprint their faces in her mind.

"Haruki, will you leave again?" Nagato asked.

Even though his eyes were obscured by his red hair, Haruki could still feel Nagato’s piercing gaze.

Nagato’s question immediately focused Konan’s and Yahiko’s gazes on Haruki.

Konan’s gaze towards Haruki held a plea. She pleaded with Haruki not to leave them again. Yahiko stared intently at Haruki, his lips tightly pressed.

Haruki shook his head and smiled.

Yahiko’s eyes immediately lit up.

Haha!

It seemed he was more important than Hanzo, who had taken Haruki away.

Konan breathed a sigh of relief, showing a brilliant smile. "That’s great."

They could live together again.

Nagato’s gaze immediately softened.

"I won’t leave you, but we can leave this place together." Haruki looked at Yahiko and the others, saying with a smile.

"What do you mean?" Yahiko was stunned.

"Yahiko, do you want to stay in this wooden house forever?" Haruki asked Yahiko.

Yahiko opened his mouth, then shook his head.

Of course not. Of course he didn’t want to stay in the wooden house forever. He just didn’t know where to go.

Besides the wooden house, where else could they find shelter?

"Didn’t you say you wanted to change this world?" Haruki looked at Yahiko.

Yahiko stared blankly at Haruki.

Did Haruki even remember the words he had casually spoken?

[Ding!]