So Where Exactly Was She Buried? (Please Keep Reading)

"Honestly, I never expected you to have learned the Flying Thunder God Technique!"

"It was just luck. I also have to thank Lord Hokage for giving me this technique. Otherwise, I never could have learned it."

That night, in a private room at a barbecue restaurant in Konohagakure, Yugao's eyes held a trace of disbelief.

As his teammate, she felt that she trusted and understood Hidezawa fairly well.

Yet this guy seemed capable of causing a huge stir every single time, thoroughly overturning everyone's impression of him!

What was the Flying Thunder God?

It was a technique invented by the Second Hokage and brought to prominence by the Fourth Hokage!

Calling it the Hokage's technique would not be an exaggeration. At the very least, aside from the Hokage, it seemed no one else had managed to learn it.

Compared to Yugao's amazement, Hidezawa appeared far more modest.

But he had to admit one thing: he seemed to have underestimated the Flying Thunder God's influence in Konohagakure!

He could understand Hiruzen Sarutobi's extreme shock and delight. After all, anyone who saw someone as young as Hidezawa learn such a difficult technique as the Flying Thunder God without guidance would surely be utterly stunned.

And the Flying Thunder God's significance to Konohagakure was indeed something to celebrate.

Yet it had only been a little over half a day since the exam ended, but it felt as though he had suddenly become famous throughout Konohagakure.

No matter where he went, someone seemed to recognize him, then begin telling their companions or friends about Hidezawa's Flying Thunder God.

The situation left Hidezawa both amused and helpless.

"Don't be modest. This technique is incredibly difficult. Even with someone teaching you, there's no guarantee you'll learn it."

Kakashi, seated nearby, shrugged and smiled. Back then, his teacher had taught this technique to Shiranui Genma and the others.

Unfortunately, those few simply did not seem to possess the talent for it. Even with his teacher personally guiding them step by step, they still could not figure it out in the end.

Soon, however, his expression grew somewhat serious, and he asked in a low voice.

"After you learned this technique, there hasn't been any trouble on the other side, right?"

"Don't worry. Hidezawa is an Anbu ninja now. We're all under Lord Hokage's protection."

Tenzō immediately understood what Kakashi meant and spoke with a smile.

But Hidezawa nearly failed to keep a straight face when he heard that. Before the exam had even ended, Aburame Ryūma had already come looking for him.

That bastard Danzo had taken Hidezawa mastering the Flying Thunder God very seriously. Since Hidezawa had decided to inherit "Danzo's legacy," he figured he should placate him for now.

Fortunately, it was not particularly troublesome. Danzo had always been a man "brimming with confidence."

Besides, it was not as if there were no benefits!

Defeat Itachi Uchiha and make him understand Root's humiliation

Task Rating: A

Reward Obtained: Free Point ×1

Completed Task: Ensure Itachi Uchiha was not injured

Task Rating: S

Reward Obtained: Free Point ×2

"Enough about that. This is a time for celebration."

Shaking his head, Hidezawa spoke with a smile, then looked at Kakashi with a mischievous grin.

"Besides, Kakashi-senpai, when I came over, I saw Guy-senpai looking for you everywhere."

"..."

At the thought of Guy, Kakashi's scalp tingled.

"Guy is a pretty good guy. It's just that he can be too serious sometimes..."

"Guy-senpai really is pretty great."

Yugao nodded as well. They were all students from the same few graduating classes, so they basically knew one another.

"I actually think Guy-senpai is pursuing and putting his own dream into practice."

Hidezawa tilted his head, thought for a moment, and casually said,

"I've heard some stories about Guy-senpai from before. Honestly, I really admire him."

Hidezawa was not saying that at random. Guy's story truly was inspiring and worthy of admiration.

Leaving aside everything else, he had inherited his father's will and spent decades tirelessly honing his body day after day, tempering it until it could nearly fully withstand the power of the Eight Gates.

As a civilian ninja, he had forced Madara Uchiha, who had already reached the Six Paths level, to say, "In Taijutsu, I acknowledge you as the strongest." That alone said enough!

Hidezawa worked hard too, but he had a clear understanding of himself: he had cheats.

"Guy-senpai really is worthy of admiration."

Yugao spoke with great emotion, while Kakashi's visible eye curved into a crescent.

"Yeah. He has always had a clear dream of his own, and he has always worked toward it. He has always been a good guy."

Yes, but what about you?

Hearing that, Hidezawa could not help turning his gaze toward Kakashi.

Kakashi no longer had the coldness he once possessed, but it was hard to say whether he was "living in Obito's place."

That change, especially the way he would be with Team 7 in the future, truly bore a great deal of Obito's shadow.

It would have been fine if Obito had died. After all, he would have been a hero, someone who had saved Kakashi's life.

But Obito was very much alive. He had even caused the Nine-Tailed Fox Incident, and now he had actually come to Konohagakure!

"Is he planning to do something to Itachi Uchiha or Shisui Uchiha, or does he have some other objective?"

Obito might have been an "idiot," but he also possessed considerable strength, making him far too dangerous.

To be honest, Hidezawa did not like Obito.

As one of the greatest ingrates in Hokage history, he was not much less outrageous than Itachi Uchiha.

"Although I can now use the Flying Thunder God to deal with Kamui, the best way to deal with a Mangekyo is probably another Mangekyo."

Mangekyo abilities varied, but they were at least things on the same level.

Hidezawa had always believed that the best choice for handling spatial abilities was actually genjutsu!

Even if you hid inside the Kamui Dimension, your eyes could not possibly avoid looking at your enemy, could they?

With that premise in mind, he involuntarily recalled that Uchiha, whose existence was uncertain—a person who had supposedly been buried underground for over a century, yet was absurdly still alive.

Shisui would work too, and Hidezawa could absolutely use him to put some pressure on Obito.

But Obito had inherited far too much from Madara Uchiha, and Hidezawa also wanted someone who would be completely on his side.

His relationship with Shisui, meanwhile, was currently no more than that of colleagues. He had even been sent to monitor Shisui.

That was why Hidezawa had focused his attention on that person instead.

Especially since, having played the game, he knew just how absurd that person's abilities were!

But the crucial question now was whether that person even existed—and if she did, where exactly had she been buried?

"What a headache..."

Hidezawa shook his head helplessly, and Yugao noticed the shift in his mood.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

Hidezawa immediately recovered and looked at Yugao seriously.

"I was just thinking about something concerning you, senpai."

"Me?"

Yugao grew flustered for a moment, unable to understand what Hidezawa meant. He merely smiled and said,

"Yeah. I think your hair looks much better worn down than tied up."

"You brat, are you making fun of me? And how many times have I told you? Just call me Yugao!"

Laughter and cheerful voices filled the barbecue restaurant's private room. At the same time, within the Uchiha Clan compound—

Fugaku Uchiha's expression had grown rather grim.