As sunset approached, a streak of warm golden light slowly spilled into the tower.
Inoichi Yamanaka pinched the bridge of his nose, his temples throbbing. His face was pale, and he looked utterly drained as he said weakly, "That should do it, right, Sōgetsu?"
Glancing at the nearly "drained" Inoichi Yamanaka, Uchiha Sōgetsu showed concern. "Mr. Inoichi, are you all right?"
"Uh, I'm fine, I'm fine."
Inoichi Yamanaka loosely clenched his fist and coughed into it.
On his ghastly pale face, worn out from excessive depletion, he forced out a strained smile. "I just used up a bit too much Chakra. A few days of rest will do."
"You've worked hard, Mr. Inoichi."
Uchiha Sōgetsu looked somewhat apologetic and sincerely expressed his gratitude. "This wouldn't have gone so smoothly without your cooperation."
"Not at all. Cough, cough."
Seeing the sincere look in the boy's eyes, Inoichi Yamanaka felt a deep sense of guilt well up from deep within the heart.
What a good kid. Shikaku and the others worried for nothing.
During the Chunin Exam, following Shikaku's plan, he had secretly used the Mind Body Switch Technique to successfully enter Uchiha Sōgetsu's inner world. Without being discovered, he had carefully explored and searched through the surface-memory world inside his mind.
How should he put it? Pure and crystal clear!
It was like a stretch of azure sky, without even a bit of impurity—clear, transparent, and clean.
This child's inner world was incredibly pure!
By now, he could say with absolute certainty—he could even pound his chest and guarantee to the Hokage and Shikaku: "Uchiha Sōgetsu is a good comrade. The Will of Fire is all that fills his heart!"
Smack!
Inoichi Yamanaka patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Sōgetsu, work hard. Lord Hokage will definitely put you to important use."