It's Time to Go Big!

"Captain Kakashi, what is it? Why are you in such a hurry?"

On the way to the Hokage Office Building, Hyuga Makoto looked at Kakashi beside him with some curiosity.

Today was his day off. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken Neji and Hinata out to train.

But he hadn't expected Kakashi to come looking for him right away!

Thinking of Naruto's somewhat green face, Hyuga Makoto felt a little embarrassed. He didn't like deceiving idiots...

Still, the urgency made him suspicious.

Could it be the Uchiha...?

"..."

Although Kakashi wore a mask that hid his expression, his body had clearly stiffened for a moment.

He gave Hyuga Makoto a speechless look. Why did he feel that this kid was becoming a little too much like a certain One-Eyed Old Man?

"Makoto, don't overthink it, and don't be so extreme. It has nothing to do with them."

"Oh..."

Hyuga Makoto blinked, and Kakashi immediately changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, you really are just like the reports said. You can befriend anyone."

He truly didn't want to discuss the Uchiha matter further. He knew very well that it was a muddy pond.

Especially with the valley barrier failing, a mysterious battle breaking out inside, and Uchiha Shisui committing suicide on the same day.

Taken together, it was clearly no simple matter!

He liked Hyuga Makoto quite a lot, so naturally, he didn't want Makoto getting too deeply involved.

"That boy Naruto seems to have a pretty good relationship with you."

"Nothing special. I ran into him a few times when we were kids and helped him out."

Kakashi didn't want to talk about it, and Hyuga Makoto wasn't going to dwell on it. He said with some amusement, "I've found that he's very different from the rumors. His personality isn't bad either, so..."

"He really isn't bad. But you should know his true identity by now, right?"

Kakashi sighed faintly. Only after seeing Hyuga Makoto nod did he continue.

"Jinchūriki. Every village raises them in the same way.

"Only by giving them resilient personalities can we prevent them from losing control in the future.

"The previous Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was raised this way, and Naruto is no exception.

"Since you became friends with him without knowing the truth, I hope you'll look after him in the future."

"I understand, Captain Kakashi."

Faced with Kakashi's request, Hyuga Makoto had no reason to refuse.

Although Naruto was a bit of an idiot, he really was a good friend!

The only condition was that you shouldn't expect him to avenge you...

Besides, he wasn't surprised by this outcome.

Naruto had suffered a miserable childhood, but looking at the entire Shinobi World, perhaps only Fū of Takigakure had it better than him!

Killer B had the Raikage as his sworn big brother, yet he was still pelted with rotten eggs as a child.

Gaara had been assassinated by his own father countless times and had been driven completely insane!

The other Jinchūriki each had their own hardships as well. Compared to them, Naruto had actually lived fairly well. Making friends with him was hardly a problem.

What's more, Hyuga Makoto had already been on good terms with him before entering the Anbu. Naturally, no one would ask him to sever that relationship.

"You're here?"

After chatting casually for a few moments, the two soon arrived at the Hokage Office.

Tenzo and Uchiha Itachi had already arrived. Only after seeing that everyone was present did Hiruzen Sarutobi speak.

"I'm sorry to summon you at a time like this. There's a mission I need to assign to you."

"Please speak, Hokage-sama."

As the captain, Kakashi took the initiative to speak, while Hyuga Makoto looked over the team composition curiously.

"Four people? That seems a little small..."

"That's because there are other matters in the village that require more manpower."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked a little awkward at that, but he still explained.

"You're all elites, and this mission is mainly reconnaissance. Besides, this mission is also related to you, Makoto."

"Me?"

Hyuga Makoto was stunned, while Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze grew solemn.

"Your judgment about Orochimaru was correct. He really is involved with a certain shinobi organization, and after investigating, we fear he has more than one accomplice!"

"Orochimaru..."

Kakashi and Tenzo's brows tightened, while Uchiha Itachi looked somewhat curious.

He knew absolutely nothing about Orochimaru's affairs.

"According to our current intelligence, Orochimaru is suspected to have two accomplices."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not keep them in suspense. He spoke in a deep voice.

"One wears a mask and seems capable of passing through Konoha's barrier. He is said to possess extraordinary powers of observation, while his other abilities are currently unknown.

"The other is your target. He has been active in the Black Markets of the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers. I want you to confirm his identity."

"The Black Markets of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind?"

Kakashi nodded lightly, thinking about what kind of person could work together with Orochimaru.

But Hyuga Makoto found the matter somewhat strange. Someone active in this region... could it really be someone from the Akatsuki Organization?

"Scorpion..."

He truly hadn't expected this. Just before, he had been pondering the Sharingan on Scorpion's puppets.

And now he was actually going to encounter him?

And at that very moment, his system flashed!

[New Side Quest Acquired]

[1. I Am a Proud Shinobi: Defeat Orochimaru and Scorpion]

[2. Brothers Stab Me Twice: Assist Orochimaru and Scorpion in Eliminating a Group of Anbu]

"..."

Looking at the new side quests, Hyuga Makoto's expression became even stranger.

He really hadn't expected Orochimaru to be involved too!

Still, even if he's here, it doesn't seem like much of a problem...

Hyuga Makoto murmured inwardly, his gaze involuntarily turning toward Uchiha Itachi.

Although things had happened much earlier than expected, Orochimaru had definitely already used Living Corpse Reincarnation!

Could Uchiha Itachi's Tsukuyomi handle him?

As for Scorpion...

Hyuga Makoto truly wasn't afraid of him. His Tenseigan possessed the ability to control puppets!

If they really fought, even if he couldn't seize control, he should at least be able to render Scorpion's puppets completely useless.

The only problem is that I'd better not expose my abilities. At least, I have no intention of doing that for now. So...

An idea suddenly occurred to Hyuga Makoto. Could I make my debut ahead of schedule?

After all, he had figured it out long ago. If he wanted to become the "Cosmic Condensation Core," he naturally had to gather people around himself.

If they refused, he would force them!

And if they still refused, he would have to find a way to eliminate them...

Besides, during this process, he planned to slowly reveal the truth about the "Otsutsuki"!

After all, the Otsutsuki were the future threat to the Shinobi World. As the "Cosmic Condensation Core," he would most likely have to deal with them.

And now is the perfect opportunity.

Hyuga Makoto made up his mind. He had even decided to imitate Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

As for how to keep Konoha from paying too much attention to him, it was incredibly simple!

As long as the Akatsuki Organization suffered a little, wouldn't everything be fine?

"Makoto, you're the most important person on this mission. I'm counting on you for everything."

As he was thinking, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke again, though his gaze was somewhat strange.

"Also, do you have something in mind?"

"Uh..."

Hyuga Makoto came back to his senses and realized that he had been staring at Uchiha Itachi the whole time.

This made him somewhat embarrassed, but he reacted quickly and immediately became serious.

"Hokage-sama, I was thinking about the man you mentioned just now, the one with 'extraordinary powers of observation.'"

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly realized that he might as well not have asked.

"Itachi, the Uchiha Sharingan's powers of observation are considered unparalleled in the Shinobi World, right?"

But Hyuga Makoto looked toward Uchiha Itachi and continued.

"So, have there been any missing persons in your clan?"

"..."

"Or anyone whose body wasn't recovered after death?"

"..."

"And..."

"That's enough, Makoto!"

Uchiha Itachi was still holding it together, but Hiruzen Sarutobi could not.

You can say that, but don't say it to me in front of Uchiha Itachi...

"Makoto, this matter does need to be taken seriously, but your mission now is to investigate Orochimaru's accomplice. Understood?"

"Oh, I understand, Hokage-sama."

Hyuga Makoto blinked and said nothing more, while Uchiha Itachi's gaze grew somewhat distant.

He wasn't thinking of Shisui. He was thinking of the person who had killed his companions back then and forced him to awaken his Sharingan!

He had never told anyone about this, but he vaguely knew that person seemed to be watching him...