Heroes and Fools

Facing the captain's inquiry.

"One of the surveillance cameras seems to be broken. Should I go over and check it?"

Itachi replied, concealing the fact that his uncle had destroyed the camera.

The image of the Uchiha was already negative enough; he did not want Uchiha Dan to further deepen this negative impression in the minds of Kakashi and the others.

"No need, you stay here. Such a tiresome errand should, of course, be left to an old man like me."

Kakashi pressed his palm against his chest and said with a straight face.

He glanced at the surveillance screen, understood the situation in his heart, and turned to walk out of the room.

Tenzo, standing to the side, rubbed his slightly sore eyes and retorted, "Senior Kakashi says it so nicely, but he's actually just looking for an excuse to sneak out and slack off."

Itachi said nothing.

He estimated that with his uncle's eccentric and arrogant personality, there was an eighty percent chance he would get into a fight with Kakashi at the slightest disagreement.

If that really happened.

Itachi genuinely hoped that Kakashi would win and properly deflate Uchiha Dan's arrogant spirit.

Kakashi strolled down the street.

He had one hand in his pocket and was holding Icha Icha Paradise in the other, reading as he walked.

From time to time, he would stop to tease a kitten on the side of the road, and he even took a detour to the Shueisha bookstore to ask the boss about news regarding the sequel to Icha Icha Paradise.

He could truly be called the king of slacking off.

"Yo, Kakashi!"

Suddenly, a hearty voice rang out from behind him, and a figure dashed in front of Kakashi at the speed of a hundred-meter sprint.

A bowl cut, super thick eyebrows, and a green spandex suit.

This exaggerated style could only be easily pulled off by Konoha's Blue Beast—Might Guy, because this guy was thick-skinned and never cared about the gazes of ordinary people.

Some time ago.

In order to be with his best friend Kakashi day and night, Guy had successively applied to join the Anbu and the Root, only to be repeatedly rejected by the Third Hokage and Danzo, causing him to doubt the meaning of life for a time.

Fortunately, he quickly pulled himself together.

"Hoo, hoo..."

At this moment, Guy was sweating profusely, and even after arriving at Kakashi's side, his feet did not stop, instead continuing to run in place with high knees.

"My eternal rival, Kakashi! Our past record of duels is 29 wins and 29 losses. Today, I must be the first to secure the 30th victory, so... let's have a running race to decide the winner!"

Guy shouted at his best friend, his enthusiasm soaring.

"Sorry, I'm on a mission."

Kakashi gave Guy a side-eye, rejected him heartlessly, and turned to leave.

"How can you treat my passion like this!"

Guy roared behind Kakashi. His best friend's cold attitude left him looking indignant.

Kakashi walked a few steps, seemed to remember something, turned back, and asked:

"By the way, I remember you saying before that you know a guy named Uchiha Dan?"

"Why are you suddenly asking about this?" Guy was stunned and stopped his high-knee running.

It seemed he really did know him.

From Guy, Kakashi learned.

Guy's father, Might Duy, had been a member of the Physical Transformation Department during his lifetime, was friends with Uchiha Dan, and often took a young Guy to the Fitness Gym to train.

However, later on, due to differences in beliefs and philosophies, Duy and Dan parted ways on bad terms.

Ever since his father died on the battlefield, Guy had not returned to the Physical Transformation Department.

"Wait, you aren't going to see Uchiha Dan, are you?" Guy came back to his senses and asked.

"What's wrong?" Kakashi was puzzled.

Guy frowned, his expression becoming uncharacteristically serious:

"Dan is a very dangerous guy; you'd better not go alone. How about this, I'll go with you. Anyway, I have to go find him sooner or later."

"What are you looking for him for?" Kakashi was even more confused.

Guy took a deep breath and clenched his fists:

"I have always wanted to prove to Dan that the ninja way my father upheld during his life was correct and glorious! He died as a hero, not a fool!"

The more he spoke, the more excited he became, with flames erupting in his eyes.

Although his father, Might Duy, was only a genin, in Guy's heart, he was a tough man who insisted on singing the praises of youth with a soul of burning passion.

Yet, that guy Uchiha Dan had mocked his father.

Over these years.

Might Guy trained desperately, all for the day he could personally defeat Dan and thereby prove the ninja way and conviction his father had passed down to him with his life.

Hatake Kakashi had not expected such a history of grievances to exist between the Might family and Uchiha Dan.

"There's really no helping you."

He shook his head, having originally intended to slack off to the very end by just asking a couple of casual questions at the Fitness Gym. But with Might Guy getting involved like this, he couldn't afford not to take it seriously.

And so.

Twenty minutes later.

The two of them arrived together at the Physical Transformation Department.

Hatake Kakashi glanced at the broken surveillance camera on the tree, then exchanged a look with Might Guy before pushing the door open and entering.

As soon as they stepped inside, they saw Samui dozing off at the front desk.

"Hello." Hatake Kakashi offered a greeting.

Startled awake by the sound, Samui quickly stood up and bowed slightly: "Welcome, guests."

"Sorry, we aren't guests."

Hatake Kakashi waved his hand with a smile, his eyes curving into crescent moons, "We're here to find someone. Is Mr. Dan in?"

While speaking, he also quietly tucked away his Icha Icha Paradise.

Displaying such an 18+ book in front of such a beautiful and hot lady would seem a bit too frivolous.

He, Hatake Kakashi, was a serious ninja, after all.

Samui didn't notice these small movements from Hatake Kakashi, but her brows furrowed slightly:

"May I ask who you are?"

In truth.

As a seasoned spy.

She had recognized their identities the moment she laid eyes on Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy, but she still feigned ignorance on the surface.

"We are from the Anbu."

Hatake Kakashi stated his identity and purpose, then spoke to reassure Samui, "Don't be nervous, it's nothing major. We're just here to conduct a simple investigative interview with Mr. Dan; just cooperate with us."

"Oh, that's a relief."

Samui patted her chest lightly and let out a sigh of relief, her acting skills getting better and better, "The Gym Director is in the Meditation Room. Please follow me."

She walked in front to lead the way for the two of them.

Hatake Kakashi kept his hands in his pockets, observing the various pieces of equipment in the Fitness Gym with great interest along the way, finding them quite novel.

Might Guy, on the other hand, wore a bitter and deep-seated expression, remaining silent.

They arrived.

Samui stopped in front of a door and signaled for Hatake Kakashi and his companion to wait a moment, then raised two fingers and knocked lightly on the door with her knuckles.

Knock, knock.

"Gym Director, an Anbu ninja named Kakashi is here to see you, saying he has something to investigate."

"Enter."

Dan's voice came from inside the room, speaking only a single word.

"Please, both of you."

Samui pushed the door halfway open, stepped to the side, and gestured for them to enter.

"Thank you." Hatake Kakashi smiled in thanks once more and walked into the room with Might Guy.

Creak.

The door slowly closed.

Samui did not walk away immediately; instead, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, and she pressed herself against the door like a cat, pricking up her ears to eavesdrop on the movements inside.