.
"What exactly is this?"
Early the next morning, Haori got up early and did some training, though he was somewhat distracted.
The information he'd seen last night was still on his mind, and there was something he couldn't stop wondering about.
Just how powerful did someone have to be to be called the Uchiha Ultimate Weapon?
"Could he possibly be even stronger than Uchiha Madara?"
The thought struck Haori as a little funny. Surely no one in the entire Uchiha clan could surpass Madara—not even in the original story.
Even Sasuke was nowhere near Madara's level!
If Madara hadn't had his heart ripped out, it was hard to say whether Sasuke and Naruto, those two walking cheat codes, could really have beaten him.
"And this Ultimate Weapon was sealed away. The Uchiha don't even know where."
According to the records, Uchiha Mumei had been on a mission with his clan when the Senju Clan and several other clans ambushed them. In the end, the entire group was wiped out.
And according to the Senju survivors captured afterward, Mumei hadn't died—he'd been sealed away. But they hadn't said where.
"If the Senju and the other clans had to join forces to seal him, then he really doesn't seem to measure up to Madara."
Haori couldn't help shaking his head at the thought.
"Too bad. After being sealed for over a hundred years, he's probably nothing but bones by now.
And no one knows where he's sealed, either. Otherwise, I could go see if there's anything worth taking."
Even if someone called the Uchiha Ultimate Weapon was dead, there might still be something useful to collect from his remains.
[New side quest acquired] [1. Find the Uchiha Ultimate Weapon's sealed location on your own] [2. Tell the Uchiha about this] [Quest rewards unknown]
"This can count as a quest too?"
Haori stared at the prompt that had appeared before him, momentarily stunned. Then, expressionless, he chose the first option.
If someone else gave him a quest and that activated the system, the system would cancel it as soon as the person who issued it withdrew the quest.
But if he triggered a quest himself, he had no choice but to accept it.
He could leave it unfinished, of course, but it would still occupy a side-quest slot and slow down how quickly he could earn rewards.
[Current Quest Summary] [Main Quest: Bi Ke Qu Er Dai Zhi] [Side Quest: 1. Help Team Minato destroy Kannabi Bridge] [Side Quest: 2. Find the Uchiha Ultimate Weapon's sealed location on your own] [Side Quest: 3. None] [Special Skill: Zhuo Er Bu Fan]
Looking at his panel—which was so simple it was practically bare—Haori didn't complain.
Just like the saying "Shang Yang knew a horse's strength; Bi Gan saw into people's hearts," only he knew whether it was any good.
After tidying up a little, he headed outside the clan compound.
He had to prepare properly for this mission. It was genuinely dangerous and troublesome.
Uchiha Fugaku had sent him without even knowing the mission's details. Haori figured Fugaku just wanted to show Konoha that the Uchiha were cooperating—and to "do his filial duty."
Before the Nine-Tails Incident, Uchiha Fugaku had still been a dove.
After the Nine-Tails Incident, he'd become an "abstract" sort.
Though even now, he was pretty absurd. He kept trying to balance things within the clan and had never considered taking a firm side.
It might have looked like he was maintaining peace within the clan, but in reality, it was harming everyone, himself included.
"Even Konoha knows that internal conflicts should be set aside when dealing with external threats. Little schemes don't affect the bigger picture, but he seems completely oblivious."
Konoha had set the Uchiha up by sending them to deal with Kirigakure, but at least they'd sent the Hyuga along too.
But Uchiha Fugaku...
As he walked slowly down Konoha's streets, Haori grumbled to himself.
Just then, a green-clad figure went hurrying past him on its hands.
A moment later, the upside-down figure actually backed up, then came to a steady stop beside him.
"Guy."
At the sight, Haori immediately put his annoyance aside and smiled.
"You're as energetic as ever. Can't you take it easy, even when you're off duty?"
"Not at all. My father wouldn't want to see me slacking off."
Guy pushed himself up onto his feet and gave Haori a thumbs-up, his face full of energy and his bright white teeth gleaming.
"Because this is youth!"
Guy and Haori went way back. They'd been classmates, then later served together on the battlefield in the Land of Whirlpools.
They hadn't been in the same squad, but they'd worked together on quite a few missions.
Especially after Haori's expendable teammates had all been killed. He'd been transferred to Guy's squad for a while, and had also spent time with Anko and Ibiki's squad.
They couldn't afford to waste fighting strength, after all, so their relationships had grown closer.
"I'm sorry about your father."
Hearing Guy mention his father, Haori fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"I heard he single-handedly defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He was an incredible man."
"That's all in the past. My father really was an incredible ninja."
Guy froze for a moment and fell silent, but soon he smiled again.
"Enough about that. What are you planning to do next, Haori?"
"My plans?"
Seeing Guy change the subject, Haori went along with it.
"I'm heading to the Land of Grass tomorrow. I don't know who my teammates will be yet, but I hope it all goes smoothly."
"You just got back, and you're already going to the Land of Grass?"
Guy hadn't expected Haori to be heading out again so soon, and he looked surprised.
Haori pressed his lips together, silently cursing Uchiha Fugaku.
If not for that bastard, he could've had some time to rest. At the very least, if he had to go to the Land of Grass, he could've waited until Uchiha Madara was dead.
But now, he couldn't even get away.
"The village needs me. I can't very well refuse."
Haori gave an awkward laugh, then shook his head.
"Anyway, I still have to get ready.
I won't keep you from your training. I'm sure you'll become just like your father. Keep it up."
"I won't let my father down."
Might Duy had probably died only recently. Guy seemed to have recovered and was proud of his father, but suddenly losing someone close to him—and remembering all their past moments together—must still have hurt.
"I'll become an incredible ninja, just like my father!"
"No. Not a ninja—a person."
Hearing him say that, Haori tilted his head. After thinking it over, he patted Guy on the shoulder and encouraged him.
"Ninja are only tools for carrying out missions. But a person's will and spirit can be passed on and inherited.
As a ninja, Duy might have gone unnoticed for most of his life. What he showed the world was only the final, brilliant flare of his youth.
But as a person, his will lives on, and it inspires you.
One day, you'll pass that will on too, inspiring the next generation to keep moving forward. That's what makes Duy such an incredible man."
Passing on his will?
Guy stared blankly at Haori. The idea he'd only vaguely understood before seemed to click into place.
That was right. His father's greatest strength wasn't his career as a ninja. He'd been a Genin his entire life.
What made him so incredible was the will that ran through his whole life—the will called "youth," which he'd already passed on to Guy.
And in the future, Guy would make sure to pass that will on!
At that moment, Guy's eyes lit up. He seemed to see his father giving him a thumbs-up.
"Thank you, Haori."
Guy came back to himself and gave Haori another thumbs-up, his bright white teeth gleaming.
"I finally understand!"
"Glad you figured it out. I'll be going, then."
Haori discreetly took a step back, worried Guy's enthusiasm might rub off on him.
"Haori, you're going on a mission, right?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I'm going with you!"
"..."
At that moment, Haori had only one thought: Guy, have you lost your mind?
He'd only been talking nonsense to earn some goodwill. He hadn't meant to drag Guy into this mess!