Uchiha Matsuzaki: His Father's Old Path

"It's okay, Mom. I'll be more careful from now on, and I'll keep getting stronger. That's the only way I can protect both of you."

Uchiha Matsuzaki said with a smile, looking at his mother and sister.

The three of them sat together and talked for a long time. They had gone so long without speaking that there was so much they wanted to tell one another!

That evening, Uchiha Matsuzaki opened his bedroom door and was just about to step outside when he heard his mother speaking.

"Our son has followed in your footsteps after all!"

"I hope he won't run into any danger."

"Please watch over him from up there!"

In the living room, Uchiha Matsuzaki's mother spoke to his father's portrait. Her expression was a little downcast as she talked to herself.

"Father? His footsteps?"

Uchiha Matsuzaki hurriedly and quietly closed the door, then wondered to himself.

"Could Father's past have something to do with the Anbu?"

"No, I remember Father was killed while on a mission."

"Could Father have worked in the Anbu before? It certainly looks that way now."

"That makes things easier. I'll definitely be able to find some information in the Anbu. Then I can find the killer."

Uchiha Matsuzaki made up his mind.

Once his mother had stopped speaking, Uchiha Matsuzaki slowly opened the door and went outside.

"Mom, I'm heading out for a while. I'm meeting up with the others for dinner tonight, so I'll be back a little later. Don't wait up for me."

After Uchiha Matsuzaki entered the living room, he told his mother.

"Uh... all right. Be careful on the way. You just got out of the hospital, so take it slow, and remember not to eat spicy food."

Before he left, Uchiha Matsuzaki's mother reminded him of a few things.

At the corner, he saw Chestnut Snow and the others waiting for him.

"You're all here. Since everyone's here, let's get going."

Uchiha Matsuzaki said, looking at them.

Then they slowly made their way toward the center of the village, eventually stopping to eat at a yakiniku restaurant.

After resting for the past few days, Uchiha Matsuzaki had almost fully recovered.

They decided to report to the Anbu the day after tomorrow.

Now that they had left school, they didn't have anything to do and could only stay at home.

The days of rest had left them feeling like they had nothing to do. They were always looking forward to joining the Anbu and going out on missions.

At the yakiniku restaurant, Uchiha Matsuzaki and the others happily ate and chatted.

Only after everyone had eaten their fill did they slowly leave the restaurant and head home separately.

"Ding! Host, please go to the Fourth Hokage Rock above the back mountain to check in."

On his way home, Uchiha Matsuzaki suddenly received a check-in task. He turned around and headed toward the back mountain.

"I just got out of the hospital, and now I have to do a mission. They really don't care about sick people at all!"

Uchiha Matsuzaki walked along, grumbling.

"Well, this is fine too. I ate a little too much, so I can take a walk and digest."

There were still many things Uchiha Matsuzaki couldn't figure out. He would only learn most of the answers once he joined the Anbu.

The Fourth Hokage's arrangements, Anbu recruitment, his father's death—none of these things had answers. He could only get to the bottom of them after joining the Anbu.

The Anbu was his only lead.