The Will of Fire

In the hospital.

Uchiha Lengfeng glared out the window, his face twisted with resentment. He slammed his fist hard against the bedrail!

"Damn it!"

"As a genius of the Uchiha Clan, how could I lose to someone from the Hyuga Branch Family? It's humiliating!"

Though the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan were equally renowned,

and both were among Konoha's greatest clans, the Hyuga Clan was nowhere near as powerful as the Uchiha Clan. In the eyes of the Uchiha, the Hyuga were a notch below them!

And now, he had actually lost to Hyuga Kagami, a member of the Hyuga Branch Family!

"Hyuga Kagami, I'll never forgive you!"

He gritted his teeth. "How could I, an Uchiha, possibly lose to you?!"

Buzz!

Resentment and indignation filled Uchiha Lengfeng's mind, and a single-tomoe Sharingan appeared in his crimson eyes!

It shimmered with an eerie light in the darkness.

Early the next morning.

Hyuga Kagami arrived at the Hokage's Office. Today was the day he officially joined Anbu, which meant that from now on, he would be one of the Hokage's people and hold a certain standing in Konoha!

[ Ding! Congratulations, host! You have successfully made up a missed sign-in at the Hokage's Office! ]

[ Quest Reward: Armament Haki! ]

[ Armament Haki: Armament Haki can increase one's defensive power, acting like invisible armor. It can also be developed into offensive power. Besides being applied to one's own body, Armament Haki can also be applied to objects! ]

"Got my sign-in reward."

Hyuga Kagami's lips curled upward.

That was the advantage of making up a missed sign-in!

He could just do it while passing by, claim the reward he'd missed, and not waste any time!

"With Armament Haki, I can coat the Great Hammer in my hand with it. That'll increase its attack power and protect it from damage."

The biggest problem right now

wasn't that his weapon lacked power, but that... his strength was so great that it damaged the Great Hammer...

So far, he had already broken two hammers.

"Kagami, Itachi, having you two join Anbu is what I've hoped for most."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Hyuga Kagami and Uchiha Itachi with a kindly expression. "Konoha needs talented young people like you more than ever. You'll carry Konoha's future, and with you here, I can finally breathe a little easier."

His expression was warm,

as if he trusted them completely.

"This is our duty, Lord Hokage!"

o(*￣▽￣*)ブ

They replied in unison.

Their expressions were respectful and reserved.

Uchiha Itachi's feelings were complicated. It was all thanks to Kagami-kun that he had truly come to understand Konoha's darkness. Without him, Itachi couldn't imagine what state he would be in now!

Would he still blindly revere the Hokage,

and mindlessly protect Konoha,

only to possibly become the Hokage's blade, pointed at the Uchiha Clan?

Last night, when he thought about it, a cold sweat broke out across his back!

The thought sent a chill through him!

"But before that, there's something I'd like to ask you both."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile faded as he studied them.

He spoke slowly, one word at a time, his gaze solemn, as though they were criminals under interrogation.

"What do you two think makes a ninja worthy of the title?"

Joining Anbu

wasn't just about strength. More importantly, it required loyalty to Konoha!

Uchiha Itachi's expression froze. After a moment's hesitation, he replied, "Lord Hokage, I think a qualified ninja should be powerful and put the mission first in all things!"

"Completing the mission should be the top priority!"

In truth, that was exactly how he had acted.

During the Uchiha Clan Massacre, Uchiha Itachi had personally wielded the blade!

But now, he was beginning to hesitate.

He wasn't sure whether his former beliefs... had been right or wrong.

"Hahaha, those are fine principles."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction, a crafty glint passing through his eyes.

Heh.

A blindly obedient ninja, just like Uchiha Shisui?

As long as they were fooled, they wouldn't consider betraying Konoha. They'd make excellent weapons!

Looking pleased, he turned to Hyuga Kagami. "What about you, Kagami-kun?"

"What do you think?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was quite curious.

At the age of eight, he possessed the taijutsu strength of an elite jonin!

What extraordinary talent!

Put it to good use, and he could surely make a difference!

Hyuga Kagami looked thoughtful, his brow furrowed as if he were weighing an extremely serious matter.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was even more pleased. Not only does he have tremendous strength, but... he's also an outstanding thinker?

"That's extremely rare in a taijutsu specialist!"

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Ninjas with the ability to think for themselves were rare, no matter the circumstances.

Hyuga Kagami might be entrusted with important responsibilities!

"In my view, a ninja's first duty is to complete the mission, but more important than that is protecting one another!"

His gaze was firm. He had a will of his own!

"I am a ninja, but more than that, I am a Konoha Ninja. So, to me, my duty is to protect the people of Konoha!"

"Wherever the leaves dance, the fire burns on. The flames will continue to light the village, and I will devote my life to upholding my resolve to protect it!"

His words rang out, powerful and clear!

They echoed throughout the room,

stirring everyone who heard them!

"Wherever the leaves dance, the fire burns on. The flames will continue to light the village..."

Uchiha Itachi was stunned.

He couldn't help murmuring softly. Is this Kagami-kun's conviction?

His ideals were so noble. Could it be... that this very conviction had driven Kagami-kun to keep uncovering the truth about Konoha, discovering its darkness, and seeking to change it?

He gazed up at Hyuga Kagami in admiration.

His dark eyes flickered softly!

"Good! Well said!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth fell open. A moment later, he burst into laughter!

His scalp tingled, and goosebumps rose all over his body!

The Will of Fire!

"Kagami-kun, well said! It's as if you've put into words exactly what I've been thinking!"

How could someone's thoughts be so much like his?

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt as though he'd found a kindred spirit!

How lonely had he been all these years?

His old friend Shimura Danzō was always scheming to seize power. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were only outwardly in agreement with him. The other clans, like the Hyuga Clan and Uchiha Clan, each had their own agendas.

There weren't many people around him... whom he could trust!

And now, a Hyuga Kagami whose thoughts were exactly like his had appeared!

"Kagami-kun, you're right. As Konoha Ninja, our duty is to protect Konoha in life and, after death, become flames that shine upon it!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was full of admiration and approval.

With Hyuga Kagami saying that, wouldn't it be even easier for him to fool people?

"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"

Hyuga Kagami nodded respectfully.

A hint of disdain flashed through his eyes.

How could he not agree?

That was the very line you used to fool people, for crying out loud!

Even before his death, he'd protected his own image. What a damn devious man!