A Clever Man's Disguise

Kazama Nara said nothing.

He had no idea how to answer Jin Uchiha's question.

Jin didn't press him, either.

He had only wanted to make one thing clear: everyone had things they kept to themselves. Unless you were close enough, there was no need to dig up all their secrets.

Seeing that Kazama had gone quiet, he leaned back and continued basking in the sun.

He stayed there until red clouds spread across the sky.

The setting sun wasn't as warm as the midday sun, but he still liked how relaxed he felt.

It was different from the village, where people spent every day scheming against one another.

It was exhausting.

It was getting late. He yawned and stood up, but just as he turned to leave, he noticed Kazama Nara was still beside him.

"Why haven't you left?" Jin looked puzzled.

Only then did Kazama raise his head.

He studied Jin Uchiha for a long while before slowly speaking.

"My dad was Roku Nara. He and Shikaku Nara were brothers."

"He lost the contest to become clan head, then died on a mission five years ago."

"Before he died, he told my brothers and me never to become geniuses. Living an ordinary, unremarkable life was good enough."

"My two older brothers didn't listen. They were geniuses in the clan from childhood, and they both died over the past few years."

"I took those words to heart and kept pretending to be mediocre."

"That's why I'm still alive."

"It's true that Ino–Shika–Cho stick together, but I chose to walk away from that path."

"My own father wouldn't lie to me."

Jin Uchiha's expression didn't change.

He simply watched Kazama Nara, his mind racing.

Honestly, he hadn't expected the other boy's circumstances to be anything like this.

Could he be lying?

Absolutely not.

A legitimate member of the Nara Household had no reason to tell a lie that could be exposed so easily.

After a long silence, he finally spoke in a low voice.

"I can't push myself too hard."

"I'm just a useless Uchiha who can't handle hardship."

"If I suddenly started working myself to death and actually became a genius, certain people would start getting nervous."

"If I'm going to be a cannon-fodder ninja, I have to live up to my useless image."

"You're not stupid. I don't need to spell it all out for you."

Kazama Nara grinned.

Exactly.

There was no need to say everything outright. He could work it out himself.

He knew about the mess surrounding the Uchiha. With that much clear, he could guess most of what Jin had in mind.

"You really sell the act," Kazama Nara said with a smile. "I never paid you any attention during all those years at school."

"Shikaku Nara sent me to get a feel for what kind of person you are."

"If I had to guess, it probably has something to do with those three dead Uchiha."

"My uncle seems to have taken an interest in you."

"But don't worry."

"The Nara Household plays it safe. We don't casually invite trouble on the clan, much less provoke an opponent like the Uchiha."

"Even if he's made up his mind, he'll only back you from the shadows."

"The Nara Household never puts all its eggs in one basket."

Jin Uchiha narrowed his eyes.

He had guessed right. The story he had made up hadn't fooled Shikaku Nara after all.

A flash of murderous intent surged from deep within him, but he immediately suppressed it.

The Nara Household had endured for generations. They might not measure up to the Uchiha, but they were no easy target, either.

Besides.

As Kazama had said, Shikaku Nara bore him no ill will. Otherwise, he would have exposed him on the spot in the Hokage's office that day.

"Oh, so that's how it is."

Jin took a deep breath. Without another word, he turned and headed toward the Frontline Camp.

Kazama Nara followed close behind him. After holding back for a while, he finally couldn't help himself.

"Jin, are you really from the Uchiha?" Kazama asked. "Nothing about the way you handle things seems like an Uchiha."

"Were you switched with another baby at the hospital when you were born?"

"You're practically a Nara."

Jin Uchiha's mouth twitched.

He had never expected Kazama Nara to say something like that.

But when he thought it over, it did seem rather accurate.

He shook his head, sounding a little helpless.

"You're getting carried away. I have the Sharingan."

"Come on. Let's head back."

There was no need to hide something like that.

With Kazama Nara's brains, he could figure it out even if Jin didn't tell him.

Besides, he was genuinely starting to want this boy on his side.

He was no slouch in a fight and definitely qualified as a genius.

Most importantly, he was smart.

With him helping Jin think things through, the road ahead would be steadier.

Still.

There was plenty of time ahead. There was no need to rush.

Kazama Nara, meanwhile, looked as though he had expected that answer all along.

Night fell.

The sky was as black as spilled ink, with a full moon hanging high above.

The Frontline Camp was utterly quiet. Apart from the ninja making their nightly patrols, hardly anyone could be seen outside.

Inside Jin Uchiha's squad tent, however, an uninvited visitor had arrived.

"ANBU has confirmed that Itsuki Ishikawa disobeyed orders, directly causing Team Seven's mission to fail."

"The evidence is conclusive. There's nothing to dispute."

"However, given the ongoing war, Itsuki Ishikawa is permitted to return to his original squad and redeem himself through service."

"This is your new mission. Leave first thing tomorrow morning."

The ninja beside Yukie Miyamoto shoved the Mission Scroll into Shin Kudo's arms, then turned and left.

No one in the tent spoke.

Everyone stared at Itsuki Ishikawa, unsure what to say.

Fucking hell.

They shoved this bastard right back at us.

Nobody looked pleased.

Reporting Itsuki Ishikawa had already burned every bridge between them.

This...

How were they supposed to work together now?

Shin Kudo's face was thunderous.

He was thoroughly disgusted, but he couldn't exactly refuse an order from above.

He glanced at Itsuki Ishikawa and spoke coldly.

"You'd better remember this lesson. Stop causing trouble for everyone."

"We have work tomorrow. Get some proper sleep."

With that said.

Shin Kudo dropped onto his folding cot and closed his eyes. Jin Uchiha and Kazama Nara exchanged a look, then could only sigh and settle down to rest.

Itsuki Ishikawa's face twisted.

As he glared at Kazama Nara and Jin Uchiha, his eyes burned with anger and hatred.

Yes.

He didn't think he had done anything wrong. Instead, he was convinced those two useless idiots hadn't worked with him properly.

I'm one of the top three in the class. How could a couple of bottom-ranked losers possibly have saved me?

"A bunch of bastards."

"It had to be their fault. How else could I have screwed up?"

"Just you fucking wait. I'll get you sooner or later."