Comrades

After completing the mission in Chuntai City and handing over the follow-up matters to the two Anbu Ninja stationed there, Uchiha Gen's temporary squad left the city.

The giant beetle sped through the white clouds, with Uchiha Gen and the other two sitting quietly cross-legged on its back.

With a mount, the journey took only a little over half a day.

That evening.

Inside the Hokage's office.

"...That concludes the full account of this mission."

As Shibi Aburame finished his report, a brief silence returned to the Hokage's office.

Behind his desk, Hiruzen Sarutobi listened quietly to the detailed account from Shibi Aburame, the squad's nominal captain, then smiled.

"Thank you for your hard work. You performed exceptionally well on this mission, far beyond expectations."

"Based on the nature of this incident, the parties involved, and the final results, I have decided to formally raise the mission's rating to A-rank. However, this mission must be sealed and will not be entered into your mission records. After all... the matters involved are rather sensitive."

This mission involved collusion between the mayor of a border city and a foreign cult. If it came to light, it would cause a widespread crisis of trust.

"Understood," all three replied.

"Since you've successfully completed the mission, take some time to get a good rest."

Having received their replies, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled.

"Go get some rest. Oh, right, Kosuke, stay behind."

Once Uchiha Gen and Shibi Aburame had left, only the two old friends, Maruboshi Kosuke and Hiruzen Sarutobi, remained in the office.

"Tell me what you think."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, his voice lowered so much that no clear emotion could be heard in its aged tones.

Maruboshi Kosuke nodded slightly. He knew what Hiruzen Sarutobi was asking about.

"Gen is calm, restrained, and follows orders, but... when it comes to combat, the boy seems a little too enthusiastic.

"When subduing Heiji, he seemed to be enjoying the fight with him. Of course, I could tell that the boy simply likes fighting. He isn't the sort inclined toward madness... hmm.

"Likewise, in terms of the qualities expected of a ninja, Gen possesses everything a ninja should."

Maruboshi Kosuke spoke softly as he recalled every detail of the mission.

As a temporary comrade, he approved of Uchiha Gen's performance.

At his words, Hiruzen Sarutobi gently rubbed his fingertips over the grain of his pipe, complex emotions settling in his eyes.

He had seen far too many Uchiha.

They possessed exceptional talent and astonishing strength, yet most were obsessive by nature, easily swayed by negative emotions, their horizons confined by their clan's fate.

Most of them placed great importance on hatred, honor and disgrace, and the hierarchy of bloodlines. Few could break free of their own shackles and turn their attention to the village as a whole.

But Kagami Uchiha had been the sole exception.

And now, he wanted another Uchiha like Kagami Uchiha, or even more.

"You should understand that this isn't what I want to hear."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke softly, his voice low.

"...Lord Hokage, Gen is also a ninja of the village. And he is a comrade I acknowledge."

Faced with Hiruzen Sarutobi's question, Maruboshi Kosuke merely fell silent for a moment before answering in a deep voice.

He did not understand why Hiruzen Sarutobi was wary of the Uchiha Clan.

As the village's eternal Genin, he accepted all the mockery directed at him, and he understood that every comrade in the village had a different personality or temperament.

The Uchiha simply had more pronounced personalities. Weren't they... serving the village just like everyone else?

As a Genin, aside from the missions Hiruzen Sarutobi specifically assigned him, most of the missions available to him were simple, low-ranking ones.

And those missions were almost all carried out within the village.

While carrying out his missions, Maruboshi Kosuke inevitably came into contact with Konoha's Military Police Force. As he understood it,

although the Uchiha ninja were arrogant, that arrogance was merely part of their personalities. They took everything they were supposed to do seriously and completed it without a single fault to be found.

It seemed... in these Uchiha's eyes, being troubled by people weaker than themselves was only natural.

What they could not accept was being looked down on.

And to Maruboshi Kosuke, Uchiha like these were even far better than many people in the village who did nothing but bully others for no reason.

The White Fang incident half a year ago had only strengthened that belief.

After all, while many in the village had hurled abuse at this hero who had given so much to the village, only the Uchiha had stepped forward to help him put a stop to those rumors.

Although White Fang himself had not cared, Maruboshi Kosuke could not understand it.

Why... had those people thought so little of a hero?

And now, Maruboshi Kosuke likewise did not understand why Hiruzen Sarutobi was so guarded against the Uchiha.

Gen was merely a child who was a little stronger than others.

"Kosuke, you don't understand the Uchiha at all... They... are people the Second specifically instructed us to keep a close eye on."

Knowing how much Maruboshi Kosuke valued his comrades, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head gently and spoke in a low voice, his expression complicated.

Even if you don't trust me, surely you must trust the Second?

"But..."

At those words, Maruboshi Kosuke could not help recalling the teachings the Second had given him back then...

But the Second clearly valued comrades highly too, didn't he?

"No buts. Sigh... go get some rest."

Looking at the bewilderment on Maruboshi Kosuke's face, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a headache coming on and waved him away.

"Yes..."

Unable to make sense of it for the moment, Maruboshi Kosuke walked out of the office in a daze.

Watching Maruboshi Kosuke leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help sighing again.

"Yes, the Uchiha are comrades of the village too, but... they are more like a double-edged sword. And a sword this sharp is very likely to hurt the village.

"Uchiha, you... had better not disappoint me. Otherwise..."

Meanwhile, the subject of Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention, Uchiha Gen, was walking back to the Uchiha Clan Compound.

But as he passed Obito Uchiha's house, Uchiha Gen's expression grew rather strange.