"You seem pretty happy."
As they stepped out of the Hokage Building, Hakken shot a glance at Itachi, whose face was filled with excitement. "Didn't I hear someone say they hated war?"
"Ken-san, hating war is one thing," Itachi replied, shaking his head with a faint smile. "But at the same time, we're helping Minato-sensei. It feels good to protect people who are worth protecting."
He truly did hate war.
War meant death.
But now, there was no other choice but to give his strength for the land beneath his feet.
"And Ken-san," Itachi continued, pointing to Hakken's hand gripping the sword hilt, trembling with anticipation, "aren't you the one who looks excited right now?"
"I'm not like you," Hakken said with a quiet chuckle. He hefted his Zanpakutō onto his shoulder and strode forward, ignoring the curious stares of passersby.
Like its wielder, his blade naturally drew attention wherever it went.
But he truly was different from Itachi.
Protect Konoha?
Protect the land beneath his feet?
Forget it.
That wasn't his purpose.
Still, the thrill—was inevitable.
The awakening of his innate power made him hunger for battle.
Through combat, he could deepen his understanding of that instinctive strength.
In Konoha, that craving could never be satisfied.
Only the front lines were his paradise. There, he could indulge in the chaos, the blood, the raw pulse of life and death.
Yet beneath that excitement lingered a faint melancholy.
When he first crossed into this world, he had never planned to form any deep attachments.
A few trusted companions, a blade, and a bottle of sake—traveling wherever he wished.
That was enough for him.
Even this journey to the front wasn't about loyalty to the village. It was simply to help the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze—his teacher in name, if not in truth.
If Konoha's Hokage right now were Hiruzen Sarutobi...
Sorry, he wouldn't have the time—or interest—to help him protect the village.
Hakken prided himself on knowing where his loyalties lay. Minato had been the only one who stood up for him when everyone else doubted him.
That alone was enough for Hakken to feel some respect.
Helping him once was no big deal.
For those two reasons alone, he had accepted this mission.
Now, alongside Kakashi and Itachi, he was doing what Minato's own team had once done.
"Assemble tomorrow morning. Get some proper rest tonight."
After setting the meeting time, Kakashi leapt away from the street.
"Ken-san, Father said if you're free tonight, he'd like to invite you over to our house."
Itachi tugged lightly at Hakken's sleeve, asking in a shy, almost hesitant tone.
An invitation from Fugaku Uchiha, huh?
Then why do you look so nervous?
"Would Uncle mind if we set out an extra bowl and chopsticks?"
Hakken rubbed his chin. "The cherry blossoms in the Uchiha compound haven't fallen yet, right? Anko's been saying she wants to see them."
What kind of question was that?
Did the Uchiha clan owe your sister a meal or something?
Itachi rolled his eyes and pulled Hakken by the sleeve, dragging him straight toward the Mitarashi household.
...
"Danzō-sama, Hakken...Hakken Yoru has gone to the Uchiha compound."
In the dimly lit depths of Root, a figure landed silently in front of Danzō's small hut. Through the door, the man's face was filled with unease.
Heaven knows, Shisui had never expected his new mission to be like this—
To monitor Hakken Yoru.
To spy on his own friend.
Conflicted and struggling, Shisui's heart was heavy with guilt.
If he'd had a chance in the past few days, he would've already warned Hakken to stay cautious.
But he had no way out of this—this mission wasn't his alone, and he hadn't found an opportunity to pull back yet.
What was going on?
What exactly did Danzō-sama plan to do with Hakken?
And when that time came… what was he supposed to do?
His friend… or his superior?
"He went to the Uchiha clan, you say? So he really went."
Danzō's voice was calm, unreadable. His face was hidden, and Shisui, standing just outside the door, couldn't tell what kind of emotion lay behind that tone.
What was wrong with visiting the Uchiha compound?
He was friends with both Itachi and Hakken—surely that wasn't something suspicious.
Shisui wanted to ask.
But he knew even if he did, Danzō would never answer.
"Continue the surveillance."
With a wave of his hand, Danzō dismissed him, losing interest in hearing more.
After Shisui left, Danzō turned his gaze toward the scroll spread out before him.
Drawn upon it was a massive, domineering blade—Hakken's Zanpakutō.
Slowly rolling the scroll shut, Danzō stood and looked out through the room's only small window.
"Minato Namikaze… you really think you're the Hokage now, don't you?"
"That seat belongs to me."
"According to the records left by Mito Uzumaki—and every major event in Konoha's history—the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is at her weakest during childbirth."
"Orochimaru… what a pity. You threw away your last chance."
A glint of cold light flashed in Danzō's eyes as his figure melted into the darkness.
...
"Itachi having a friend like you makes me very happy. And I appreciate how you looked after him on his last mission."
Inside the Uchiha Clan compound, at the home of Fugaku Uchiha, the clan head regarded the carefree young man before him with satisfaction.
He nodded approvingly.
He'd already heard the full story of Itachi's last mission.
The figure who had stood in front of his son at that critical moment had earned his respect.
As both a father and the head of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku believed it was only proper to show gratitude according to the clan's customs. He'd just never found the right time—until now.
Hakken didn't bother with empty courtesies. His relationship with Itachi didn't need them.
He simply nodded, lifted his gourd, and took a deep drink. That was enough.
But out of the corner of his eye, his gaze fell on Mikoto Uchiha's rounded belly.
It was slightly larger than Kushina's had been.
After this mission, Sasuke would probably be born.
"My little brother will be born soon," Itachi said suddenly beside him. "Ken-san, would you be his teacher when he grows up?"
"How do you know it's a brother? What if it's a sister?" Hakken raised an eyebrow.
"No! It's definitely a brother!"
Itachi replied instantly, puffing up like an angry cat, his tone filled with absolute certainty.
Tch.
A classic little brother complex.
Hakken rolled his eyes.