"What exactly is that?"
Early the next morning, Haori got up early and went through a round of training, though his mind was clearly elsewhere.
The information he had seen the night before still lingered in his thoughts, along with a nagging question.
To be designated as the Uchiha's ultimate weapon—just how terrifying did one have to be?
"Could it be… even stronger than Uchiha Madara?"
The thought made Haori laugh at himself.
In the entire Uchiha clan, someone stronger than Madara probably never even appeared in the original story.
Even Sasuke, compared to Madara, was separated by a vast gulf.
If Madara hadn't had his heart ripped out, it was hard to say whether the two overpowered cheats—Naruto and Sasuke—could really have beaten him.
"And this so-called ultimate weapon was sealed away. The Uchiha don't even know where the seal is."
According to the records, during a joint mission with the clan, that Uchiha Unnamed was ambushed by the Senju along with multiple allied clans, resulting in the complete annihilation of the force.
Based on later interrogations of captured Senju, the man hadn't died but had been sealed instead. As for where he was sealed—no one knew.
"To be sealed by the Senju working together with other clans… sounds like he wasn't as strong as Madara after all."
Shaking his head, Haori sighed.
"Sealed for over a hundred years—he's probably nothing but bones by now.
And no one even knows where the seal is. Otherwise, I could at least go see if there's anything worth taking."
Someone labeled the Uchiha's ultimate weapon—even if he were dead, there might still be something useful to salvage.
[New Side Quest Acquired]
[1. Locate the sealing site of the Uchiha's ultimate weapon alone]
[2. Inform the Uchiha clan of this information]
[Quest rewards: Unknown]
"This can turn into a quest too?"
Haori paused when he saw the notification, then selected the first option without expression.
If a quest was triggered by someone else, once that person withdrew it, the system would cancel it as well.
But if the quest was triggered by himself, then he had no choice but to accept it.
He could ignore it, but it would permanently occupy a side-quest slot, slowing down his progress.
[Current Quest Summary]
[Main Quest: He Can Be Replaced]
[Side Quest 1: Assist Minato's squad in destroying the Kannabi Bridge]
[Side Quest 2: Locate the sealing site of the Uchiha's ultimate weapon alone]
[Side Quest 3: None]
[Special Skill: Outstanding Beyond the Ordinary]
Looking at his interface—simple to the point of being crude—Haori didn't bother complaining.
Like the saying goes: Only the one wearing the shoes knows whether they fit.
After tidying up a bit, he headed out of the clan compound.
This upcoming mission required thorough preparation. It was both troublesome and dangerous.
Uchiha Fugaku had sent him off without even knowing the mission details—clearly more about showing loyalty to Konoha and "fulfilling filial duty."
Before the Nine-Tails incident, Fugaku had been a dove.
After the incident, he turned into… something abstract.
Even now, he remained abstract—constantly trying to balance factions within the clan, never fully committing to either side.
On the surface, it looked like he was maintaining peace, but in reality, it only harmed everyone involved.
"Even Konoha knows to suppress internal conflicts when dealing with external enemies. You can scheme internally as long as it doesn't affect the bigger picture.
But he seems to understand none of that."
Konoha had sent the Uchiha to deal with Kirigakure, but at least they'd also dispatched the Hyūga.
Uchiha Fugaku, on the other hand—
Lost in thought, Haori strolled along Konoha's main streets.
Just then, a green figure suddenly rushed past him—upside down.
A moment later, the inverted figure doubled back and came to a smooth stop beside him.
"Guy."
Haori immediately suppressed his irritation and put on a smile.
"You're still as energetic as ever. Even during rotation, you don't rest at all?"
"Completely unnecessary! My father wouldn't want to see me slack off."
Might Guy pushed off the ground and sprang upright, brimming with vitality. He gave Haori a thumbs-up, flashing a mouthful of gleaming white teeth.
"Because this is youth!"
Guy and Haori were old acquaintances—classmates at the academy, then comrades on the battlefield in the Land of Whirlpools.
Though they weren't in the same squad, they had cooperated on many missions.
After Haori's placeholder teammates were wiped out, he had even rotated into Guy's squad, as well as the squads of Anko and Ibiki.
Combat power wasn't something you wasted casually, and as a result, their relationship grew even closer.
"I'm sorry about your father."
When Guy mentioned his father, Haori fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"I heard he single-handedly defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He was an incredible man."
"It's all in the past. My father truly was an amazing ninja."
Guy paused briefly, then smiled again.
"Let's not talk about that. What are your plans next, Haori?"
"Plans?"
Seeing Guy change the subject, Haori went along with it.
"I'm heading to the Land of Grass tomorrow. I don't know who my teammates are yet, but I'm hoping everything goes smoothly."
"You just got back, and you're already heading to the Land of Grass?"
Guy was clearly surprised.
Haori pursed his lips, internally cursing Uchiha Fugaku nonstop.
If not for that bastard, he could at least have rested a bit. If he had to go to the Land of Grass, it should've been after Madara was long dead.
Now? There was no escape at all.
"The village needs me. Of course I won't refuse."
Haori gave a dry chuckle and shook his head.
"Alright, I still need to prepare.
I won't disturb your training any longer. I believe you'll become someone just like your father. Keep it up."
"I won't let my father down."
Might Duy hadn't been gone for very long. Although Guy looked like he'd recovered and took pride in his father, the sudden loss still weighed heavily on him.
"I'll become an incredible ninja—just like my father!"
"No—not a ninja. A person."
Haori tilted his head, then reached out and patted Guy on the shoulder as he spoke earnestly.
"Ninja are tools for carrying out missions. But as a person, one's will and spirit can be passed on.
As a ninja, Senior Duy may have been overlooked his entire life. His final battle was simply the last bloom of his youth.
But as a person, his will was always being passed down—and now it's inspiring you.
In the future, you'll pass that will on as well, inspiring those who come after you to keep moving forward.
That is what truly makes Senior Duy great."
The inheritance of… will?
Guy stared blankly at Haori. Something that had always been vague in his heart suddenly crystallized.
That's right—his father's greatest strength wasn't his career as a ninja. He'd been a genin his entire life.
What truly made him great was the will that ran through his entire life—the will called youth, now inherited by Guy himself.
And one day, he would definitely pass that will on.
In that moment, Guy's eyes shone brightly, as if he could see his father giving him a thumbs-up.
"Thank you, Haori."
Coming back to his senses, Guy returned the gesture with a thumbs-up, his white teeth practically glowing.
"I finally understand!"
"I'm glad you do. I'll be going then."
Haori subtly took a step back, worried he might catch whatever Guy had.
"Haori, you're heading out on a mission, right?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I'll go with you!"
"…"
At that instant, Haori had only one thought—
Guy, are you out of your mind?!
He'd only been spouting nonsense to farm some goodwill. He had not intended to drag Guy into this pit with him.