"Did you get any intel?"
In a concealed spot deep in the forest, Haori looked at Yamashiro Aoba, who was swaying slightly as he got back to his feet, and asked with curiosity.
The fight hadn't taken long at all.
They had launched a surprise attack, and all three of them were exceptionally talented ninja. With preparation on their side, the battle ended quickly and without much noise.
Haori hadn't dealt the killing blow to the Iwa squad leader, which gave Aoba room to work.
"Yeah, I got some interesting information."
Aoba nodded, looking visibly fatigued.
Maintaining crow surveillance, providing support during the fight, and then probing an enemy's mind afterward was an enormous drain on him.
"But he's only a chunin, so the intel isn't very detailed.
From his memories, about ten kilometers to the northeast there's a stronghold—a large Iwagakure supply depot.
There are also quite a few patrol teams like this one along the routes, and there seems to be a Tokubetsu Jōnin stationed at the depot."
The information wasn't extensive, nor was it especially precise, but Haori still nodded.
Even ninja operating deep behind enemy lines like them wouldn't know much about the bigger picture—unless Haori carried memories from another life.
That was just how ninja work was: no grand blueprint, only building high towers from flat ground, with every rise and fall depending on yourself.
"A large supply depot?"
Guy's eyes lit up immediately, but he quickly turned to look at Haori.
He was hot-blooded, not incompetent. He could tell that both Haori and Aoba were worried about him acting recklessly.
So for now, he behaved himself—though he still tended to suggest terrible ideas.
"How many people are there? And who's the tokubetsu jōnin?"
Haori noticed Guy's gaze. After a moment's hesitation, he asked anyway.
A tokubetsu jōnin might lack the all-round ability of a full jōnin, but people with that rank were usually no pushovers.
Even if it was a wartime promotion, it still meant solid merits. Haori couldn't afford to ignore that.
All three of them were strong, but strength didn't trump fate. No matter how capable they were, arrogance would get them killed.
With only three people, if the enemy numbers were too high, retreat would be the only sensible choice.
"There are about twenty permanent personnel at the depot,"
Aoba answered immediately.
"As for the tokubetsu jōnin, his name seems to be Suma-shi."
Suma-shi?
Haori tilted his head. The name sounded familiar.
A ninja proficient in Earth Release… and if he remembered correctly, someone who had once taken part in an encirclement against Kakashi.
Haori was a transmigrator, not an encyclopedia. He couldn't remember everything—especially characters who disappeared after a single episode.
[New Side Quest Acquired]
[1. Destroy the Iwagakure supply depot and cause internal chaos]
[2. Tell Iwagakure the plan and defect to become one of them]
[Reward: Unknown]
When the system notification popped up, Haori almost lost his composure.
He was already half-ready to go back and shout slogans like "Slay the father, betray the brother, the throne is blocked, Fugaku is not the rightful lord—Uchiha belongs to Lord Haori!"
And now this second option appeared?
What was that supposed to mean—start a brand-new Uchiha clan in Iwagakure?
If he did that, wouldn't he need to wear a helmet just to go fishing?
Sure, Iwagakure would probably be thrilled to have Uchiha blood continue in their village.
But the problem was his main quest: overthrow Uchiha Fugaku's tyranny, with the added "I'll take care of his wife" clause.
How exactly was he supposed to defect under those conditions?
"I understand."
Haori sighed inwardly, nodded, accepted Quest 1, and spoke.
"Rest in place. Aoba, mark the situation inside that depot as precisely as you can.
I think it's time we took action."
"Yes."
Aoba's expression turned serious.
After issuing the orders, Haori sat down on the spot. Guy proactively jumped into a tree to keep watch, his excitement obvious.
"Too few people. Not enough strength. This is a pain…"
Unlike Guy's enthusiasm, Haori's face remained calm, but inwardly he felt frustrated.
If he were strong enough—like Uchiha Madara—he could probably just charge straight in alone.
But he quickly shook his head with a self-mocking smile.
If he really had that kind of power, he'd already have personally killed Uchiha Fugaku—and maybe razed Konoha along with him.
"When we get back, overthrowing Fugaku will require more planning, greater power, and more allies."
For some reason, Haori suddenly thought of another side quest—Uchiha's Ultimate Weapon.
To be honest, he had no clue where to even begin with it.
The scroll's information was too sparse, and he didn't know where that person had been sealed.
"And after being sealed for a hundred years, he's probably just a pile of bones by now. What's the point of looking?"
Still, that was just him thinking out loud.
Side quests could grant abilities taken from others.
Even if it really was just a skeleton, maybe he could still get something?
After all, that person had once been called "the ultimate weapon of the Uchiha." He couldn't have been weak in life.
"Looks like when we get back, I'll need to look into families close to the Senju…"
Haori rubbed his chin. Suddenly, he remembered that Konoha had an old Uzumaki residence.
And Kushina was already living together with Minato—
"Today went fairly smoothly, but tomorrow will likely be dangerous. We need to be even more careful."
Inside a cave, Kakashi looked at the freshly replaced bandages on his shoulder.
He wanted to say thanks, but considering their current situation, as the acting squad leader he couldn't help but issue a reminder.
Minato had sent them into the enemy rear, eliminated the leech scouts, and then returned to the frontline.
Iwagakure was fighting desperately, and the pressure on Konoha was immense. Minato had to keep an eye on the front.
Thankfully, he had the Flying Thunder God Technique. Otherwise, this mission would've been impossible.
"Tch. Sensei already said that this morning."
Obito lay on the ground with a blade of grass in his mouth, speaking casually. Still, the look in his eyes toward Kakashi was different now.
He already knew about Kakashi's situation and felt deeply conflicted.
"Don't worry. We'll be careful."
Rin smiled as well, but then she sighed softly.
"I wonder how Haori and the others are doing. Honestly, he didn't even tell me he was coming on this mission."
On the day of departure, seeing Haori there had shocked her.
Despite facing such a dangerous mission himself, he still took the time to encourage her and see her off. That left a deep impression on her.
But her words instantly made Obito tense.
He still vividly remembered how Rin had originally been on her way to notify him of the mission—only to get intercepted by Haori halfway.
That thought made Obito seethe.
"That guy is just a jerk,"
Obito snapped.
"He just got lucky awakening the Sharingan. Otherwise—"
"Don't talk nonsense, Obito."
Rin cut him off sharply, her tone unconsciously turning stern.
"Haori is someone with strong convictions and a gentle heart. He's nothing like what you're saying!"
Obito was left speechless.
He stared at Rin in disbelief, his breathing growing rapid.
Kakashi, seeing this, could only shake his head helplessly. He was just about to tell both of them to shut up—
When a thunderous explosion suddenly shattered the quiet of the night.
The ground trembled.
~~--------------------------------
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