Chapter 33: Those Who Don’t Cherish Their Comrades Are Worse Than Trash

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

"Wind Style: Pressure Damage!"

The combined force of fire and wind cleared the battlefield ahead in an instant.

Ding! Congratulations, Host! You've successfully plundered a reward: Chakra +1!

Ding! Congratulations, Host! You've successfully plundered a reward: Mental Strength +1!

Ding! Congratulations, Host…

With the notifications ringing in his mind, Mirai gripped Kakashi's shoulder and swiftly pulled them both back.

"Kill him!"

"There! Uchiha Mirai! Get him!"

"Damn it! This time, he's not getting away."

Dozens of Sunagakure ninja rushed in from all sides, converging on Mirai. In the distance, more Sand shinobi were racing to join the fray. Shuriken, kunai, and jutsu filled the air, bombarding them without mercy, swallowing up everything in their path and causing the ground to tremble.

"Mirai, you go ahead. I'll hold them off," Kakashi said through gritted teeth as the Sand ninja closed in.

"Cut the crap," Mirai scoffed.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

With quick hand seals, he used shadow clones to unleash several combined jutsu, then opened the first three gates of the Eight Gates technique, instantly boosting his speed.

"Mirai, you really know how to draw a crowd," Kakashi remarked, watching the frenzied Sand shinobi.

"Save your breath, Kakashi. Next time you rush in like that, don't expect me to come save you." Mirai detonated the explosive tags he'd set up beforehand, putting a loud, fiery distance between them and the Sunagakure ninja.

Back at camp, Mirai tossed Kakashi to the ground, pulled out a few soldier pills, and popped them into his mouth to recover his stamina. As his chakra gradually replenished, he let out a long sigh of relief.

It had been two months on the front lines, and days like these had become a routine.

After their clash with Rasa, Sunagakure officially declared war on Konoha, launching a full-scale assault. Rumors of how Mirai had held his own against Rasa and Maki spread quickly, causing a stir across the shinobi world. Almost every ninja now knew of the prodigious young talent from the Uchiha clan.

Mirai could see through Sunagakure's intentions—they wanted him in the spotlight, to become a prime target. He knew that once word spread, not just Sunagakure, but every hidden village would consider him a threat to be eliminated. After all, snuffing out talent before it could bloom was the most efficient approach.

On the battlefield with Sunagakure, Mirai received "special attention." Every time he was recognized, the Sand shinobi would go all out to take him down.

Had it not been for Konoha's counterattack strategy—using Mirai as bait to set a devastating ambush—today's pursuit would have been even more relentless. In return, however, Mirai's abilities had advanced at breakneck speed.

He had gained over 200 attribute points from plundering alone! And learned dozens of new jutsu. Compared to when he first arrived on the front lines, Mirai's strength had undergone a complete transformation.

Status

Name: Uchiha Mirai

Physique: 200

Mental Strength: 180

Chakra: 192

Bloodline Limits: Sharingan, Magnet Release: Gold Dust!

Jutsu: Lightning Style: Chidori, Flying Thunder God Jutsu, Wind Style: Pressure Damage, Wind Style: Passing Typhoon, etc.

Looking at his attributes, all nearing the two-hundred mark, Mirai's lips curled into a slight smile. The battlefield truly was the perfect place to hone his strength.

If only he could acquire a more advanced constitution—one like the Sage's body. That would give him the endurance and recovery rate he still lacked, propelling his strength to new heights.

Speaking of special constitutions… Mirai thought, a goal forming in his mind.

"Hard to believe you're still smiling," Kakashi remarked dryly.

Living day after day in this high-stakes environment, constantly being hunted—anyone else would have cracked under the pressure by now. Yet Mirai thrived, eagerly throwing himself into battle every time.

Kakashi was beginning to wonder if Mirai was somehow addicted to the thrill.

"Kakashi, you wouldn't understand the fun of being overpowered," Mirai said cryptically.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, not quite following. Mirai always had a knack for saying things that made no sense.

Still, recalling the danger they'd just escaped, Kakashi spoke up seriously,

"Mirai, if we're ever in a situation like that again, just save yourself. The village needs you to live and reach your full potential more than anything else."

Mirai gave him a sidelong look. "Are you being sentimental?"

"Who's being sentimental?" Kakashi flushed. "I'm serious. It's important for a shinobi to put the village's interests first."

"Just like how a shinobi who can't complete a mission is called trash?" Kakashi's expression was firm. "In service to the village, everything else can be sacrificed. Even comrades…"

Smack!

The sharp sound of a slap left Kakashi stunned.

"You've got it backwards, Kakashi," Mirai said coolly. "We don't live to protect the village. The village exists to protect us."

"A shinobi who can't complete a mission is called trash? Well, a shinobi who doesn't value their comrades is worse than trash."

"True loyalty begins with small acts of compassion. If you can't even care for the people right next to you, any so-called 'greater good' is just selfish ambition disguised as noble intent."

"You could learn a lot from your father. Compared to him, you're hiding behind the rules."

With that, Mirai left, heading back to his quarters. Since he had promised Minato to help Kakashi, he didn't mind giving him some hard truths. Hopefully, he would start to see things differently.

…

Much later, Kakashi came back to himself, eyes moist. He clenched his fist, his mouth open in a silent gasp.

For so many years, he'd been haunted by what happened to his father. Deep down, he'd always admired his father's choice, but lacked the courage to voice it. He'd forced himself to believe that following orders was all that mattered.

How many times had he woken from nightmares, haunted by the comrades he had abandoned in service to his missions?

But now… finally, someone had told him: his father wasn't wrong after all.

"A shinobi who can't complete a mission is trash? No, a shinobi who doesn't value their comrades is worse than trash…"

As Mirai's words echoed in his mind, Kakashi's gaze softened.

Father, you taught me to seek a goal worth dedicating my life to. And now… I think I've found it.

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