Chapter 23

Chapter 23

He chuckled awkwardly and replied:

"Yeah, just trying it out once. Letting Kakashi experience what it feels like to break the rules."

"Honestly, the feeling was only fleeting. It's just a moment where you think you're free."

Haneda was telling the truth, though he had a different hidden agenda in mind.

Sakumo didn't suspect Haneda's intentions to pull him toward the Uchiha. He laughed and said to Kakashi:

"Breaking the rules for that brief moment does give a sense of freedom, but that kind of freedom, free from rules, isn't true freedom."

"That freedom will eventually be bound by a new set of rules."

"Kakashi, and Haneda, remember this: true freedom is living within the rules you set for yourself."

"Those rules have boundaries, a sense of morality, and a degree of self-discipline."

"It's not about causing terror and slaughter in the name of so-called freedom."

'Do I not eat beef?' Haneda mused, resting his chin in his hand.

He recalled his school days when he snuck out of evening study sessions to go to an internet café; when he stole a phone from the teacher's office to play with in the dorm room...

In those moments, he had truly felt free.

But was that freedom really good?

In the end, he was afraid of getting caught by the teacher, which led to a new set of rules being created…

Haneda shook his head, pushing away the complicated thoughts.

'I'm just a kid, why am I pondering deep life philosophies like this?'

At that moment, a waitress entered the room, pushing a small cart.

"Here's your iced orange juice, little one," the waitress said, handing Haneda a glass with a smile.

"Thank you."

Haneda grinned brightly once more, lifting his head slightly.

...

Night had fallen on the outskirts of Konoha, near the Forest of Death.

Four masked men swiftly jumped from branch to branch, when suddenly, a man with short swords strapped to his back appeared in front of them.

The man had long, silver-white hair and wore casual clothing.

But the moment he drew the short sword from his back, his eyes changed.

They became sharp, filled with a terrifying killing intent.

As Muramasa and his team took one look into his eyes, they immediately felt the sweat forming on their foreheads.

"Konoha's Sakumo, what do you think you're doing? We are Root ninja, under Lord Danzo!"

Muramasa pulled out a kunai from his pouch, gripping it as he forced himself to stay calm.

"Just a lesson," Sakumo said coolly.

Before he finished speaking, a flash of silver light cut across, slicing through the mask on Muramasa's face.

The silver blade skimmed his pale cheek.

In an instant, Sakumo had already moved behind him.

Before Muramasa could react—

*Slash, slash, slash!*

Three flashes of the blade cut through, and the masks of all the Root ninja were sliced open, revealing their true faces.

Muramasa raised his kunai, instinctively ready to attack.

"Don't move. Move, and you die," Sakumo's voice rang coldly.

Muramasa was completely overwhelmed by Sakumo's aura, drenched in cold sweat as his shirt clung to his back.

"What is it you want, Lord Sakumo? We are Konoha ninja!" Muramasa said again, but this time his tone was much softer, clearly more submissive.

*Rustle, rustle, rustle...*

The night wind brushed past the four men's faces, carrying with it the dry, yellow leaves.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment until Sakumo sheathed his sword and began to leave slowly.

After a few steps, Sakumo turned back, casting a chilling glance at the four of them.

"Tell Danzo, don't involve adults in matters that concern children."

"And remember, Root is part of Konoha too. You should be doing village missions, not spying on the villagers."

With that, Sakumo disappeared in a flash, leaving the four Root ninja standing frozen in place, unable to move.

After a long while, Muramasa finally spoke:

"Move! What are you standing around for? Go report this to Lord Danzo!"

Hearing his words, the other three snapped out of their daze.

"Yes!"

...

"He said that?"

Danzo sat on a stone chair, his left eye slightly closed, face expressionless.

He was extremely calm, a calmness that made Muramasa and his team uneasy.

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

"Also, Lord Sakumo mentioned that Root ninja should be doing village tasks, not spying on villagers," Muramasa said cautiously, afraid of even the slightest displeasure from Danzo.

"I see. Withdraw all surveillance on Uchiha Haneda."

"And make sure that no word of Sakumo personally mentoring him leaks out."

"You are dismissed."

Danzo's voice was flat and steady.

"Yes, Lord Danzo," Muramasa and the others replied, instantly vanishing.

Danzo remained seated on his stone chair, left eye still slightly closed, his thoughts hidden.

Suddenly, he stood up and gazed at the tunnel leading from his office to the village of Konoha.

The tunnel was dark, illuminated only by the faint light of oil lamps flickering on the walls.

"You're too soft, Hiruzen…" Danzo muttered to himself, lost in thought.

Then, he sat back down, pulling out a classified document from his desk drawer.

"It seems the plan needs to be accelerated."

"Don't blame me, Hiruzen. I'll prove I am the one most fit to become Hokage!"

...

Elsewhere, Haneda returned to the Uchiha compound, his steps light and carefree.

Just then, a boy's figure rushed toward him.

"Haneda, you jerk! You skipped the entire day with that idiot Kakashi!"

Obito shouted, swinging a fist toward him.

"Kakashi's dad Sakumo invited us out for a meal. Of course, I went…"

Haneda caught Obito's fist and teased him, "What, are you upset about it?"

"Idiot, who cares what you do!"

Obito turned his head away, trying to act indifferent.

But Haneda knew all too well — to understand an Uchiha's heart, you had to look at their eyes, not their words.

"Alright, stop sulking, Obito."

Haneda moved to put a hand on Obito's shoulder, but Obito dodged it.

"I'm sorry for running off without telling you. Will you forgive me, Obito?" Haneda said with a hint of resignation.

After a moment, Obito's lips curled slightly upward. He tried to hide the smile, huffing:

"Fine, I'll forgive you this time, but seriously, why didn't Sakumo sama invite me too?"

"I even called him a hero at school!"

Suddenly, Obito remembered something and grumbled in frustration:

"It must've been that idiot Kakashi badmouthing me behind my back!"

Obito threw an arm around Haneda's shoulder and said:

"Come on, let's hang out at my place. You've got nothing to do at home by yourself anyway."

Haneda glanced at his wristwatch.

"It's almost 8:30. We have class tomorrow. Raincheck, Obito."

As he spoke, Haneda playfully tapped Obito on the forehead.

"Haneda, you jerk! Who said you could poke my forehead?!"

Obito roared angrily, throwing another punch at Haneda.

But Haneda easily dodged it, though this time Obito used his other hand to grab Haneda's arm.

"I don't care! You live alone, so just come stay at my place!"

***

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