Chapter 20: CHAPTER 20
System Notifications
[Ding! Uchiha Kenji's impression +13]
[Ding! Uchiha Kenji's favorability +27]
…
[Ding! Uchiha Fugaku's impression +39]
[The host's favorability with Uchiha Kenji reaches 76 → Reward: +0.2 chakra cards and a fragment of Sharingan's pupil power]
[The host's favorability with Uchiha Fugaku reaches 86 → Reward: +0.3 chakra cards and a fragment of Sharingan's pupil power]
[Congratulations! Host meets the requirements for Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Next stage: Mangekyō Sharingan (9/100)]
A string of system prompts echoed in Haneda's mind, making him pause mid-step.
"What's wrong, Haneda?" Kakashi asked, noting his friend's distracted look.
"It's nothing," Haneda said with a light smile. The surge of chakra in his body gradually calmed.
He tilted his head toward the sunset; golden light spilled across his face. Raising a hand to shield his eyes, he grinned.
"Let's go, Kakashi. Your house first, or Barbecue Q?"
"Come to my house. Father wants to see you." Kakashi's tone was calm, as always.
"Oh?" Haneda's brows lifted with mild curiosity.
---
Root's Underground Base – Forest of Death
Beneath the massive roots, a Root operative wearing a fox mask sprinted down a dim tunnel before kneeling in a cold, stone chamber.
"Report, Lord Danzo! Uchiha Haneda and Hatake Kakashi skipped classes this morning and entered the Uchiha compound around 0900 hours."
Danzo, seated behind a stone desk, turned slightly, his single visible eye narrowing.
"Why report this so late?"
The operative's voice remained level, though his posture stiffened.
"Reporting, Lord Danzo—the Uchiha Military Police detained me. I was released at 17:32."
Danzo's fingers curled against the desk. The Police Force interferes with Root again…
"Pathetic," he spat, his voice low and venomous. Then, colder:
"You didn't return empty-handed, did you? Where did they go next?"
"They moved toward the Hatake residence. It appears Kakashi intended to bring Uchiha Haneda home."
Bang!
Danzo's palm struck the stone table, cracks spider-webbing across its surface. His voice dropped to a deadly hiss.
"Hatake Sakumo… forming ties with the Uchiha? Rebellion. Treachery against the Hokage's order!"
The Root agent froze, barely daring to breathe.
After a pause, Danzo's tone steadied, each word laced with steel.
"Send Muramasa with Ghost-Face and Demon Cat. Observe Hatake Sakumo's house. Record everything. No mistakes."
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
---
Hatake Residence – Early Evening
The sliding door creaked softly as Kakashi and Haneda stepped inside.
"I'm back, Father," Kakashi said, voice quiet.
A deep, even tone responded from the study.
"Kakashi. I hear you skipped class today."
Kakashi stiffened. His first time breaking rules—first time stepping outside that straight path drilled into him. For a moment, he couldn't speak.
"I asked him to come with me, Uncle Sakumo," Haneda interjected lightly.
The study door slid open. Hatake Sakumo appeared—silver hair gleaming, forehead protector in place, and eyes like sharpened steel. His presence was overwhelming, a weight in the air like unsheathed steel ready to strike.
Haneda's breath caught. This man… this is a predator. A killer who's walked battlefields.
The oppressive aura pressed against him until—
Sakumo smiled. Warmth spread like spring sunlight, and the killing intent evaporated.
"You're Uchiha Haneda, yes?" Sakumo's voice was calm, almost gentle.
Haneda exhaled softly and forced a grin.
"That's me—Konoha's future number one genius, who just defeated Kakashi."
Kakashi rolled his eyes in silence. Show-off.
But Sakumo understood. The boy was easing his own nerves with humor—a survival instinct he'd seen in countless shinobi.
"You know," Sakumo said with a faint chuckle, "skipping class isn't ideal. If you need time off, speak to your instructor."
Haneda shrugged inwardly. Classes? Once I've nailed Shadow Clones, I'm done playing student.
Kakashi quickly filled the gap:
"Father, we weren't playing. We trained with Fugaku-senpai today—an Uchiha jōnin. He taught us Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique and a C-rank genjutsu, the Fox Heart Technique. I can demonstrate—"
"No need." Sakumo raised a hand, his smile calm but firm.
"You don't have to explain every step, Kakashi. You're old enough to decide how you train. I don't need constant reports."
His tone softened as he added:
"Of course… if you want to share, I'll always listen."
Kakashi's throat tightened. He nodded quickly, relief washing over him—yet beneath that warmth, an emptiness lingered. He trusts me too much… or maybe… he's too distant.
"Come," Sakumo said, placing a steady hand on Haneda's shoulder, guiding him toward the low table.
"Let's sit. I'm afraid I don't keep much at home—no fancy drinks."
Haneda forced a laugh.
"It's fine. Only kids need juice." He sat stiff-backed, every movement careful.
"Relax, Haneda. Treat this place as your own home." Sakumo's eyes softened. But the tension in the boy's posture didn't escape him. Did I come on too strong earlier?
The room fell quiet—two Hatakes, both reserved, and one Uchiha pretending confidence. Silence thickened until Haneda spoke.
"Uncle Sakumo, I heard you've completed over twenty S-rank missions. Is that true?" His voice carried a mix of awe and curiosity.
Sakumo's expression eased into a faint smile.
"S-rank missions, huh? They're not always as dramatic as they sound. Most don't risk your life—unless the mission involves enemy territory."
"Are they harder than A-rank?" Haneda leaned forward, eager.
"The hardest aren't assassinations." Sakumo's eyes turned distant, shadowed with memory.
"The real challenge is infiltration… intelligence work. Too many variables. Too much that can go wrong."
Then he smiled faintly, a razor edge hidden in silk.
"Killing? Killing is easy."
The words sent a shiver crawling up Haneda's spine. Goddamn… this man just said murder is 'easy' like it's breathing.
He forced a grin, masking his awe with a teasing tone.
"I also heard your kenjutsu is so deadly people faint if they see it twice."
A flicker of amusement glinted in Sakumo's eyes.
"Exaggerations travel fast."
Haneda smirked, but deep down, one thought pulsed like thunder:
This man… could kill a Kage.