That Is My Teacher's Son

The door to the Hokage Office was shoved open roughly, and Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura stormed in with furious expressions.

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen quietly gathered up the documents on his desk.

After the Two Advisors entered and saw Uchiha Toko present, they immediately snapped, "Uchiha Toko, why were Shu and Hayabusa the only ones who didn't return from this mission?"

Uchiha Toko glanced back at the two old fools and said indifferently, "Isn't it perfectly normal for ninjas to die while carrying out missions?"

"I think you were settling a personal grudge!" Utatane Koharu was more emotional. After all, her clan had lost a jonin in this mission. Although their family had developed rapidly over the years by riding the Third's coattails, a jonin was not someone they could cultivate whenever they pleased. What was more, only ninjas from the Utatane and Mitokado clans had died on this mission, while even the two weakest civilian ninjas had returned unscathed. It was hard not to suspect that Uchiha Toko had interfered behind the scenes. After all, they had done such things themselves.

"My mission report made it very clear. When we encountered Orochimaru, we were ambushed by large-scale ninjutsu. The two of them died because they failed to retreat in time." Kakashi stepped forward at that moment. "As for settling personal grudges, that is complete nonsense. Our entire team got along very well during the mission, and all of us deeply regret their sacrifices."

Uchiha Toko gave Kakashi an expressionless glance. Kakashi's progress really had been astonishingly fast. He had already mastered the basics of politics—lying through his teeth with his eyes wide open.

"Kakashi, you..." Utatane Koharu had not expected Kakashi to speak up at this time, leaving her momentarily speechless.

But Uchiha Toko spoke up then. "The Two Advisors certainly receive information quickly. We had been back in the village for less than half an hour after making our report, yet the Two Advisors had already come knocking."

Uchiha Toko did not finish his sentence, leaving the rest for Sarutobi Hiruzen to ponder.

"Enough!" Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk. "Koharu, Homura, you barged into the Hokage Office without permission. The two of you have gone too far!"

"Hiruzen?" Mitokado Homura looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen in disbelief.

"It seems Lord Hokage still has matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave. However, I ask that Lord Hokage carefully consider my suggestion. If Lord Hokage has any concerns, the Military Police Force can take full responsibility for this matter." Seeing that the timing was about right, Uchiha Toko bowed and took his leave.

After Uchiha Toko left, Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his eyes to the Two Advisors. "What are you two still doing here? Leave."

"Hiruzen..." Utatane Koharu wanted to say something more, but Mitokado Homura beside her tugged at her sleeve. Seeing this, Utatane Koharu could only leave the Hokage Office with him, somewhat unwillingly.

For a moment, Kakashi was the only one left in the Hokage Office. Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe and looked up. "Kakashi, is there anything else?"

Hearing this, Kakashi bowed, then said solemnly, "Lord Hokage, I want to resign from the Anbu."

Kakashi's words made Sarutobi Hiruzen frown. "Why did you suddenly have such thoughts, Kakashi?"

Kakashi lowered his head and took a deep breath. "I've just been feeling too tired lately."

The two fell silent for a time. Only after a long while did Sarutobi Hiruzen speak. "Then what are your plans afterward?"

"Probably carry out missions like an ordinary ninja," Kakashi said. "Then make up for the people I neglected all these years because I was immersed in grief."

"Is that so?" Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "It seems you have emerged from the pain of those years."

"Also, I would like to apply to look after Naruto." Kakashi did his best to keep all emotion from his voice.

Kakashi's words made Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze sharpen, and the room once again fell silent.

After a long time, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally said gravely, "Kakashi, you understand Naruto's identity, don't you?"

There was a trace of warning in Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone. Kakashi's desire to approach the Jinchuriki had undoubtedly touched a nerve.

"I understand." Kakashi raised his head and looked Sarutobi Hiruzen directly in the eye, his tone incomparably firm. "But he is also my teacher's son."

Kakashi's resolute insistence left Sarutobi Hiruzen somewhat speechless. If anyone else had made this request, the Third would likely have turned hostile by now. But no matter how he looked at it, there was nothing wrong with Kakashi's request. As the Fourth's only surviving disciple, Kakashi had some obligation to care for the Fourth's orphan, and Sarutobi Hiruzen could find no reason to object.

Moreover, if he forcefully opposed it, Kakashi would probably become completely alienated from him.

After finishing his pipe, Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a heavy sigh. "All right. I had originally planned to have you serve as Naruto's team leader after he graduated, but since you have brought it up now, I'll leave Naruto to you."

"Thank you." Only after the Third relented did Kakashi finally relax, nodding in reply.

"Kakashi, after leaving the Anbu, take up a post in the Jonin Squad. The village cannot do without you for the time being," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.

"As Lord Hokage commands." Kakashi nodded.

After Uchiha Toko returned home, the steward, Uchiha Keiko, had thoughtfully prepared hot water for his bath.

After bathing, Uchiha Toko returned to his room, lit some incense, and began maintaining Swift Lightning.

Before long, Uchiha Keiko knocked on the door. "Clan Head, Elder Fugaku has come to visit."

"Please show him in, and prepare the tea set for me."

"Yes." Uchiha Keiko accepted the order and left.

A short while later, in the reception room of Uchiha Toko's residence, Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Toko sat kneeling across from each other as Uchiha Toko handled the tea set.

"Elder Fugaku, please." Uchiha Toko offered him a cup of tea.

As expected of an elite who had received the education of a prestigious clan from childhood, unlike Kakashi's barbaric way of drinking tea, Fugaku's etiquette was flawless. Only after completing the full tea ceremony ritual did he set down his cup and speak. "I never expected you to possess such skill, Douhuan."

"You flatter me, Elder Fugaku. I merely studied it a little when I was alone." Uchiha Toko smiled. "What brings Elder Fugaku here so late at night?"

"Did this mission go smoothly?" Uchiha Fugaku asked.

"It went fairly smoothly." Uchiha Toko said, "Although we failed to capture Orochimaru, we gained some important results. More importantly, every member of the clan returned safely."

During the new book period, I hope all my brothers will continue following and supporting it.

Also, it's time for some book recommendations.

First, Yi'an's new book, "The Restricted Death God." Its style should be the same as his previous books. Highly recommended!

Then there's Nongmo's "Becoming a Ninja Starting from Naruto," which goes premium tomorrow at noon. I wish the boss's new book huge sales after it goes premium.

Come to think of it, once the boss's new book goes premium, won't I become number one in the category's new book rankings?