Third Hokage-sama's Right-Hand Men

The next morning.

Asuka borrowed two large bowls from Teuchi, carried over freshly cooked ramen, and went straight to Kakashi's house.

Knock! Knock! After a series of knocks, the door quickly opened from inside.

Looking at the bleary-eyed Kakashi, who seemed completely drained, Asuka handed him the ramen bowl in his right hand, then jerked his chin toward the morning glow on the eastern horizon and sighed.

"It really wasn't easy catching you for once."

Catching me? The aroma of the ramen drifted straight through his nostrils and into his stomach. Kakashi looked at the still-steaming bowl, then raised his head to look at Asuka in confusion.

"Why were you trying to catch me?"

"Eat first. We'll talk after you finish."

Seeing the other man force the bowl into his hands, Kakashi let out a huge yawn. He turned to look at the time on the wall, and his expression froze.

It's only five. Did I sleep for one hour?

Then, each holding a bowl of ramen, they jumped onto the roof of the Hatake House and began eating while facing the morning glow.

"Kakashi, I didn't expect the missions you carried out to be so high-level. I couldn't find out anything at all."

Slurp!

After taking a mouthful of noodles, Kakashi barely recovered some of his energy. Looking at the morning glow in the distance, he replied vaguely.

"Anbu missions are all like that. The confidentiality level is very high."

"How about we spar after we finish eating?"

Pfft! A mouthful of hot broth sprayed from his mouth. He turned to look at the excited Asuka, then lowered his head to stare at the still-steaming ramen broth in his hands, feeling utterly speechless.

Sure enough, his bad premonition had come true. He knew Asuka would not treat him to ramen for no reason.

Rolling his dead-fish eyes, he slurped his noodles and spoke.

"Hold off on the sparring. I have a long-term mission, and using too much Chakra would affect it."

He did not mind sparring with Asuka.

When his father had still been alive, Asuka had often come to their house for a time to ask about swordsmanship. Later, after his father passed away, Asuka had also taken good care of him.

And later, after he obtained the Sharingan, Asuka had been one of only two Uchiha clansmen who supported not taking it back for the time being.

"There's no time like the present!"

Asuka took a sip of hot broth, set his empty bowl on the roof, and said comfortably.

"I'm about to join the Anbu. By then, maybe you'll have time when I don't, or I'll have time when you don't."

Seeing the anticipation in Asuka's eyes, Kakashi's mouth twitched. He finished the broth in his bowl and refused.

"Sigh, I've been too busy lately."

Smack! Asuka pulled a magazine from his clothes and tossed it into Kakashi's arms.

"Next time, then—"

Smack! Before he could finish speaking, Kakashi saw another magazine appear in his arms.

"Next—"

Seeing that Kakashi still had not been moved and that he had yet to reach his limit, Asuka pulled out another magazine and smacked it onto Kakashi's hand.

Now, he could feel that Kakashi was panicking. Really panicking. His face instantly flushed bright red.

"Hey, hey..."

"I'll give you these three enlightenment magazines. Tonight, I'll be waiting for you in the little woods."

With that, Asuka picked up the two empty bowls and ran straight for Teuchi's Ramen Shop.

Those magazines of his could not even be found on the market.

After all, he had drawn them himself.

As for the Three Ninja Prohibitions... Enlightenment reading was called enlightenment reading because it was a book, one capable of opening the door to a new world.

And women, one of the Three Ninja Prohibitions, were that new world.

The Three Ninja Prohibitions and enlightenment reading could not be lumped together.

As time passed, the sun rose over the horizon. Konoha, shrouded in a thin mist, gradually awoke from its slumber, and more and more pedestrians appeared on the streets.

By the time Asuka returned the empty bowls and leisurely arrived at the Hokage Building, the place was already busy with the new day.

"Excuse me, where do I report to the Anbu?"

Casually stopping someone, Asuka pointed toward Minato Namikaze's house and said.

"Hokage-sama told me to report today, but when I passed by his house earlier, I vaguely heard Fourth Hokage's Wife roaring. I'm guessing Fourth Hokage-sama will be coming in later today."

"Tsk!"

After looking sympathetically toward Fourth Hokage-sama's house, the ninja pointed at a room beside them and smiled.

"Register there, then take the information to Hokage-sama for his signature."

"Thanks!"

Watching Asuka leave, as well as the clan crest on his back, the ninja raised his brows and muttered.

"The Uchiha really are easygoing."

Knock! Knock! He tapped the door twice with his knuckles, then heard an elderly male voice from inside.

"Enter!"

Pushing open the door, Asuka looked at the bright room, its simple furnishings, and the old man seated in a chair. His expression turned serious.

"Hello, I'm here to report to the Anbu."

"Name."

"Uchiha Asuka."

Uchiha, huh!

The old man's registration pen paused. He looked at Asuka with some surprise.

Although the Uchiha clan also had people in the Anbu, they preferred staying in the Military Police Force. He had not expected to receive three Uchiha in one day. That was truly unusual.

With that thought, he lowered his head and continued asking.

"Ninjutsu specialty."

"Fire."

"Strength."

"Jonin."

"Your dream."

???

Asuka stared at the old man with a head full of question marks.

You needed a dream to join the Anbu?

Saying he wanted to safely live out his life seemed a little inappropriate.

After thinking for a moment, Asuka took a deep breath and shouted at the old man.

"I'm going to become the Fifth Hokage!"

That roar carried directly out of the room and onto the street. Pedestrians stopped one after another to look toward the Hokage Building, unable to help but sigh inwardly.

Just listen.

From that shout alone, they could judge the man's spirit, resolve, and will... Another ninja aiming to become Hokage.

Well done.

At that moment.

The old man in the room covered his ears with both hands and looked at Asuka speechlessly.

If he wanted to become Hokage, then become Hokage. Why was he shouting? He dug at his ears, scribbled down a few notes, and continued asking.

"After becoming an Anbu, do you have any goals? For example, how many missions do you expect to complete? At what point do you expect to retire from the Anbu?"

"No. If there's a mission, I'll do it."

Mm... A mission fanatic who did any mission available. After recording that, the old man set down his pen and looked at Asuka kindly.

"Welcome to the Anbu. Now, all that remains is Hokage-sama's approval, and then you can be assigned to a group.

"With your strength, you'll probably be assigned to the third group.

"There are actually many hidden experts in the Anbu. Those ranked in the top fifteen are basically all Jonin.

"They may not have the Sharingan, but their own strength is extremely formidable.

"As for the Squad Leaders, not only are they powerful, but the number of missions they have carried out and their success rates are terrifying. Even if you risked your life completing missions, it would be difficult to catch up to them in a short time.

"After joining, you Uchiha need to rein in your arrogant tempers a little. Don't make things unpleasant between teammates."

Hiss!

Asuka inhaled sharply, stepped forward twice, braced both hands on the desk, and asked curiously.

"Then according to that, the Anbu Squad Leaders and Captain's strength...?"

"That's right. The Anbu Captain is extremely strong, and their abilities are very well-rounded.

"Though there is only one word separating Captain and Squad Leader, the difference in missions and strength is enormous.

"Just like the difference between you and a Squad Leader."

"Pardon me for asking, but are there any higher-ups in the Anbu whose identities can be made public?"

"Third Hokage-sama's Right-Hand Men hold important positions in the Anbu and are extremely powerful. This Old One cannot tell you any further details for now."

"That's it??"

Asuka blinked blankly. Of course he knew who Sarutobi Hiruzen's right-hand men were.

Were they not the Third Hokage's son and daughter-in-law?

An Anbu Captain's strength was probably around elite Jonin level. Kage-level was likely impossible.

Then Squad Leaders were probably Special Jonin or Jonin... The gap between one Jonin and another was greater than the gap between a person and a dog.