"Rank A Mission"

Hokage Office, Konoha.

The four people inside all wore grave expressions. They had never expected Kushina Uzumaki to present them with such a difficult problem.

Kushina Uzumaki was different from ordinary ninja. She was now a candidate for the next Hokage and enjoyed certain privileges in Konoha.

For example, a proposal like directly allowing the Konoha Military Police Force to recruit members from other ninja clans could be implemented without first being discussed by the Hokage Office.

This convenience Konoha granted Hokage candidates left the four members of the Hokage faction deeply conflicted.

They did not want the Uchiha Military Police Force to recruit members from other ninja clans, but it had already happened. The Konoha Military Police Force's announcement had been posted, and the selection process was already in full swing.

"Hiruzen! You never should have agreed to let Kushina become a Hokage candidate! Many of Konoha's small and mid-sized ninja clans are increasingly recognizing Kushina Uzumaki's status as a Hokage candidate. Once Kushina Uzumaki gains any major achievements, or if you make any serious mistakes, she will naturally become the strongest candidate for Hokage!"

Shimura Danzō's expression was dark. He had not expected Kushina Uzumaki to pull something like this. Konoha had no outside enemies during this period, and everyone was recuperating. Things should have remained peaceful.

But Kushina had stepped in and used the Konoha Military Police Force to give other ninja clans an opportunity to join. Even Danzō found himself at a loss.

After all, the Uchiha had always been in charge of the Military Police Force and had constant conflicts with ordinary civilians. Now that the Uchiha were allowing other ninja clans into the Military Police Force, one of his methods for targeting the Uchiha had effectively been rendered useless.

"Danzō, Kushina is raising her reputation, so there is no need for us to panic. She has neither high-level missions nor wartime achievements. She cannot threaten me. We only need to maintain Konoha's stability and not give Kushina any excuse to compete for the position of Hokage."

Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his pipe against the table, considering how to deal with Kushina Uzumaki's steadily mounting pressure.

"Hiruzen! We cannot just sit and wait for death! Kushina Uzumaki's threat is already imminent, and you still intend to ignore it?"

Shimura Danzō was feeling extremely miserable. He had wanted to become Hokage for so long, yet Minato Namikaze had gotten there before him. And now Kushina Uzumaki was about to become Hokage before him as well. Wouldn't that make him a complete joke?

"Third Hokage, Kushina Uzumaki has already threatened Konoha's stability. We cannot stand by and watch her grow." After Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance, they took out a scroll. "This is a mission in River Country. Hiruzen, assign it to Kushina."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took the mission and looked it over. It was merely a Rank A Mission. A group of Rogue Ninja had occupied a village, and their leader was rumored to be a jonin, though his exact strength was unknown.

"This is...?"

After taking a few puffs from his pipe, Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated.

"Hiruzen! Don't hesitate. This is a solo mission. Just say that there are not many jonin in the village lately, so she is needed to complete this Rank A Mission."

Shimura Danzō nodded to his two old friends, immediately signaling for Sarutobi Hiruzen to make his decision.

"Danzō, Kushina is a Jinchuriki. If she wants to run, you won't be able to stop her."

"Hmph, have you forgotten? Didn't you ask me to form the Sealing Team? Since there's no Masked Man, then use it on the Jinchuriki!"

"But that would cost Konoha one Jinchuriki."

"You're about to be overthrown, yet you're still worrying about this and that. What use is that?" Shimura Danzō shot the Third Hokage a disdainful look. He simply did not want to dirty his own hands, yet he spoke as if he were truly worried about Konoha's decline.

"Fine, Danzō. Don't disappoint me."

"Hmph, Hiruzen! Rest assured!" Shimura Danzō left the Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen remained behind with his two advisors.

"Tell me, have I truly grown old? Do I need to rely on these underhanded methods to maintain my position?"

"Third Hokage, this is for Konoha's long-term peace and stability!" After saying that, Utatane Koharu also left the Hokage Office.

Mitokado Homura nodded to Sarutobi Hiruzen and left the Hokage Office as well.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was left alone, smoking his pipe as he issued a mission to Kushina Uzumaki.

Within the Konoha Military Police Force, Kushina Uzumaki and Uchiha Fugaku received many ninja clans together. Some of those clans were on the verge of decline. Kushina was straightforward; after comforting those declining clans, she accepted some chunin into the Military Police Force.

Fugaku looked down somewhat on these declining ninja clans, but with Kushina beside him, he still received them politely.

Kushina Uzumaki had written in the Military Police Force recruitment notice: No matter which Konoha clan you come from, as long as you have shed blood for Konoha, the Konoha Military Police Force welcomes you!

"Lady Kushina, the ninja from these declining clans are far too weak. Their average strength does not even reach chunin level. Why let such trash into the Military Police Force?"

After the recruitment process had temporarily come to an end, Uchiha Fugaku asked in confusion.

Upon hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words in the Sealing Space, Anju was also left somewhat speechless.

"Clan Head Fugaku, what kinds of disputes does the Konoha Military Police Force mainly deal with?"

"All kinds of disputes!"

"Then let me put it another way. Does the Konoha Military Police Force mainly deal with Konoha Ninja or Konoha civilians?"

"Uh, both civilians and ninja."

"Fine, Clan Head Fugaku, let me make it clear: the Konoha Military Police Force mainly deals with civilians. As for ninja, the Anbu most likely handle them, so Military Police Force members do not need particularly high combat strength."

"Lady Kushina, you mean...?"

"Clan Head Fugaku, your Uchiha Clan has enough military strength, but not enough tact. The members of these declining ninja clans may not be very strong, but because their own clans have declined, their social skills are absolutely top-tier. That is also why I recruited members from these declining ninja clans."

At that moment, an Anbu member arrived at the Konoha Military Police Force. "Lady Kushina, Lord Hokage wishes to see you."

"Understood. I'll go right away." After speaking, Kushina looked at Fugaku.

"Clan Head Fugaku, remember: every Military Police Force squad carrying out missions must include members from these ninja clans. Otherwise, there will still be cases of people filing complaints against the Military Police Force."

"Yes, Lady Kushina."

As Uchiha Fugaku watched Kushina being led away by the Anbu member to see the Hokage, he shook his head and looked at the ninja outside the Military Police Force.

"Lady Kushina really has the Uchiha Clan's best interests at heart."

Before long, Kushina arrived at the Hokage Office.

"Lord Hokage."

"Kushina, you're here. There's a mission here. Since too many of the village's jonin are away carrying out missions, I've decided to assign this one directly to you."

After Kushina took the mission from Sarutobi Hiruzen, she glanced at it and could not help finding it amusing when she saw that it was a Rank A Mission.

Sarutobi Hiruzen simply would not give her high-ranking missions anymore. Over these past days, most of the missions she had received had been Rank B Missions. Now he had finally given her a Rank A Mission—it really was hard on the Third Hokage.

"Yes! I'll complete the mission as soon as possible."

Kushina Uzumaki turned and left the Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was left behind, sighing amid the smoke that filled the room.