Young Master, Please Become Hokage

Perhaps the higher-ups truly had no intention of killing Kagami Uchiha, but Kagami Uchiha ultimately chose death to prove his resolve, refusing to be tainted by Konoha High Command and to clear his name.

As a loyal retainer who had rendered countless meritorious services to Konoha, it was truly heartbreaking... and infuriating, that such a powerful individual would meet such an end.

"Young Master... what are you thinking about?"

Ino Yamanaka asked, holding a steamed bun in her hand.

"Nothing," Akira Sarutobi shook his head and swallowed the bun in one bite.

After breakfast, the two walked along the street, heading towards the end of the road leading to the Hokage Building.

A row of houses called the "Document Warehouse" was rarely visited.

One of these warehouses was the reporting location for the Anbu, and also Shimura Danzo's "Anbu office."

Of course, this was just the surface; the intricate underground network of Konoha was Danzo's true Root.

As he arrived at the office entrance, Akira Sarutobi happened to run into his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and his mother, Biwako Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, in his prime, was full of vigor.

In his right eye's thermal vision, his father appeared like a sun, radiating unimaginable light and heat.

And Shimura Danzo beside him was not to be underestimated either.

"Father, Mother, Lord Danzo,"

Akira Sarutobi greeted them casually.

His stoic calmness was almost identical to his mother, Biwako Sarutobi.

In terms of appearance, Akira Sarutobi inherited the handsomeness of his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in his youth.

Anyone could tell at a glance that Akira Sarutobi was their biological son.

But only Akira Sarutobi knew that his soul... came from another world.

"Akira Sarutobi, after joining the Anbu, it's not like home. Don't act like a Young Master; you have to start from scratch..."

Biwako Sarutobi was also an Anbu alumna.

She was even among the first batch of ninja under the Anbu founded by Senju Tobirama.

Therefore, she understood the operational logic of the Anbu even better.

Akira Sarutobi naturally nodded in agreement to her earnest teachings.

"Your son's upbringing is fine, but I seriously doubt his abilities..."

Danzō stared at Akira Sarutobi, repeating his old refrain.

Hiruzen, your son... isn't dark enough, he's not suited for the Anbu.

Akira Sarutobi had been in this world for over a decade and had interacted with Danzō quite a bit.

Danzō was not as foolishly naive as rumored online, nor would he say things like... "Hiruzen, you will regret this."

In Akira Sarutobi's understanding, Utatane Koharu would be more likely to say such a line.

The real Danzō was a ninja of great depth and foresight.

He kept his emotions hidden, giving off an impression of being brooding and ambitious.

Akira Sarutobi had never seen Danzō laugh; he managed his emotions extremely well.

Without this, he wouldn't have been able to carry out plans like killing Shisui, deceiving Itachi into slaughtering his clan, or killing Yahiko in the original story.

"Hmm..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly, his gaze shifting between his son, Akira Sarutobi, and his old classmate, Shimura Danzō.

"Even if it's not successful, it will be good training..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi observed his eldest son. This eldest son had a personality similar to his mother's, stoic, but not overly stern.

When completing missions, he was unremarkable, never showing off, yet he was ruthless, spoke little, and struck with extreme precision. This could be judged from the wound marks on the bodies of the enemies he had killed.

If there was a flaw, it was probably his excessive integrity and slight reclusiveness, making him less gregarious than Minato Namikaze.

And to become Hokage... one needed to be recognized by everyone.

With this thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi had an inspiration and, as if guided by fate, asked: "Akira Sarutobi, in your opinion... what kind of person... can become Hokage?"

"Answering Father, only someone recognized by everyone can become Hokage..."

Akira Sarutobi blurted out without hesitation. Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes changed, and a smile began to form.

This was the standard answer, a sign of awakening to the Will of Fire.

However, Akira Sarutobi's next sentence made him frown.

"But sometimes, if the masses are deceived by a small group, then... catering to the masses' preferences would be akin to colluding with that minority... ultimately leading the blind to lead the blind, and the blind to fall into a fiery pit... Even if one becomes Hokage, they would lead everyone into an abyss, causing the village and everyone to be irredeemably doomed... This is not a true Hokage, but merely selfish ambition to obtain the title of Hokage."

After Akira Sarutobi finished speaking, his mother, Biwako, also began to frown.

The atmosphere in the room turned strange.

The two of them couldn't quite grasp what their eldest son meant for a moment.

And just as Hiruzen Sarutobi and Biwako Sarutobi exchanged glances, trying to figure out their eldest son's thoughts.

Danzō spoke.

"Hiruzen, I take back what I said earlier... your son... might just become the most outstanding Anbu ninja in history..."

Danzō's sudden change in evaluation made Hiruzen Sarutobi pause slightly.

Immediately, Hiruzen Sarutobi beamed: "Danzō, since you say so, then I'm relieved... Akira Sarutobi."

Akira Sarutobi: "Yes."

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Danzō is your elder, and he has made great achievements in the Anbu..."

Simply put, work hard under your Uncle Danzō.

"..."

Finally, Akira Sarutobi watched his father and mother leave before walking into the dim Anbu office with Danzō...

Chapter 20: Anbu Mission

"You should have heard from Hiruzen Sarutobi already..."

Danzō opened his narrowed eyes, while Akira Sarutobi listened expressionlessly.

Ino Yamanaka, standing beside them, looked around, appraising the dark room.

Most people in the village thought Danzō was just the Anbu Commander, unaware that he had another unit under him called "Root."

Root's personnel composition was complex, including not only ninja from the village but also children brought back from other villages, and even foreign countries.

The room was very dark.

Even during the day, sunlight couldn't penetrate it, and large candles burned in the four corners of the walls.

Shadows enveloped Danzō's figure, making him appear even more sinister and terrifying.

"I originally thought... you weren't very suited for the Anbu..."

But Akira Sarutobi's words just now had changed Danzō's mind.

Just as Danzō believed Hiruzen Sarutobi inherited the weakness of Senju Hashirama. Sometimes, the majority's opinion doesn't represent the correct one.

Danzō remained noncommittal about some of the First Hokage's beliefs. This could be seen from his unfriendly attitude towards Tsunade.

As one of Senju Tobirama's disciples, Danzō inherited the dark side of Senju Tobirama and greatly admired Senju Tobirama's sharp and ruthless side.

A minority, elite politics... To put it more bluntly, Danzō believed that while everyone else was drunk, he alone was sober, and only he was fit to control Konoha and become Hokage.

"..."

Akira Sarutobi frowned.

Old geezer, did you misunderstand something?

Familiar with the work Naruto, Akira Sarutobi could naturally guess Danzō's thoughts.

But clearly, he had misunderstood the meaning Akira Sarutobi was trying to convey.

Konoha's past and present illness lay in the fact that all the higher-ups had walked the path of "Fire Style."

The Will of Fire had been twisted.

As the saying goes, one blind person leads the blind, and the blind fall into the fiery pit.

With such high-level figures, Konoha would eventually be dragged into the abyss.

"Of course, we still need your achievements to prove yourself..."

Danzō unhurriedly opened a scroll and began assigning Anbu missions to Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka.

Akira Sarutobi's previous words had caused him to change his opinion.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's son was now under his command and might join the Anbu.

Danzō's lips curled, and a rare joy welled up in his heart.

If he could use Anbu missions to make Hiruzen Sarutobi's son gradually accept his ideology, would that mean he could prove Hiruzen Sarutobi wrong?

Danzō... greatly looked forward to this future.

"The Second Shinobi World War has ended, and we have currently reclaimed the Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools..."

Danzō began his explanation with Akira Sarutobi's Jonin Exam.

"In addition, there are many other tasks to be done post-war..."

Akira Sarutobi thought for a moment, and several possibilities emerged in his mind: "Is it about settling scores?"

"Smart..."

Danzō did not hesitate to praise Akira Sarutobi and cast a look of approval at him.

"Akira Sarutobi, you truly possess a mind no less than your father's..."

Not just intelligence, but also political acumen.

Danzō: "During the war, spies appeared, selling off national assets, defecting to the enemy... such acts were very common..."

During wartime, it was inconvenient, or there wasn't enough time to act.

Now that the war is over, it's time for a thorough reckoning.

"What I want you to do is go to a small port town on the eastern coast of the Land of Fire and kill a few people... these people are all ordinary civilians."

Danzō paused slightly at this point.

What did he mean?

Akira Sarutobi stared at Danzō.

Was he afraid Akira wouldn't be able to kill ordinary people?

If Danzō thought Akira would get emotional and hesitate, he was overthinking it.

"Even ordinary people should be punished accordingly for profiting from national hardship."

Hearing Akira's reply, Danzō nodded with satisfaction: "Very good... these individuals colluded with Kirigakure, selling off the Land of Fire's assets during the war. According to my subordinates' observations, this situation is still ongoing even now..."

Danzō began to explain the specifics of this Anbu assessment mission.

If it were simply a matter of killing a few ordinary people, there would be no difficulty.

Even a genin could easily accomplish such a task.

"Who is supporting them from behind..." Akira asked the core question of the mission.

If no one was backing them, no matter how bold they were, a few ordinary people wouldn't dare to act like this.