Young Master, Please Become Hokage

"Ah, someone's here..."

Sensing someone outside, Ringo Ameyuri immediately flashed and entered the house.

For the past few days, adhering to the principle of "it's better to have less trouble than more," Ringo Ameyuri had been using the Transformation Jutsu to disguise her identity.

But even so, she was extremely cautious, afraid of being discovered.

Soon, the person outside was led in by Ino Yamanaka.

"Young Master, someone from Root is here..."

Danzō's people?

Akira Sarutobi, sitting on a chair in the hall, looked up.

A young man with a blank expression and sunglasses walked in.

He looked to be in his early twenties, with a purple lightning bolt-like mark on his cheek.

"Danzō's right-hand man... Ryoma Aburame..."

He often followed Danzō around, so Akira Sarutobi naturally recognized him.

"Young Master Ryo, it's been a while." Ryoma Aburame spoke slowly.

The sunglasses hid his eyes, making it impossible to read his thoughts.

"Lord Danzō, and Lord Hokage, they were all shocked to hear about your mission experience..."

Having just become a Jonin and joined the Anbu, he had already caused such a stir.

If it weren't for the need for Anbu personnel to keep their identities secret, these events would likely have caused a huge commotion throughout Konoha.

Therefore.

Currently, Akira Sarutobi's mission experience was only being spread among the higher-ups.

But no matter what.

Having killed Kurotsuchi Raiga, who wielded the Lightning Blade, right out of the gate, it could be directly concluded... that Akira Sarutobi possessed the strength to contend with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

--Even though Kurotsuchi Raiga had only just obtained the Lightning Blade and was ranked at the bottom.

Such a record was truly astonishing.

If there was any newly promoted Jonin who could achieve this, it was probably only Minato Namikaze, who was also shining brightly.

Ryoma Aburame beckoned.

The two Root ninja accompanying him took out some items.

Anbu masks, uniforms, identification symbols, ninja tools, and... some excellent medicinal herbs for healing.

The items in front were understandable, but the latter were thought-provoking.

'Danzō... wants to recruit me?'

In just a few seconds, countless speculations flashed through Akira Sarutobi's mind.

"Young Master Ryo, please take good care of your injuries. We'll discuss other matters upon returning to the village."

Ryoma Aburame nodded towards Nonō.

If... his previous thoughts were just speculation, then Ryoma Aburame's silence on the matter of the manor and its industries now confirmed Akira Sarutobi's guess.

After this battle, the higher-ups seemed to have tacitly allowed him to build up a port industry in this town.

This distribution of benefits was equivalent to a bribe.

Receiving the signal, Nonō stopped her treatment and left with Ryoma Aburame.

"Wow, that guy... is Ryoma Aburame..."

Ringo Ameyuri peeked out from inside.

Danzō's subordinate, his right-hand man, his most loyal dog, a bug user who evoked disgust and fear.

Of course, his status as an elite Jonin, with his brilliant combat record and countless dark missions completed, was enough to make him infamous.

"Ryoma Aburame went out of his way to come here, and he's looking for Yakushi Nonō..."

Akira Sarutobi tapped his fingers, his thoughts flowing.

Was something... about to happen?

Outside.

After leaving the manor, Ryoma Aburame looked around, confirmed no one was eavesdropping, and then spoke.

"The higher-ups have a mission for you..."

Ryoma Aburame's tone immediately made Nonō understand who had given the order this time.

If it were Lord Hokage, he would have directly said "the Third."

If it were Danzō, he would have also directly said "Lord Danzō."

But... the word "higher-ups" meant that the upcoming mission was to be issued by Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Danzō.

"Did... something happen?"

Nonō frowned.

Could it be that war is about to break out again? The Second Shinobi World War just ended, it shouldn't be...

The spoils of war from the Five Great Nations' plundering of smaller nations should be enough to sustain them for many years before being fully digested.

"The three higher-ups want you to do something... Listen..."

Ryoma Aburame's tone gradually turned cold.

After Nonō heard the specific arrangements, she widened her eyes in disbelief: "What?! You're going to do something to Mr. Sakumo..."

"Don't be nervous."

Ryoma Aburame narrowed his eyes.

"It's just to slightly damage his reputation... it won't have much of an impact..."

After all, the higher-ups didn't want Konoha's White Fang to become Hokage.

But he was too much of a hindrance.

With extremely high public support, his competitiveness was simply too great.

Therefore... the plan designed by the higher-ups was to ruin his reputation so that he couldn't run for the next Hokage.

To achieve this, they needed to arrange a flawless mission, which was also a trap, for Kagami Uchiha to fall into.

"You are the village's most outstanding spy, only you can handle this matter. Depart immediately..."

Ryoma Aburame instructed.

"I... understand..." Nonō lowered her eyelids and said softly.

Nonō's departure without a word made Akira Sarutobi suspicious.

Although Ryoma Aburame had found someone else to treat her, Akira Sarutobi, who was not at ease about this, declined the offer.

As a transmigrator, Akira Sarutobi was familiar with the plot of Naruto.

Through deduction, he quickly reached a conclusion.

"Could it be... the higher-ups' actions against Konoha's White Fang have begun?"

To avoid any further complications, Akira Sarutobi decided to return to Konoha first thing in the morning after tonight.

But before that, there was still one thing to do.

"Ringo Ameyuri."

After Ryoma Aburame and the others had completely left, Akira Sarutobi looked at the genius girl from Kirigakure.

[Inject Will of Fire into Ringo Ameyuri]

[Progress: 39%]

[Mission Reward: Possibility of Ice Release]

"Hm? What do you want with me?" Ameyuri, unaware of her impending fate, still had a playful expression.

"Your biggest regret before was not having a proper romance, wasn't it."

Akira Sarutobi's directness stunned Ringo Ameyuri on the spot.

"Is, is it that obvious~?!" Ringo Ameyuri shrieked, unaware... how familiar Akira Sarutobi was with this world.

"Yes, very obvious." Akira Sarutobi said with a stern, serious face. "So..."

Ringo Ameyuri: "So?"

"Let's date, Ringo Ameyuri." Akira Sarutobi said coldly.

Ringo Ameyuri, I want you to become my Will of Fire Weapon!

Ringo Ameyuri: "Ehh~~?!"

The next second, without further ado, Akira Sarutobi grabbed Ringo Ameyuri's wrist and pulled her towards the underground.

"Wait~ Wait~~! Wait!!"

Ringo Ameyuri struggled with all her might, but how could a shorty of 1 meter 43 centimeters like her be a match for Akira Sarutobi.

Soon, Ringo Ameyuri's screams began: "I wanted to date, but... not this kind of twisted romance~~~!"

Chapter 45. Snow Clan · Ice Release Remains

Time passed...

The next day.

As the morning sun rose, the dark figure departed.

"Haaah..."

Ringo Ameyuri let out a long sigh, her gaze blankly fixed on the ceiling.

Traces of the Will of Fire were everywhere.

Her body felt weak and sore, she couldn't even lift a finger.

Outside the window, a gentle breeze blew.

In this beautiful season, the rhododendrons... were in bloom.

Finally, with her body aching terribly, she could only sigh, "This is truly... an O-face..."

And as Ringo Ameyuri stared at the ceiling, a certain change was happening within her.

A faint pattern began to silently trace itself on her lower abdomen.

Slowly, it formed a flame symbol, like Konoha's.

This seemed to symbolize the "Will of Fire Weapon."

And below this pattern, a few characters forming a name were finally etched... "Akira Sarutobi."

The completed pattern flickered once, then vanished.

"Sir, take care..."

From the closed entrance of the house, the voice of the little girl named Crimson Lotus could be heard.

It was clear that guy had left.

He tricked people, and then he tricked her out of... that.

He even took the corpse she had prepared to sell for money after running away, truly... sigh