Meanwhile, the Great Toad Sage also closed his eyes.
No matter how Sage Shima questioned him, he said nothing more.
Two different futures flashed before Minato Namikaze's eyes, and his expression grew exceedingly grave...
Rin Nohara
At dusk.
Beside the Hokage Building, in a pitch-black alley, was an Anbu entrance.
Akira Sarutobi stood with his hands behind his back, gazing ahead.
Before long, footsteps sounded, and Ino Yamanaka approached. "Young Master, Mr. Sakumo is still in the village..."
Earlier, Akira Sarutobi had sent Ino Yamanaka to Hatake Sakumo's place with the excuse of freeloading dinner that night.
In truth, he wanted to confirm whether Hatake Sakumo had any missions arranged in the near future and... try to change the outcome of his murder.
The sooner the better. Everything had to be prepared in advance to be considered secure.
"Mm." Akira Sarutobi nodded and quickly entered underground with Ino Yamanaka.
There were many such passageways in Konoha. Even beneath many manhole covers, the paths eventually connected to the Anbu or Root's lair.
Shadows flickered through the dark underground.
Anbu and Root personnel came and went from time to time.
They remained focused on their own matters, at most giving Akira Sarutobi a glance before leaving.
Clearly, they had already received Danzo's orders and knew that Akira Sarutobi had joined the Anbu.
After walking through countless corridors, the space before them suddenly opened up. A spacious underground hall came into Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka's view.
The place was divided into several sections.
There were clearly marked areas for training, scroll storage, equipment maintenance, and more.
Without hesitation, Akira Sarutobi headed straight for the scroll storage area.
The Anbu kept records of countless secret materials, including not only various confidential accounts, but also special records.
For example... human experimentation.
Though human experimentation had officially been listed as taboo, the Anbu operated in gray areas. Naturally, when they obtained enemy corpses, they had to extract intelligence from them. Every Ninja Village did this, and Konoha was no exception.
Akira Sarutobi wondered whether he could find any information on Kekkei Genkai here.
"Young Master, I'll help you..." Ino Yamanaka understood immediately and began searching another bookshelf.
After a while, footsteps approached, and Ryoma Aburame entered. "Young Master Ryo, we meet again... Congratulations."
Naturally, Ryoma Aburame was congratulating him on the fact that Akira Sarutobi would be appointed Anbu Captain in a week.
Being promoted immediately after joining the Anbu would inevitably spark discussion among outsiders.
By then, unfavorable rumors would surely spread throughout Konoha.
Still, since it was Lord Danzo's appointment, Ryoma Aburame naturally accepted it without objection.
"Mr. Ryoma, you came at the right time. I was just looking into some information regarding Kekkei Genkai. Do you happen to know anything about it...?"
Akira Sarutobi set down the dossier in his hand and turned to look at him.
"Kekkei Genkai?" Ryoma Aburame immediately found it strange.
The first thing Young Master Ryo did upon coming to the Anbu Base was actually look through material on Kekkei Genkai?
He considered it, then found it understandable.
After all, Young Master Ryo's father, the Third Hokage, was proficient in seven attributes, yet did not possess a Kekkei Genkai...
"Materials concerning Kekkei Genkai..."
Ryoma Aburame pondered briefly.
"Secrets of this level will likely require Lord Danzo's approval..."
After thinking it over, Ryoma Aburame gave that answer.
There was no material concerning Kekkei Genkai in the scroll storage here.
"You can't make that decision?" Akira Sarutobi's brows furrowed slightly.
It seemed like an unconscious change in expression, but in Ryoma Aburame's eyes, it was razor-sharp. Even the air seemed to grow heavier.
Such a powerful sense of oppression...
Ryoma Aburame frowned inwardly.
If it had been an ordinary Anbu ninja, a single glare like that would have already filled them with fear.
But he was Danzo's right-hand man, a renowned powerhouse.
Thus, Ryoma Aburame merely raised the corners of his mouth slightly and deliberately spoke in a gentle tone. "Kekkei Genkai information is difficult to study openly. After all... we must consider the feelings of the various clans..."
Konoha alone had several Kekkei Genkai clans.
—Though neither the Hyuga nor Uchiha had anyone in the Anbu.
"Mm." Akira Sarutobi nodded. Knowing he would get nothing here, he directly left with Ino Yamanaka.
Behind his sunglasses, Ryoma Aburame watched the two depart, his expression slowly changing.
Given his background and reputation, others would be thoroughly intimidated upon seeing him.
Unfortunately, this young master's status and background were even greater than his own.
"Moreover, in terms of personality, this young master is completely different from his father, the Third Hokage..."
If Hiruzen Sarutobi was indecisive and kind-faced...
Then Akira Sarutobi gave Ryoma Aburame the impression of someone extremely sharp, with an exceptionally strong sense of self.
"Will this be a good thing or a bad thing for the Anbu and Root?"
After some thought, Ryoma Aburame decided to report what had just happened to his superior, Lord Danzo.
Once they reached the surface, the two strolled onward and soon left the area.
"Young Master, aren't we going to see that old man Danzo?" Ino Yamanaka asked from behind him.
Since Ryoma Aburame had said they needed Danzo's approval, they could simply try going directly to the old man.
"No point."
Akira Sarutobi shook his head, with no intention of seeking Danzo out.
In the original story, Danzo had recruited Orochimaru, transplanted Hashirama Cells, and meddled with the Sharingan... He definitely had plenty of research materials concerning Kekkei Genkai.
The official novels had also added that Danzo possessed a medical team of his own, specially dedicated to all kinds of human experimentation, and they had achieved various results.
But once he sought Danzo out, it would be easy to board a pirate ship. It was not worth it.
Thus, Akira Sarutobi still decided to make a breakthrough from another direction and find someone else to study the Snow Clan Ice Release remains he had obtained from Ringo Ameyuri.
"Come on. Let's go straight to Mr. Sakumo's place."
There was always a way when the cart reached the mountain. Akira Sarutobi decided to visit Hatake Sakumo first.
At the same time, at Hatake Sakumo's home.
"Dad, why won't you let me join Teacher Minato's team...?"
After following Jiraiya through a day of training, Kakashi encountered his father on the way home, having just gone to request an audience with the higher-ups.
Hatake Sakumo had explained the matter to the higher-ups and requested that Kakashi be transferred under another Jonin, but Utatane Koharu and the other elders had sternly rejected him.
Sitting on the tatami in his living room, Hatake Sakumo was in quite a difficult position. He did not know how to explain it to his son.
"Among all the Jonin capable of serving as guiding Jonin, there shouldn't be anyone more outstanding than Teacher Minato."
Sitting across the low table, Kakashi's eyelids drooped, his eyes filled with anger.
"Or... do you think I should be guided by Young Master Ryo instead?"
The moment Kakashi mentioned Akira Sarutobi, he grew even angrier.
He crossed his arms, looking like a little adult.
He was still deeply bothered by what Akira Sarutobi had said during the day.
"Kakashi, anyway..."
Hatake Sakumo hesitated, and at that moment, voices sounded from the courtyard outside.
Father and son both looked outside, and several figures quickly entered their view.
Kakashi said, "Rin? Obito?"
At that moment, Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka, who had come to visit, happened to run into two children who had also arrived.
One wore goggles: Obito Uchiha, the boy who would later become madly obsessed with love.
The other was a little girl with purple adhesive strips on her cheeks. Naturally, she was Rin Nohara, the source of it all.
Seeing the young girl before him, Akira Sarutobi's gaze slowly grew heated.
Of course, the system did not issue any prompt.
—Perhaps the time had not yet come.
In any case, a perfect opportunity seemed to have appeared before him.
"Young Master Ryo~!" Obito Uchiha stood at attention and loudly greeted him with great politeness.
By comparison, Rin Nohara was much more well-behaved. She sweetly addressed him, and Akira Sarutobi gave a slight nod. "Rin Nohara, I've heard of you..."
"Huh?" Rin Nohara froze slightly.
"Some Ninja Academy teachers told me that you have exceptional talent in Medical Ninjutsu, and that you often volunteer at Konoha Hospital to help out. The Medical Ninja there have also praised you greatly. Is that true?"
Akira Sarutobi examined her. Despite her young age, Rin Nohara already had the makings of a beauty.
Combined with her gentle, sunny personality, it was no wonder Obito Uchiha had fallen for her.
"Y-Yes! My dream is to become a female Medical Ninja no less capable than Lady Tsunade!" Rin Nohara immediately stood straight, unable to stop herself from becoming nervous.
"Very good." Akira Sarutobi nodded, then immediately began coughing.
Rin Nohara observed his expression, her lips tightening slightly. After several seconds, she spoke. "Young Master Ryo... Are you injured? It looks like an old injury that has yet to heal."
"Mm."
Akira Sarutobi stopped coughing and gave her an approving look.
It was not an illness, but an injury. Her judgment was completely correct.
"Could I trouble you to examine me while you're at it?"
Akira Sarutobi made an inviting gesture, inviting Rin Nohara into Hatake Sakumo's living room to talk.
This was a very good beginning.
Perhaps afterward, he could have Rin Nohara help research that corpse.
Now that Kakashi had graduated early, Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha were still attending the Ninja Academy. According to the original plot, it would still be some time before the two caught up.
This also meant Rin Nohara had not yet joined Minato Namikaze's team, so he could win her over in advance.
After all, in terms of talent and aptitude in Medical Ninjutsu, few in Konoha could compare to her.
Akira Sarutobi said, First, test the waters. I'll decide what to do after seeing the specifics...
Gifts
Not long afterward...
Akira Sarutobi sat in the living room, already receiving treatment from Rin Nohara.
Before you continue