Young Master, Please Become the Hokage Chapter 5

Jonin... is a height that most shinobi cannot reach in their lifetime.

For a genius like Minato Namikaze, however, it was merely the beginning.

Next, Mitokado Homura announced the arrangements for Kushina and the others. Although Kushina had been dragged off to confinement for fighting at the gate, the assignments would still proceed as planned.

Finally, everyone turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, waiting for him to decide on Akira Sarutobi's placement.

Your son, you handle it yourself.

"Mm."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and rose from his seat.

"This old man thinks it fitting for Akira Sarutobi to gain experience by joining the Anbu."

"That's fine." Utatane Koharu nodded in agreement. In her view, Akira Sarutobi's various naive ideas would surely be washed away by the Path of the Anbu, making him more mature. Plus, as Hiruzen Sarutobi's son, he naturally belonged to the same interest class.

He was one of their own.

"Your son isn't dark enough."

Just then, Danzo interjected with this remark.

Danzo, known as the Shadow of Shinobi, excelled at insight and manipulation.

Otherwise, in the original story, he couldn't have killed Shisui and then tricked Itachi into annihilating his clan.

If Sasuke hadn't had the halo of Indra's reincarnation, and Nagato hadn't had Madara Uchiha's Rinnegan cheat, those two would likely have been finished off as well.

From Danzo's perspective, Akira Sarutobi did have some small schemes, but that was all.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's son... was an extremely pure person.

Someone like that could be compared to Might Duy or Hatake Sakumo—beings who were pure to a fault.

How could such a person thrive in the Anbu?

"It would be better to have him lead a normal team, just like Minato Namikaze..."

Danzo stated his conclusion.

Then, he looked at Ino Yamanaka, who wore a sly expression.

"As for Ino Yamanaka..."

She was very suitable for the Anbu—no, she should join this old man's "Root."

As for Ruri Hyuga, Danzo ignored her outright.

A Branch Family Member with the Caged Bird seal on her forehead—even dogs would disdain her.

Seeing Danzo eyeing his future daughter-in-law, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally frowned: "Danzo... that's not appropriate..."

"How about they join the Anbu together, so they can look out for each other."

Utatane Koharu suggested, letting Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka enter the Anbu together.

"Of course, even if he's your son, Hiruzen, he still has to go through the process and take the exam... no favoritism..."

Utatane Koharu scrutinized.

And from start to finish, they never mentioned Ruri Hyuga once, as if she were air.

After deliberation, the higher-ups reached a decision.

Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka would undergo the "Jonin Exam" together. Upon passing, they would immediately register for the Anbu and endure another round of trials.

As the higher-ups' discussion concluded.

A line of information suddenly appeared before Akira Sarutobi's retina.

[Will of Fire System!]

[Storyline · Main Quest Module Activated!]

[New "Main Storyline Quest" Released: Path of the Anbu! Infuse the Will of Fire into Konoha's Anbu!]

[Main Quest Objective: Before the Third Shinobi World War arrives, pass the Jonin and Anbu exams, join the Anbu, and ultimately become the "Anbu Squad Six Leader"!]

[Main Quest Reward: True Authority.]

Chapter 6. I Opened the Will of Fire, and It Was Full of Devouring

Staring at the sudden pop-up message, Akira Sarutobi immediately checked it over.

Shifting his gaze to Ruri Hyuga, he saw that a quest prompt had also appeared before her eyes.

"So that's it..."

After spending a few seconds thinking and piecing together the information, Akira Sarutobi quickly reached a conclusion.

The Will of Fire System he had loaded had two types of quest classifications.

Ruri Hyuga's quest was a "Side Quest."

The storyline quest that had just appeared was a "Main Quest."

Whether side or main, completing them came with corresponding rewards—that was easy to understand.

Shifting his focus back to the main quest, he followed the system's instructions.

Before the Third Shinobi World War arrived, he needed to join the Anbu and become the leader of Anbu Squad Six.

The Anbu... were an existence even darker than ordinary shinobi.

Many missions on the dark side required them to execute.

Typically, a regular Anbu member had no command authority.

One had to reach the position of Anbu Captain to lead several subordinates, much like Uchiha Itachi in the original story.

Above that was the Anbu Squad Leader.

For example, Kakashi Hatake, and later his successors Yamato and Uzuki Yugao.

An Anbu Squad Leader could command several Captains, who in turn led ordinary Anbu members.

And the so-called "Anbu Squad Six" was precisely the squad that Kakashi, Yamato, Uzuki Yugao, and even Uchiha Itachi had belonged to in later years.

This was an Anbu squad with a glorious history.

Joining the Anbu meant honing one's skills, and also meant building a resume.

It also meant truly getting close to Konoha's central authority, because Anbu personnel could learn many secrets ordinary shinobi could not.

In the original story, before Itachi defected, he warned Danzo that if he dared to touch Sasuke, he would leak all of Konoha's secrets to enemy nations.

Many times, the density of information held by Anbu personnel even surpassed that of the Sannin.

For instance, in the original story, Jiraiya died without knowing that Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, believing the Nine-Tails' Rampage was a disaster born of natural calamity.

[Image available here, viewable after version update]

[Image available here, viewable after version update]

Kakashi, also an Anbu, along with many nameless Anbu members, clearly knew Kushina's true identity.

To some extent, joining the Anbu opened the possibility of promotion to various higher political positions in Konoha later on.

No wonder, up to the present day in Konoha, not a single Uchiha had been permitted to join the Anbu.

It was only in later years that Uchiha Itachi became the first Uchiha shinobi to join the Anbu.

"Power..."

Thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning, and Akira Sarutobi immediately realized the many benefits of becoming the leader of Anbu Squad Six.

Besides learning countless secrets and getting close to Konoha's central authority, the power to build a team under his command was not to be underestimated.

Only then would he truly become a part of Konoha's upper echelons, recognized as one of their own by the high-ranking officials.

"Lord Hokage..." At that moment, a shinobi with silver hair walked in.

"Ah, Sakumo."

Utatane Koharu shifted her gaze to the newcomer.

Everyone else looked as well, their eyes filled with respect.

Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, whose skill surpassed the Sannin, to the point that even the Sannin seemed like vague existences before him.

His strength was in Konoha's top tier, a renowned powerhouse across the current shinobi world.

"You've come at the right time. We were just discussing the arrangements for Akira Sarutobi and the others' Jonin Exam..."

Koharu's eyes flickered; clearly, some matters had already been decided by the high-ranking officials.

"Once Minato Namikaze becomes a Jonin, how about having your son, Kakashi Hatake, join his squad and be led by him?"

"Uh..."

Hatake Sakumo clearly hadn't expected the high-ranking officials to arrange things this way.

His son, Kakashi Hatake, with outstanding results, had gained the recognition of all the teachers at the Ninja Academy just half a year after enrolling.

Soon, he would take the graduation exam alongside the older students.

This move would also etch Kakashi's name into history, making him the youngest graduate in Konoha's history.

Or rather... the youngest Genin.

But...

"Elder Koharu, this isn't appropriate..."

Sweat began to form on Hatake Sakumo's forehead.

Though he was in Konoha's top tier, a powerhouse at the Kage-level.

He had always remained an ordinary shinobi, neither joining the Anbu nor holding any political position.

Exceptional ability was a gift, but a carefree life was his dream.

Hatake Sakumo gave his all for the village, but he had no desire to step into the turbulent political arena.

"Hmm? Inappropriate? Do you think Minato Namikaze is unworthy of teaching your son?"

Utatane Koharu frowned, her tone becoming aggressive.

"..."

Akira Sarutobi gazed at the scene before him.

Clearly, the High Command was forcing Hatake Sakumo to pick a side.

Such formidable combat strength, yet holding no political post—there was obviously something off.

Unlike Jiraiya, who was the Hokage's disciple, Sakumo had almost no political ties to Konoha's upper echelons.

How could the High Command feel at ease?

Making Kakashi Minato Namikaze's disciple was a way to both win over and pressure Hatake Sakumo.

Before he had a son, Sakumo, alone and unmarried, could naturally refuse.

But once he had a child, he gained... a weakness.

"Power... really is a fine thing."

Akira glanced at the Main Quest shining in his system.

The path to Anbu Squad Six Leader!

Without power, even someone at Sakumo's level could only be manipulated by Konoha's High Command.

Cold sweat beading on his forehead, Hatake Sakumo, under the scrutiny of several high-ranking figures, couldn't help but turn his pleading gaze toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

But the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, didn't realize the true intentions of Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō.

In recent years, Koharu and Homura's efforts to support Minato Namikaze had been quite obvious.

Clearly, the two intended to back Minato as the next Hokage.

As for Danzō, while he wouldn't support Minato, he was certainly plotting to seize the Hokage's seat for himself.