Jonin... that was a height most shinobi could never hope to reach in their entire lives.
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 entrance, arrangements would still be made for her as planned.
Finally, everyone looked toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, waiting for his decision regarding Akira Sarutobi.
Your son, you handle him yourself.
"Mm."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and rose from his seat.
"This old man believes it would be more appropriate for Akira Sarutobi to join the Anbu for some experience."
"Sounds good." Utatane Koharu nodded as well. In her view, Akira Sarutobi's various childish notions would surely fade after being tempered on the Path of the Anbu, allowing him to become more mature. Besides, Akira Sarutobi was Hiruzen Sarutobi's son, so naturally they belonged to the same class of interests.
He was one of their own.
"Your son isn't dark enough."
At that moment, Danzo suddenly said this.
Known as The Shadow of Shinobi, Danzo was best at seeing through and manipulating people's hearts.
Otherwise, in the original story, he could not have driven Shisui to death and then coaxed Itachi into exterminating his clan.
If Sasuke had not possessed the reincarnation aura of Indra, and Nagato had not had Madara Uchiha's Rinnegan cheat, those two would likely have died outright as well.
From Danzo's perspective, Akira Sarutobi did have some minor schemes, but that was all.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's son... was an exceptionally pure person.
People like him could be compared to Might Duy and Hatake Sakumo—people who were pure to an excessive degree.
How could someone like that benefit from joining the Anbu?
"It would be better for him to lead a regular team, just like Minato Namikaze..."
Danzo gave his conclusion.
Then, he looked at Ino Yamanaka, who wore a sly expression nearby.
"As for Ino Yamanaka..."
She was highly suited to entering the Anbu—no, she should join this old man's Root.
As for Ruri Hyuga, Danzo simply ignored her.
A Branch Family Member bearing the Caged Bird seal on her forehead was unwanted even by dogs.
Seeing Danzo set his sights on his future daughter-in-law, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally frowned. "Danzo... wouldn't that be inappropriate...?"
"Why not have them join the Anbu together? They could look after each other."
Utatane Koharu suggested that Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka enter the Anbu together.
"Of course, even if he is your son, Sarutobi, he must follow the proper process and undergo the examination... There can be no favoritism..."
Utatane Koharu said as she scrutinized him.
From beginning to end, none of them mentioned Ruri Hyuga even once, as though she were air.
After discussion, the high command reached a decision.
Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka would undergo the Jonin Exam together. Once they passed, they would immediately apply for the Anbu and endure another round of examinations and tempering.
As the high command's discussion came to an end,
a series of messages suddenly appeared before Akira Sarutobi's eyes.
[Will of Fire System!] [Plot: Main Quest module activated!] [New "Main Quest: Plot Quest" issued: Path of the Anbu! Infuse Konoha's Anbu with the Will of Fire!] [Main Quest objective: Before the Third Shinobi World War arrives, pass the Jonin and Anbu examinations, join the Anbu, and ultimately become the "Anbu Squad Six Leader"!] [Main Quest reward: Real power.]
I Opened the Will of Fire, and Every Page Devoured People
Looking at the messages that had suddenly appeared before him, Akira Sarutobi immediately examined them.
When he shifted his gaze to Ruri Hyuga, a quest prompt had appeared before her eyes again as well.
"I see..."
After spending several seconds thinking and organizing the information, Akira Sarutobi immediately reached a conclusion.
The Will of Fire System loaded onto him had two categories of quests.
Ruri Hyuga's quest was a Side Quest.
The plot quest that had just appeared was the Main Quest.
Whether Side Quests or Main Quests, completing them came with corresponding rewards. That was easy enough to understand.
Turning his attention back to the Main Quest, according to the system's description,
before the Third Shinobi World War arrived, he needed to join the Anbu and become the Anbu Squad Six Leader.
The Anbu... were even darker than ordinary shinobi.
Many missions involving Konoha's darker side required them to carry them out.
Ordinarily, a regular Anbu operative had no command authority.
Only upon becoming an Anbu Captain could one lead several members, like Uchiha Itachi in the original story.
Above that was the leader of an Anbu squad.
Such as Kakashi Hatake, as well as Yamato and Uzuki Yugao, who later succeeded him.
An Anbu squad leader could command several squad leaders, and those squad leaders would then command ordinary Anbu operatives.
And the so-called "Anbu Squad Six" was precisely the Anbu squad where Kakashi, Yamato, Uzuki Yugao, and even Uchiha Itachi would serve in later years.
It was an Anbu squad with a glittering record.
Joining the Anbu meant tempering, but it also meant building one's record.
More importantly, it meant truly approaching Konoha's core, because Anbu personnel could learn many secrets that ordinary shinobi could never know.
In the original story, before Itachi defected, he warned Danzo that if he dared touch Sasuke, he would leak all of Konoha's secrets to enemy nations.
Much of the time, the density of information held by Anbu personnel even surpassed that of the Three Sannin.
For example, in the original story, Jiraiya never knew until his death that Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He believed the Nine-Tails' Rampage had been a disaster caused by a natural catastrophe.
Illustration available here after updating to the latest version.
Illustration available here after updating to the latest version.
Yet Kakashi, who had also served in the Anbu, along with many nameless Anbu operatives, clearly knew Kushina's true identity.
To a certain extent, joining the Anbu gave one the possibility of advancing into Konoha's various higher political positions.
No wonder that, up until then, not a single Uchiha had been permitted to join the Anbu.
Only in later years did Uchiha Itachi become the first Uchiha shinobi to join the Anbu.
"Power..."
After a flash of thought, Akira Sarutobi immediately realized the many benefits of becoming the Anbu Squad Six Leader.
Aside from gaining access to countless secrets and approaching Konoha's core, the authority to build a team under his command could not be underestimated.
By then, he would truly become part of Konoha's upper echelon and be regarded by the high command as one of their own.
"Lord Hokage..." At that moment, a silver-haired shinobi walked in.
"So it's Sakumo."
Utatane Koharu turned her gaze toward the newcomer.
Everyone else looked over as well, their eyes filled with respect.
Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo. His prowess surpassed even the Three Sannin; before him, even they seemed indistinct and shadowy.
His strength placed him among Konoha's foremost ranks, and he was a renowned powerhouse even in the current shinobi world.
"You came at just the right time. We were just discussing arrangements for Akira Sarutobi and the others' Jonin Exam..."
Utatane Koharu's eyes flickered. Clearly, the high command had already made arrangements for certain matters.
"After Minato Namikaze becomes a Jonin, how about having your son, Kakashi Hatake, join his command and be led by him?"
"Uh..."
Hatake Sakumo had clearly not expected such an arrangement from the high command.
His son, Kakashi Hatake, had earned the recognition of every teacher at the Ninja Academy after only half a year of enrollment, thanks to his outstanding results.
Before long, he would take the graduation examination alongside upper-year students.
This would also place Kakashi in the history books as Konoha's youngest graduation examinee.
Or rather... Genin.
But...
"Elder Koharu, wouldn't that be inappropriate...?"
Sweat began to bead on Hatake Sakumo's forehead.
Although he stood among Konoha's foremost ranks, a powerhouse who had reached Kage Level,
he had always remained an ordinary shinobi. He had neither joined the Anbu nor held a political position.
Outstanding ability was his gift; drifting freely through life was his dream.
Though Hatake Sakumo had given much to the village, he had no desire to enter the turbulent political arena.
"Hm? What's inappropriate about it? Do you think Minato Namikaze isn't worthy of teaching your son?"
Utatane Koharu frowned, pressing him aggressively.
"..."
Akira Sarutobi watched the scene before him.
Clearly, the high command was forcing Hatake Sakumo to choose a side.
Such a powerful fighting force, yet one who held no political office whatsoever—there was clearly something suspicious about that.
Hatake Sakumo was not like Jiraiya, who was the Hokage's disciple and had almost no political ties with Konoha's upper echelon.
How could the high command possibly feel at ease?
Having Kakashi become Minato Namikaze's disciple was their way of drawing in—and warning—Hatake Sakumo.
When Hatake Sakumo had been alone and unmarried, he could naturally have refused.
But once he had a son, he had a... weak point.
"Power... truly is a good thing."
Akira Sarutobi glanced at the Main Quest shining in the system.
The path to becoming the Anbu Squad Six Leader!
Without power, even someone at Hatake Sakumo's level could only be manipulated by Konoha High Command.
Cold sweat continued to seep from Hatake Sakumo's forehead. Under the gazes of the high command, he could not help looking toward Hiruzen Sarutobi for help.
Yet the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had not realized the true intentions of Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō.
Over the past few years, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura's support for Minato Namikaze had been extremely obvious.
Clearly, the two intended to support Minato Namikaze as the next Hokage.
As for Danzo, while he would not necessarily support Minato Namikaze, he was certainly plotting to seize the Hokage's position for himself.
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