Itachi Joins the Anbu

"Hiruzen, did these things come from that Uchiha brat?"

Hiruzen suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Danzo, Danzo, your information network is far too sharp—you even know what happens in my office!"

No, you, I.

Go to hell.

Danzo felt Hiruzen's brain had truly gone rotten.

Though he was temporarily suspended from duty, he was still the second-in-command.

Besides, they had come openly and honestly—it was perfectly reasonable for him to know.

But Hiruzen was clearly in a rage; he didn't care about that.

Danzo actually dared to spy on him?

It had always been me, the Hokage, who watched others—never the other way around.

It seemed Danzo still held too much power.

Sensing Hiruzen's foul mood, Danzo spoke in as calm a tone as he could manage.

"Hiruzen, these so-called pieces of evidence are very likely forgeries."

"Forgeries?"

"Exactly. How could I have pulled off something this big without a trace? It's clearly those brats trying to frame me."

Hiruzen let out a cold laugh.

"You and the Uchiha have never gotten along. Eiji might have that motive, but what about Kakashi? Would the son of the White Fang do such a thing?"

"And the team leader was my own disciple, Jiraiya!"

"Not to mention Tenzo—he has never spoken a single falsehood."

"Danzo, do you distrust them, or do you distrust me, the Hokage?"

In truth, Danzo trusted no one—only himself.

"Hiruzen, do you have any idea how deep that brat's scheming runs? You can't treat him like some simple child!"

"All I know is that Eiji inherited Kagami's will, his only wish being to protect the Konoha he loved so deeply."

Danzo stared hard at Hiruzen. "Hiruzen, stop bringing up Kagami! He's been dead for years! That so-called will of Kagami is all a disguise!"

"The inherently evil Uchiha clan can never be trusted!"

Hiruzen erupted in fury. "Then tell me, who can I trust? An assistant who colludes with rogue ninja and pays lip service?"

"No," Hiruzen suddenly lowered his voice, "there is no assistant anymore."

Danzo's head rang. "Monkey, what do you mean?"

"Shimura Danzo, as of today, you are relieved of your position as Hokage Assistant."

Danzo couldn't believe what Hiruzen was saying. He had been second-in-command his entire life.

Now, because of some trivial matter, he was going to be stripped of his post?

"Monkey, the Uchiha's hearts are nothing but darkness. Trusting them will only cost you your life."

"Get out."

"Monkey!"

"Get out!"

"Hiruzen, you will regret this."

"Danzo, I am the Hokage."

After saying this, Danzo pushed open the office door and walked out.

"Lord Tobirama, you saw it all, didn't you? Hiruzen now believes the Uchiha's lies."

"Back then, you should have chosen me..."

On the rooftop of the Hokage Building.

Hiruzen stood silently, overlooking the Konoha he had governed for decades.

Tap tap tap.

Jiraiya came to stand beside Hiruzen.

"Old Man, you called for me."

"What do you think?"

Jiraiya scratched his head. "What about what?"

"That little one, Eiji. How do you find him?"

Jiraiya thought for a moment. "Unlike the usual Uchiha, he's a child with some kindness in his heart."

Hiruzen turned around and looked up at his student, who towered a head above him.

"I want to entrust Eiji to you, to teach him well, just as you once taught Minato. Make him a worthy inheritor of the Will of Fire."

Hearing this, Jiraiya felt a headache coming on.

"Old Man, I've got plenty of things to do. When would I have time to teach him?"

"And besides..." Jiraiya added cautiously, "that kid's an Uchiha after all."

"Precisely because he's an Uchiha, his qualities are all the more precious. Back then, Lord Tobirama didn't hesitate to choose Kagami as his guard, did he?"

Jiraiya knew of Kagami—an Uchiha who had died young.

He had earned Tobirama's trust.

A pity, dying so young.

As if recalling something, Hiruzen suddenly smiled and said something utterly irreverent.

"Sometimes, don't you think this kid resembles Lord Tobirama a bit?"

Jiraiya thought it over. "If it's the hair color and red eyes, then yeah, there's a resemblance."

Hiruzen smacked Jiraiya on the head.

This student of his—never serious for a moment.

"He's learned Lord Tobirama's Flying Thunder God and Water Release. You know, only Minato ever mastered the Flying Thunder God."

Jiraiya teased, "Old Man, you're not suggesting there's some kind of bond between Eiji and Lord Tobirama, are you? That's too far-fetched."

He couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Hiruzen said nothing, just stared quietly at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya clamped his mouth shut.

"What you teach him isn't just power. It's the heart to give up everything to protect your comrades and the village."

"He has great potential. Without proper guidance, he could go astray."

With that, Hiruzen turned and left.

"What you teach him, he can pass on to Naruto."

Jiraiya let out a long, weary sigh.

Naruto, huh. Minato's son.

How could he forget—that little brat was now Eiji's shadow.

Jiraiya didn't refuse Hiruzen.

As a devout follower of Mount Myōboku, his first thought was whether this was fate at work.

According to the Toad Sage's prophecy, a Child of Prophecy would appear, reshaping the Shinobi World.

And that shinobi would be his student.

Over the years, Jiraiya had taken on many students.

But none of them were it.

Could it be that he'd finally caught a break from fate?

Jiraiya rubbed his head in irritation. He shouldn't have come back!

Whatever. The Old Man hadn't said anything about teaching him jutsu anyway. He'd just pass on some principles.

Soon enough, Eiji, who had been sharpening a blade at home, was called out by Jiraiya.

"Starting today, I'm your teacher."

Eiji shot Jiraiya a disdainful look. "Respected Jiraiya-sama, I know this isn't polite, but can you teach me peeping or writing little smut novels?"

Jiraiya aimed a smack at Eiji's forehead, but hit nothing but air.

"If the Old Man hadn't said so, I wouldn't bother with you. Shinobi who want to be my disciple line up from here to the Land of Hot Water."

Jiraiya waved a hand grandly. "Alright, so—"

"Then Jiraiya-sama, you can head back first. I've got night duty tonight. I'll contact you when I'm free."

"What the hell did you say?"

While Jiraiya stood there dumbfounded, Eiji had already bolted off.

"Sorry I'm late, sorry."

Eiji downed some water. "Let's go, time to relieve the seniors."

Walking along the road, several Uchiha were together, and Inaho clearly had something to say.

"Eiji, did you know? Itachi's reporting to the Anbu tomorrow."