Itachi Joins the Anbu

"Hiruzen, these things were sent by that Uchiha brat?"

Hiruzen suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Danzo, Danzo, you're awfully well-informed. You even know what's happening in my office!"

No, you. Me.

Go to hell.

Danzo felt that Hiruzen's brain really had gone bad.

Although he had been temporarily suspended pending investigation, he was still the second-in-command, at least.

Besides, they had come openly. It was only reasonable that he would know about it, wasn't it?

But Hiruzen was clearly furious. He wasn't going to care about any of that.

Danzo had actually dared to keep tabs on him?

I'm the Hokage. I've always been the one monitoring others. What right did anyone else have to monitor me?

It seemed Danzo still wielded far too much power.

Seeing that Hiruzen was in a bad mood, Danzo said in as calm a tone as he could manage,

"Hiruzen, these so-called pieces of evidence could very well be forged."

"Forged?"

"That's right. How could I have carried out something so significant without anyone noticing? Clearly, those brats are trying to frame me."

Hiruzen merely let out a cold laugh.

"You've never gotten along with the Uchiha. Eiji might have such intentions, but what about Kakashi? Would the White Fang's son do something like this?"

"And the one leading them was my student, Jiraiya!"

"Besides, there was Tenzo. He has never told a single lie."

"Danzo, do you not believe them, or do you not believe me, the Hokage?"

In truth, Danzo believed in neither of them. He believed only in himself.

"Hiruzen, do you know how deep that brat's schemes run? You can't treat him like an ordinary child!"

"All I know is that Eiji inherited Kagami's will and wants nothing more than to protect his beloved Konoha."

Danzo fixed his eyes on Hiruzen. "Hiruzen, stop bringing up Kagami. How many years has he been dead? What will of Kagami? It's all just a facade!"

"The Uchiha are evil by nature. They can never be trusted!"

Hiruzen flew into a rage. "Then tell me, who can I trust? An Assistant who colludes with Rogue Ninja and pays lip service while doing the opposite?"

"No," Hiruzen suddenly lowered his voice. "There won't be an Assistant anymore."

Danzo's head began to buzz. "Monkey, what do you mean?"

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

Danzo couldn't believe what Hiruzen was saying. He had spent his entire life as the number two.

And now, over some trivial matter, Hiruzen intended to strip him of his position?

"Monkey, the Uchiha have only darkness in their hearts. Trusting them will only cost you your life."

"Get out."

"Monkey!"

"Get out!"

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this."

"Danzo, I'm the Hokage."

After saying that, Danzo shoved open the office door and walked out.

"Lord Tobirama, you saw that, didn't you? Hiruzen actually believes the Uchiha's nonsense now."

"You should have chosen me back then..."

On the rooftop of the Hokage Building.

Hiruzen stood there quietly, looking down over Konoha, which he had governed for decades.

Tap, tap, tap.

Jiraiya came to stand beside Hiruzen.

"Old Man, you called for me."

"How do you feel about it?"

Jiraiya scratched his head. "About what?"

"That little fellow Eiji. What do you think of him?"

Jiraiya thought for a moment. "He's different from ordinary Uchiha. I'd say he's a child with a good heart."

Hiruzen turned around and looked up at the student who was much taller than him.

"I want to entrust Eiji to you. Teach him well, just as you taught Minato back then. Make him a qualified inheritor of the Will of Fire."

Hearing this, Jiraiya felt a headache coming on.

"Old Man, I have a lot of things to do. How would I have time to teach him?"

"And besides..." Jiraiya spoke cautiously. "The child is still an Uchiha."

"It is precisely because he is an Uchiha that his virtues are so precious. Didn't Lord Tobirama choose Kagami as his guard back then?"

Jiraiya knew Kagami, an Uchiha who had died young.

He had earned Tobirama's trust.

Unfortunately, he had died young.

As if he had remembered something, Hiruzen suddenly smiled and then said something almost treasonous.

"Sometimes, don't you think this child is a little like Lord Tobirama?"

Jiraiya thought about it. "If you mean the hair and red eyes, then he does look a little similar."

Hiruzen smacked Jiraiya on the head.

That student of his was always like this, utterly incapable of acting serious.

"He learned Lord Tobirama's Flying Thunder God and Water Release. You should know that Minato was the only other person to master the Flying Thunder God."

Jiraiya teased him, "Old Man, you don't actually think Eiji and Lord Tobirama could have some kind of bond, do you? That's ridiculous."

With that, he began laughing uncontrollably.

Hiruzen said nothing. He simply looked at Jiraiya in silence.

Jiraiya covered his mouth.

"What you teach him won't be merely power. You must teach him the heart to give up everything to protect his comrades and village."

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

After saying that, Hiruzen turned and left.

"What you teach him, he can also teach Naruto."

Jiraiya sighed quietly.

Naruto, Minato's son.

How had he forgotten? That little fellow was Eiji's shadow now.

Jiraiya didn't refuse Hiruzen.

As a devoted follower of Mount Myōboku, his first thought was whether this was fate's arrangement.

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

And that ninja would be his student.

Over the years, Jiraiya had taken on quite a few students.

But none of them were the one.

Could it be that he had finally received a little favor from fate?

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

Forget it. Old Man hadn't said he needed to teach him ninjutsu or anything. He could just teach him a few principles.

Soon, Eiji, who was sharpening his blade at home, was called out by Jiraiya.

"Starting today, I'm your teacher."

Eiji gave Jiraiya a disdainful look. "Respected Lord Jiraiya, I know this may sound impolite, but can you teach me how to peep or write Little Lewd Book?"

Jiraiya tried to flick Eiji on the forehead, but his hand struck only air.

"If Old Man hadn't ordered me to, I wouldn't bother with you. The ninjas who want to become my students could line up all the way to the Land of Hot Water."

Jiraiya waved his hand grandly. "All right, then..."

"Then, Lord Jiraiya, you should head back first. I'm on night duty tonight. I'll contact you when I have time."

"What the hell did you say?"

While Jiraiya was still stunned, Eiji had already run off in a flash.

"I'm late, I'm late. Sorry about that."

Eiji took a drink of water. "Let's go. Time to relieve the seniors."

Several Uchiha walked along the road. Inaho clearly had something to say.

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