I Think I Can Become Guard Captain

"Yohu pointed to Legendary Uchiha Madara as the reason Obito had grown stronger.

Only Uchiha Madara's Inheritance could explain why Obito's strength had skyrocketed in such a short time, allowing him to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan and gain the power to fight the Fourth Hokage at the same time.

In that regard, Yohu's powers of observation were terrifying. He could see through everything with only a few words.

But Yohu's final remarks made Kakashi and Itachi think of the rumors from a few days ago, causing them to imagine First Hokage driving Uchiha Madara away, and Uchiha Madara turning to hatred out of love.

It was truly an assault on the eyes.

After experiencing so many things, Kakashi and Itachi had long since become numb to it. Perhaps First and Uchiha Madara really had turned to hatred out of love, leading to the outbreak of the Battle of the Valley of the End.

Could these old ancestors not settle down for once? They were always causing all sorts of trouble for their descendants.

After silently grumbling, Kakashi decided to lead the team back to the Hokage Building. This unbelievable intelligence analysis had to be reported to the Third Hokage.

Half an hour later, in the Hokage Office.

"So you're saying the Masked Man is very likely Uchiha Madara's Successor."

"Back then, Uchiha Madara turned to hatred out of love, so he deliberately left behind an inheritance and had his successor attack Konoha in his place, using this method to take revenge on First Lord?"

After hearing the report from Kakashi Squad, the Third Hokage's mouth twitched slightly. He stared fixedly at Kakashi Squad, especially at Yohu, who had mixed in among them and was faintly shielding his teammates behind him.

Only Yohu could come up with such an outrageous intelligence analysis involving Hokage gossip.

The Third Hokage really wanted to warn Yohu to stop talking nonsense. Slandering him was one thing—he was innocent and would not bother with such rumors and personal attacks.

But First Lord was different. First Lord was the great Ninja who had ended the Warring States Period, and slander against him could not be tolerated.

The relationship between First Lord and Uchiha Madara was not as sordid as you made it sound... right?

Setting aside the artistic embellishments, the Third Hokage began seriously analyzing the intelligence reported by Kakashi Squad. He had to admit that Yohu's words made some sense.

If Uchiha Madara really had left behind an inheritance for dealing with the village,

then with Uchiha Madara's abilities, it would not be difficult for the inheritance Madara left behind to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan in a mere Chunin like Obito.

After receiving Uchiha Madara's Inheritance, it made perfect sense for Obito to control Nine-Tails and trigger Nine-Tails' Rampage.

After all, Uchiha Madara had once attacked Konoha with Nine-Tails as well. If First Lord had not turned the tide back then, Konohagakure would have become history long ago.

From this perspective, Yohu's intelligence-gathering ability was top-notch.

A talent like this could not be recruited by Danzo. He had to keep Yohu firmly in his own hands. If Danzo took him away, who knew what shocking rumors might spread through the village.

And those rumors would probably all be true.

Thinking of this, the Third Hokage set down his pipe and cleared his throat.

"Your intelligence is highly valuable. I will send people to investigate it specifically."

"Also, you discovered the Masked Man's true identity this time and thwarted Obito's scheme to attack the village. I would feel embarrassed not to reward you."

"Tell me, what reward do you want? A Forbidden Technique from the Scroll of Seals, or something else?"

Itachi gently shook his head and said, "It is the duty of Konoha's Ninjas to share the village's burdens. Besides, we didn't capture Obito, so the mission was still a failure."

Wait, had Uchiha Itachi become a workaholic? He didn't even want a reward for completing a mission?

Yohu rolled his eyes at Itachi.

Uchiha Itachi, are you, like Danzo, refusing rewards?

What are you after?

The Third Hokage gave Itachi a deep look before saying with a quiet laugh,

"I never expected you to capture Obito in the first place. The fact that you managed to drive him back has already made a huge contribution to the village. If you refuse a reward as well, others will probably say that I am harsh toward my subordinates."

Itachi thought for a moment, then said, "Then I want a Forbidden Technique from the Scroll of Seals, so I can improve my strength and continue protecting the village."

"Very well."

The Third Hokage nodded, but he did not let go of his suspicions toward Itachi.

Aside from the fact that Itachi had been recruited into the Anbu by Danzo, there was also the report Kakashi had made earlier. Itachi had been the first person to meet the Masked Man tonight.

Investigating the Masked Man's background for the sake of the village was entirely different from secretly meeting the Masked Man alone.

Kakashi thought for a long while before saying to the Third Hokage,

"Third Lord, could you hold off on issuing a Wanted Order for Obito? I think Obito must have had some unavoidable reason. I want to find him and persuade him to return to the village."

"No matter what, he is still a Ninja of the village, and a Hero of the previous war."

The Third Hokage fell silent for several seconds. He thought of Jiraiya, who had spent all these years searching for Orochimaru outside the village, and then said,

"The Masked Man will certainly be wanted by the village. There is no doubt about that. However, I can temporarily refrain from publicly announcing that Obito is the Masked Man and only let the Jonin in the village know."

"But you also know that this cannot be concealed forever."

"I understand your wish to persuade Obito to turn back from the wrong path, but this will not be easy. Jiraiya has been searching for Orochimaru for several years, and there is still no result."

Kakashi also knew about the matter between Jiraiya and Orochimaru. He smiled wearily.

"Even so, I still want to try."

After Itachi and Kakashi each stated the rewards they wanted, only Yohu had yet to make a request.

The three of them all turned to look at Yohu. They were somewhat eager to see what he wanted, yet also worried that he might make some request so ridiculous it would leave them speechless.

Feeling the others' gazes fall on him, Yohu straightened his clothes and arranged his expression, doing his best to put on an innocent smile.

"Hokage, I think the atmosphere among some of the village's Ninja Clans and departments is too poor."

"Especially the Uchiha Clan and the Security Force. They need to be thoroughly reformed."

"Could you remove Uchiha Fugaku from his position as Guard Captain and let me take over? I guarantee I can bring the village a brand-new Security Force."

"Hokage, Kakashi Squad and I have already saved the village once."

"This request shouldn't be excessive, right?"

"..."

Silence, as stagnant as dead water.

The Third Hokage, Kakashi, and Itachi, who had each been harboring their own thoughts, now all looked at Yohu strangely. None of them knew how to evaluate Yohu's outrageous request.

He had only completed one mission in the Anbu, and he already wanted to enter the village's leadership and become Guard Captain?

Leaving aside whether the Hokage even had the authority to appoint a new Guard Captain, did he really think it was appropriate for a Chunin to hold a high-ranking position?

Why not just ask to become Hokage?

That would take him straight to the top. Once that happened, he could appoint himself to whatever position he wanted without having to consult anyone else or wait for approval.