Uncle Danzo, Stop Fantasizing

The Third Hokage struggled to keep his composure. After silently reciting a few mantras about tranquility and far-reaching vision, he finally spoke:

"Youhu, it is a good thing that you have the ambition to become the Captain of the Konoha Guard."

"But one must eat rice bite by bite, and walk the road step by step. You should focus on becoming a Jonin first before considering running for Guard Captain."

"Your reward is the same as Itachi's; you may also choose one ninjutsu. Come back tomorrow."

After announcing the reward for Youhu, the Third Hokage impatiently sent the Kakashi Squad away.

It was already late at night, and he was well into his sixties. If he were to be angered into illness, who would be left to steer the great ship of Konoha?

Tsunade and Jiraiya refused to take on the role of Hokage, and Shikaku and Choza were not suitable for the position.

He certainly couldn't hand the position of Hokage over to Danzo or the Uchiha.

If that happened, Konoha would likely perish within a few days. How would he then face Teacher Tobirama and the First Lord? It would also be difficult to answer to Minato.

"The Hokage is just a liar. Didn't he say I could make any request? He won't even let me be the Guard Captain."

After leaving the Hokage Building, Youhu was filled with indignation, seemingly complaining about the Third Hokage's unfairness.

Kakashi looked at Youhu and couldn't help but speak up: "Youhu, your request was indeed excessive. I have worked in the Anbu for six years, and I am still only a Squad Captain."

"For you to want to become a Guard Captain of the same rank as the Anbu Minister, you might need to work hard for another ten years."

"If you don't believe me, go ask Itachi..."

Itachi had no desire to answer Kakashi. He felt that Youhu had been targeting his family, though he had no evidence.

Spreading rumors that his father, Fugaku, was having an affair with the Hokage was intended to create a rift between his parents.

Threatening him not to betray the village, or else he would be killed, was a warning to him. And now, Youhu was eyeing his father's position as Guard Captain...

In their family, only Sasuke had not been implicated yet...

Youhu noticed Itachi's expression and quickly complained: "Captain Kakashi, Itachi doesn't seem to want to talk to me. Why don't you continue telling me about Brother Obito?"

"Are you really planning to go find Obito? What about our squad? Should we disband?"

Kakashi touched his forehead and rubbed his temples before saying: "I don't know. I probably won't go looking for Obito in the short term, but sooner or later, I will find him."

"Or rather, in the entire Ninja World, I am the only one who can find him."

As he said this, Kakashi's gaze became much firmer.

Kakashi's determination made Youhu want to laugh, and he almost did, but he managed to hold it back.

I am a spy Obito left in the village, and I can contact Obito at any time.

Itachi is much the same; Obito will surely continue to bewitch him, and meeting is very simple.

Care to guess which one of the three of us is the one who cannot contact Obito and can only offer flowers to the dead at the Hero Cemetery all by himself?

It is truly too hard to guess.

After the small interlude on the road, Kakashi Squad continued to carry out their patrol mission.

It wasn't until the horizon turned a pale white that Kakashi Squad finally returned to the Anbu Base to clock out.

Changing into his Konoha Chunin attire, Youhu said goodbye to Kakashi and headed toward the Konoha streets, planning to grab something to eat to warm himself up before going back to rest.

There was no helping it; staying up all night on patrol was simply too exhausting, especially since the Anbu implemented a twenty-four-hour work system.

If he didn't eat something before sleeping, he worried he wouldn't be able to wake up.

After buying some breakfast at a peddler's stall, Youhu intended to take it home to enjoy slowly.

As he passed a street corner, a figure leaning on a cane blocked Youhu's path.

The person was an old man with bandages wrapped around his head and a face full of wrinkles. His gaze was incredibly sharp, and he looked like someone not to be trifled with.

"Youhu, I have been watching you for a long time. You possess something that I want."

This person was none other than Danzo, who wanted to recruit Youhu.

According to the intelligence network he had inserted into the Anbu, although Youhu was only a Chunin, his strength was comparable to a Jonin, and he had played a huge role in repelling the Masked Man.

As for Hiruzen Sarutobi forbidding him from recruiting Youhu, he certainly wouldn't obey that obediently.

"I have something you want?"

Youhu thought for a moment, then immediately split his breakfast into two portions and tossed one to Danzo.

"..."

Danzo was stunned. After catching the breakfast, he asked in a puzzled tone, "What are you doing?"

"You aren't broke and unable to afford breakfast, are you? That's why you've been staring at mine. I've seen plenty of vagrants like you who care too much about their pride; you're just too embarrassed to ask for money, so you're hiding here to beg me for food."

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else. Everyone has their down-and-out moments."

After saying this, Youhu turned his head and walked away, muttering to himself:

"Clan Head Fugaku and the Hokage really should do something about the vagrants in the village. Winter is coming soon, and I don't even know if this old man has any clothes to wear—he's already resorted to wearing bandages..."

"Hmm?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Danzo finally realized that this kid, Youhu, had mistaken him for a vagrant.

He was merely dressed a bit simply; was it a crime not to indulge in material desires? No wonder Hiruzen walked around wearing his Mishin Robe every day; comparing people really could drive a man to his grave.

No longer concealing his identity, Danzo used Body Flicker to appear directly in front of Youhu:

"Youhu, I am the Hokage Assistant, Shimura Danzo. I have come here to recruit you into the Root Ninja. Only in the Root Ninja can you truly utilize your greatest potential."

"Hokage Assistant, Lord Danzo?"

Youhu's eyes widened, wearing a look of disbelief.

In truth, he had known all along that the old man before him was Danzo. That gloomy aura was something most ninja didn't possess, and on top of that, there was that thick scent of Senju that could be smelled from a distance.

Speaking of Danzo, this old man was no simple character.

Many tragedies in the Ninja World were caused by Danzo; the death of Shisui and the corruption of Nagato were both linked to him.

Danzo had even used the "Trolley Problem" to successfully brainwash Uchiha Itachi, forcing Itachi to wipe out his own clan to resolve the Uchiha crisis in Konoha.

Judging by these deeds, Danzo was certainly quite capable.

It was a pity that the Uchiha and Danzo were destined to be incompatible; otherwise, he would have liked to chat with Danzo about the finer points of scheming against others.

After feigning surprise to provide Danzo with enough emotional validation, Youhu began his counter-offensive, asking back with a look of confusion:

"Elder Danzo, do you know my current status? I am not a Chunin of the Guard Division; I am an Anbu directly under the Hokage."

"I am, of course, aware that you are Sarutobi's Anbu, but it is only here with me that you will be truly valued."

Danzo, confident that Youhu would join him, tempted him with patient persuasion.

Youhu looked even more puzzled, frowning as he said:

"But I recall that the Root Ninja is a training class for the Anbu. Since I am already in the Anbu, why would I need to go to the Root Ninja for training? After I graduated from the Ninja School, I didn't go back to be a student."

"..."

This was the first time Danzo had ever heard such a response.

The Root Ninja was indeed a training class for the Anbu, but it was more than just that—it was an organization hidden within the Anbu that belonged solely to him.

Danzo couldn't be bothered to explain it to Youhu and went straight to making an offer:

"Join the Root Ninja, and I can grant you things you otherwise could not obtain. Whether it is the forbidden techniques from the Scroll of Seals or the status of a Jonin, I can give them to you."

"Then can you make me the Captain of the Guard Division?"

Youhu looked at Danzo, his face filled with anticipation.