"Oh? You rarely come to see me of your own accord. What is it?"
In the Council of Elders at the Hokage Building, Utatane Koharu, the elder on duty that day, was reviewing the village's budget and supply allocations for the new quarter when a middle-aged man in a Jonin vest walked in. She looked a little surprised.
"I heard Lord Danzō was going to personally train a team and still needed a female candidate?"
The visitor wore a head wrap, with his Forehead Protector fastened squarely on his head. Among Konoha Ninja, who liked to show off their individuality, he was a rare Jonin who took rules and regulations seriously.
"What is it? Do you want to put your daughter on the team? My relationship with Danzō isn't exactly good."
"At least you can talk to Lord Danzō. I may be the principal of the Konoha Ninja Academy, but the request I sent to Root still hasn't received a response."
As one of Konoha's elders, Utatane Koharu oversaw the village's Medical Department and Ministry of Education. The Medical Department was headed by Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin, while the Ministry of Education—and the Ninja Academy—was headed by the man standing before her.
Yuhi Shinku was different from Lady Tsunade, who would heed orders but not answer summons. He was a loyal member of the Hokage's faction.
"If you'd asked, I would have been happy to make the trip for you. Unfortunately, you came a step too late."
Utatane Koharu pulled a document she had approved just three minutes earlier from the corner of her desk and handed it to her subordinate.
It was the file of a girl who had graduated from the Ninja Academy six months ago.
Uzuki Yugao, 8 years old, Genin.
Mission experience: 7 D-rank,