Grinding Favorability

Leaving the Hokage Building, Houka still wore a pained expression. It was not until he got home that he dropped the act, a sneer flickering in his eyes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's sudden stunt had definitely been prompted by something Danzo had told him.

Still, I hadn't spent all these years getting by for nothing. Trying to pry information out of me? No chance!

Afterward, Houka summoned Uchiha Itachi and informed him that he would be joining the Second Squad, responsible for monitoring the Uchiha Clan.

Because Itachi wore a mask, Houka had no idea what expression he wore, but he was surely conflicted.

When Uchiha Shisui had been in the Anbu, Uchiha Fugaku had pressured him as well. But Shisui was powerful and had the support of many Uchiha clansmen, so he could afford to ignore Fugaku. Uchiha Itachi could not. He had no foundation, had yet to awaken the Mangekyou, and lacked sufficient strength. On top of that, he was Uchiha Fugaku's biological son. His situation was bound to be even more agonizing than Uchiha Shisui's.

After the transfer order was issued, Yamato came to see Houka and asked him to rescind it.

"Captain, Crow is Uchiha Fugaku's son after all. You're putting him in a very difficult position."

"Tenzō, this is the Hokage's order. There's nothing I can do about it." With a despondent look, Houka walked over and lightly patted Yamato's shoulder. "I understand that you want to look after Crow. Isn't that how I feel too? I had just returned from outside the village when I assigned Crow to the First Squad, but... sigh. This is for the sake of the village, for the bigger picture. I hope you can understand that."

Houka embellished Hiruzen Sarutobi's words as he repeated them, shamelessly showing off his lofty virtues