In front of everyone, the Third announced Uzumaki Kuming's new appointment, and his words sent shockwaves through the crowd.
Anbu and the Guard Squad were two separate systems. Technically, the Guard Squad fell under the broad umbrella of Anbu, as an organization that had branched off to protect the Hokage. In practice, though, Anbu and the Guard Squad carried out completely different kinds of missions.
The Guard Squad's primary duty was to protect the Hokage. Sometimes they also served as messengers, and their missions usually took place within the village. Anbu, on the other hand, was very different. Besides guarding the village and protecting the Hokage, Anbu was also responsible for hunting down missing-nin, infiltrating enemy villages to gather intelligence, and carrying out other such missions.
Generally speaking, Anbu members who undertook missions outside the village were stronger than Guard Squad shinobi assigned to protective duties. Anbu squad leaders, meanwhile, were already a step above ordinary Anbu, practically minor commanders in their own right. Standard missions were usually handled by Anbu members acting alone, while missions that required a team were generally very difficult. Only those missions called for a squad leader to take charge.
Uzumaki Kuming had jumped straight from being a member of the Guard Squad to becoming an Anbu squad leader. It was an enormous leap. When they considered that he had also gone from Genin to Special Jōnin, all the shinobi who knew anything about Kuming began discussing it among themselves.
"I never thought Lord Hokage would play favorites, too."
"From Genin to Special Jōnin, then from the Guard Squad to Anbu squad leader. That's way too fast. What has he done to deserve it?"
"I heard this Uzumaki Kuming is Lord Hokage's student. Did he and Orochimaru put on a show together so Lord Hokage