The next morning.
Sunlight streamed over the windowsill and lit up Uzumaki Kuming's room. The day before, he had eaten with Jiraiya and the others, and under pressure from Tsunade and Jiraiya, the young Kuming had drunk some alcohol too.
At his age, he seemed to have little tolerance for alcohol. After only a few drinks, he had grown so woozy that he couldn't even remember how he'd gotten home.
"I really can't drink anymore. I got blackout drunk that easily?"
Kuming looked at his tattered clothes and shook his head as he climbed off the tatami. He went to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and changed into clean clothes. Only then did he start to feel more alert. After that, he picked up the Heavenly Feather Blade and headed for the Hokage Building in the village.
Kuming hadn't forgotten his current position. According to the Third Hokage's appointment, he was now a member of the Hokage's Guard Squad. He had no idea his position had changed—he'd already been transferred into the Anbu ranks~
When Kuming left his house, the Anbu assigned to guard the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki moved in unison. But their security detail was much smaller than before: only three Anbu, one squad, were guarding him today. The three Anbu didn't bother concealing themselves; they stood right outside the door.
When Kuming came out, the Anbu said nothing. They followed behind him as he walked toward the village.
"Is it just you three today?"
"Or will it be like this from now on?"
As he strolled through the woods, Kuming grew curious and asked the Anbu behind him.
"Captain, per Lord Hokage's orders, the three of us are now your subordinates!"
One of the Anbu replied. She wore a fox mask, and her voice was clear and high-pitched,