Escort the Third

Inside the Hokage Office,

Minato Namikaze looked at the three people before him,

his gaze lingering especially on Kakashi for a moment.

Ever since the Rin Nohara Incident, a lingering gloom had always clouded Kakashi's eyes.

It was rare to see such a lively glint in them as there was today.

Watching him fool around with Guy and Yatsuhashi,

Minato felt a long-missed sense of relief.

Perhaps this was the wondrous power of friendship.

"Kakashi, Yatsuhashi."

Minato collected his thoughts and said seriously, "This mission is unusual."

He unrolled a scroll, his tone steady. "Might Guy will escort the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to the Daimyo Palace in the Land of Fire to meet with the Daimyo.

The two of you will be responsible for secretly protecting him along the way."

"Is Guy the only one assigned to the escort?"

Yatsuhashi asked. He wasn't questioning Guy's abilities; he was simply curious.

"Mm." Minato nodded.

"Guy's teammates, Genma Shiranui and Ebisu,

have already been sent to the Land of Water to carry out other secret missions."

Because of the Bloody Mist Regime, Kirigakure had imposed an extremely strict information blockade against the outside world.

But recently, a spy the village had stationed there had sent back a top-secret report,

containing news about Uchiha Obito.

Rumor had it that Uchiha Obito had appeared in the Land of Water,

and had even awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan while fighting Karatachi Yagura.

Minato couldn't help but take this extremely seriously.

After all, Obito was supposed to have definitely perished at Kannabi Bridge.

The village had even built a memorial tomb for him.

To make sure the report wasn't false information spread by Kirigakure,

Minato Namikaze hadn't chosen to inform Kakashi right away.

Instead, he had dispatched a team to the Land of Water to meet with the spy.

At the thought of that name, Minato's eyes dimmed for an instant.

He looked at Kakashi, then at Yatsuhashi.

"So there can't be the slightest mistake with this escort.

Besides you, Ao, the Anbu commander, will also lead a team to protect the Third."

Minato turned to Might Guy. "Guy, do you need any additional teammates?"

Guy was just about to refuse,

when Yatsuhashi suddenly spoke up. "I suggest bringing Uchiha Itachi along."

The reason he'd suggested bringing Uchiha Itachi

was that he didn't feel comfortable leaving his parents in the village,

and worried Uchiha Fugaku might do something rash.

Taking Uchiha Itachi along

would let Yatsuhashi leave the village without worrying.

It would also send Uchiha Fugaku a signal

not to make any reckless moves.

The air in the room froze for a moment.

"Oh?"

Minato's eyes lit up.

Yatsuhashi's suggestion suited him perfectly.

Minato had already planned to recruit Itachi into the Anbu,

and this was an excellent chance to observe him.

Since the suggestion had come from Yatsuhashi,

Might Guy had no reason to object.

He readily replied, "If Yatsuhashi recommends him, then I have no objections!"

"Good." Minato made the decision at once. "Then Itachi will join Guy's team."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Uchiha Itachi was also happy to accept the arrangement.

After all, this was a special mission assigned by the Hokage,

which also represented the village's recognition of the Uchiha Clan

and its acknowledgment of his abilities.

Still, as Itachi looked at Might Guy, who was dressed in green from head to toe and brimming with enthusiasm,

he couldn't help feeling that something about him was indescribably odd.

In his mind, he even dubbed him the strange, bushy-browed teacher.

Guy threw an arm around Itachi, who had just arrived after receiving the summons.

"Come on, Itachi! Let's put our youthful strides to work and give the Third the most fiery escort ever!"

Guy's arm around him made Uchiha Itachi feel a little awkward,

but he still nodded politely. "Yes, Guy-senpai."

The next morning, on the road leading to the Daimyo Palace in the Land of Fire,

a plain carriage rolled slowly along.

At the reins sat an Anbu Ninja wearing a Monkey Mask, his eyes sharp.

He was Ao, the Anbu commander.

Even sitting quietly, Ao gave off an invisible sense of pressure.

Inside the carriage, the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, puffed on his pipe and leisurely rested with his eyes closed.

Two figures led the way ahead of the carriage.

On the left was Might Guy, wearing a green jumpsuit, with thick eyebrows and big eyes.

On the right was a small figure: Uchiha Itachi.

Although Uchiha Itachi was only six or seven and had just graduated from the Ninja Academy,

the little boy showed a maturity far beyond his years.

Unlike Might Guy, who moved with vigorous energy,

he walked steadily, constantly scanning their surroundings with alert eyes.

"Itachi! Come on, match my passionate pace and feel the meaning of youth!"

Guy shouted as he did stretches.

Itachi watched Guy's brightly colored jumpsuit and exaggerated movements.

Though he didn't understand them, he still began imitating him with surprising precision.

After all, Might Guy was leading this mission.

Itachi figured there had to be a reason for Guy-senpai to act this way.

Before long, Guy had gotten Itachi caught up in his enthusiasm.

The two of them performed all sorts of fiery poses as they headed toward the Daimyo Palace.

Meanwhile, two figures followed close behind, ghostlike among the shadows and trees lining the road.

Kakashi trailed lazily behind the carriage,

and behind him,

Yatsuhashi's figure blended almost completely into the shadows of the forest.

He stayed alert to every rustle and stir around them.

This mission was nowhere near as simple as he'd imagined.

That was because, besides the two of them, there were also dozens of Anbu members surrounding the carriage.

It was obvious from their assignment

that they were tasked with protecting Might Guy up ahead and Uchiha Itachi, the new addition to the team,

not the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, inside the carriage.

At the same time, in the grand, glittering main hall of the Daimyo Palace in the Land of Fire,

several Root shinobi

had already leaked the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi's movements and intelligence to the Daimyo.

Danzo was trying to win the Daimyo's support in exchange.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi had once won the Daimyo's backing to become Hokage, then Danzo could do the same.

Danzo had even made a promise on his own authority.

If he became Hokage, he would have the village work with the Guardian Shinobi

to jointly shoulder responsibility for the security of the Land of Fire.

On the main dais, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire sat with his obese body,

wearing an undisguised, arrogant smile.

"Heh heh heh... Danzo, Danzo. What a born old fox."

What he wanted had never been to replace one Hokage with another,

but to abolish the Hokage system entirely and reclaim control of the shinobi.

"Kazuma!"

Standing behind the Daimyo, Kazuma had a sinister look in his eyes.

At the Daimyo's command, several flashes of cold light flickered,

and the Root shinobi were beheaded before they could even react.

Blood splattered across the polished marble floor,

forming a bizarre contrast with the Daimyo's extravagant robe, embroidered all over with gold thread.

"Hmph, Danzo wants to become Hokage?"

Kazuma sneered as he wiped the blood from his Four-Bladed Iron Claw.

"There can only be one voice in a country, and that's the Daimyo's!"

The Daimyo nodded in satisfaction, the fat on his face wobbling.

"Well done, Kazuma."

"That old fool Danzo thought he could negotiate terms with me? Ridiculous."

"Go. Clean up all those annoying bugs."

The Daimyo waved his hand lazily. "Don't let Hiruzen Sarutobi spoil my good mood!"

"As you command."

Kazuma bowed slightly. "The age of Konoha's shinobi is coming to an end."