It was simply a matter of combat strength.
Without a doubt, Chiba was stronger than Itachi.
But Itachi had an additional identity—and a pair of Sharingan.
Having the Sharingan and not having it were two completely different things.
Chiba was stronger than Itachi now, but once Itachi awakened his Sharingan, that might change.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō watched Chiba and Itachi calmly.
They couldn't hide the eagerness in their eyes.
Just as the two men were about to speak,
the office door suddenly swung open with a bang.
An unexpected person appeared at the graduation ceremony.
"F-Father?"
Itachi stared in surprise at Uchiha Fugaku standing in the doorway.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō both frowned.
"Fugaku, shouldn't you be at the Mist Frontline? Why are you here?"
Fugaku shrugged.
"The Mist Frontline is peaceful at the moment. I was supposed to leave yesterday, but I heard Itachi and Chiba wanted to apply for early graduation, so I thought I'd come and see."
"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzō... would you allow me to observe?"
Though Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō were displeased,
they had no reason to refuse.
After all, Uchiha Fugaku was the head of the Uchiha Clan, as well as Itachi's father.
"Someone, set up a seat for him to observe from."
An Anbu Ninja appeared at once and set another chair beside the long table.
Fugaku hadn't planned to come.
But after all, that unpleasant incident had happened at the memorial service.
Fugaku had tacitly approved of Chiba's actions, so he had a responsibility—and a duty—to see Chiba graduate successfully, true to his own wishes.
Protecting the clan was always the clan head's responsibility.
Once Fugaku had taken his seat, Sarutobi Hiruzen composed himself, turned to Chiba and Itachi, and smiled kindly.
"Young men of the Uchiha Clan."
"Without a doubt, you are both the future of Konoha and inheritors of the Will of Fire."
"Graduating from the Ninja Academy means becoming a shinobi capable of standing on your own in Konoha."
"When facing missions or war, you may encounter unbelievable danger at any time."
"Even so, do you still choose to graduate?"
With Fugaku present, the necessary formalities couldn't be skipped.
Chiba and Itachi exchanged a glance and answered calmly.
"Yes! We still choose to graduate."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled at that, then turned to Itachi.
"Uchiha Itachi."
"Lord Hokage."
"Your talent is plain for all to see. In my opinion, my Anbu... needs someone like you. So, in my capacity as the Third Hokage, I formally invite you to join my Anbu. Would you like to?"
The Anbu were directly subordinate to the Hokage and answered only to him.
For students of the Ninja Academy, that was an absolute honor.
It was an invitation personally extended by the Hokage.
The man they all looked up to.
If Itachi hadn't met Chiba, he would surely have accepted.
But because of Chiba—the butterfly that had crossed his path—things had changed.
"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Lord Hokage."
"I don't intend to join the Anbu for now."
Itachi didn't give a reason.
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't ask.
There was no need.
With Fugaku present, there were many things they couldn't say.
Danzō, for his part, remained silent.
He knew Itachi was ultimately beyond his reach.
"I see. My Anbu will be missing you. What a shame..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and said no more. Instead, he turned his gaze to Chiba.
"Uchiha Chiba, my Anbu needs you too. Would you like to join?"
His tone was noticeably more emphatic than it had been with Itachi.
At the same time, Danzō spoke up.
"Uchiha Chiba, my Root Division... needs you too."
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned and looked at Danzō with displeasure.
Danzō, aren't you going too far?
The Root Division had always recruited after the Anbu.
Since when had Root—hidden from sight—been allowed to emerge into the open?
Chapter 53
Danzō clearly noticed Sarutobi Hiruzen's displeased gaze.
But this time, he didn't back down.
He very much wanted Chiba.
Whether it was his invisible Sharingan or the blade that could slay souls, Danzō coveted them both.
His instincts told him Chiba had many secrets.
And he had no intention of handing those secrets over to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Time had never worn down Danzō's sharp edges. His ambition had never stopped growing.
"Danzō..."
Beside him, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura both frowned.
Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't spoken, but they couldn't stay silent.
Though they were all members of Konoha's High Command,
the one openly serving as Hokage was Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"I'm not trying to compete with the Anbu."
"I simply think Uchiha Chiba would be a good fit for my Root Division."
"Since we're all here, why not let him decide?"
Seeing Danzō's confident expression, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew the old man had been up to something behind his back again.
He didn't even need to think about it. Danzō had probably contacted Chiba privately.
To get Chiba to join his Root Division, he had likely offered him some unspeakable deal.
Sarutobi Hiruzen drew a deep breath, then slowly let it out.
The Uchiha Clan had already made him unhappy, and now Danzō was adding to it.
He gradually suppressed his anger.
At that moment, Uchiha Fugaku spoke.
"Chiba, the choice is yours to make."
"Just follow your own wishes."
He knew Danzō had probably approached Chiba privately.
Chiba bowed respectfully to Fugaku and smiled.
"Thank you, Clan Head."
Then he raised his head to face Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō and spoke calmly.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."
"I have no intention of joining either the Anbu or the Root Division."
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzō both froze.
When Danzō spoke up, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already known Chiba would probably join the Root Division. He knew his old friend too well.
But he hadn't expected Danzō to strike out, too.
Chiba had joined neither the Anbu nor the Root Division.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was shocked, but Danzō was mostly angry.
He was indeed rather annoyed.
He had personally approached Chiba and made him an offer. Now, in front of everyone, he had extended an invitation, even competing with Sarutobi Hiruzen for him. He had shown Chiba the utmost respect and sincerity.
But Chiba simply didn't care.
"Chiba, are you sure you don't want to think it over?"
"No. Thank you for the offer."
Almost instinctively, all four of them looked at Uchiha Fugaku.
In their eyes, Chiba's refusal had to be at Fugaku's direction.
But allowing Itachi to make his own choice had already been Sarutobi Hiruzen's greatest concession.
He couldn't make any further concessions to the Uchiha Clan.
It was a matter of face.
Sarutobi Hiruzen could swallow the humiliation of the memorial service because the Uchiha had held the Mist Ninja at the front line.
But he wouldn't give in a second time.
"I see. In that case... Chiba, I may not be able to approve your graduation."
Uchiha Fugaku frowned.
"May I ask why, Lord Hokage?"