"What reason? Isn't he the biggest reason himself?"
"He's a ninja, but he can't see. No one could entrust a mission to a ninja like that!"
"Joining the Anbu is my guarantee to him."
"With me, the Hokage, vouching for him, Konoha's ninjas can feel safe entrusting their backs to him. They can truly trust him."
At that, Itachi grew anxious and quickly spoke up.
"Lord Hokage, I can truly trust him."
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Itachi and calmly shook his head.
"This isn't a matter that concerns only you. Do you understand?"
Even if Danzo got his hands on Uchiha Chiba, Sarutobi Hiruzen would be no more than displeased.
After all, a genius like him wouldn't be staying with the Uchiha Clan.
Especially given his recent conflict with the Uchiha.
"If that's the case, what if I, as a member of the Konoha Military Police Force, vouch for him?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen calmly shook his head.
"The Konoha Military Police Force deals with Konoha's people. Do you think... the people would trust a blind ninja?"
Even Uchiha Fugaku knew the answer.
It was unlikely.
Especially because of the rumors, Chiba didn't have the best reputation in Konoha.
After all, he'd long been a favorite topic of conversation over meals.
So Chiba had only two choices: either he couldn't graduate, or he had to join the Anbu.
This was Sarutobi Hiruzen's way of striking at the Uchiha.
But did Chiba really care about becoming a ninja?
No, he didn't.
Having a ninja's identity was simply convenient for entering the battlefield and carrying out special missions.
"So, I'll ask you one more time, Uchiha Chiba. Do you want to join the Anbu?"
"Become an Anbu member and work to protect Konoha. You'll always be a successor to the Will of Fire."
Sarutobi Hiruzen still wore a smile.
Chiba was, after all, just an Uchiha child.
He thought highly of Chiba. It was the Uchiha Clan and Uchiha Fugaku he wanted to strike at, not Chiba.
Unfortunately, Chiba had never been a child.
And the Will of Fire had never swayed him.
Just as Chiba was preparing to refuse once more,
another voice rang out from outside the door.
"I'll vouch for Uchiha Chiba."
At that, Chiba smiled.
Just as expected. Here she was.
The moment Chiba had stepped into the Hokage Building, his Observation Haki had already sensed her.
At the sudden voice of dissent,
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others frowned.
There was no doubt that this was meant to put the Uchiha Clan in their place. And at a time like this, someone had actually come out to oppose them.
They wanted to know who could possibly be so bold.
But when they saw the red hair fluttering at the doorway, they all froze for a moment.
It was someone they'd never expected.
"Kushina...?"
ps: A new day, and I'm just hoping for a flower, a review ticket, and a monthly ticket!!
Kushina Uzumaki's appearance surprised everyone present.
Even Uchiha Fugaku was stunned.
He looked at the woman standing in the doorway—his wife's best friend—then at Chiba, utterly baffled.
Chiba, when did you get involved with Kushina?
Sarutobi Hiruzen could ignore a guarantee from the Uchiha Clan.
But Kushina Uzumaki was different. She was Konoha's Jinchuriki, and her status was akin to that of a nuclear weapon.
"Kushina... what did you just say?"
One unexpected turn after another had already worn down Sarutobi Hiruzen's patience.
Getting this Uchiha genius under his control would not only let him control the Uchiha Clan's future strength, but also serve as a warning and a blow to the Uchiha, who were acting so [arrogantly] these days.
It was killing two birds with one stone. Sarutobi Hiruzen had already decided that no matter what Uchiha Fugaku said, he wouldn't back down.
But things had taken an unexpected turn after all.
"I said I'd vouch for Uchiha Chiba."
"Just like Lord Danzo, I think Uchiha Chiba and I are destined to meet."
"After he graduates, I want to take him as my student."
Danzo drew a deep breath and looked calmly at Kushina.
"Kushina, do you know what you're doing?"
"Of course. This is my decision."
"I think I can vouch for Chiba."
Kushina Uzumaki certainly had the right to do so.
She was Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
At this critical point in the war, no one wanted anything to happen to their village's Jinchuriki.
"Kushina, you should understand what you ought to be doing right now," Mitokado Homura scolded sharply.
"We're in the final stages of the war. I don't believe you have the time to take on a student."
"You should always be ready to protect Konoha," Utatane Koharu immediately added.
They could see what Sarutobi Hiruzen was trying to do.
The Uchiha needed to be suppressed, after all.
Kushina's status might be sensitive, but with a good enough reason, they could still turn the situation around.
"I am getting ready."
"But that doesn't interfere with my teaching."
"After all, there's no way I can leave the village during this time, is there?"
A perfectly valid reason.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had nothing to say.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and slowly let it out before speaking earnestly.
"Kushina..."
"I understand how you feel."
"Promising young talents are always sought after, but... what could you teach him?"
"After all, your strengths and his are completely different."
Kushina was a Jinchuriki skilled in sealing, while Chiba was a swordsman skilled in swordsmanship.
The two had nothing to do with each other.
"So I'm sorry, but I can't agree."
"If Chiba wants to graduate and become a ninja, he'll still have to go through the Anbu."
At that, Kushina smiled.
"So that's what you're worried about?"
As she spoke, Kushina patted Chiba on the head.
"Any problem with that?"
Chiba knew what Kushina meant and smiled as he shook his head.
"Of course not."
"Then let them see. Don't let my kindness go to waste."
After saying that, Chiba nodded.
The next moment, he stepped forward, and the aura around him changed abruptly.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō were stunned by that overwhelming aura.
How could someone with such a haughty, world-conquering bearing be Chiba?
No wonder Uchiha Shisui had said Chiba had what it took to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
He hadn't been joking.
Only someone who had reached the peak of a field could have an aura like that.
Clearly, Chiba was a king among swordsmen.
The moment he released that aura, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu narrowed their eyes and snorted.
"Impudent!"
"Do you know where you are?"
The next moment,
an Anbu member flashed into view and immediately attacked, trying to subdue Chiba.
Unfortunately, Chiba's Observation Haki had already sensed everything.
He didn't draw his sword.
Instead, he swung his cane, striking the Anbu member from an unbelievably tricky angle.
In an instant,
the Anbu member froze.
His attack had been interrupted, and he'd even lost his balance.
Had this kid seen through his surprise attack?
As he reeled in shock, Chiba had somehow already appeared right in front of him.
"Sorry..."