The Blind Swordsman of the Uchiha Clan

"Reason? Isn't he the greatest reason himself?"

"A ninja who cannot see—no one can entrust a mission to such a ninja!"

"And joining the Anbu is the guarantee I am offering him."

"With my guarantee as the Hokage, the ninjas of Konoha can safely entrust their backs to him and truly trust him."

At this moment, Itachi grew anxious and spoke up repeatedly.

"Lord Hokage, I can truly trust him."

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Itachi and shook his head calmly.

"This isn't just a problem for you alone, do you understand?"

Even if Uchiha Chiba were to be recruited by Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen would at most be displeased.

Because such a genius would not be left within the Uchiha clan.

Especially given the recent conflicts between the Uchiha and himself.

"If that is the case, then what if I, as the head of the Konoha Military Police Force, provide the guarantee for him?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head calmly.

"The Konoha Military Police Force faces the public of Konoha. Do you think... the public would trust a blind ninja?"

Uchiha Fugaku knew it himself.

It was unlikely.

Especially because of the rumors, Chiba's reputation in Konoha was not particularly good.

After all, he had always been a subject of gossip after meals.

Therefore, Chiba either could not graduate, or he had to choose to join the Anbu.

This was a blow from Sarutobi Hiruzen to the Uchiha.

However, did Chiba really care about becoming a ninja?

No, he did not care.

It was merely that having the status of a ninja made it convenient to enter the battlefield and complete special missions.

"So, I will ask you one more time, Uchiha Chiba, do you wish to join the Anbu?"

"Become an Anbu, strive to protect Konoha, and you will forever be a successor of the Will of Fire."

Sarutobi Hiruzen still wore a smile on his face.

Chiba was, after all, just a child of the Uchiha.

He valued Chiba highly; the ones he wanted to strike at were the Uchiha clan and Uchiha Fugaku, not Chiba.

Unfortunately, Chiba had never been a child.

And the Will of Fire had never once swayed Chiba.

Just as Chiba was preparing to refuse once more.

Outside the door, another voice rang out.

"Uchiha Chiba, I will provide the guarantee."

Hearing this, Chiba smiled.

So, they had arrived after all.

The moment Chiba stepped into this Hokage Building, his Observation Haki had already captured the other party.

At the sudden voice of opposition.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others all frowned.

Without a doubt, this was a show of force against the Uchiha clan; at such a time, someone had actually jumped out to play the contrarian.

They were very curious to know who was so bold.

However, when they saw the red hair fluttering at the doorway, they were all stunned.

It was someone who took them completely by surprise.

"Kushina... Uzumaki?"

The appearance of Kushina Uzumaki made everyone present feel surprised.

Even Uchiha Fugaku was dumbfounded.

He looked at the best friend of his wife standing at the door, then looked at Chiba, his face full of confusion.

Chiba, you brat, when did you get in touch with Kushina?

As for the guarantee coming from the Uchiha clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen could ignore it.

However, Kushina Uzumaki was different; as Konoha's jinchūriki, her status was equivalent to a nuclear weapon.

"Kushina... what did you just say?"

The repeated unexpected developments were beginning to exhaust Sarutobi Hiruzen's patience.

Securing the Uchiha genius, Uchiha Chiba, would not only allow him to control the future power of the Uchiha clan but also serve as a blow and a warning to the currently "arrogant" Uchiha.

It was a case of killing two birds with one stone, and Sarutobi Hiruzen had already made up his mind not to let go, regardless of what Uchiha Fugaku might say.

Yet, an accident had occurred after all.

"I said, I will stand as guarantor for Uchiha Chiba."

"Just like Lord Danzō, I feel that Uchiha Chiba and I share a bond."

"After he graduates, I intend to take him on as my disciple."

Danzō took a deep breath and looked at Kushina calmly.

"Kushina, do you know what you are doing?"

"Of course, this is a decision I have made."

"I believe I am qualified to stand as guarantor for Chiba."

Kushina Uzumaki certainly possessed that qualification.

She was, after all, Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchūriki.

At the most critical juncture of the war, no one wanted any complications to arise with the jinchūriki within their own village.

"Kushina, you should understand what you ought to be doing right now."

Mitokado Homura rebuked her coldly.

"We are in the final stages of the war; I do not believe you have the leisure to take on an apprentice."

"You should be ready at all times to protect Konoha."

Utatane Koharu spoke up immediately as well.

They could see Sarutobi Hiruzen's objective.

The Uchiha, in the end, needed to be suppressed.

Although Kushina's status was sensitive, as long as the reasoning was sufficient, the situation could still be reversed.

"I am indeed preparing."

"However, that does not interfere with my teaching."

"After all, no matter what, I cannot leave the village during this period, can I?"

A sufficient reason.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had nothing left to say.

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and spoke in an earnest, persuasive tone.

"Kushina..."

"I understand how you feel."

"Excellent saplings are always fought over, but... what could you possibly teach him?"

"After all, what you excel at and what he excels at are completely different."

Kushina was a jinchūriki who specialized in sealing, while Chiba was a swordsman who specialized in swordsmanship.

The two had absolutely nothing to do with each other.

"Therefore, I am sorry, but I cannot agree."

"If Chiba wants to graduate and become a ninja, he still needs to go through the Anbu."

Hearing this, Kushina smiled.

"So that's it; are you worried about something like that?"

As she spoke, Kushina patted Chiba on the head.

"Any problems?"

Chiba understood what Kushina meant and immediately shook his head with a smile.

"Of course there's no problem."

"In that case, show them—don't let my good intentions go to waste."

After she finished speaking, Chiba nodded.

The next moment, he took a step forward, and the aura emanating from his entire body changed abruptly.

That overwhelming presence was enough to shock even Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō.

How could such a posture of looking down upon the world and holding the heroes in contempt appear in someone like Chiba?

It was no wonder Uchiha Shisui had said that Chiba possessed the strength to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

This was absolutely no joke.

Only by reaching the pinnacle of a certain field could one possess such an aura.

Clearly, Chiba was the king among swordsmen.

The moment this aura was released, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu narrowed their eyes and let out a cold snort.

"Audacious."

"What kind of place do you think this is?"

The next instant.

An Anbu figure flashed by, striking out in an attempt to subdue Chiba.

Unfortunately, all of this was within the perception of Chiba's Observation Haki.

He did not draw his blade.

Instead, he swung his cane directly, striking the Anbu at an impossibly tricky angle.

In a flash.

The Anbu was stunned.

His attack had been interrupted, and he had even lost his balance because of it.

This brat actually saw through my sneak attack?

While he was in shock, Chiba had arrived before him before he even realized it.

"My apologies..."

He whispered.