First Contact

Regarding the detailed files on Ueno Kei, only the Anbu Commander knew the full extent (his status as the Third Hokage's student remained classified). Even his captain, Akamatsu, only knew Ueno Kei's codename, his real name, and his relevant strength—a mere average Chunin, nothing more.

Relatively speaking, Ueno Kei only knew his captain's codename and name, with everything else remaining a mystery. Well, Ueno Kei did have a slight understanding of certain Anbu rules; generally, members only knew each other's codenames, and this held true for his own squad as well.

Only members of the same squad would know each other's faces. Between different squads, they only knew codenames and nothing else. This was one of the basic rules; after all, the files of Anbu members were top-secret documents of Konoha, and typically, only the Anbu Commander and the Hokage were privy to them.

Of course, Konoha Village was rather special. The two advisors and Shimura Danzo also knew the files of some Anbu members (as for Shimura Danzo, he used some unknown method to gain knowledge of almost every Anbu member's file).

At first, Akamatsu felt a slight dissatisfaction about a guy with only average Chunin strength joining his squad. His squad's mission difficulty and completion rates were among the best in the Anbu. His own strength aside, his team members were all elite Chunin or higher, very close to the strength of Special Jonin.

However, when he saw Ueno Kei, Akamatsu's dissatisfaction dissipated slightly. Having already reached the age of thirty, how could Akamatsu fail to see through Ueno Kei's true age? He was definitely no older than twelve. To be able to join the Anbu at such an age, he surely had potential worth cultivating.

While the Anbu was a department for executing high-difficulty missions and handling matters inconvenient to bring into the light, it was also the best place to temper people. Many who walked out of the Anbu became the backbone of Konoha, elite Jonin, or even figures comparable to Kage-level.

Such a place was also very suitable for those young talents to train and become Konoha's combat strength.

Therefore, Akamatsu categorized Ueno Kei into that group. Of course, his dissatisfaction only decreased a little; it did not vanish. No matter what, no matter how talented, he had yet to grow up.

At this stage, having added a rookie like Ueno Kei, the mission intensity for Akamatsu's squad would have to be lowered.

The few words the Anbu Commander had instructed echoed Akamatsu's guess: try to ensure Ueno Kei didn't die (if an accident happened, then so be it), but otherwise, everything else was fine.

These words gave Akamatsu a rough idea of where he stood.

When introducing him to the three team members, he naturally only said those few words. After hearing Akamatsu, the three were stunned. Just such a brat, joining our squad? Although they had guessed it from the start, hearing the captain say it still felt hard to accept.

Anyone able to join the Anbu shouldn't be too bad; at the very least, they should be at the Chunin level. But, not to mention anything else, the strength of this squad was not something an average Chunin could join.

The experience of executing missions alone was not something a brat like Ueno Kei could compare to; it was simply a difference between heaven and earth.

Wasn't this clearly a recipe for being a drag? However, decisions from above were not something those below could refute, so the three could only accept it. The woman was better about it, but the two men clearly wore expressions of dissatisfaction, though it was very faint, and an average person wouldn't notice.

Coincidentally, due to his life in a great clan in his previous life, Ueno Kei had developed the ability to observe expressions and was exceptionally sensitive to changes in people's emotions. He easily captured the dissatisfied looks of the three members.

As for why this was the case, Ueno Kei understood it very well. If it were him, he would probably feel the same. Therefore, Ueno Kei felt quite normal about it and had no strange emotions. Of course, he couldn't quite figure out if Captain Akamatsu was also dissatisfied with him.

Because, from the moment Ueno Kei met Akamatsu, Akamatsu had always worn a poker face with no emotional fluctuations—a typical wooden man.

Ueno Kei couldn't be sure, but he guessed that Akamatsu might have some slight dissatisfaction with him, only he didn't show it.

Just then, as soon as Akamatsu finished the introduction, Ueno Kei bowed to the three members in greeting in a low voice, then stood silently to the side without speaking. Anbu members did not converse easily unless necessary; besides, it was easy to cause misunderstandings.

The three nodded at Ueno Kei to acknowledge him, which counted as a greeting.

At night, Konoha was still filled with noisy sounds.

The clamor of voices could be seen everywhere. As a ninja village's strength grew, the village became more prosperous. Having experienced many ninja world wars and still remaining the hegemon of the ninja world, Konoha Ninja Village was the best model.

In such a bustling Konoha Village, in a corner of the village, sat an ancient-style building. This was the residence of the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Living in the Third Hokage's residence were the Third Hokage and his grandson, Sarutobi Konohamaru. His second son, Sarutobi Asuma, had moved out years ago when he became one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja of the Land of Fire.

After that, even when he returned to Konoha Village to serve as a Jonin, he did not move back here. The Third Hokage's wife, Sarutobi Biwako, had also passed away during the Nine-Tails incident years ago.

As for the situation regarding Sarutobi Konohamaru's father, the Third Hokage's eldest son, very few people in Konoha Village knew the details. Whether he was dead or alive, the Third Hokage had never mentioned this matter in front of others. If anyone knew, it would likely only be his teammates from that era—the two advisors and Shimura Danzo.

And some of the elders in Konoha Village knew, of course. Even if these people knew, they didn't gossip in front of outsiders. Even though Sarutobi Konohamaru had no parents, no one in the village would say anything. After all, Konohamaru was the Third Hokage's only grandson!

His status was so noble that, aside from the children of the Five Great Nations' Daimyo and the children of the Kage from the other four ninja villages, even some Daimyo of other countries couldn't compare.

Moreover, the Third Hokage was deeply trusted and respected by the villagers of Konoha. Loving the house and its crow, they were also quite protective of Konohamaru.

No one would go up and point fingers at Konohamaru. Even now that he was enrolled in the Ninja Academy, the parents of his classmates, upon learning of this, all told their children that they must respect Konohamaru and not bully him.

From this, one could see Konohamaru's special status.

Therefore, in such a grand building, it now seemed a bit too quiet.

After all, except for the Third Hokage and his grandson, there were only the Anbu guards. This was also Ueno Kei's first time coming to the Third Hokage's residence.

Long before going to the Anbu to meet the captain and teammates, the Third Hokage had instructed Ueno Kei to come here at night. And because of the Third Hokage's prior instructions, the Anbu in the shadows, having identified Ueno Kei, took no further action. Ueno Kei thus passed through the gate of the Third Hokage's residence with ease and headed straight for the Third Hokage's room.