First Contact

As for the detailed information on Ueno Kei, only the head of Anbu had a clear picture of it. (They didn't know he was the Hokage's student.) Even Akamatsu, who led the team, knew only Ueno Kei's codename, real name, and strength—ordinary Chunin.

By comparison, Ueno Kei knew only his own captain's codename and name, and nothing else. Still, he was somewhat familiar with Anbu's rules. Generally, members knew one another only by their codenames, and that applied to his team as well.

Members of the same team knew what one another looked like, but between different teams, they knew only each other's codenames and nothing more. This was one of the basic rules. After all, Anbu members' files were classified secrets of Konoha, known only to the Anbu chief and the Hokage.

Of course, Konoha was a special case. The two advisors and Shimura Danzō also knew about some Anbu members. (As for Shimura Danzō, no one knew what methods he used, but he knew nearly everything about them.)

At first, Akamatsu had been somewhat unhappy about adding someone with only ordinary Chunin strength to his team. His team ranked near the top of Anbu in both mission difficulty and completion rate. There was no need to mention his own strength; all his team members were elite Chunin, close to Special Jōnin.

But when Akamatsu saw Ueno Kei, his displeasure eased a little. Akamatsu was already thirty, so how could he fail to see Ueno Kei's true age? He was no older than twelve. Anyone that young who could join Anbu had to have potential worth cultivating.

Anbu was certainly a division that handled high-difficulty missions and dealt with matters that couldn't be brought into the open. But it was also an ideal place to train people. Many who left Anbu became the backbone of Konoha—elite Jonin, or even figures who could rival those at Kage Level.

A place like this was also perfectly suited to training young people and turning them into Konoha's fighting force.

So Akamatsu put Ueno Kei in that category. Of course, his displeasure had only lessened slightly; it hadn't disappeared. No matter how talented someone was, he still hadn't grown into his potential.

For now, with a new rookie like Ueno Kei on the team, Akamatsu's squad would have to take on less demanding missions.

The few words from the Anbu chief had confirmed Akamatsu's suspicions: do everything possible to keep Ueno Kei alive (unless something unexpected happened); everything else was secondary.

Those words gave Akamatsu a rough idea of what to expect.

When he introduced Ueno Kei to the three team members, that was all he said. After hearing Akamatsu, the three were taken aback. This kid was joining their team? They had suspected as much, but hearing it from their captain still made it hard to accept.

Anyone who joined Anbu should have some strength—at least Chunin level. But even putting that aside, this team's strength was far beyond what an ordinary Chunin could match.

And the difference between Ueno Kei and them in mission experience alone was enormous. It was like the difference between heaven and earth.

Wasn't he obviously going to hold them back? But the people below couldn't question a decision from above, so the three could only accept it. The woman seemed fine with it, but the two men wore faint expressions of displeasure, subtle enough that most people wouldn't notice.

As it happened, life in a prominent clan in his previous world had taught Ueno Kei to read people. He was exceptionally sensitive to shifts in their expressions and emotions, and easily caught the three team members' displeasure.

Ueno Kei understood why they felt that way. He would probably have reacted the same if their positions were reversed. So he felt perfectly calm, without the slightest discomfort. As for whether Captain Akamatsu was also unhappy with him, Ueno Kei couldn't tell.

Ever since Ueno Kei had met him, Akamatsu had worn a poker face. His emotions never seemed to waver; he was a typical block of wood.

That made it impossible for Ueno Kei to be sure. He still suspected Akamatsu was a little displeased with him, but the man simply didn't show it.

As soon as Akamatsu finished introducing him, Ueno Kei greeted the three team members in a low voice, then silently stood to one side without speaking. Anbu members didn't chat unless necessary, and talking could easily lead to misunderstandings.

The three nodded to Ueno Kei in acknowledgment. That was their greeting.

At night, Konoha was still filled with noise.

The streets were bustling everywhere. As a ninja village grew stronger, it flourished. Konoha Ninja Village, still the dominant force in the Ninja World after enduring many wars, was the best example.

In a corner of this prosperous Konoha stood an old-fashioned building. It was the residence of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The Third Hokage lived there with his grandson, Sarutobi Konohamaru. His second son, Sarutobi Asuma, had moved out years ago, when he became one of the Land of Fire's Twelve Guardian Ninja.

After returning to Konoha and becoming a Jonin, he still hadn't moved back. The Third Hokage's wife, Sarutobi Biwako, had also died years ago during the Nine-Tails Incident.

As for the circumstances surrounding Sarutobi Konohamaru's father, the Third Hokage's eldest son, very few people in Konoha knew anything about him. Whether he was alive or dead, the Third Hokage had never discussed it in public. If anyone knew, it was probably the two advisors and Shimura Danzō, who had been his teammates back then.

Some of the older people in Konoha knew as well. Of course, even if they knew, they never discussed it in front of outsiders. Though Sarutobi Konohamaru had no parents, no one in the village would say anything about it.

After all, Konohamaru was the Third Hokage's only grandson!

In terms of status, aside from the children of the Five Great Nations' daimyōs and the Kage of the other four great ninja villages, even the children of some minor daimyōs couldn't compare.

Besides, the Third Hokage was trusted and respected by the people of Konoha. They loved Konohamaru because they loved him.

No one dared criticize or point fingers at Konohamaru. Once he started attending Konoha Ninja Academy, the parents of his classmates all told their children to respect him and never bully him.

That showed just how special Konohamaru's status was.

And so, in such a grand building, things felt far too quiet.

After all, besides the Third Hokage and his grandson, only the Anbu guards were there. This was Ueno Kei's first time visiting the Third Hokage's residence.

Before going to Anbu to meet his captain and teammates, the Third Hokage had told Ueno Kei to come here that night. Thanks to the Third Hokage's prior instructions, the Anbu hidden in the shadows recognized Ueno Kei and made no move against him.

Ueno Kei passed through the gate of the Third Hokage's residence without any trouble and headed straight for the Third Hokage's room.