"Lord Hokage and the Root leader are fighting over Kagami-kun?"
"This is... way too outrageous, isn't it?"
Uchiha Itachi stood nearby, staring in astonishment.
As the top student in his year, he wasn't even the most sought-after person here?
He couldn't help looking at the wall Hyuga Kagami had just attacked. It was now nothing but rubble. It was hard to imagine how terrifying that attack would be if it hit a person!
Just then,
Hyuga Kagami suddenly raised his head and looked at the two men. "Lord Hokage, I want to join Anbu."
"Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Lord Hokage."
His expression was calm, and he was neither servile nor arrogant.
He spoke as if he were saying something as simple as eating or drinking.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in approval. Though Kagami was only eight, he already had the bearing of a strong man. Even when facing the Hokage himself, he remained neither servile nor arrogant.
That was the heart of a true strong man!
"Hyuga Kagami, have you considered the consequences of refusing me?"
Shimura Danzō suddenly spoke. His face was dark, like deep black ink!
A terrifying chill flashed in his eyes.
Refusing his goodwill?
Then, from this day on, Kagami would be an enemy of Root!
"You're already over fifty, yet you're still stuck at elite jonin. What... could you possibly do to me?"
Hyuga Kagami sneered, his gaze sharp as he looked down at Shimura Danzō!
If not for the Sharingan,
Shimura Danzō would never have reached Kage Level, not even by the day he died.
Years of making no progress had already proven the limits of his talent!
A rat hiding in Konoha's sewers wasn't worthy of his attention!
"You're asking for death, Hyuga Kagami! Hiruzen, is this how your subordinates behave? Hyuga Kagami is still a student, yet he dares to talk back to me, the leader of Root and a member of Konoha High Command. Are we supposed to tolerate a student like this?"
Shimura Danzō's face turned livid!
His expression was dark!
He was the leader of Root!
And a member of Konoha High Command. Yet now a child had talked back to him, humiliating him completely!
"A ninja with no sense of discipline should be sent to Root to be properly taught!"
Once Kagami joined Root,
then everything would be up to him. Even if Kagami died there, Danzō could simply arrange for it to look like an accident!
People from the Hyuga Branch Family... weren't worth much!
"You're the rat hiding beneath Konoha. Danzō, all you've ever contributed to Konoha is smearing its name."
Hyuga Kagami sneered, refusing to back down.
Shimura Danzō was furious.
His eyes darkened, and his hand settled on his Kunai!
"Enough, Danzō!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen barked, "From this moment on, Kagami-kun is in Anbu. As the leader of Root, you provoked him without cause. Do you expect him to endure your humiliation?"
"As the leader of Root, you should set an example!"
Hyuga Kagami shouldn't have talked back to Shimura Danzō.
But Danzō had been far too arrogant. Seeing Kagami stand up to him gave Hiruzen a deep sense of satisfaction!
"Hiruzen, one day you'll regret this decision!"
Shimura Danzō's expression was ugly as he left them with a threat.
Then he turned and walked away.
He didn't even try to recruit Uchiha Itachi anymore!
If he stayed any longer, he was afraid he'd die of anger!
Uchiha Itachi had been stunned into silence. His eyes widened in disbelief. "Danzō... He's the leader of Root, and Kagami-kun actually pointed at his nose and cursed him? And got away with it?"
This was outrageous!
Could it be... that Kagami-kun was one of Lord Hokage's illegitimate sons, and that was why he was treated so well?
Otherwise, anyone who talked back to Shimura Danzō would definitely be punished!
And... Kagami-kun had joined Anbu. Uchiha Itachi looked envious. It was the place he'd always wanted to join!
"From now on, Kagami-kun, you'll be an Anbu ninja!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was very pleased!
With Hyuga Kagami's strength, there was no need for him to undergo any training. He could start carrying out missions right away.
"What about you, Itachi-kun? Would you like to join Anbu as well?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled as he looked at Uchiha Itachi.
"You two are classmates, so you could look out for each other once you join Anbu."
His gaze was eager, and he was visibly excited!
Hyuga Kagami had already been an unexpected bonus.
If Uchiha Itachi joined Anbu too, the organization would become even stronger. And Hiruzen might even be able to use Itachi to tighten his hold over the entire Uchiha Clan!
After all, Uchiha Itachi was the son of the Uchiha Clan's leader, Uchiha Fugaku!
As the eldest son,
with Uchiha Itachi's talent, it was a foregone conclusion that he would become the next leader of the Uchiha Clan!
"Lord Hokage, I need to discuss this with my father first."
Uchiha Itachi was visibly excited.
Although he wanted to join Anbu, he needed to speak with his father first. After all, Konoha and the Uchiha Clan... had some tensions between them!
"Of course."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was kind. "You're both Genin now."
He handed them their Forehead Protectors.
"You two should go home and get some rest!"
As he watched Uchiha Itachi and Hyuga Kagami walk away, excitement filled Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes!
"Uchiha Itachi already has the strength of an elite Chunin, while Hyuga Kagami's power is comparable to that of an elite jonin specializing in Taijutsu! Those two are even more talented than Orochimaru was back then!"
"They'll surely become valuable assets to me!"
His expression was animated, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
Shimura Danzō had been growing more active lately, and Hiruzen was starting to feel overwhelmed.
Now that he had Hyuga Kagami, things would be much easier. Hopefully... Uchiha Itachi would join Anbu too!
But... a cold glint flashed in his eyes!
He still needed to confirm the loyalty of both boys!
Uchiha Itachi and Hyuga Kagami headed home.
Now that they were Genin, there was no need for them to stay at school.
"I had no idea you were so strong, Kagami-kun!"
Uchiha Itachi couldn't help exclaiming, "With your power, you could probably match an elite jonin who specializes in Taijutsu! You'll definitely make a name for yourself in the future!"
That strength, speed, and sheer force were terrifying.
He hadn't had any time to react!
Suddenly, he seemed to remember something.
He sighed.
"Kagami-kun, I'm envious that you can join Anbu. I have to ask my father, and even then, I might not be able to join."
He looked a little downcast. "After all, there's always been some distance between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha."
"But we're part of the same village. Why should there be any distance between us?"
Uchiha Itachi was confused.
As he saw it, making peace with each other was simple.
The ninjas and villagers in the village were all family!
Protecting Konoha meant protecting their people!
"It's not that simple."
Hyuga Kagami glanced at Uchiha Itachi. The future King of Kings was still just a little kid.
He didn't even understand why there was such a deep divide between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha.
"From the time the village was founded, the Uchiha Clan was shunned by others because they weren't good at expressing themselves, had gloomy personalities, and tended to change after awakening the Sharingan."
Hyuga Kagami narrowed his eyes and spoke slowly.
Before you continue