Producing the Daimyo's Letter of Recommendation

Hiruzen Sarutobi had a real headache now. Caught off guard, he could only come up with all sorts of excuses to put Yun Yan off:

"Yun Yan, you are certainly qualified to join the ANBU, but joining the ANBU isn't so simple.

"First, you need to submit an application yourself. The application must be handwritten, and the format must be correct.

"After the application is submitted, Konoha must conduct a background review. That review will also take some time.

"To join the ANBU, the most important things are ability and strength. After the review, the ANBU will need to assess your abilities and strength.

"The ability assessment requires passing a written test.

"Hey, don't make that face. Becoming an ANBU ninja requires a foundation in theoretical knowledge too. A written test is mandatory.

"The strength assessment is relatively simple. When the time comes, the ANBU will send relevant ninja to conduct combat drills with you. With your strength, you should be able to pass smoothly.

"Once all those review and assessment procedures are completed, and after I and Konoha's three elders jointly approve it, with all four of our signatures, you will be able to join the ANBU."

After saying all that, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Yun Yan with a smile.

"These are the procedures for Konoha ninja applying to join the ANBU. They're fairly simple.

"Yun Yan, if you want to join the ANBU, you must take it one step at a time. Don't rush."

Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face, Yun Yan suddenly had the urge to punch it flat!

What the hell? Since when did joining the ANBU require so many procedures? Under normal circumstances, wasn't it just a matter of him saying the word for an ordinary ninja to enter the ANBU? Yet when it came to him, there were all these extra steps. Was this old man deliberately making things difficult for him!?

Perhaps seeing his thoughts from Yun Yan's displeased expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly added:

"Yun Yan, don't misunderstand. I did not establish these procedures for applying to join the ANBU. They were personally set down by the Second Hokage during his administration."

At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi spread his hands.

"There's nothing I can do about it."

Yun Yan's face darkened slightly.

This old man clearly just did not want him in the ANBU. He was clearly wary of him because he was an Uchiha.

And he called himself the Hokage? Such deep-seated prejudice was downright petty. Was this old man really that guarded against him?

In truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi was indeed wary of Yun Yan, though not to that extent.

He had heard a little about Yun Yan's circumstances and knew that Yun Yan was neither welcomed nor valued within the Uchiha Clan.

Logically speaking, as Hokage, he should have tried to win over such a powerful Uchiha who was not accepted or valued by his own clan.

But Yun Yan's actions just now had been far too direct, too unconventional. His forceful attitude and methods had left even Hiruzen Sarutobi with no choice but to yield somewhat.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not want to bring such a lawless troublemaker—someone who cared about nothing and feared nothing—into the ANBU.

The ANBU was Hiruzen Sarutobi's most trusted force. He would not allow any hidden danger within it, much less any internal turmoil.

After subtly rejecting Yun Yan with those procedures that sounded exhausting just to hear, Hiruzen Sarutobi added another sentence, seemingly to make Yun Yan give up.

"Yun Yan, actually, the procedures for joining the ANBU can indeed be simplified. You simply need someone to recommend you for entry.

"As long as someone recommends you, joining the ANBU will be much easier."

Hearing this, Yun Yan seemed to grow interested and asked in turn:

"Is that so? If someone recommends me, the procedures can be simplified and I can enter the ANBU directly?

"What kind of person can recommend me for the ANBU? Can you, Lord Hokage?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head at once.

"No, no, no. I am one of the people responsible for reviewing and assessing your entry into the ANBU, as well as the final decision-maker. I cannot recommend you.

"You are from the Uchiha Clan. The best person to recommend you for the ANBU would be Fugaku, the head of the Uchiha Clan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped there and said nothing more.

But by this point, Yun Yan had already understood the old man's malicious intentions.

If he wanted to join the ANBU, he needed a recommendation from Fugaku, the head of the Uchiha Clan.

Then the question was, would Fugaku be willing to recommend him?

Yun Yan and Fugaku had barely met a few times. They were practically strangers. Why would Fugaku be willing?

Moreover, the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha's upper ranks was growing increasingly intense. Fugaku would have to be out of his mind to send one of his clansmen into a force under Konoha's leadership!

Ah, Uchiha Shisui was an exception. His entry into the ANBU under the Hokage was the result of a compromise between the Uchiha Clan and the Hokage's faction.

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought this method could prevent Yun Yan from entering Konoha, but he did not realize that he had backfired and given Yun Yan an opportunity instead.

Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's slightly smug old face, Yun Yan frowned and quickly came up with a brilliant idea.

He smiled as well, then calmly and leisurely said to Hiruzen Sarutobi:

"Lord Hokage, does it have to be a recommendation from our clan head? Can't it be someone else?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly taken aback and answered instinctively:

"Of course someone else can do it. For example, the heads of other clans, or Konoha's three elders. Anyone with a certain status and standing can do so."

Though he said that, Hiruzen Sarutobi silently scoffed to himself.

Other than the head of your Uchiha Clan, who might possibly recommend you, why would the heads of other clans, who have no relation to you, recommend you?

As for the other three elders... that was even less possible.

So this appeared to be a dead end. Yun Yan was destined to find no one to recommend him, making it difficult for him to join the ANBU.

Not so.

At that moment, Yun Yan revealed the confident smile that made Hiruzen Sarutobi uneasy.

"I see. A recommendation from someone with a certain status and standing will do.

"Then... Lord Hokage, would a recommendation from the Daimyo work?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pipe and leaned forward, his expression one of astonishment, as though he could hardly believe his ears.

"Who did you say?"

"The Daimyo.

"Would a recommendation from the Daimyo of our Fire Country work?"

Hearing Yun Yan bring up someone even more important than himself, the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi was genuinely stunned.

How had this suddenly gotten dragged to the Daimyo? The Daimyo had never involved himself in ninja affairs. Why would he recommend Yun Yan out of nowhere? That was imposs... No, it actually seemed possible!

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly came to his senses. He realized that this Uchiha boy before him was no ordinary boy, but someone deeply favored by the Daimyo!

Sure enough, what happened next made Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart sink again.

Yun Yan smiled as he pulled a letter from his robe and placed it on the desk before Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Lord Hokage, this is a personal letter of recommendation from the Daimyo. I trust you will recognize the Daimyo's handwriting."

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi took the letter suspiciously and opened it.

The moment he read it, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened slightly.

It was indeed a personal letter from the Daimyo. The handwriting and tone matched, and Hiruzen Sarutobi could determine that it was genuine.

The letter did indeed recommend Uchiha Yunyan for entry into the ANBU. It also lavished praise upon Yun Yan, describing him as a talent seen only once in a century, and demanded that he, the Hokage, make full use of him no matter what!

At that point, Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly failed to maintain his expression.

At the end of the letter of recommendation was not only the Fire Country Daimyo's personal signature, but even the old man's private seal!

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent, unable to say anything. He remained in the posture of reading the letter, completely motionless for the moment.

What did this letter of recommendation mean?

Do not underestimate this letter of recommendation. It was practically equivalent to a handwritten imperial decree from the ruler of a nation!

If it had merely been a letter from the Fire Country Daimyo, that would have been one thing. Its effectiveness and authority would not have been so great.

But the Daimyo had even stamped his private seal at the end of the letter. That carried an entirely different meaning. It meant the Daimyo was serious and was making this recommendation in his capacity as the Daimyo!

This was troublesome.

Although the Daimyo had never interfered in Konoha's internal affairs or ninja-related matters, making him seem at first glance like a ceremonial figurehead at the very top.

In truth, however, the Daimyo was still the Daimyo—the highest ruler of the Fire Country in terms of law and ritual. And Hiruzen Sarutobi was an old-fashioned, stubborn relic. No matter what, he could not and dared not ignore the Daimyo's opinion.

Holding this letter of recommendation, Hiruzen Sarutobi realized that this matter was likely going to be truly difficult.