Become an Anbu!

The Shinobi World was peaceful these days. As long as the great nations did not go to war, Konoha was at peace.

Uchiha Shunichi's days were equally peaceful. His experiments had made no major breakthroughs, but they improved little by little over time.

Orochimaru seemed to have forgotten about him and never came looking for him. Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and the others also seemed to have vanished, leaving Uchiha Shunichi to develop on his own.

Those peaceful days continued until the day Uchiha Shunichi graduated from the Ninja Academy...

"Anbu? All right, I understand."

Uchiha Shunichi nodded at the Anbu ninja who came to find him after the exam.

Having been able to remain safely in Konoha for so long, Uchiha Shunichi was already content. Over the years, his body had grown, and his research had made considerable progress. By now, he no longer needed to keep his eyes closed at all times.

The Mangekyō Sharingan still consumed power, but the expenditure had basically reached a balance. As long as he did not use it, it would not cause major harm to his body.

However... his right Mangekyō Sharingan seemed not to consume ocular power or chakra.

Casting a somewhat wistful glance at the classroom behind him, Uchiha Shunichi headed for the Hokage Building without looking back.

The Anbu, short for Assassination Tactics Special Forces, were essentially a private army belonging exclusively to the Hokage. They mainly handled missions involving Konoha's internal affairs and the outside world.

Ordinary ninja, meanwhile, generally carried out missions for employers.

That said, there was not actually any obvious difference between the two. Sometimes, ordinary ninja did the same things as the Anbu.

It was worth mentioning that Danzo's Root also belonged to the Anbu. In principle, it was under Sarutobi Hiruzen's command.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen had delegated that authority to Danzo, allowing him to deal with matters Hiruzen found inconvenient to handle himself.

Danzo was the kind of fool who got sold out and still helped count the money. From the moment he accepted control of Root, he had lost any chance of ever becoming Hokage.

Unless everyone in Konoha capable of becoming Hokage died!

Uchiha Shunichi arrived outside the Hokage's Office and knocked. After hearing a voice from within, he pushed open the door and entered.

Only Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō were in the room. Before Uchiha Shunichi arrived, they appeared to have been discussing something.

"Shunichi, you've come! I've reviewed your Ninja Academy grades. They were excellent, so I've decided to have you join the Anbu. Do you have any objections?" Sarutobi Hiruzen wore a kindly expression.

"No problem." Uchiha Shunichi nodded and agreed without hesitation.

"Good. In that case, you will be an Anbu from now on. Anbu work is dangerous, and you could lose your life at any time. You must be prepared for that," Sarutobi Hiruzen said again.

Uchiha Shunichi nodded and uttered only one word. "Mm."

"How is your Mangekyō Sharingan?" Danzo suddenly asked from the side.

When Danzo spoke, Uchiha Shunichi had thought he would be placed under his command. But apparently, that was not the intention.

"It has completely stabilized. I still can't use it proficiently, but it won't harm my body anymore," Uchiha Shunichi answered without hesitation.

"I noticed that you haven't gone to the hospital to collect nutrient solution in recent years. Do you no longer need it?" Shimura Danzō asked blandly.

Sarutobi Hiruzen remained calm. It had always been his habit to play the good guy while Shimura Danzō handled certain problems for him.

"I taught myself many things. Now, I can make a potent nutrient solution whose effects are no weaker than Soldier Pills." Uchiha Shunichi took a small bottle from his pocket and placed it on Sarutobi Hiruzen's desk.

In truth, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others had taken this stuff long ago.

Uchiha Shunichi's laboratory had been broken into many times. Those Anbu believed they had done an excellent job, but they did not know that every time they came, Uchiha Shunichi knew exactly what they had touched.

Sometimes, Uchiha Shunichi simply could not be bothered to argue. Once he became a rogue ninja, finding a place where he could properly conduct research would not be so easy.

"It can really compare to Soldier Pills?" Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up the nutrient solution with an expression of curiosity and took a sip without hesitation.

"No, its restorative effects are even better than Soldier Pills. Shunichi, could you hand this technology over to the village? As a reward, I can teach you some Ninjutsu."

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke very generously. If Uchiha Shunichi had not already known that Hiruzen had taken the formula, he probably would have been overwhelmed with gratitude by now.

The raw materials for this medicine had been very difficult to buy in recent years.

"Mm, that's fine." Uchiha Shunichi nodded, looking utterly unconcerned.

In fact, he truly did not care.

"All right, now for the important matter. Since you've joined the Anbu, your main task from now on will be to secretly protect Naruto Uzumaki." Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Uchiha Shunichi with a solemn expression.

This time, Uchiha Shunichi did not play dumb. He spoke directly. "Inside Naruto's body..."

"So you sensed it after all. The Nine-Tails is sealed within his body. Its power is immense, and many years ago, it caused great damage to the village..." A trace of reminiscence flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes.

What a pity about the Fourth Hokage...

After a detailed explanation, Uchiha Shunichi nodded calmly and accepted the assignment.

After that, Sarutobi Hiruzen told Uchiha Shunichi to return home. The official mission would begin that night, and someone would come find him before then.

"What do you think of that kid?" After Uchiha Shunichi left, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Shimura Danzō.

"Cold and withdrawn. He seems not to care about anything. I can't see any emotional fluctuation in his eyes. He is like a natural-born ninja." Shimura Danzō had a high opinion of Uchiha Shunichi.

"However... his loyalty is a major concern." Yet in the next moment, Shimura Danzō raised the most troubling issue.

"Danzo, he isn't suited for your Root." Sarutobi Hiruzen directly rejected Shimura Danzō's idea.

"You're not worried that he'll betray you?" Shimura Danzō sneered.

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head. "I can't find a reason for him to betray us. Besides... isn't that sort of personality perfectly normal?"

As Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen received far more intelligence than Shimura Danzō. His judgment of Uchiha Shunichi was also rather accurate.

That was why Sarutobi Hiruzen could become Hokage, while Danzo could only take the blame...