I Want Asuma Sarutobi

"Lord Hokage, several members of the Nara Clan and Yamanaka Clan are confronting each other over farmland boundaries. Neither side is willing to back down."

"They are now requesting that Lord Hokage make a ruling."

Hokage's Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, facing away from his desk as he looked out at the scenery beyond the window.

An ANBU member beside him knelt on one knee and reported the situation.

"Is it that newly developed farmland near the Naka River again?"

"Yes."

After hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and rubbed his aching brow.

That farmland had been discovered by chance several years ago. The soil was fertile and highly suitable for cultivation.

The three Ino–Shika–Cho clans had always followed closely behind him. Since the Yamanaka and Nara Clan businesses both required farmland, he had allocated that land to them for joint development.

But as the farmland was gradually developed to its limit, the boundary issue had never been properly settled, and members of the two clans often argued.

The three Ino–Shika–Cho clans were closely connected. No matter how he handled this matter, one side would inevitably harbor resentment.

"No, I can't be the one to step in!"

He instinctively turned to look for Danzo.

Only then did he remember that, when it came to internal affairs, Danzo involved himself in nothing but matters concerning the Uchiha Clan.

Feeling irritated, he habitually picked up his pipe, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled a long stream of smoke.

After a moment, he came up with a compromise that pleased neither side.

"Inform the heads of both clans that harmony should come first. Have them sit down and work out a suitable solution themselves."

The ANBU member raised his head, feeling somewhat puzzled.

The two clans had come to the Hokage precisely because they could not agree.

Why was he instead telling them to negotiate on their own?

But he did not voice those thoughts. Lord Hokage surely had his own considerations. He only needed to quietly follow orders.

"The three Ino–Shika–Cho clans are one entity. Don't damage your relationship over such trifling gains. Whether you plant flowers or medicinal herbs, it is all for Konoha."

"Yes."

The ANBU accepted the order, his body gradually fading before disappearing.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and rubbed his throbbing temples.

Every one of those clans had its own agenda. They caused an uproar every few days over minor interests, bringing every major and trivial matter to him, the Hokage, for resolution.

Now, even the tightly bonded three Ino–Shika–Cho clans were having problems.

Couldn't they save him some worry and focus their minds on external matters?

During his years as Hokage, he had faced difficult choices almost every day, worn down in both body and mind.

This was completely different from the beautiful image he had once held of being Hokage.

Only after becoming Hokage had he realized it was nowhere near as simple as he had imagined.

The excitement and passion he had felt when his teacher appointed him Hokage had long since been worn away by these endless daily struggles and decisions.

He looked at the busy streets outside the window and could not help thinking of Tobirama Senju.

If his teacher had not stayed behind to cover their retreat back then, what would things be like now?

Bang!

The office door was rudely flung open!

A cold voice came from outside, interrupting Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts.

"Hiruzen, the spies operating in enemy nations have suffered severe losses recently. I need more personnel."

A gloomy man wrapped head to toe in bandages, leaning on a cane, entered the room.

Shimura Danzō!

The Shinobi World's only five-and-a-halfth Pot Kage, the strongest all-purpose pot lid on the planet.

A double collector of Sharingan and talent, the man who stabbed Susanoo with a kunai and sealed bridges like no other.

He had finally come to ask for people.

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his chair around, looked at Danzo, and asked doubtfully,

"Didn't I already assign the orphanage children to Root for training?"

"Not enough. I need to select a few more as replacements."

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt somewhat displeased upon hearing that.

In recent years, the major nations had been stirring restlessly, and internal investigations had intensified.

It was true that Root had suffered personnel losses, but nearly everyone from the orphanage had already been absorbed into Root. Yet it was still not enough, and Danzo kept reaching out for more people.

He shook his head. "ANBU has no spare personnel left."

"You can select students graduating from the Ninja Academy."

Danzo refused to let it go.

"Ninja Academy students are Konoha's future. Root—"

"Hiruzen!"

Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could finish, Danzo interrupted him.

"Root is also Konoha's root. For the great tree that is Konoha to sprout, it needs enough roots beneath the ground to draw nourishment. Everything I do is for Konoha's future."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep pull from his pipe, exhaled a long plume of smoke, fell silent for a moment, then said, "Who do you want?"

"Kakashi Hatake." Danzo answered without hesitation.

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head. "Kakashi has just lost his father. He is not suited to an oppressive environment like Root."

"A ninja who has lost his emotions can become stronger! Without emotions, he will not fear, nor will his actions be ruled by feelings..."

Danzo described Kakashi as though he had been born for Root. "Hiruzen, he is the perfect tool for Root to use."

Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped the ash from his pipe and shook his head. "No! I have other arrangements for Kakashi."

"Then give me Shibi Aburame."

"The Aburame Clan has already assigned Aburame Shikuroo to you."

"What does that matter? You are the Hokage. Can't you transfer him?" Danzo said as though it were only natural.

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced up at Shimura Danzō and frowned, but still patiently explained,

"Although the Aburame Clan is not as rigidly hierarchical as the Hyuga Clan, it is still a major clan."

"It is true that I am the Hokage, but I still have to discuss it with them if I want to take someone."

"Do you think becoming Hokage means you can do whatever you want?" Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly snapped at Danzo.

Seeing Danzo's face redden as he held back his anger, Hiruzen secretly felt pleased and continued,

"Besides, Shibi Aburame is a well-rounded ninja with firm faith in the Will of Fire. He is better suited to the light. I have other arrangements for him as well."

After saying all that, he was simply refusing to hand anyone over. Danzo felt somewhat displeased.

"Then I want Aoba Yamashiro."

"I have other arrangements for him too."

"Hiruzen!" Danzo's gloomy voice immediately became much sharper.

Other arrangements! Other arrangements! He had asked for three people in a row, and every one of them had other arrangements.

Danzo was getting angry.

"I can assign Might Duy to you. His Taijutsu is quite good, and his son, Might Guy, has already graduated for two years. He can be transferred with him."

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not want the atmosphere to become too tense, so he compromised. "Might Duy and his son are full of youthful vigor. They can help ease Root's oppressive atmosphere."

"Root does not need youth, nor does it need vigor, much less civilian ninja with no talent whatsoever."

"No civilians?" Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. Now Danzo was being picky.

He pondered for a moment before speaking.

"There is a ninja from a major clan in Might Guy's class. His name is Obito Uchiha."

"A dead-last idiot whose ninjutsu works one moment and fails the next, who has not even awakened the Sharingan—what use is he just because he comes from a major clan?"

Danzo's brow furrowed tightly, and the disappointment in his eyes was unmistakable.

He was deeply disappointed in Sarutobi Hiruzen. They had been old comrades for so many years, yet when he asked for a few people, Hiruzen kept making excuses.

If he was not recommending fools, he was recommending idiots.

Recommending Might Duy and Might Guy was one thing, but now he was even recommending Obito Uchiha.

"There is also a child with a Bloodline Limit in their class, named Hyuga Qingchuan. Yuhi Shinku thinks highly of him too, saying he has a firm will and is both brave and resourceful."

"If it is him, the Hyuga Clan should be willing to let him go..."

"Hiruzen!" Danzo suddenly raised his voice and angrily cut off the Third Hokage.

His eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

Since when had our bond grown so thin?

That you would brush me off so carelessly.

After fools and idiots, Hiruzen was now recommending trash to him.

Even Obito Uchiha had graduated two years ago, yet this piece of trash was still being held back this year.

He had even heard that Qingchuan had placed last again in the recent final exam. He probably would not graduate this year either.

Firm will? Brave and resourceful?

Had Yuhi Shinku's words become as worthless as farts now?

Even if such a Bloodline Limit came free with Root, he would not take him.

Was it really this hard to ask you for one person?

Fine, fine, Hiruzen. So that was how you wanted to play it.

Shimura Danzō suddenly cast off his usual gloom, raised his head slightly, and became utterly upright and righteous.

"Hiruzen, I want Asuma Sarutobi!"