Anbu Candidate

Arriving at the Hokage's Office.

As Uchiha Yufeng saw Yuhi Shinku still standing to one side, a thoughtful look flashed through his eyes.

Did they call me here to settle my ninja status today?

"Greetings, Lord Hokage! Kurenai Sensei!"

The Third Hokage wore a kindly smile as he rose from his seat and walked over to Uchiha Yufeng.

"Yufeng, Jonin Shinku has already told me the full details of the unexpected incident during this mission. As a member of the team, you reacted quickly and protected your companions. You did an excellent job!"

Excellent, and then?

All this talk about ideals—what about the money? At least give me some!

Uchiha Yufeng hurriedly lowered his head.

"It was all thanks to the strength given to me by the Will of Fire that Lord Hokage once spoke of, allowing me to protect my companions in that critical moment!"

Hearing Uchiha Yufeng say that so earnestly, the Third Hokage burst into laughter.

"Ding, Senju Tobirama (Youth) Fragment +5."

"Yufeng, you truly are a ninja of Konoha! In just a few days, you've improved so much!"

Improved?

Did he mean an improvement in his understanding of the Will of Fire, or an improvement in strength?

The Third Hokage was still as vague as ever.

Uchiha Yufeng secretly glanced at Yuhi Shinku.

Yuhi Shinku's expression remained unchanged, as though she had not noticed his gaze.

"Yufeng, do you want to join the Anbu?"

The Anbu's full name was the Assassination Tactical Special Unit.

Its members were outstanding ninja selected from across the village and directly commanded by the Hokage.

Uchiha Yufeng was slightly stunned upon hearing the news.

A low-key Genin who had only just graduated from the Ninja Academy like him could directly join the Anbu?

"I will follow Lord Hokage's decision!"

Uchiha Yufeng did not know whether the Third Hokage meant it or not, but joining the Anbu would bring him more advantages than disadvantages.

The first point, and the most important one.

As the Anbu reported directly to the Hokage, he would inevitably have more contact with the Third Hokage, which would help him collect more Senju Tobirama card fragments.

The second point was that if the Uchiha Clan or anyone else wanted to scheme against him, they would first have to consider whether they were qualified to do so.

"Good!"

The Third Hokage smiled and picked up a document from the desk.

Uchiha Yufeng accepted it and gave it a quick glance.

It was an Anbu Employment Notice.

"Take it back and study it carefully. Report to the Anbu tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Seeing the Hokage wave him away, Uchiha Yufeng sensibly withdrew.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Uchiha Yufeng put away the document and waited where he was.

About half an hour passed.

Only then did Yuhi Shinku come out.

"Kurenai Sensei!"

Uchiha Yufeng stepped forward.

Yuhi Shinku nodded when she heard him, seemingly unsurprised that he had waited for her.

"If you have something to ask, just say it!"

Uchiha Yufeng pointed to the document in his hand.

"Every outstanding ninja who graduates from the Ninja Academy is placed on the Anbu's assessment list.

This time, you encountered a ninja attack. Your on-the-spot reactions and personal strength have already met the standards for recommendation."

"So Lord Hokage took a liking to me, and I'll be joining the Anbu from now on?"

Yuhi Shinku shook her head.

"In your case, you are not joining the Anbu. You are entering the Anbu for training!"

Uchiha Yufeng froze.

What kind of explanation was that? Wasn't this an Anbu Employment Notice? How was he not joining the Anbu?

"Open the document and take a look. Isn't it marked candidate?"

Hearing that, Uchiha Yufeng opened the document.

Beside the serial number were four words: Candidate Member.

"Oh, I understand. I'm an Anbu temporary exchange student!"

"Exchange?"

Yuhi Shinku nodded after hearing that.

"More or less, except there is no exchange involved.

Starting tomorrow, you will enter the Anbu for training. As long as you perform well and achieve outstanding results, you may have the chance to officially join the Anbu in the future."

Uchiha Yufeng looked at Yuhi Shinku, still somewhat confused, and asked.

"Then what is the point of doing this?"

Yuhi Shinku looked seriously at Uchiha Yufeng.

"You excel at taijutsu, while I specialize in Genjutsu. Although I have some knowledge of taijutsu, its ceiling is ultimately too low, and there is not much I can teach you.

The Anbu is different. It is an excellent place to temper oneself. It can hone your strength, especially your taijutsu and ninjutsu training, allowing your strength to grow explosively!"

Yuhi Shinku let out a long breath.

"You are different from Yugao. Yugao has trained in swordsmanship since childhood and has a clear goal in her pursuit of the sword.

As long as she works hard in the future, she will eventually achieve her goal.

That is why I can guide Yugao. With my many years of Jonin experience, I can help her grow quickly."

Uchiha Yufeng nodded. Ever since Uzuki Yugao had joined the team, she had been tempering her swordsmanship.

"I have a feeling that war will break out before long.

When that time comes, if you truly end up on the battlefield, being too weak is dangerous.

I do not want the outstanding students I have taught to become heroes on the Memorial Stone.

So after entering the Anbu, you must work hard to improve your strength."

Hearing those words, Uchiha Yufeng's smile faded.

He bowed deeply and respectfully to Yuhi Shinku.

"Once you enter the Anbu tomorrow, settle down and train properly! Kurenai and Yugao will be taught carefully by me. When you leave the Anbu in the future and look back on this, you will surely understand what I said today."

Yuhi Shinku finished speaking and strode away.

Watching Yuhi Shinku's retreating figure, Uchiha Yufeng remained silent for a long time before murmuring.

"Kurenai Sensei... she's really a good person."

After saying that, Uchiha Yufeng ate some ramen and returned home.

Lying on his bed, he held the document in his hand.

He now had a deeper understanding of the Anbu.

Tomorrow, he would enter the Anbu as a candidate member, and the benefits he would receive were quite generous.

Not only would he receive corresponding compensation each month based on the number of missions he completed, but the ninja tools he used would also be provided free of charge.

Even candidate members could browse most ninjutsu, taijutsu, and Genjutsu below B-rank.

No wonder so many ninja longed to join the Anbu, despite its dangers and heavy workload.

"No matter what, I'll go take a look at the Anbu tomorrow!"

With that thought, Uchiha Yufeng closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

At the same time, elsewhere.

Several members of the Uchiha Clan also delivered the news of Uchiha Yufeng entering the Anbu to Uchiha Fugaku.

Uchiha Fugaku sat in the courtyard, his expression shifting uncertainly.

"Clan Head, what should we do?"

Several of Fugaku's trusted subordinates all looked toward Uchiha Fugaku, waiting for his decision.

"There are still two months until the Chunin Exams. There is no rush!"

Uchiha Fugaku calmly sipped the tea before him.

"Th-this... Clan Head, are we really going to make a move against someone from the Anbu?"

Hearing the concern in those words, Uchiha Fugaku placed the cup in his hand on the table.

"The Anbu? Who said we were going to target the Anbu?"

"During the Chunin Exams, our Police Force is responsible for maintaining order!

But based on past practice, we only handle external security. The internal security is left to the Anbu."

Uchiha Fugaku looked up at the full moon hanging in the sky, a confident smile appearing on his face.

"If examinees are infiltrated by spies from another village—for example, Sunagakure... and they enter the exams with the mission of killing Konoha's new generation of Genin, wouldn't that be quite good?"

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, the few men were instantly invigorated.

"Understood!"

They all bowed to Uchiha Fugaku.

"Good. Starting tomorrow, accelerate Shisui's training.

Strive to have him reach the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and stabilize it within two months. As for the rest... just wait to witness the transcendent power of our Uchiha Clan, a power beyond the Sharingan!"

Meanwhile, Uchiha Mikoto sat quietly in Uchiha Itachi's room, keeping him company, and let out a faint sigh.