Kazekage Disappears

A month and a half passed quietly.

During this time, Uchiha Yufeng went to the Anbu mission office every day and did not rest for a single day.

Looks like I've squeezed just about all the fragments out of the Third Hokage.

Thinking of how, over the past two days, he had reported to the Third Hokage after completing Anbu missions, only for pitifully few fragments to drop,

Uchiha Yufeng knew that there were not many fragments left on the Third Hokage.

"Anbu, all personnel, assemble in front of the Hokage Building!"

Having just stepped out of the changing room, Uchiha Yufeng heard the Anbu captain's voice.

One Anbu ninja after another gathered toward the Hokage Building.

Seeing this, Uchiha Yufeng's gaze sharpened.

Such a large mobilization... did something major happen?

With a leap, he caught up with the group and ran toward the Hokage Building.

After everyone had assembled outside the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage swept his gaze over the crowd and said gravely,

"Starting today, strengthen the twenty-four-hour covert patrols. Inspect every training ground, conduct a thorough new sweep, and ensure absolute control. We must guarantee the successful completion of the upcoming Chunin Exams..."

After explaining the necessary preparations before the Chunin Exams, the Third Hokage looked toward Uchiha Yufeng in the crowd.

"Kaze, stay behind. Everyone else, dismissed!"

Kaze was Uchiha Yufeng's codename.

The Anbu scattered, racing off in every direction.

In just a few breaths, only Uchiha Yufeng remained.

The Third Hokage's clouded eyes glanced at Uchiha Yufeng.

"Come with me!"

With that, Uchiha Yufeng followed the Third Hokage back to the office.

"Yufeng, there are only a few days left before the Chunin Exams. Your life in the Anbu will likely have to come to an end for now!"

Hearing this, Uchiha Yufeng raised his head with feigned confusion.

"Yufeng, your performance lately has been outstanding. Under normal circumstances, I would have already brought you into the Anbu as an official Anbu ninja, but..."

At this point, the Third Hokage sighed.

"The Ninja World is not peaceful right now. War may be coming.

"Your skills are certainly useful in the Anbu, but as a ninja, being able to eliminate the village's enemies and halt the progress of war is the true value that a ninja should aspire to!"

"Yufeng, what do you think?"

The Third Hokage looked at Uchiha Yufeng with hopeful eyes.

Uchiha Yufeng gained an even deeper understanding of the Third Hokage.

Those lofty words sounded nice enough. Couldn't they be translated more plainly? Stop hiding in the Anbu and hurry out to become cannon fodder?

If one could display a ninja's worth on the front lines, one would surely earn immense glory, but it was also the most dangerous place.

On the Memorial Stone alone, there was a long string of ninjas who did not even have bodies left behind, only their names.

How many people in Konoha could still remember them now...

"I will surely carve a path through thorns for Konoha and sweep away every enemy!"

A trace of a smile flashed through the Third Hokage's eyes. He walked over to Uchiha Yufeng and patted him on the shoulder.

"Yufeng, I knew you would not disappoint me! I'll leave these Chunin Exams to you!"

"The Chunin Exams? Does Lord Hokage want me to maintain order?"

The Third Hokage shook his head.

"I want you to participate in the Chunin Exams and protect Konoha's Genin as much as possible."

Understanding flashed through Uchiha Yufeng's eyes.

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

"Your strength, insight, and judgment have already surpassed the standards of an ordinary Chunin. With you there, I can rest assured!"

The Third Hokage was not flattering Uchiha Yufeng. Given his status, there was no need for him to flatter a Genin.

It was because he had secretly adjusted the missions issued by the Anbu during this period.

Yet no matter how he adjusted Uchiha Yufeng's clearance, every commission he came into contact with was completed flawlessly.

Moreover, in a month and a half, he had completed far more missions than some official Anbu members did in an entire year.

However, Uchiha Yufeng was a member of the Uchiha Clan. He had previously heard reports from some Anbu members.

Uchiha Yufeng seemed to be very close to the family of the Uchiha Clan Head. Coupled with his excessively rapid growth in strength lately, there was something suspicious about it.

Although he had not awakened the Sharingan, it was still impossible not to remain wary of him.

If it had been Uchiha Shisui, after some assessment, the Third Hokage would definitely have allowed him into the Anbu as an official member.

After all, Uchiha Shisui was a descendant of Kagami Uchiha, who had inherited the Will of Fire.

The village had monitored Uchiha Shisui every day before this.

They had practically watched Uchiha Shisui grow up.

The Third Hokage knew very clearly what kind of personality Uchiha Shisui had, how thoroughly the Will of Fire had been instilled in him, and whether he possessed a Hokage-like way of thinking.

Uchiha Yufeng, on the other hand, was different. Back at the Ninja Academy, his grades had been at the bottom, and he had not stood out in any respect.

Then later, he seemed to have grown overnight, his strength advancing by leaps and bounds.

There were too many questions surrounding this. It was as if a layer of fog always enveloped him.

An Uchiha Clan member had already reached the level of a Chunin or above, yet he had not awakened the Sharingan.

And even under surveillance, there had been no record of him training in taijutsu.

One had to know that taijutsu was now Uchiha Yufeng's calling card.

He had made a name for himself in a single battle during the Ninja Academy's Ranking Match, becoming a frequent topic of discussion for many.

The Third Hokage guessed that all of this was likely connected to the Uchiha Clan.

Thus, after the Third Hokage's final assessment,

Uchiha Yufeng could be used, but not heavily relied upon.

Even if he entered the Anbu, he would only be a reserve and could not become official.

Uchiha Yufeng was not surprised. He understood the Third Hokage's character fairly well.

The meaning behind those words was naturally that he did not want him to continue working in the Anbu.

Still, that was fine. He had already squeezed nearly all of Senju Tobirama's Ninja Fragments from the Third Hokage anyway. Even if there were any left, there would only be a few.

It was a good chance to rest.

"Yes, Lord Third Hokage. I will definitely complete the mission!"

"Good. Then go back. Hand things over over the next two days."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

In the blink of an eye, Uchiha Yufeng left the office.

Watching Uchiha Yufeng's departing back, the Third Hokage sighed after a long while, seemingly troubled by the attitude he had shown toward Uchiha Yufeng just now.

"Hiruzen, I think you made the right choice. Not every Uchiha Clan member can possess the Will of Fire like Kagami Uchiha!"

Danzo emerged from the shadows.

In a rare sight, he gave the Third Hokage a thumbs-up.

"Danzo, let's not talk about Yufeng for now. Sunagakure has been on high alert lately. What exactly happened?"

When the Third Hokage mentioned Sunagakure, a hint of mockery appeared in Shimura Danzō's eyes.

"Hiruzen, according to the report from our people stationed in Sunagakure, their Kazekage... has disappeared!"

"They say he has disappeared, but I am more inclined to believe he is dead! Hiruzen, this is a good opportunity! Should we—"

Upon hearing the news, the Third Hokage was immediately stunned.

But when he heard Shimura Danzō call it a good opportunity and begin trying to make the decision for him again, his brows furrowed as he interrupted Shimura Danzō.

Then, a seemingly casual remark instantly turned Shimura Danzō's face livid.

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"