"Danzo, are you still going to fight me over this?" the Third Hokage suddenly asked coldly.
Danzo's expression shifted slightly. "It seems coming to discuss this with you was a mistake!"
With that, Danzo turned and left.
Watching Danzo leave, the Third Hokage frowned deeply. He tapped his desk, summoned his secretary, and instructed, "Have Kakashi come see me."
The secretary left to carry out the order. Before long, Kakashi appeared before the Third Hokage in his ANBU uniform.
"Lord Hokage, what are your orders?"
The Third Hokage spoke in a low voice. "Keep an eye on Danzo. Don't let him go too far!"
"Danzo? Lord Hokage, what do you mean?" Kakashi asked, puzzled.
"Uchiha Sora! I intend to recruit him into the ANBU to keep Danzo from interfering. I'll need you to put in some extra effort over the next few days and stay near Uchiha Sora to watch over him. Once I have some time, I'll speak with him personally!" the Third Hokage explained.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Kakashi replied.
After the finals, Uchiha Sora discovered that his reputation in Konoha had risen to considerable heights.
As he walked down the street, people occasionally pointed him out.
"Look, is that the genius from the Uchiha Clan who crushed Uchiha Itachi?"
"They say he's only ten this year! He doesn't look like a kid that age at all!"
"Right? He's so handsome! I'd love to be his girlfriend!"
Uchiha Sora automatically tuned out the chatter.
He extended his senses, keenly detecting the many unusual gazes already watching him.
Some of those watchers were probably spies from other countries, while others worked for Konoha High Command.
It was quite a mixed crowd.
From this moment onward, he was destined to live in the public eye.
With the Flying Thunder God Technique, I'm already unbeatable. Still, Danzo won't sit quietly. I'll have to guard against him, Uchiha Sora thought as he walked down the street.
He wasn't actually afraid of Danzo targeting him. What worried him was that Danzo might go after the people around him.
And the people closest to him were Uchiha Izumi and her daughter.
He needed to take some protective measures for them, too.
With that in mind, Uchiha Sora found a jewelry store and bought two necklaces. He then incorporated special materials into them and discreetly inscribed Flying Thunder God Formula coordinates.
With that, the two coordinates were ready.
As his mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique improved, making two more coordinates posed no problem.
Once he finished, Uchiha Sora waited until evening and went to Uchiha Izumi's home for dinner.
After dinner, Uchiha Sora stopped Uchiha Hazuki as she was about to clear the dishes. He took out the two necklaces and said, "Auntie, you've taken care of me all this time. While I was out shopping today, I bought some jewelry for you and Izumi as a small token of my gratitude. I hope you like it."
"Oh! There's no need to be so formal, dear. I haven't worn necklaces in ages. Why give me something like this?" Uchiha Hazuki hastily declined.
"It's just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it!" Uchiha Sora said, looking at her earnestly.
"Well... all right!" Uchiha Hazuki felt a little awkward, but faced with his sincere gaze, she could only nod and accept the necklace.
"And Izumi, this one's for you!" Uchiha Sora smiled as he placed the other necklace directly around her neck.
"Thank you, Sora! You're so good to me!" Izumi was delighted and couldn't stop admiring it.
"Sora, could you help me put mine on, too?" Uchiha Hazuki asked.
"Sure." Uchiha Sora nodded.
He walked behind Uchiha Hazuki, who was sitting on her heels, and fastened the necklace around her neck...
Uchiha Hazuki gently smoothed her hair and smiled brightly. "Thank you, Sora."
"You're welcome, Auntie." Uchiha Sora smiled and returned to his seat.
"Well, you and Izumi have fun. I'll clear the dishes." Uchiha Hazuki rose to do the housework, her movements seeming much lighter than before.
"Sora, thank you," Uchiha Izumi suddenly said.
"Why are you thanking me again?"
"Hehe, I'm thanking you for my mom, of course! It's been a long time since she received a present. And I forgot to tell you-today's her birthday!" Uchiha Izumi said with a smile.
"Is it?" Uchiha Sora shook his head with a chuckle. His gift had turned out to be remarkably well-timed.
It was already late when he left Izumi's home. Strolling through the night, Uchiha Sora felt inexplicably at peace.
His steadily growing strength gave him an increasing sense of belonging and security in this world.
Three days later.
Uchiha Sora received a summons from the Third Hokage.
In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage personally presented him with his Chunin certificate and said with a smile, "Uchiha Sora, congratulations on becoming a Chunin of Konoha. I hope you'll keep working hard and become a Jonin soon."
"Thank you for your encouragement, Lord Hokage," Uchiha Sora said.
"Hehe, if you can defeat Uchiha Itachi, then becoming a Jonin is only a matter of time in my eyes," the Third Hokage said with a smile. "Honestly, keeping you as just a Chunin would be a waste of your talents. If you're interested, how about joining the ANBU to gain some experience?"
"The ANBU?" Uchiha Sora feigned hesitation. "I've heard its members are all elite veterans. With my limited experience, would I really be up to it?"
"If I think you're capable, then you certainly are! Show the same spirit you did in the finals. You're more than qualified to join the ANBU!" the Third Hokage said.
"You're too kind, Lord Hokage. I'll go home and think it over," Uchiha Sora said after a moment's thought.
He genuinely wanted to join the ANBU, but he wasn't going to accept the Third's offer immediately.
This was a game of psychological tactics.
He couldn't let an old fox like the Third see through his intentions so easily.
"Yes, that's only natural. Come see me here once you've decided." The Third Hokage sighed. "It is thriving green leaves like you that allow the great tree of Konoha to flourish endlessly!"
Uchiha Sora excused himself and left.
A figure appeared beside the Third Hokage. It was Kakashi, wearing his ANBU mask.
"Kakashi, do you think he'll accept?" the Third asked quietly, approaching the window and looking out over the bustling village.
"Lord Hokage, I believe that whether he accepts or not, he'll remain true to his identity as a Konoha ninja," Kakashi replied.
"Kakashi, you don't realize how restless the Uchiha Clan has been these past two years!" The Third Hokage shook his head. "The conflict between the Uchiha Clan and me, their Hokage, has reached a critical point."
"Lord Hokage, then your intention in recruiting Uchiha Sora into the ANBU is...?" Kakashi asked, slightly startled.
"Hehe, no matter what, I don't want things to reach that stage. If there's even a chance, I'll do everything I can to seize it. Uchiha Sora offers an excellent opening." The Third Hokage smiled helplessly. "If he joins the ANBU, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to give him extra attention."
"As a link between the village and his clan? Lord Hokage, you've certainly given me a difficult task!" Kakashi sighed.
"Before the Copy Ninja Kakashi, even a genius ceases to seem like one. I have absolute faith in your abilities." The Third Hokage patted Kakashi's shoulder.
Kakashi immediately felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders grow heavier.
The next day, Uchiha Sora came to the Hokage's office and accepted the Third Hokage's offer to join the ANBU.
The Third Hokage handed Uchiha Sora an ANBU mask and some documents, smiling as he said, "Uchiha Sora, I knew you would accept. The ANBU is precisely where a genius like you belongs to hone his skills."
Uchiha Sora accepted the items and followed the secretary to the ANBU base.
The ANBU base was actually located in the Hokage building, divided into an underground base and an aboveground office.
The underground base formed the ANBU's core, while the aboveground office was where the Hokage's orders were usually relayed and ANBU members handed over missions.
After completing the paperwork, Uchiha Sora headed underground. Passing through a long corridor, he arrived in a dimly lit hall.
A masked man was waiting in the hall.
When Uchiha Sora arrived, the man removed his mask and said evenly, "Uchiha Sora, from now on, I'll be responsible for leading you on ANBU missions."
The man had silver-white hair and wore a face covering. A deep scar ran across his left eye, revealing a crimson Sharingan.
It was Kakashi Hatake!
Dressed in his ANBU uniform, he exuded a stern air. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan fixed on Uchiha Sora as he released an imposing pressure.
Clearly, Kakashi intended to establish his authority.
Facing Kakashi's pressure, Uchiha Sora smiled faintly, and his own eyes turned crimson.
A pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan appeared before Kakashi's eyes.
A powerful aura emanated from Uchiha Sora.
"It's a pleasure to work with you, Copy Ninja Kakashi!" he said with a smile.
"Hehe, I didn't expect you to recognize me." Feeling Uchiha Sora's aura, Kakashi inwardly tensed. He quickly withdrew his own pressure and gave an awkward laugh.
He also covered his Sharingan with his forehead protector.
Seeing this, Uchiha Sora deactivated his Sharingan as well and chuckled. "The Copy Ninja is a household name. I'll be counting on your guidance from now on."
"Yes, let's look out for each other." Kakashi nodded. "Now, I'll take you to meet your other two teammates! One of them is someone you know!"
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