A few days later, Zou Hyuga received orders at home that his ANBU squad was to take three months of leave.
Time off was something he had dreamed of for ages. If possible, he wanted to quit ANBU immediately and spend the rest of his days slacking off as a Genin... a Special Jōnin.
Still, something felt wrong. Knowing the Third, he would never grant such a long stretch of leave all at once.
Whenever Zou went to ask for leave, the Third would hold his pipe between his teeth and tell him earnestly:
"Young people need more training, more experience. Konoha's future belongs to you. Carrying out missions means building up the village. Surely building your own home isn't something you'd call exhausting?"
Every time, Zou was forced to return to his post, outwardly saying things like, "The village is my home."
In private, he never stopped cursing. Wasn't Asuma part of the village too? Why did he get to serve the Daimyō as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja?
Meanwhile, pillars of the village like us have to slog through missions and rush to the front lines.
Just because Asuma Sarutobi is your own son, Hiruzen Sarutobi? No wonder he's worth a thirty-million bounty.
After a few more silent curses, Zou Hyuga left home to ask his teammates about it. The Third definitely had some other motive for this leave.
Thinking of his teammates brought Oto Uchiha to mind.
When he reached Oto Uchiha's home, he found her looking cold as ice as she stared at Shisui before her.
Only after noticing Zou Hyuga did Oto Uchiha's expression soften slightly. Shisui, meanwhile, hung his head, his face full of guilt.
Before Zou Hyuga could ask, Oto Uchiha spoke first. "The village found out about Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan... and