Danger? This was exactly what I wanted

"Yashiro Ao Assistant, the two elders..."

Kakashi Hatake and Shihōin Naraku talked for a long time before finishing their meal.

Only after reluctantly paying for the meal was Kakashi Hatake allowed to leave by Naraku.

"Wait, he got promoted, so why was I the one paying?"

Only on his way home did Kakashi realize it. "I even helped him understand his new job. Forget it. I'll have Tenzo (Yamato) treat me next time."

After returning home and washing up, Kakashi lay in bed and finally recalled his conversation with Naraku.

"Naraku's too capable. Those people can't wait to snatch the Medical Emergency Response Unit away from him."

As someone the same age as Shihōin Naraku, Kakashi Hatake knew very well how exceptional he was.

When they were children and both hailed as geniuses, everyone had thought Kakashi had the edge, but once they grew up, Shihōin Naraku had caught up completely and surpassed him.

Especially with his father Hatake Sakumo's suicide, the deaths of his teammates and comrades, Obito and Rin Nohara, and the deaths of his teacher Minato Namikaze and his teacher's wife Kushina Uzumaki on the Night of the Nine-Tails.

That series of blows had sent Kakashi Hatake into a complete downward spiral, and his strength had not improved at all for years.

Meanwhile, Shihōin Naraku, who had become Tsunade's personal disciple, had grown by leaps and bounds, soon even becoming a pillar of Konoha.

After Tsunade left, Shihōin Naraku had become the sole candidate to take charge of Konoha's Medical Emergency Response Unit.

After taking office, Shihōin Naraku had drawn on his experience running a hospital in his previous life to vigorously develop the Medical Department's emergency response unit.

The discovery of new varieties of medicinal herbs, hospital reforms, and advances in medical techniques had quickly made Konoha Hospital renowned throughout the Shinobi World.

Later, not only did Konohagakure's ninja and civilians visit Konoha Hospital, but the Land of Fire's daimyo and nobles also frequently came for treatment and recuperation. Even daimyo and nobles from other countries began coming because of its reputation!

The Medical Emergency Response Unit was clearly a subordinate organization of the Medical Department, yet in Shihōin Naraku's hands, everything seemed to have been turned on its head. Instead, the Medical Department had come to serve him.

Before Shihōin Naraku took over the Medical Emergency Response Unit, Konoha had needed to invest large sums in the Medical Department every year. After all, the village's own ninja and civilians paid very little for treatment and hospitalization, and the village had to cover all those costs.

But after Shihōin Naraku took over Konoha Hospital, the arrival of foreign daimyo, nobles, and wealthy merchants had turned the Medical Department's losses into profits, bringing in large sums that were handed over to the village treasury.

And that was why Danzo and the two elders wanted to seize the Medical Emergency Response Unit.

The Administrative Department under Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu was responsible for relations with the Land of Fire and the flow of funds. Now that the Medical Department had actually broken their monopoly on that authority, they naturally could not tolerate it.

Danzo's Root had once been able to openly obtain funding from the village to sustain itself and grow, but after Hiruzen Sarutobi forcibly ordered it disbanded, that was no longer possible.

Maintaining Root in secret required a great deal of money. Moreover, Shimura Danzō was privately supporting Orochimaru's experiments, which also required considerable funding.

On top of that, Danzo had never abandoned his dream of becoming Hokage. If he could establish contact with the daimyo through the Medical Department, that would count as a good thing too.

That was why the three had joined forces to move against Shihōin Naraku and take his position.

Most importantly, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi also did not want Naraku controlling the Medical Department for too long, because that meant vast sums of money and extensive connections would fall into Naraku's hands.

At the very least, before Hiruzen Sarutobi was willing to step down as Hokage, he did not want to see Naraku's influence grow too quickly.

The next day, at the Anbu base.

"This place isn't even as big as Root's..."

Shihōin Naraku shook his head. Just how much of Anbu's funding had Danzo diverted?

"Don't put it like that."

Kakashi Hatake approached from behind him. For once, he seemed a little more spirited today. At least his dead-fish eyes no longer looked sleepy.

"Anbu isn't rolling in money like the Medical Emergency Response Unit. Having a base like this is already pretty good."

"That just means you're not doing your job as Anbu Commander. If you're short on money, go ask the Third Hokage. Where does all that money our Medical Emergency Response Unit hands over every year go?"

"Sure. From now on, applying for funding is your job."

Kakashi Hatake gave a perfunctory reply, then spoke seriously.

"Your appointment has come through. Lord Hokage also gave some instructions just now."

"Let's talk as we walk..."

The two entered the Anbu base. After briefly explaining the general layout, Kakashi relayed Hiruzen Sarutobi's words to Naraku.

"Why is it so empty? Where is everyone?"

After greeting the few ninja still inside the Anbu base, Naraku was a little puzzled.

"They're on missions!"

After the greetings, Kakashi Hatake took Naraku to the office prepared for him.

"The documents are ready for you. They're on the desk."

Pointing at the desk, Kakashi said, "We should be able to get pretty much everyone in Anbu together tomorrow. I'll introduce you to everyone then."

"Not that anyone wouldn't know you, but we still need a formal introduction."

Shihōin Naraku did not care what the office looked like. He sat straight down at the desk, picked up the documents, and began scanning them.

But after barely reading a few lines, he put the documents down and grabbed Kakashi Hatake, looking ready to strangle him.

"What are you doing?"

Kakashi Hatake dodged aside, still as composed as if nothing had happened.

"What's with this roster? Why are there so many former Root members among the people assigned to me?"

Seeing Naraku's vicious expression, Kakashi could only explain.

"You're more capable. I figured you could keep them in line."

Seeing that Naraku still wanted to attack him, Kakashi spread his hands, looking utterly shameless. "Actually, these Root members aren't all loyal to Danzo. Some of them can still be won over. I believe in you."

Shihōin Naraku glared at Kakashi. "Last time you were injured on a mission and left half-dead, I was the one who treated you with my own hands. And now you pull this on me?"

"There's nothing I can do. Lord Hokage decided this."

Kakashi Hatake was helpless too. He had not actually wanted to hand Naraku such a huge problem, but the Third Hokage had ordered it.

After carefully reading through the names in the documents again, Naraku did not dwell on it and decided to accept this trouble. But there was one exception among the personnel.

"Keep Yugao under you. There's no need to go out of your way to assign her to me."

"Hmm?"

"I specifically made arrangements to put Uzuki Yugao under you. Did something happen between you two...?"

Seeing Kakashi's curious expression, Naraku was utterly speechless.

"There's nothing wrong at all. We're still dating."

"That's why I want to leave Yugao under you. Can't you see what the Third Hokage intends...?"

Naraku raised the documents in his hand, looking thoughtful.

"There's plenty of trouble here, but not one of these people is weak."

"There's only one reason the Third would do this. He's definitely planning to put me in charge of those dangerous missions outside the village, right?"

Anbu, the Special Assassination and Tactical Squad!

The missions Anbu handled had always been extremely harsh and dangerous, but some were relatively safer, such as protecting the Hokage under normal circumstances, monitoring certain important figures, and so on.

As long as nothing unexpected happened, those missions were not particularly difficult.

But more dangerous missions, such as assassinating people from other countries and gathering intelligence, were also Anbu's responsibility.

And now that Hiruzen Sarutobi had placed a large number of Anbu's outstanding ninja under Naraku's command, what that meant was already clear.

"You can actually refuse. Lord Hokage might not insist on putting you in charge."

Kakashi Hatake grew serious too. After thinking for a moment, he said,

"You've only just joined Anbu and aren't familiar with things here, so it would be perfectly normal not to want to accept those kinds of missions."

"I can go speak to Lord Hokage!"

"No need!"

Shihōin Naraku shook his head decisively. "I'm taking this on!"

Starting in Anbu and climbing the ranks one step at a time!

That had been Naraku's goal to begin with, so he was very satisfied with his current position.

Danger was nothing. This way, he could establish himself in Anbu as quickly as possible, then get promoted.

That was right. Naraku had his eye on the seat Kakashi Hatake was currently occupying too.

Anbu Commander!