Transferred out of the village to hunt a rogue ninja

Early the next morning, the atmosphere in the office on the top floor of the Hokage Building was solemn and oppressive.

Danzo strode into the Hokage's office, bringing a deep chill with him.

Seeing his frustration written all over his face, Hiruzen Sarutobi already had a good idea why he had come. He sighed helplessly. "Danzo, are you here about the Uchiha again today?"

Danzo pulled an intelligence scroll from inside his clothes and slapped it heavily onto the desk.

His voice was icy, laden with nearly a month of anger and restraint. "Hiruzen, I'm not here today to argue over a personal grudge. I'm here for Konoha's greater interests and the dignity of its leadership!"

He tapped the intelligence on the scroll, exuding a pressure that brooked no argument. "A rogue ninja who fled the village has appeared on the Land of Fire's border. He once belonged to a Konoha Anbu squad and knows the gaps in the village's defenses. He's now holed up in the wilderness, posing a considerable threat to Konoha."

"Under Konoha's rules, arrests to maintain public order within the village and operations against rogue ninja both fall within the Konoha Military Police Force's duties."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked down at the scroll, his brow furrowing slightly.

"That is indeed the case. This rogue ninja is no weakling, and he's cunning. We do need to send a squad out to apprehend him."

As those words fell, a smile quietly appeared on Danzo's face.

"Then give the order! Have Uchiha Zongyan lead his squad on the mission to capture him!"

"The rogue ninja is only at Chunin level. In my opinion, Uchiha Zongyan alone would be enough, let alone with three Genin accompanying him."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused slightly at that, a flicker of understanding and hesitation crossing his eyes.

"Danzo, you know full well that Uchiha Zongyan is only responsible for maintaining order within the village. High-risk missions to hunt rogue ninja in the wilderness have always been led by the Anbu. Why specifically assign them?"

"Why?"

Danzo suddenly sneered. "Hiruzen, you're all part of Konoha High Command. Can you really not see the situation we're in?"

"For nearly a month now, Uchiha Zongyan has been abusing his police authority to deliberately target my Shimura Clan under the pretense of enforcing the law impartially."

"Cloaking himself in the rules, he has brazenly humiliated the leadership, challenged authority at the highest level, and allowed the common people to criticize the elders and question the leadership's decisions!"

Danzo took a step forward, his voice grave and solemn, filled with anxious concern, every word framed around Konoha's greater interests:

"If we let him keep carrying out his duties in the village without restraint, doing whatever he pleases, he'll squander every last scrap of Konoha High Command's prestige until nothing remains!"

"What is the leadership? It's Konoha's foundation, the core that keeps the entire village in check, governs the clans, and reassures the people!"

His tone grew increasingly impassioned. "If even we elders of Konoha can be pushed around by a mere young rank-and-file policeman, powerless to do anything about it!"

"Without authority at the top, the people become difficult to lead."

His final two statements were utterly earnest, leaving only the appearance of a man worried for his village.

Those two statements made Hiruzen Sarutobi frown, and he remained silent for a long time.

He knew perfectly well what Danzo's selfish motives were. He simply wanted to transfer Zongyan away on a dangerous mission outside the village, ending the frustration of being constantly suppressed within it. He even harbored a scheme to use the rogue ninja to wear down and severely injure Zongyan's squad.

But he had to admit that every word Danzo said struck at the heart of the matter.

Over the past month, Zongyan's actions had indeed sharply diminished the common people's reverence for Konoha High Command. He had nearly torn away the veil shielding the powerful.

If this continued, with rules taking precedence over the leadership's authority, the lower ranks no longer fearing those above them, and the clans freely criticizing senior officials, Konoha's hierarchy and the foundations of its rule would inevitably begin to weaken.

Seeing the hesitation on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, Danzo pressed his advantage. "I am not targeting the Uchiha, much less using public office to settle a private grudge."

"The police already have the authority to make arrests, maintain stability, and apprehend criminals. Going out to eliminate rogue ninja is part of his duties, entirely proper and legitimate."

"Sending him out of the village on a mission would, first, allow him to fulfill his duties and eliminate a threat to Konoha. Second, it would temporarily quiet public opinion in the village and restore the leadership's nearly exhausted prestige. Third, it would temper that overly sharp edge of his, keeping his youthful impetuousness from driving him to brazenly challenge the leadership's established order."

"Three benefits from one move. For public interests and private concerns alike, it is the best choice."

That speech shut down every other excuse he could have offered.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time, even recalling the changes in Naruto. Finally, he slowly closed his eyes and sighed softly.

"Very well."

"Since this falls within the police force's duties and concerns both the leadership's prestige and order in Konoha, we'll do as you say."

He opened his eyes and looked out at Konoha's streets, his voice carrying a measure of helplessness and compromise:

"I will issue a Hokage's decree at once, ordering Uchiha Zongyan to lead his squad out of the village immediately to eliminate the rogue ninja on the border."

At those words, an exceedingly cold gleam flashed through Danzo's eyes as he finally released the emotions he had kept suppressed.

Outwardly, he gave a slight nod, his tone solemn and impartial. "Then this is fortunate for Konoha, and fortunate for its leadership."

Dusk fell, and the setting sun stained the entire sky over Konoha red. Cooking smoke curled through the Clan Grounds, where the bustle of the day had faded.

Zongyan had finished his day of patrol duty and had just returned to the courtyard and sat beside Fugaku to rest.

With a solemn expression, Fugaku took a formally prepared transfer order from inside his clothes and placed it in front of Zongyan.

At the top of the document was the striking, bright-red seal of the Hokage.

"Zongyan, the Hokage just issued an urgent transfer order."

Fugaku looked displeased. "You're to lead your entire squad out of the village first thing tomorrow morning and head to the Land of Fire's border to eliminate a rogue ninja."

Zongyan raised his eyes slightly, then looked down at the order on the table.

The paper not only marked the precise location of the rogue ninja's hideout, but also detailed his appearance and abilities.

He ran his hand over the words on the page. After a moment of silence, the corners of his mouth slowly lifted into a cold, faint smile.

"Just as I thought."

Zongyan murmured to himself, a sharp gleam shifting in his eyes.

"That old bastard Danzo couldn't find a chance to strike at me inside the village.

"Now he's finally lost his patience. He plans to transfer me out of the village and deal with me outside."

Inside the village, there were Konoha's rules to constrain him, public opinion watching, and the restraint demanded by the leadership's public dignity.

Danzo feared the consequences. Even with Zongyan pushing him around day after day, he could only swallow his anger and did not dare touch him without being certain of success.

But once Zongyan stepped beyond Konoha's barrier and left the protection of the village's rules behind.

Then, whether it was an ambush by Root or an interception by rogue ninja, whatever death trap awaited him, those above could casually cover it up.

Seeing that he understood, Fugaku looked deeply serious. "You see it very clearly."

"You can rely on the rules to keep them in check inside the village, but they can also use the rules to transfer you out."

Zongyan looked up, calm and composed, then replied, "Father, I understand. This is a transfer order from the Hokage. I can't refuse."

He had already seen through its advantages and disadvantages. Refusing would amount to insubordination and dereliction of duty, merely giving Danzo and the other leaders an excellent pretext to suppress the Uchiha. It would cost more than it gained.

Fugaku nodded slightly at his words, a solemn resolve flashing in his eyes. "I will secretly arrange for two elite Jonin from the clan to follow you quietly, half an hour after you set out with your squad tomorrow."

"Both are veteran Jonin who have fought countless battles. They specialize in stealth and covert protection. They won't interfere with your mission, nor will they readily show themselves and expose their presence."

"If you encounter any deadly danger along the way, such as a Root ambush or a sudden interception, they'll intervene immediately to ensure that you and every member of your squad survive unharmed."

Zongyan nodded gently. "Thank you, Father!"

Just then, hurried yet steady footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

A tall, straight-backed figure in an Anbu uniform, his mask not yet fully removed, rushed into the courtyard, unmistakable urgency and concern in his eyes.

It was Uchiha Itachi.

As an Anbu member regularly stationed around the Hokage Building, he had immediately heard of the transfer order issued by the leadership. Learning that Zongyan had been forcibly assigned a dangerous field mission shocked him, and he had almost instantly dropped everything he was doing and hurried back to the Clan Grounds.

As he entered the courtyard, Uchiha Itachi's gaze immediately landed on Zongyan. He spoke rapidly, his tone grave. "Zongyan, did you receive that order to eliminate the rogue ninja on the border?"

Zongyan looked up at Uchiha Itachi, who had hurried back, and nodded gently. "Yes, just now."

Before his words had fully faded, Uchiha Itachi spoke in a low, decisive voice, scarcely hesitating at all. "Tomorrow, I'll go to the Hokage Building and submit a request for leave from my Anbu duties."

"This mission is extremely dangerous. I'll go with you."

The young man's steady, resolute voice fell without the slightest hesitation.

A sudden warmth filled Zongyan's heart. Looking at his older brother, who considered his needs in everything, he smiled and shook his head gently. "It's all right, brother. I can handle this much."

"Besides, Father has already made arrangements. Two veteran Jonin from the clan will secretly accompany us as guards, following us unseen the whole way. They won't let our squad fall into a hopeless situation."