Genno submitted

He had not come here in over half a year, and the Ninja Academy clearly had far more students now, with an alarming shift toward younger ages. Anyo and Minato had both been in their teens when they graduated from the Ninja Academy, but now? The academy even had children around three or four years old. That alone showed how desperate the war had become; replenishing their numbers was a matter of utmost urgency.

Naturally, the many children at the Ninja Academy also saw Anyo carrying Kurenai Yuhi on his back, and they all began teasing them. Realizing something was wrong, Kurenai Yuhi kept patting Anyo on the back.

Anyo gently set her down and said with a smile, "I'll pick you up tonight."

Once her feet touched the ground, Kurenai Yuhi lowered her head and hurried into the school, though he faintly heard a single word: "Okay."

Anyo turned and strolled away. As he passed a large tree, he stopped and asked, "Ready?"

A human face actually appeared on the tree and spoke. "We can start whenever you like."

Hearing this, Anyo said directly, "Then tonight it is. I'll scout the place out in a bit."

"How did you discover me?" Genno, inside the tree, was rather curious.

Anyo gave a mysterious smile. "Like I said, I'm very sensitive to the scent of someone in the same line of work, esteemed Jonin of Kagerō Village."

At the mention of Kagerō Village, Genno was so startled that he nearly jumped out of the tree. He asked tentatively, "Kid, could you have made a mistake?"

Anyo remained noncommittal. "Oh, really? Signing a peace treaty with Konoha while sending Ninja to infiltrate it and cause destruction. Quite the clever scheme. Oh, right, I recently heard some news about Kagerō Village. Want to hear it?"

The Second Shinobi World War had been underway for over a month. In charge of logistics, Anyo was extremely well informed, not to mention that he had secretly killed many Ninja from other countries and obtained even more news.

Genno hesitated for a moment. He was not sure whether the child before him was bluffing, but he had been away from the village for so long, and the village still had not sent word telling him to act. Could something really have gone wrong?

Genno said cautiously, "If you feel like sharing, kid, there's no harm in my listening."

Anyo put on a thoughtful look, as though considering whether to tell him.

Seeing his expression, how could Genno not understand what was going on? After furiously cursing Anyo in his heart, he simply stopped pretending and said bluntly, "Fine, I admit it. I'm from Kagerō Village. What exactly happened to my village? Just tell me."

Anyo smiled faintly. "I wasn't trying to sound you out. I really was considering whether to tell you. After all, I'm afraid telling you might affect what we're about to do."

These words only made Genno more anxious. "If you don't tell me, our partnership ends right now."

Anyo sighed. "All right. I heard that Ninja from Takigakure attacked your village. Of course, I don't know how it turned out. Intelligence isn't my specialty, after all."

At these words, Genno's heart fell into turmoil, countless thoughts racing through his mind. No wonder the village had not contacted him. He could no longer spare any thought for his mission in Konoha. "No, I have to leave right now."

Anyo's gaze turned cold, and an intense killing intent locked onto him. He said icily, "Half a month had already passed by the time I got this news. Surely you're not naive enough to think that one Jonin like you could accomplish anything by going back?"

Under Anyo's killing intent, Genno calmed down. Although Anyo's words were harsh, they were true. Returning alone would not change the situation, unless Konoha was willing to help. At that thought, he hurriedly said, "Our village signed an agreement with Konoha. Could you send reinforcements to our village?"

Anyo was rather speechless. "Get this straight. What you signed was a peace treaty, not an alliance agreement. Besides, with Konoha in its current state, do you think it has any reinforcements to spare?"

Genno gritted his teeth. "If Konoha is willing to intervene, Kagerō Village is willing to remain allied with Konoha for all eternity."

Anyo had to admire Genno's decisiveness. In so little time, he had thought of a way to save his village. A different idea stirred in Anyo's mind, and he said casually, "Well, I'll keep that in mind. Help me steal the book first."

"Still stealing the book? Then what the hell is the point of an alliance?" Genno could not help swearing. The Third Hokage was no fool. If something that important was stolen, he would certainly find out who had done it.

Anyo sighed. "Why insist on asking Konoha? Couldn't you follow me instead?"

Genno asked in surprise and suspicion, "From the sound of it, you want me to submit to you?"

Anyo nodded. To be honest, he really had begun to consider bringing Genno under his command. Although he did not remember whether such a person existed in the original story, Genno's disguise skills, grasp of psychology, infiltration skills, and patience were all top-notch. Someone like him was practically Anyo's ideal subordinate, and the two of them were even in the same line of work.

Yet, after receiving his confirmation, Genno sneered. "Follow you? I probably wouldn't even know how I ended up dead. You may look like a child, but you're shameless and blackhearted, vicious and cunning, cold-blooded and heartless."

"Hahaha!" Anyo could not help bursting into laughter. He truly had not expected that the person who understood him best in this world would be Genno, whom he had met only twice. Genno understood his inner nature even better than White Fang did.

After he finished laughing, Anyo looked intently at Genno and said, "Honestly, I think even more highly of you now. How about this? I swear on my own Uchiha bloodline that once I reach Kage Level strength, if Kagerō Village is in trouble, I'll help you wipe out its enemies. If Kagerō Village is destroyed, I'll rebuild it for you. What do you say?"

"You're from the Uchiha Clan?" Genno was surprised. "That doesn't add up. You don't have the Uchiha Clan's crest on you."

"Whether I'm from the Uchiha Clan is something I believe you have the ability to determine. You're the only person I've told this to. No more than five people in the village know about it. This is my first step toward being honest with you. What do you say?" Anyo spoke very sincerely.

Genno seemed somewhat tempted as well, and he hesitated.

Anyo continued, "A year ago, I was still studying at the Ninja Academy. Now I can kill Jonin with ease. How long do you think it'll take me to reach Kage Level strength?"

Hearing this, Genno gritted his teeth. "Fine. You'd better not deceive me. Even a cornered rabbit will bite."

Anyo was delighted to hear him agree and said with a broad smile, "There's no need for threats between us. Time will reveal a person's true character. Soon, you'll be glad you made this choice today. I'm off to scout the place out. Meet me here tonight."

As Genno watched Anyo leave, his eyes were filled with conflicting emotions. He did not know whether today's choice was right, nor did he know whether Anyo's words just now had been a lie. He had no choice left now. He could only hope that everything in the village was all right.