Anbu.
"Head, here's the recent intelligence we've gathered."
After reporting to the Hokage, Uzuki Yugao, a member of the Anbu, returned to the Anbu headquarters to make her report.
While the Hokage's kind smile reassured her with a single glance at the intelligence, the Anbu's focus was solely on completing the mission, with little regard for the process.
The Anbu Head, though wearing a mask, revealed her identity as a woman through her long hair and figure. She was the daughter-in-law of the Third Hokage. Calmly examining the intelligence brought by Uzuki Yugao, a hint of dissatisfaction appeared on her face behind the mask.
"Yugao, I sent you to infiltrate because of your age and identity, which make it easy for you to get close. But after all this time, all you've gathered is surface-level information. The Seventh Division of the Police Department lacks real intelligence."
Uzuki Yugao knelt down on one knee, respectfully listening to the reprimand from the Anbu Head.
After a long silence, the Anbu Head set the intelligence aside. "Yugao, it's highly likely that the Nine-Tails Incident is part of the Uchiha's conspiracy. The Uchiha pose a great danger to the village. Therefore, I need you to gain Uchiha Yoru's trust, gather deeper intelligence, and potentially obtain information on the Uchiha's higher-ups in the future. This is an extremely difficult task."
"Thus, I need you to use your identity when necessary!" The Anbu Head gave Yugao a meaningful glance and spoke in a low voice, "You come from a civilian background, and you are a rare female ninja. I believe you understand that all of this is for the village."
Upon hearing these words, Uzuki Yugao trembled, a hint of struggle flashing in her eyes. However, when the Anbu Head mentioned that it was all for the village, Yugao recalled the catastrophe of the Nine-Tails attack and the countless cries that echoed through Konoha.
Finally, Uzuki Yugao took a deep breath, lowered her head, and hoarsely said, "Understood! For the village, I will approach the target and complete the mission when necessary."
"Good. You may leave now. From now on, you will be under my direct command." Being directly under the command of the Anbu Head meant that Yugao's superior would only be the Anbu Head herself. It should be noted that the Anbu Head's position was not simple, and her status was almost comparable to that of the heads of major clans.
Feeling the trust placed in her, Uzuki Yugao felt a warm current in her heart. The Third Hokage's daughter-in-law noticed this and revealed a glimmer of light.
"You may go."
"Yes!"
In the dim Anbu office, darkness and silence filled the space. After a while, the Anbu Head's eyes revealed a complex expression. "Father, all of this is for the Sarutobi clan. Shinzo, you will definitely become the Fifth Hokage."
While her actions were aimed at guarding against the Uchiha, she also had her own selfish motives. After all, once Sarutobi Shinzo became Hokage, she would become the future Hokage's wife, wielding power surpassing all others in Konoha.
In the Hokage's office.
"Hokage-sama." Yuhi Kurenai, an elite Chunin exuding intellectual beauty, entered and respectfully saluted the Hokage.
The Third Hokage remained silent, continuing to puff on his pipe. Yuhi Kurenai wisely lowered her head and awaited instructions.
After a long while, the Third Hokage refilled his pipe with tobacco, lighting it with a Fire Release jutsu, causing white smoke to rise slowly.
"Kurenai, you have become a capable ninja who can stand on her own."
In the face of the Hokage's praise, the young and mature-minded Yuhi Kurenai respectfully smiled and nodded, "Hokage-sama, you flatter me."
While still young, it was evident that Yuhi Kurenai had matured in her thinking. She was not like other single-minded ninjas. Observing this, the Third Hokage inquired, "Are you familiar with the name Uchiha Yoru?"
Upon hearing the name, Yuhi Kurenai's heart trembled, but she remained calm after years as a ninja. Nonetheless, she lowered her head further.
"Uchiha Yoru was my classmate. He graduated as a Genin at the age of ten, became a Chunin at fourteen, and is now the captain of the Seventh Division of the Police Department. He is a genius from the Uchiha clan who awakened the Sharingan."
Yuhi Kurenai honestly shared everything she knew. After all, nothing could be hidden.
While not all Uchiha were geniuses, those who awakened the Sharingan were a special class of geniuses. Bloodline limits were illogical, much like how some people were born into noble families while others were commoners, or how some people could never refine their chakra in their lifetime.
Upon hearing these words, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, a complex expression appearing on his face. "Kurenai, your father was a hero of Konoha. None of us wants to see a repeat of the Nine-Tails Incident."
Years later, Yuhi Kurenai couldn't hide her sadness when the tragedy of that night was mentioned. For Konoha, it was a disaster, and she had lost her own father.
Similarly, when the Third Hokage recalled that night, his eyes also filled with complexity. If he could go back, he truly wished that scene had never happened.
"Kurenai, you are aware that the Sharingan was manipulated during the Nine-Tails attack, correct?"
Caught off guard by the question, Yuhi Kurenai's heart skipped a beat. Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, but in the end, her eyes turned red, lost in her memories. She nodded with a sad expression, "I am aware."
This time, she didn't lie, and the Third Hokage nodded with satisfaction. Then, wearing a look of disappointment, he said, "Asuma has no filter."
With this statement, he bypassed what Asuma had leaked. Then, he shook his head and sighed, "Kurenai, there is currently unrest at the border of Konoha. Orochimaru would have been the most suitable choice, but it seems that he has some problems recently."
This ambiguous statement shocked Yuhi Kurenai even more. This was something she couldn't be involved in. No, wait! Earlier, Hokage-sama asked about Uchiha Yoru, who is Orochimaru-sama's disciple. Yuhi Kurenai felt a cold sweat on her back, as if she had been entangled in something terrifying.
Observing the realization in the young Yuhi Kurenai's eyes, the Third Hokage silently nodded. It seemed that his intelligence investigation was correct. Yuhi Kurenai held resentment toward the Uchiha due to her father's reasons.
"Kurenai, I have a mission for you to carry out. Of course, this mission may be too difficult for you. You can decide for yourself."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, known as the master of manipulation in Konoha, excelled at appearing benevolent and compassionate in the eyes of others. Orochimaru, who later resorted to kidnapping and experimenting on children, followed in his footsteps to some extent, though there was a significant difference between them. After all, Sarutobi had successfully manipulated two Mangekyo Sharingan users and a protagonist, while Orochimaru's methods fell far behind in terms of quality.
Anbu.
"Head, here's the recent intelligence we've gathered."
After reporting to the Hokage, Uzuki Yugao, a member of the Anbu, returned to the Anbu headquarters to make her report.
While the Hokage's kind smile reassured her with a single glance at the intelligence, the Anbu's focus was solely on completing the mission, with little regard for the process.
The Anbu Head, though wearing a mask, revealed her identity as a woman through her long hair and figure. She was the daughter-in-law of the Third Hokage. Calmly examining the intelligence brought by Uzuki Yugao, a hint of dissatisfaction appeared on her face behind the mask.
"Yugao, I sent you to infiltrate because of your age and identity, which make it easy for you to get close. But after all this time, all you've gathered is surface-level information. The Seventh Division of the Police Department lacks real intelligence."
Uzuki Yugao knelt down on one knee, respectfully listening to the reprimand from the Anbu Head.
After a long silence, the Anbu Head set the intelligence aside. "Yugao, it's highly likely that the Nine-Tails Incident is part of the Uchiha's conspiracy. The Uchiha pose a great danger to the village. Therefore, I need you to gain Uchiha Yoru's trust, gather deeper intelligence, and potentially obtain information on the Uchiha's higher-ups in the future. This is an extremely difficult task."
"Thus, I need you to use your identity when necessary!" The Anbu Head gave Yugao a meaningful glance and spoke in a low voice, "You come from a civilian background, and you are a rare female ninja. I believe you understand that all of this is for the village."
Upon hearing these words, Uzuki Yugao trembled, a hint of struggle flashing in her eyes. However, when the Anbu Head mentioned that it was all for the village, Yugao recalled the catastrophe of the Nine-Tails attack and the countless cries that echoed through Konoha.
Finally, Uzuki Yugao took a deep breath, lowered her head, and hoarsely said, "Understood! For the village, I will approach the target and complete the mission when necessary."
"Good. You may leave now. From now on, you will be under my direct command." Being directly under the command of the Anbu Head meant that Yugao's superior would only be the Anbu Head herself. It should be noted that the Anbu Head's position was not simple, and her status was almost comparable to that of the heads of major clans.
Feeling the trust placed in her, Uzuki Yugao felt a warm current in her heart. The Third Hokage's daughter-in-law noticed this and revealed a glimmer of light.
"You may go."
"Yes!"
In the dim Anbu office, darkness and silence filled the space. After a while, the Anbu Head's eyes revealed a complex expression. "Father, all of this is for the Sarutobi clan. Shinzo, you will definitely become the Fifth Hokage."
While her actions were aimed at guarding against the Uchiha, she also had her own selfish motives. After all, once Sarutobi Shinzo became Hokage, she would become the future Hokage's wife, wielding power surpassing all others in Konoha.
In the Hokage's office.
"Hokage-sama." Yuhi Kurenai, an elite Chunin exuding intellectual beauty, entered and respectfully saluted the Hokage.
The Third Hokage remained silent, continuing to puff on his pipe. Yuhi Kurenai wisely lowered her head and awaited instructions.
After a long while, the Third Hokage refilled his pipe with tobacco, lighting it with a Fire Release jutsu, causing white smoke to rise slowly.
"Kurenai, you have become a capable ninja who can stand on her own."
In the face of the Hokage's praise, the young and mature-minded Yuhi Kurenai respectfully smiled and nodded, "Hokage-sama, you flatter me."
While still young, it was evident that Yuhi Kurenai had matured in her thinking. She was not like other single-minded ninjas. Observing this, the Third Hokage inquired, "Are you familiar with the name Uchiha Yoru?"
Upon hearing the name, Yuhi Kurenai's heart trembled, but she remained calm after years as a ninja. Nonetheless, she lowered her head further.
"Uchiha Yoru was my classmate. He graduated as a Genin at the age of ten, became a Chunin at fourteen, and is now the captain of the Seventh Division of the Police Department. He is a genius from the Uchiha clan who awakened the Sharingan."
Yuhi Kurenai honestly shared everything she knew. After all, nothing could be hidden.
While not all Uchiha were geniuses, those who awakened the Sharingan were a special class of geniuses. Bloodline limits were illogical, much like how some people were born into noble families while others were commoners, or how some people could never refine their chakra in their lifetime.
Upon hearing these words, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, a complex expression appearing on his face. "Kurenai, your father was a hero of Konoha. None of us wants to see a repeat of the Nine-Tails Incident."
Years later, Yuhi Kurenai couldn't hide her sadness when the tragedy of that night was mentioned. For Konoha, it was a disaster, and she had lost her own father.
Similarly, when the Third Hokage recalled that night, his eyes also filled with complexity. If he could go back, he truly wished that scene had never happened.
"Kurenai, you are aware that the Sharingan was manipulated during the Nine-Tails attack, correct?"
Caught off guard by the question, Yuhi Kurenai's heart skipped a beat. Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, but in the end, her eyes turned red, lost in her memories. She nodded with a sad expression, "I am aware."
This time, she didn't lie, and the Third Hokage nodded with satisfaction. Then, wearing a look of disappointment, he said, "Asuma has no filter."
With this statement, he bypassed what Asuma had leaked. Then, he shook his head and sighed, "Kurenai, there is currently unrest at the border of Konoha. Orochimaru would have been the most suitable choice, but it seems that he has some problems recently."
This ambiguous statement shocked Yuhi Kurenai even more. This was something she couldn't be involved in. No, wait! Earlier, Hokage-sama asked about Uchiha Yoru, who is Orochimaru-sama's disciple. Yuhi Kurenai felt a cold sweat on her back, as if she had been entangled in something terrifying.
Observing the realization in the young Yuhi Kurenai's eyes, the Third Hokage silently nodded. It seemed that his intelligence investigation was correct. Yuhi Kurenai held resentment toward the Uchiha due to her father's reasons.
"Kurenai, I have a mission for you to carry out. Of course, this mission may be too difficult for you. You can decide for yourself."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, known as the master of manipulation in Konoha, excelled at appearing benevolent and compassionate in the eyes of others. Orochimaru, who later resorted to kidnapping and experimenting on children, followed in his footsteps to some extent, though there was a significant difference between them. After all, Sarutobi had successfully manipulated two Mangekyo Sharingan users and a protagonist, while Orochimaru's methods fell far behind in terms of quality.
