Chapter 9: Regretful Shadow of the Sarutobi!
Konoha Hokage Building.
Inside the Hokage Office.
After listening to the reports from Kakashi and Asuma, Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his smoking pipe and took a puff.
But his expression became thoughtful.
"Byakuya... is he really a commoner?"
Normally, the Ninja Academy would send the performance records of every student to the Hokage Office.
If there were any exceptionally talented individuals among them, he would pay extra attention.
However, regarding Byakuya, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew almost nothing about him.
Such a person was actually able to easily defeat a genius of the Uchiha Clan at the last moment.
"Was Byakuya hiding his true abilities?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into deep thought.
But an untimely voice interrupted Hiruzen's contemplation.
"Hiruzen, this Ninja named Byakuya concealed his strength; he must have ulterior motives for Konoha!"
"Such a person must be handed over to Root for processing!"
On the other side, after hearing Kakashi's report, Danzo almost threw his abacus beads in Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi just glared at him.
How could Hiruzen not know what his 'good brother' was thinking?
"Impossible. Byakuya is a genius of Konoha. As long as he hasn't done anything to harm the village, we absolutely cannot do that!"
"Hiruzen, Root is short on personnel right now. Just give me this guy named Byakuya!"
Seeing his intentions were seen through, Danzo simply stopped pretending.
He spread his hands, as if saying, 'Well, I just want the person!'
"Danzo, Byakuya grew up bathed in Konoha's light. Such a person cannot be handed over to you!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi refused very decisively, and his reason for refusal was quite peculiar.
Your Root represents darkness, while Byakuya grew up in the sunlight. How could I possibly give him to you!
Hearing this, Danzo became furious.
"Hiruzen, you will regret this!"
"Enough!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed the table and stood up directly.
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
"Hmph!"
Danzo's eyes now burned with even greater intensity. Why, why couldn't he be the one sitting in that seat!
It was always this reason!
BANG!
Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't help him, Danzo slammed the door and stormed out.
Leaving Kakashi and Asuma below feeling awkward.
"My apologies for that spectacle!"
"Next, Kakashi, go to the Ninja Academy and bring Byakuya here. I wish to commend him!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi then spoke with great enthusiasm.
Since Byakuya was a person with immense potential, it was necessary to quickly strengthen his bonds.
Only by deepening Byakuya's bonds with Konoha
could Byakuya grow into a pillar of Konoha.
"Understood!"
Kakashi also hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to value Byakuya so highly.
However, on the other side, after leaving the Hokage Building, Danzo did not depart.
"Lord Danzo."
"Lord Danzo."
Aburame Torune and Fu Yamanaka hurriedly stepped forward to greet Danzo after he emerged.
Danzo simply waved his hand dismissively; he was in a very foul mood.
"You two, go to the Ninja Academy and bring someone to me!"
Danzo stared at the Hokage Building with a gloomy gaze.
Hiruzen, since you show no benevolence, don't blame me for showing no righteousness.
"The Ninja Academy?"
Fu Yamanaka and Aburame Torune were clearly taken aback. Could it be that someone had passed Lord Danzo's interview?
"Understood!"
However, Aburame Torune and Fu Yamanaka did not hesitate; Danzo's orders were the only thing they needed to follow.
"By the way, Lord Danzo, what is the name of that person?"
"Byakuya!"
Fu Yamanaka hadn't expected it to be Byakuya. There was no time for shock, however, as the next second Fu Yamanaka concealed it perfectly.
Danzo might not have noticed Fu Yamanaka's abnormality, but Aburame Torune, as his partner, certainly saw it.
But Aburame Torune did not point it out.
Instead, he waited until Danzo left before choosing to ask Fu Yamanaka.
"You seem very familiar with this person named Byakuya!"
Being old partners, Fu Yamanaka didn't hide anything.
"I've heard that name from my niece. I heard the Yamanaka clan intends to recruit him as a son-in-law!"
Fu Yamanaka became conflicted, because anyone knew that being summoned to Root = you were being targeted.
Those targeted by Root generally didn't have a good outcome, especially someone like Byakuya who had no backing!
"Fu Yamanaka, know your place!"
Aburame Torune gave Fu Yamanaka a meaningful look, leaving the meaning for him to figure out himself.
Subsequently, the two dared not delay for a moment and rushed to the Ninja Academy.
"Who are you two?"
The group had just finished their practical combat training and hadn't had time to rest yet.
Aburame Torune and Fu Yamanaka arrived at the Ninja Academy.
"Who are you two?"
Iruka grew a bit nervous upon seeing their attire.
These were the ox and boar masks only worn by Anbu.
And as far as Iruka knew, matters involving Anbu were generally not good news.
"Who is Byakuya? We are here on the Hokage-sama's orders to take Byakuya!"
Faced with Iruka's inquiry, Aburame Torune and Fu Yamanaka exchanged a glance and decisively said.
When outside, you create your own identity.
"Oh, understood!"
Iruka did not doubt their identity, as he wouldn't think anyone would dare impersonate Anbu in Konoha.
However, after Iruka became more experienced, he would discover
that there really were people who dared.
"Byakuya, it's Hokage-sama personally summoning you!"
Sakura was happy for Byakuya, that he was being personally received by the Hokage-sama.
"Ino, why are you spacing out? Don't you want Byakuya to be received by the Hokage-sama?"
Sakura was puzzled to see Ino staring at the Anbu member from earlier.
Why wasn't Ino competing with her today?
"It's nothing, I just feel that Anbu member seems a bit familiar!"
Only then did Ino snap out of it.
"A bit familiar!"
Byakuya also noticed that blond-haired Anbu member. Being well-versed in the plot, Byakuya had no impression of him.
But there were so many Anbu members; it was normal not to know a few.
Just as Byakuya was following them away, that blond-haired Anbu member looked back at Ino.
Then Ino's heart trembled directly.