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Anbu.
"Head of Anbu, here is the intelligence gathered recently."
After reporting to the Hokage, Yūhi Kurenai, as a member of the Anbu, naturally had to return to the Anbu to give her report.
The Hokage, with his kind smile, had merely glanced at the intelligence and offered comforting words. However, the Anbu was focused on the completion of the mission, and the process was not as important.
The Anbu head, though masked, revealed long hair and a figure that clearly indicated she was a woman. She was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Third Hokage. She calmly looked at the intelligence Yūhi Kurenai had brought, but behind her mask, she frowned, showing a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Yūhi Kurenai, you were sent on this mission because of your age and your background, which made it easier for you to get close. However, after all this time, you have only gathered surface-level intelligence. Not a single piece of real information about the Police Department Seventh Squad has been obtained."
Facing the Anbu head's rebuke, Yūhi Kurenai knelt on one knee, her head bowed respectfully as she listened to the reprimand.
After a long silence, the Anbu head placed the intelligence to one side. "Yūhi Kurenai, the Nine-Tails Incident is very likely a plot by the Uchiha Clan. The Uchiha Clan is too dangerous for the village. Therefore, I need you to gain the trust of Uchiha Clan Night and obtain deeper intelligence. In the future, the village needs to control the internal intelligence of the Uchiha Clan's leadership. This is an extremely difficult task."
"Therefore, I need you to use your identity when necessary!" The Anbu head looked at her meaningfully and then added in a stern voice, "You come from a civilian background and are a rare female ninja. I believe you understand that everything is for the village."
The young Yūhi Kurenai's body trembled at these words. A hint of struggle flashed in her eyes, but when she heard that everything was for the village, she remembered the disaster of the Nine-Tails Incident, the countless cries echoing over Konoha.
Finally, Yūhi Kurenai took a deep breath and lowered her head, her voice hoarse. "Understood! For the village, I will approach the target and complete the mission when necessary."
"Good, you may go. From now on, you will take orders directly from me." As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Third Hokage, she was skilled in her methods. After forcing someone to make a certain decision, she now offered a sweet reward.
Taking orders directly from the Anbu head meant that her superior was now only the Anbu head, whose status was comparable to that of the heads of the major clans. This trust warmed Yūhi Kurenai's heart, and the Third Hokage's eldest daughter-in-law saw this and a glint appeared in her eyes.
"You may go."
"Yes!"
In the dark Anbu office, the only things present were darkness and silence. After a long moment, the Anbu head's eyes showed a complex expression. "Father, this is all for the Sarutobi clan. Shinno, you will become the Fifth Hokage."
Although everything was for the sake of guarding against the Uchiha Clan, she also had her own selfish motives. After all, once Ape Fly Shinno became Hokage, she would be the Hokage's wife, a position of immense power in Konoha that was incredibly tempting.
In the Hokage's office.
"Hokage-sama." The person who entered was the elite chunin Yūhi Kurenai, who at fifteen already exuded a mature and intellectual beauty. She bowed respectfully to the Hokage.
However, the Third Hokage remained silent, puffing on his pipe, while Yūhi Kurenai respectfully waited for his instructions.
After a long moment, the Third Hokage refilled his pipe with tobacco and lit it with a fire-based chakra nature change, producing a steady stream of white smoke.
"Kurenai, you have grown into a capable ninja."
Faced with the Hokage's polite words, Kurenai, at fifteen, already showed the maturity of her gender. She smiled respectfully and nodded. "Hokage-sama, you flatter me."
Although still young, it was clear that Kurenai was more mature than other one-dimensional ninjas. Seeing this, the Third Hokage asked gently, "Do you know the name Uchiha Clan Night?"
At the mention of this name, Kurenai's heart skipped a beat, but years of ninja training helped her maintain her composure. She only bowed her head even lower.
"Uchiha Clan Night is my classmate. He graduated at ten, became a genin, became a chunin at fourteen, and is now a jōnin at fifteen. He is the squad leader of the Police Department Seventh Squad and a genius who has awakened the Sharingan with two tomoe."
Kurenai honestly recounted everything she knew, as there was no way to hide such information.
Not all Uchiha were geniuses, but those who awakened the Sharingan were certainly in the genius category. Bloodline limits were not fair, just like some people were born into wealth, some into poverty, and some could never even produce chakra.
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed with a complex expression. "Kurenai, your father was a hero of Konoha. The Nine-Tails Incident is something no one wanted to see."
Even half a year later, Kurenai still could not hide her sadness when the disaster was mentioned. That night was a catastrophe for Konoha, and she lost her father.
Recalling that night, the Third Hokage's eyes also showed a complex expression. If he could go back, he would never let this happen.
"Kurenai, you must know that the Nine-Tails' eyes showed the Sharingan and that it was being manipulated."
Caught off guard, Kurenai's heart skipped a beat. Numerous thoughts raced through her mind, but in the end, her eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded sadly. "I know."
This time, she did not lie, and the Third Hokage nodded in relief. Then, his face showed a look of frustration. "That Asuma, he can't keep his mouth shut."
With one sentence, he brushed aside the issue of Asuma's leak. Then, the Third Hokage sighed. "Kurenai, the border is in turmoil. Originally, Orochimaru would have been the best choice, but recently, there seem to be some issues with Orochimaru."
Kurenai's heart was filled with shock at these ambiguous words. This was far beyond her level. No, wait! The Hokage had first asked about Uchiha Clan Night, who was Orochimaru's student. Cold sweat broke out on Kurenai's back as she realized she was involved in something terrifying.
Seeing the young Kurenai's pale face, the Third Hokage nodded to himself. His intelligence was correct; Kurenai harbored resentment towards the Uchiha Clan due to her father's death.
"Kurenai, there is a mission I need you to undertake. Of course, it might be too difficult for you, and you can decide for yourself."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the master of brainwashing in Konoha, was skilled at appearing compassionate and benevolent. Even Orochimaru, who later kidnapped children, was a disciple in this art, though not as proficient. After all, Sarutobi had brainwashed two Mangekyō Sharingan users and a main character, while Orochimaru's results were far inferior.
(End of Chapter)