Sarutobi Hiruzen looked through the smoke in front of him and saw the task book in his hand that was returned by the client. There were many compliments written on it, expressing his satisfaction with the efficiency of the Konoha ninja.
Sarutobi took the pipe out of his mouth and looked at the boy standing in front of him.
He was wearing a green vest uniform, showing his status as a Chunin or above. He had a forehead protector tied neatly on his forehead. His calm face did not show any youthful vigor. His eyes were heavy under his long eyelashes, as if he was hiding a lot of worries.
"Oboro." Sarutobi called out.
"Hokage-sama."
"The client is very satisfied with you. This kind of mission would be difficult even if a Chunin team was sent." Sarutobi said slowly.
Guan Yuelong, the young man in front of him, is very strong and capable. If he had not been overshadowed by another more talented person in the same period, Sarutobi feels that he would also be a highly anticipated rookie.
"You've been operating as a solo team since you were promoted to Chunin, and you've maintained a very high mission rate. This is very rare," Sarutobi continued.
"Have you not considered new teammates?"
Guan Yue's expression remained unchanged, his eyes still lower than Sarutobi's, and he responded, "It's up to the Hokage to arrange."
Sarutobi was stunned for a moment, not expecting him to be so obedient.
He had many speculations in his mind before, maybe it was because Guanyue was too proud to team up with ordinary people, or maybe it was because of his teammates who died in the war.
Moreover, there have always been some bad rumors in the village.
After pondering for a moment, Sarutobi said, "Someone has asked me to transfer your position."
Guanyue was slightly stunned after hearing this, his mind racing as he wondered who it could be.
Sarutobi tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said, "However, there's no rush. I want to respect your wishes on this matter. You don't have to give me an answer so soon. You can think about it carefully."
What does this mean…
The ambiguous words made Guanyue feel suspicious. He saw Sarutobi picked up his pipe again, and the smoke he exhaled obscured his face and eyes.
"Here is a new mission for you."
"Someone will meet you at the main entrance of the village at 7am tomorrow morning."
"...yes"
After leaving the Hokage Building, it was already afternoon outside.
Guan Yue stood in front of the Hokage Building, looking at the red sky in the distance.
The sun sets in the west, and the setting sun looks like blood.
This is my first year here...
Day after day, it makes people tired.
Guan Yue was thinking deeply, and was about to leave when he suddenly saw a familiar figure appear in front of the road.
"Hey, Along." The man waved to Guanyue and trotted over.
"I heard that you are back from your mission." The man said with a smile. He was about the same age as Guan Yue, both around fifteen years old, with short black hair and delicate features. He was also wearing a standard ninja vest, the difference being that the cuffs had a red and white round fan pattern on a blue background.
Guan Yue stared at the man for a long while before saying, "It was you who asked the Hokage to transfer my position, right?"
"Hey, has Lord Hokage already told you?" Shisui asked in surprise.
"Yeah, that's what I just said." Guanyue nodded and started walking forward, "But I didn't agree."
"Why?" Shisui looked puzzled after hearing this and followed Guanyue.
"Why are you doing this?" Guanyue said without stopping.
"We are friends, aren't we?"
"I guess so."
"That's really too much." Shisui said a little angrily.
The two walked side by side and came to the village market. As it was getting close to night, many night market stalls began to open early. Although it was not crowded, it was still lively.
"Along, please think about it carefully." Shisui continued to persuade.
"I may not be able to do the work of the Anbu." Guanyue said lightly.
Or should I say the roots...
Guanyue thought to himself that ordinary people didn't know the origin of this organization.
"The Anbu is a bit busy, but it's not as much as the amount of tasks you have every month. It will be a lot easier for you to come here."
"Forget it."
Shisui kept chattering in Guanyue's ear, but Guanyue just walked slowly, not knowing whether he heard him or not.
Not long after, the sound in his ears suddenly stopped. Guanyue couldn't help but feel a little confused. He turned his head to look but couldn't see Shishui. He turned his head and saw that he had stopped behind him.
"Along." Shisui smiled at Guanyue and pointed to the shop next to him.
"You haven't eaten yet?"
Guanyue glanced at the name of the store and saw that it was a dumpling shop.
"Come quickly!" Shisui waved to Guanyue impatiently.
"…"
Knowing his friend's hobby, Guanyue had no choice but to follow him in.
"Boss, five servings of red bean dumplings, five servings of glutinous rice dumplings, and five servings of three-color dumplings." As soon as I walked in, I heard Shisui's loud shouting.
"Okay, please take a seat first," the boss also said.
"You're not going to have dinner after eating so much?" Guan Yue said helplessly when he saw Shisui ordering so much.
"It won't delay." Shisui said with a smile.
Having found his beloved thing, Shisui's attention was immediately diverted. He stopped trying to persuade Guanyue and sat in his seat waiting with anticipation.
Not long after, the boss brought up three plates of dumplings and two cups of tea to relieve the greasiness.
"I'm starting."
Shisui didn't hesitate and took a string in each hand and started putting them into his mouth.
Guanyue looked at him eating in such an unruly way that he couldn't help but raise the corner of his mouth. He picked up a cup of tea and drank it slowly. He was not interested in such a sweet thing.
"Along, don't you want to eat?" Shisui said vaguely when he saw Guanyue didn't move his food.
Guanyue shook his head and just took a sip of tea.
Shisui then ignored Guanyue and continued to eat the dessert in front of him.
Guanyue looked at him silently, pondering for a long time before saying, "Why would you ask me for something like this?"
"Hmm?" Shisui, who was immersed in the delicious food, raised his head blankly.
"Ah, oh!" He suddenly came to his senses, put down the dumpling in his hand, and reached out to wipe his mouth.
Looking at the calm face of Guanyue in front of him, Shisui also thought seriously for a while.
"I really need someone to help me." Shisui said slowly.
Guanyue's eyes moved.
He is just an ordinary ANBU member, perhaps with some outstanding abilities, but it is incredible for him to say such things.
He needs someone to help him. What for? To carry out a mission?
Anyone who hears it at first would probably feel confused.
But Guanyue knows a lot of things, things that no one in this world knows.
For example, the ending of the person in front of you, Uchiha Shisui.
He didn't want to get involved in this unnecessary trouble and didn't want to interfere in anything.
Even if the person in front of him were to die, he might feel regretful at that time.
But that's all.
"You may find it a little strange, but there are some things I can only tell you after you come." Shisui took the initiative and said, "My position will be transferred soon."
If Shisui's position is transferred again, will it mean that he will be transferred out of the company?
Then the responsibility of letting oneself enter the root again is considered as... an informant?
Guan Yue seemed unmoved, drinking his tea leisurely and calmly, saying, "Isn't there a very outstanding younger generation in your clan? You two have a good relationship with him, and he seems to have joined the Anbu as well."
"You mean Itachi?" Shisui smiled bitterly, then looked surprised: "How do you know he joined the Anbu?"
"…I heard." Guanyue realized that he had said something wrong and kept a straight face.
"Itachi joined the Anbu only in the past two days, and he only knows about this kind of thing..." Shisui looked at Guanyue strangely, seeming to believe and doubt.
"But... speaking of Itachi, he is quite similar to you in some ways." Shisui suddenly changed the subject and smiled.
"Really?" Guanyue was slightly stunned.
"Yes, you're so worried at such a young age, and you're so mature beyond your peers." Shisui said thoughtfully, "The difference is, you always keep everything inside."
"Besides, Itachi's personality is much better than yours." Shisui said with a smile again.
"It seems that you are very optimistic about him." Guanyue said casually, not caring about Zhishui's words that hurt him.
"Yes, his talent is not inferior to mine, and his character is excellent." Shisui smiled, "His future achievements will surely be amazing."
"Then why don't you go find him?"
"He and I are of the same clan, and I consider him my younger brother." Shisui sighed, "Although he shares the same aspirations as me, he is still too young."
Although it is very inappropriate for a 15-year-old boy to say such words, Uchiha Shisui is indeed different from ordinary people.
The plot in the original work was not as Shisui said. Itachi became Shisui's revolutionary comrade, and Shisui entrusted everything to Itachi when he was dying.
But now Shisui's feelings for Itachi are just like Itachi's feelings for Sasuke. He just treats the latter as a protected object rather than a friend with whom he can share responsibilities.
"Along." Shisui looked straight at Guanyue and said slowly.
"We are friends, right?"
Watching the moon in silence.
Apart from his dead teammates, Shisui can indeed be said to be his only friend.
Although he took this emotion lightly.
Guanyue glanced at the information in the virtual border that had always existed within his sight.
[Name: Uchiha Shisui
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Favorability: 89
Relationship: Close friends
Bond: Not yet concluded
Completion Reward: Betsuamatsukami]
Best friend...
Guanyue looked at Zhishui's sincere and clear eyes, and his heart suddenly felt heavy.
Do you take me so seriously?
Guanyue gently stroked the teacup in his hand with his thumb, trying to hide his troubled mood.
There was no response, and disappointment slowly filled Shisui's eyes as he looked at Guanyue. At this moment, he heard the light voice of the boy opposite him again.
"I guess so."
[When the favorability reaches 90, a bond can be established]
[Successfully bonded with the target, current bond: Unwavering and unyielding]
[Reward: Betsuamatsu-shin]