In the current ninja world, peace reigned. As long as the great nations weren't at war, Konoha remained tranquil.
Shunichi Uchiha's life had similarly been quiet. His experiments hadn't made any major breakthroughs, but progress trickled in over time.
Orochimaru seemed to have forgotten him entirely, never once visiting. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, too, were as if vanished, leaving Shunichi to develop on his own.
This peaceful routine continued until the day Shunichi graduated from the Ninja Academy…
...
"Anbu, huh! Alright, got it."
Shunichi nodded as the Anbu ninja approached him after the exams, coming to fetch him.
After spending so long safely in Konoha, Shunichi was content. Over the years, his body had grown stronger, and his research had advanced significantly. Now, he no longer needed to constantly close his eyes to manage his powers.
Although the consumption from his Mangekyō Sharingan persisted, it had stabilized. As long as he didn't actively use it, it wouldn't cause major damage to his body.
Curiously, his right Mangekyō Sharingan seemed not to consume either chakra or ocular energy at all.
He glanced once at the classroom behind him, a hint of emotion flickering in his eyes, then walked straight toward the Hokage's office without looking back.
The Anbu, formally the "Special Assassination and Tactical Force," were essentially a private military branch of the Hokage, tasked mainly with internal and external operations for Konoha.
Regular ninja generally performed missions for employers.
That said, the distinction wasn't always clear. Tasks the Anbu handled were sometimes undertaken by ordinary ninja as well.
It's worth noting that Danzo's Root faction technically fell under the Anbu's umbrella, officially under Hiruzen Sarutobi's command.
However, Sarutobi delegated authority to Danzo to handle matters he couldn't directly address.
Danzo was the type to betray yet still help, losing honor in the process. Since taking over Root, he had no chance of ever becoming Hokage.
Not unless every qualified candidate in Konoha died.
Shunichi arrived at the door to the Hokage's office, knocked, and entered after hearing a voice from within.
Inside, only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo were present. Before Shunichi arrived, they seemed engaged in discussion.
"Shunichi! You've arrived. I've reviewed your academy results—excellent performance. So I've decided to invite you into the Anbu. Do you have any objections?" Hiruzen's expression was unusually gentle.
"No problem!" Shunichi nodded and agreed immediately.
"Good. From now on, you're an Anbu. The work is dangerous—you may risk your life at any moment. Be prepared," Hiruzen continued.
Shunichi simply nodded, saying only, "Understood."
"And your Mangekyō Sharingan… how's it doing?" Danzo interjected abruptly.
Hearing this, Shunichi initially thought Danzo might be recruiting him for his own team, but apparently, that wasn't the case.
"It's completely stable now. I can't use it skillfully yet, but it no longer harms my body," Shunichi replied without hesitation.
"I notice you haven't been collecting your nutrient injections from the hospital in recent years. Do you no longer need them?" Danzo asked calmly.
Hiruzen remained composed as usual, maintaining his role as the "good cop," while Danzo handled the more practical questions.
"I've taught myself extensively. Now I can produce highly effective nutrient serums myself. Their restorative effects rival those of standard ninja rations," Shunichi said, placing a small vial on Hiruzen's desk.
In truth, Hiruzen and his aides had already taken the vial.
Shunichi's lab had been broken into multiple times. The Anbu thought they were thorough, but Shunichi had observed everything. Sometimes, he simply chose not to intervene. Finding a secure place to conduct research as a rogue ninja was no easy task.
"Really comparable to standard rations?" Hiruzen feigned curiosity, taking a sip confidently.
"Better than standard rations, actually. Shunichi, if you're willing, I can share some of this technique with the village as a reward and even teach you a few jutsu," Hiruzen offered generously. If Shunichi hadn't known they had already taken the formula, he might have been moved to tears.
Recently, the ingredients for this serum had been nearly impossible to procure!
"Understood. Sure," Shunichi replied nonchalantly. Indeed, he was unfazed.
"Alright, let's get to business. Now that you've joined the Anbu, most of your missions will have one primary objective: covertly protecting Naruto Uzumaki," Hiruzen said, his face serious.
Shunichi didn't feign ignorance this time. He said directly, "Inside Naruto's body…"
"Ah, so you sensed it! Yes, he is the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, a powerful beast that caused great damage to the village many years ago…" Hiruzen's eyes flickered with memory.
The Fourth Hokage truly was wasted!
After a detailed explanation, Shunichi nodded calmly and accepted the assignment.
Hiruzen then dismissed him, explaining that the formal mission would begin that evening, with someone contacting him beforehand.
"What do you make of this boy?" Hiruzen asked Danzo after Shunichi left.
"Cold, isolated. Seems indifferent to everything. I see no emotional fluctuation in his eyes—a natural-born ninja," Danzo evaluated Shunichi highly.
"However… loyalty may be a significant concern," he added, noting the main issue.
"Danzo, he's not suited for your Root," Hiruzen said, immediately rejecting the idea.
"You don't worry about betrayal?" Danzo sneered.
Hiruzen shook his head. "I see no reason for him to betray us. Besides… such a personality is natural, isn't it?"
As Hokage, Hiruzen had far more intelligence reports than Danzo and made a precise judgment regarding Shunichi.
This was why Hiruzen could be Hokage, while Danzo could only be the one left holding the bag…