Anbu... The Road to Power!

Just as Hyuga Hizashi was about to say something to lighten things up, a loud commotion near the Hokage Building grabbed everyone's attention.

The sounds of banging, crashing, and pained shouts, mixed with the sight of wild, dancing red hair, made everyone stop what they were doing.

Then a very familiar shout rang out, and the whole atmosphere changed: "It's the Red Hot Habanero again!"

In all of Konoha, only Uzumaki Kushina, famously known as the Red Hot Habanero, would dare to cause such a scene right at the entrance of the Hokage Building--following in the bold footsteps of Princess Tsunade.

"What's all this racket?! Huh?! It's you again… Kushina! What are you all standing around for? Drag her away, quickly!"

A stern-looking female ninja stepped out of the building's entrance, and the Konoha ninja guarding the sides seemed to snap out of their daze.

"Let go of me~! Let go of me…! I can take on ten more of you!"

Kushina, the tough "King of the Kids," was being dragged away, a fierce look on her face, and clearly enjoying the fight.

It was a far cry from when she first arrived in Konoha and was often picked on. Now, the tables had turned completely, with Kushina doing the bullying.

The name Red Hot Habanero had become something of a legend, known all over Konoha.

"Namikaze Minato, aren't you going to stop her?!"

The female ninja scolded Namikaze Minato directly, who just gave a sheepish smile and didn't argue back.

"Lord Koharu."

Seeing her turn her gaze his way, Hyuga Hizashi immediately nodded and bowed respectfully.

The unusually stern female ninja before them was none other than Utatane Koharu, one of Konoha's leading figures.

"Sarutobi Ryo, come with me."

Utatane Koharu didn't even glance at Hyuga Hizashi, simply ordering Sarutobi Ryo to follow her into the Hokage Building.

As a member of Konoha's leadership, and also a close friend of Sarutobi Biwako, Sarutobi Ryo's mother, Utatane Koharu's attitude toward Sarutobi Ryo was relatively kind.

"Yes, Lord Koharu."

Sarutobi Ryo nodded and followed her.

Hyuga Hizashi quietly said a few comforting words to his fiancee, then watched closely as the group entered the building.

----

In the hallway.

"Sarutobi Ryo, I've told you, you can just call me Auntie Koharu; there's no need to be so formal."

Utatane Koharu's stern voice softened a little.

But the old-fashioned tone still maintained the status of an elder.

"Yes, Lord Koharu," Sarutobi Ryo replied flatly, ignoring Utatane Koharu's suggestion.

"Do you have some kind of problem with me, child?"

"Lord Koharu, I just think that many of the Konoha leadership's policies are wrong, like… sending children to fight in wars."

Sarutobi Ryo's direct statement made Namikaze Minato's eyes widen slightly.

Looking at Sarutobi Ryo, he couldn't help but think that making such a blunt criticism was reckless.

"Mm."

Utatane Koharu nodded, but didn't say anything.

Her attitude made it clear she was treating Sarutobi Ryo like a child.

In her mind, it was normal for Sarutobi Ryo to say naive things, since he hadn't experienced the harsh realities of the Ninja World.

Adults, of course, wouldn't bother arguing with a child.

You'll understand when you're older.

Seeing that Utatane Koharu wasn't taking him seriously, Sarutobi Ryo also kept quiet.

After all, he was just a small voice with little power.

In many places, especially Konoha, without political power, no one would pay attention to your words.

Sarutobi Ryo: Power...

Sarutobi Ryo felt a strong desire for power growing inside him.

Soon, the group arrived on the second floor.

Entering the office, Sarutobi Ryo finally saw his birth parents in this life.

"Father, Mother."

Sarutobi Ryo nodded to the kind-faced Sarutobi Hiruzen, then looked to the side at the woman sitting there, who seemed even stricter than Utatane Koharu.

The woman with lines around her eyes was named Sarutobi Biwako, and she was also Sarutobi Ryo's mother.

"Elder Homura, Lord Danzo."

Sitting on the other sofa, looking serious, was Mitokado Homura.

With a gloomy face and deep scheming eyes, was Shimura Danzo.

The five leaders of Konoha were gathered together, clearly to announce something important.

"Minato, Sarutobi Ryo…"

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses and spoke directly.

"The reason we called you here is that the leadership has looked at your abilities and decided that you are good enough to be promoted to Jonin..."

After Chunin, comes Jonin.

Of course, some ninja would choose, or be forced, to become Special Jonin.

Generally, ninja whose talents are easy to see are directly promoted to Special Jonin by the leaders.

Those with even greater potential skip this step and aim for the path of Jonin.

"Minato, once you become a Jonin, you'll be put in charge of a squad..."

Mitokado Homura outlined Namikaze Minato's path after becoming a Jonin.

No one there doubted that Namikaze Minato could become a Jonin.

After all, he had already mastered the S-Rank Flying Thunder God Technique, which only the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama knew, and his future was unlimited.

Jonin… was a rank that most ninja could never reach in their lives.

For a genius like Namikaze Minato, it was just the beginning.

Next, Mitokado Homura explained the plans for Kushina and the others. Even though Kushina had been dragged off to be punished for fighting at the entrance, the arrangements still needed to be made.

Finally, everyone looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, waiting for him to decide what to do with Sarutobi Ryo.

Your son, it's up to you.

"Mm."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and stood up.

"I think it would be better for Sarutobi Ryo to join the Anbu for training."

"That's good," Utatane Koharu nodded in agreement. She thought that Sarutobi Ryo's naive ideas would disappear after experiencing the Anbu, and he would become more mature. Also, Sarutobi Ryo was Sarutobi Hiruzen's son, so they naturally had the same interests.

He's one of us.

"Your son isn't ruthless enough."

Just then, Danzo spoke.

Danzo, known as the "Darkness of the Ninja," was good at seeing through people and manipulating them.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to kill Shisui and trick Itachi into wiping out his clan.

If Sasuke hadn't had the special power of Indra, and Nagato hadn't had Madara's Rinnegan cheat, those two probably would have died.

From Danzo's point of view, Sarutobi Ryo had some ideas, but that was all.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's son… was a very pure person.

Such a person was like Might Guy and Hatake Sakumo, who were also too pure.

How could such a person survive in the Anbu?

"It would be better for him to lead a team normally, like Namikaze Minato..."

Danzo gave his opinion.

Then, he looked at Yamanaka Hui, who had a sly look on his face.

"Yamanaka Hui, on the other hand…"

Was perfect for the Anbu, or even better… she should join my Root organization.

As for Hyuga Ruri, she was completely ignored by Danzo.

A Branch Family member with the Caged Bird Seal on her forehead was disliked by everyone.

Seeing Danzo interested in his future daughter-in-law, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned: "Danzo… that's not right…"

"Why not have them join the Anbu together, so they can look out for each other?"

Utatane Koharu suggested letting Sarutobi Ryo and Yamanaka Hui enter the Anbu together.

"Of course, even if it's your son, Hiruzen, he still has to go through the process and take the exam… no special treatment…"

Utatane Koharu said sternly.

And from beginning to end, they hadn't mentioned Hyuga Ruri at all, as if she didn't exist.

After talking, the leaders decided that Sarutobi Ryo and Yamanaka Hui would both take the Jonin Exam. If they passed, they would apply to the Anbu and go through more exams and training.

As the leaders finished their discussion.

A line of information suddenly appeared in front of Sarutobi Ryo's eyes.

[Will of Fire System!]

[Storyline - Main Quest Module Activated!]

[New "Main - Storyline Quest" Released: Anbu Road! Inject the Will of Fire into the Konoha Anbu!]

[Main Quest Objective: Before the Third Shinobi World War arrives, pass the Jonin and Anbu Exams, join the Anbu, and ultimately become "Anbu Squad Six Captain"!]

[Main Quest Reward: Real Power.]