Anbu Mission

"You should already know about this from Sarutobi Hiruzen..."

Danzo's eyes, usually narrowed, were open as he spoke. Sarutobi Ryo simply listened, his face showing no emotion.

Yamanaka Hui, standing next to Sarutobi Ryo, glanced around the dimly lit room.

Most villagers thought Danzo was just the commander of the Anbu, unaware that he also led another secret group called "Root."

Root was made up of all sorts of people, not just ninja from Konoha. There were also children brought back from other villages, and even from other countries.

The room was dark and gloomy.

Even in the daytime, sunlight couldn't get inside. Huge candles burned in each corner of the walls.

Shadows covered Danzo, making him look even more sinister and scary.

"I didn't think you were really suited for the Anbu..."

But Sarutobi Ryo's recent words had changed Danzo's mind.

Danzo believed Sarutobi Hiruzen had inherited Senju Hashirama's weakness. He also believed that sometimes, what most people think isn't necessarily true.

Danzo didn't agree that the First Hokage was weak. You could see this in his unfriendly attitude towards Tsunade.

As a student of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, Danzo had taken on Senju Tobirama's darker side. He admired Senju Tobirama's sharp and ruthless ways.

He favored a small group of elite people, believing that only he was truly aware. In short, Danzo thought everyone else was clueless, and only he was fit to lead Konoha and become Hokage.

"..."

Sarutobi Ryo frowned.

This old man, is he misunderstanding me?

Sarutobi Ryo, who knew the Naruto story well, could guess what Danzo was thinking.

But Danzo had clearly misunderstood what he was trying to say.

The problem Konoha had, both now and in the past, was that all the leaders were too focused on the "Will of Fire."

The Will of Fire had become twisted.

It was like the blind leading the blind, heading straight for disaster.

With leaders like this in charge, they would drag Konoha into ruin sooner or later.

"Of course, you still need to prove yourself with results..."

Danzo slowly unrolled a scroll and began to give Sarutobi Ryo and Yamanaka Hui their Anbu mission.

Sarutobi Ryo's earlier words had changed Danzo's mind.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's son was now under his command and might even join the Anbu.

Danzo's lips curved into a smile, a rare sign of happiness appearing in his heart.

If he could use Anbu missions to slowly get Sarutobi Hiruzen's son to agree with his ideas, wouldn't that prove Sarutobi Hiruzen wrong?

Danzo was excited about this possibility.

"The Second Shinobi World War is over. We've taken back the Land of Whirlpools Ruins..."

Danzo started by mentioning Sarutobi Ryo's Jonin exam as a starting point.

"Besides that, there's still a lot of work to do after the war..."

Sarutobi Ryo thought for a moment. Several possibilities came to mind: "Is it a cleanup?"

"Smart..."

Danzo praised Sarutobi Ryo and gave him an approving look.

"Sarutobi Ryo, you have a political mind, just like your father."

Not just smart, but also aware of politics.

Danzo continued, "During the war, things like spying, selling supplies for profit, and betraying the village were common..."

During wartime, it was hard to take action, or there wasn't enough time.

Now that the war was over, it was time to deal with these things properly.

"I want you to go to a Port Town on the Eastern Coastline of the Land of Fire and kill some people... These people are all ordinary people."

Danzo paused slightly as he said this.

What does he mean by that?

Sarutobi Ryo looked at Danzo.

Was Danzo worried that he wouldn't be able to kill ordinary people?

If Danzo thought he would hesitate because of his feelings, he was wrong.

"Even if they're ordinary people, profiting during wartime deserves punishment."

Hearing Sarutobi Ryo's reply, Danzo nodded in satisfaction. "Very good... These people worked with Kirigakure and sold supplies from the Land of Fire during the war. My spies say that this is still happening even now..."

Danzo began to explain the details of this Anbu evaluation mission.

If it was just killing a few ordinary people, it wouldn't be hard at all.

Even a Genin could do it.

"Who's supporting them from behind?" Sarutobi Ryo asked, getting to the main point of the mission.

Without someone backing them, a few ordinary people wouldn't dare to do this, no matter how bold they were.

The people or groups involved were the key.

"I want you to find out who's the mastermind behind this, and if possible..."

Danzo's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Sarutobi Ryo understood.

Killing the mastermind was the real goal.

"Understood."

Seeing Sarutobi Ryo accept the mission so easily, without even asking what if the mastermind was someone powerful, Danzo was very pleased.

He thought that Anbu ninja, the true ninja, should have this kind of determination.

Investigating, ambushing, and assassinating important people had always been the main job of the Anbu.

If they worried because the other person was in a high position, the Anbu would lose its purpose.

"I'll send a contact person to get in touch with you..."

Danzo gave the specific location to meet. When they arrived, someone would come to them.

"Now I'm sure that the Anbu is the right place for you..."

Danzo stood up.

"Anbu evaluation missions are usually done in pairs. Luckily... this time, you and Yamanaka Hui can work together... go..."

----

A few moments later, Sarutobi Ryo, having received the Anbu evaluation mission, walked out of the dark Anbu office with Yamanaka Hui.

The two of them immediately headed for the Land of Fire's eastern coast.

They had been to Land of Whirlpools before, so they knew the way well.

Once they left Konoha, Yamanaka Hui spoke. "Young Master, I have a feeling that this mission is a little strange..."

"Anbu missions are usually secret."

Sarutobi Ryo nodded.

"Common sense doesn't apply in the Anbu."

A new world was waiting for him.

No... Sarutobi Ryo, who had seen the coldness of people in his previous life, didn't think there was a truly new world waiting for him.

The good and bad of human nature existed in every world.

"It'll take two days to reach the destination... we'll have two chances to rest."

The scroll Orochimaru gave him made Sarutobi Ryo feel eager.

He wanted to use the rest stops to practice the Body Art, improve his strength, and increase his chances of success on the mission.

"Who could be the mastermind behind all of this?" Yamanaka Hui wondered.

Within the Land of Fire, besides Konoha Village, this violent ninja group, there was also an independent ninja group that was loyal to the Land of Fire Daimyo.

"I hope it's not those guys..."

Sarutobi Ryo shook his head and walked faster.