Morning.
Inside the meeting room at Hokage Tower.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was seated at the center, with Akihara Kagura beside him, and the two Hokage Advisors on either side, marking the current upper echelon of Konoha.
"There's a student named Karin in the class who wants to apply for early graduation."
Umino Iruka stood before them, reporting on the outstanding students in the class: "According to our examination, Karin has independently learned the Three-Body Jutsu and has exceptional grades. The teachers at the school can no longer teach her anything new."
"Ah, that child…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen smoked his pipe while reviewing the document, which showed an image of a red-haired girl wearing glasses, nodding slowly: "To be honest, I originally had other plans, but since she doesn't want to stay in the Ninja Academy any longer, keeping her there would be squandering her talent. What do you all think?"
Actually...
Sarutobi Hiruzen had long considered how to handle Karin's situation.
He wanted to assign Karin to a squad with the village's Nine-tailed Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki, to teach her some unique secret techniques from the Uzumaki Clan for controlling the Nine-tails. If Naruto ever went berserk, Karin could subdue him.
But...
Karin seemed reluctant.
Naruto Uzumaki's attitude toward Karin was odd; perhaps he was too familiar with Karin, or he simply wasn't fond of sticking to her, preferring instead a girl with pink hair in the class.
This left Sarutobi Hiruzen feeling puzzled.
He couldn't quite understand why Naruto Uzumaki wasn't like his father, who liked girls with red hair.
Well.
Regardless, it's beneficial for Karin to graduate early.
Since she can't learn anything more at the Ninja Academy, letting her graduate early could enable her to learn the secret techniques of the Uzumaki Clan, and they could figure out something else later...
Utatane Koharu had no objections, nodding: "Then let Karin graduate with the seniors next year. We know her background; she's of great significance to Konoha..."
"Let her graduate and leave directly."
Akihara Kagura voiced his idea, continuing: "I was the one who rescued Karin initially. Her reconnaissance ability is quite excellent, and the Root is currently short-handed, so just assign Karin to me. I can also teach her the secret techniques of the Uzumaki Clan..."
"I have no objections."
Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement.
"I don't have any objections either."
Utatane Koharu hesitated for a moment, then chose to express no opinions.
Though Akihara Kagura isn't Shimura Danzo, his words sound quite like Danzo's; entrusting that child Karin to Akihara Kagura is permissible too.
"Let's proceed this way."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had no objections either.
Because Sarutobi Hiruzen had already learned Karin's story; he knew Karin would surely rely heavily on Akihara Kagura, and aside from the Root, she likely wouldn't want to go anywhere else.
"By the way."
Umino Iruka hesitantly added: "There's also a student named Sai in the class who wants to apply for early graduation. He's long been proficient in numerous jutsu, even mastering some remarkable secret techniques, and the school can no longer continue his education..."
"Oh?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was intrigued, turning to Akihara Kagura: "Isn't this child from the orphanage?"
"Probably?"
Akihara Kagura shook his head, showing little interest in Sai: "I haven't visited the orphanage in quite a while except to send funding for its upkeep."
"I see…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen mused over Akihara Kagura's connection with the orphanage, chuckling lightly at Kagura: "However, I guess this child likely wants to join the Root, doesn't he?"
"Let him join the Dark Department."
Akihara Kagura showed no greed, proposing: "I've never heard Yakushi Kabuto or Dean Yakushi Nonou make special mention of him. If he's not that outstanding and just grasped some secret techniques, letting this child graduate normally is fine too..."
"Let's do as you suggest then."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
As long as Akihara Kagura wasn't like Shimura Danzo, constantly trying to fill his ranks whenever short-handed, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't mind these matters.
However...
Sarutobi Hiruzen was too soon in feeling pleased.
"There's also…"
"Uchiha Sasuke wants to graduate early..."
Umino Iruka cautiously continued before Sarutobi Hiruzen and Akihara Kagura: "Uchiha Sasuke is exceptionally skilled in Taijutsu and Shuriken Throwing Jutsu..."
"This child can be entrusted to me."
Akihara Kagura was instantly interested, spreading his palms: "I've long hoped he'd join the Root; I'll seize an opportunity to send him to reunite with his clan…"
"Huh?"
Umino Iruka was taken aback.
"Rejected."
Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his pipe on the table, his expression sour as he ordered, "Let Uchiha Sasuke continue attending school as usual."
"..."
Umino Iruka noticed Sarutobi Hiruzen's unhappy demeanor and quickly swallowed his remaining words. Actually, there's another student named Naruto Uzumaki in the class who also wants to graduate, but his grades don't meet the early graduation standards.
"That's all then."
Sarutobi Hiruzen gestured for Umino Iruka to leave, advising Akihara Kagura at his side: "Kagura, Uchiha Sasuke is innocent. You must treat all the children in the village equally, not discriminating because he is Uchiha Itachi's brother…"