"What's there to negotiate..."
Akihara Kagura felt there was nothing to negotiate. They could just follow the original plan for distribution, which was also quite reasonable according to the Third Hokage's method.
Inside the Hokage Tower.
The list of this year's graduates was out.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had mostly completed the assignments, choosing suitable Jonin instructors for each child based on their talents. However, there were still some minor issues.
The new Ino-Shika-Cho, Team Ten, with Sarutobi Asuma as the Jonin instructor.
Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, Yamanaka Ino—the allocation of the new Ino-Shika-Cho had no issues. The Ino-Shika-Cho Clans had followed the Sarutobi Clan during the Warring States Era. Having his second son, Sarutobi Asuma, serve as their Jonin instructor posed no problem.
Team Seven, Uchiha Sasuke, Naruto Uzumaki, and Haruno Sakura, with Kakashi Hatake as the Jonin instructor.
This group of kids was placed together only because Sarutobi Hiruzen had to do so based on their relationships.
Although Karin from Root was more suitable than Haruno Sakura, unfortunately, Karin's strength exceeded that of her teammates, and Akihara Kagura, the Root Leader, was also unwilling to release her.
The most troublesome...
Actually was a team with the lowest presence.
"Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, all these kids excel in perception. I plan to form them into Team Eight, with Yuhi Kurenai, a newly promoted Jonin this year, as their Jonin instructor. However, Hyuga Hinata comes from the Hyuga Main Family..."
When Sarutobi Hiruzen saw Akihara Kagura's arrival, he presented his dilemma: "You're somewhat familiar with the situation of the Hyuga Clan. Someone needs to inquire about the Hyuga Clan Leader Hyuga Hizashi's attitude to see if he's willing to let his daughter join Team Eight. After all, they have always valued the protection of the Main Family and the Hyuga Clan also has its unique training methods..."
This is the specialty of prominent ninja clans.
After all, the Hyuga Clan possesses the Byakugan Bloodline, an indispensable source of perception ninjas for Konoha. Most of the time, the Hyuga Clan cooperates well with Konoha's higher-ups.
The Main Family's identity in the Hyuga Clan is important. If a Main Family member encounters any issues during a mission, it might lead to the Byakugan Bloodline being lost.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was worried the Hyuga Clan might have some objections.
Originally, this matter should have been asked by Hinata's future Jonin instructor, Yuhi Kurenai, but Yuhi Kurenai's status wasn't quite enough, so they hoped Akihara Kagura would inquire about any special arrangements for Hyuga Hinata by the Hyuga Clan.
Akihara Kagura glanced at Yuhi Kurenai standing in the office, visibly slightly nervous—she was newly promoted within Konoha to a Jonin, directly becoming a Jonin instructor.
"What result do you want?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Does the Hokage-sama want the Hyuga Clan to be willing or unwilling to let Hyuga Hinata join Team Eight?"
"Just go and ask."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep puff of his pipe and said solemnly: "We need to consider their opinion on this matter, rather than forcing them to agree..."
"What about the Hokage-sama's opinion?"
Akihara Kagura was still staring at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"My opinion..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a while before stating his true thoughts: "That child, Hyuga Hinata, might be somewhat timid, which might be related to her home environment. Perhaps a change of environment would be better for her..."
"Then it's easy."
Akihara Kagura nodded, offering his thoughts: "The Hokage-sama hopes for Hyuga Hinata to join Team Eight. If the Hyuga Clan is unwilling, I can persuade them to be willing..."
"Oh?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was notably pleased to see Akihara Kagura willing to proceed gently and nodded in satisfaction: "Don't use violent means, don't coerce Hyuga Hizashi. The Hyuga Clan is a companion in the village..."
"Rest assured, I have a mature idea, without needing me to act at all."
Thinking about the information he'd heard, Akihara Kagura proposed his idea: "I've heard from the previous year's graduates there's a little guy named Hyuga Neji, who seems to utterly resent the Hyuga Main Family. I can incite him to destroy the entire Hyuga Clan, leaving only Hyuga Hinata as an orphan. That way, Hyuga Hinata can join Team Eight, and she'd become strong..."
"!!!"
Yuhi Kurenai was startled by Akihara Kagura's idea!
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but start worrying. This plan vaguely felt familiar, as if someone had done it before...
Isn't this Shimura Danzo's trick!
The previous generation's Root Leader, Shimura Danzo, used Uchiha Itachi to annihilate the Uchiha Clan. This generation's Root Leader was becoming more and more like Danzo!
I just wanted Hyuga Hinata to enter Team Eight, for that somewhat timid child to change environments and become stronger, not to turn her into an orphan to get strong completely.
"Perhaps I'll have a talk with Hizashi myself."
Sarutobi Hiruzen placed his pipe aside with a worried expression and assigned another task to Akihara Kagura: "Instead, accompany the Jonin instructor of Team Seven, Kakashi Hatake, to check out the family conditions of his future students. You two are old friends..."
"Alright."
Akihara Kagura accepted the task.
[System prompt]: [New work task (Sarutobi Hiruzen), accompany Kakashi Hatake on home visits to understand the family conditions of future Team Seven students.]
The task was quite simple.
Because Team Seven consisted of three students, two of whom were orphans.
Actually, if Kakashi Hatake truly wanted to visit the elders or parents of the two orphans, Akihara Kagura really had methods.
Just that...
The method was somewhat hellish.
"Haruno Sakura is easy to handle; both her parents are alive..."
"Then I take Kakashi Hatake first to track down Uchiha Itachi."
Looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen, Akihara Kagura volunteered: "Although Uchiha Itachi is an S-Class Traitorous Ninja to the village, he's ultimately Uchiha Sasuke's only family. His brother's graduation allocation should still be run through him..."
"There's no need to force it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's forehead twitched.
"About Naruto..."
Akihara Kagura hesitated, considering: "I heard last year a conflict occurred between Orochimaru and the Akatsuki Organization, resurrecting a dead ninja. I'll capture Orochimaru..."
"I said, no need to force it!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a headache brewing, rubbing his temples: "Meet the village people, only those who are alive will do..."