The Police Force's aggressive recruitment drive naturally couldn't be hidden from Hiruzen. Their recruitment notices were practically plastered on the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen roughly calculated that the Police Force's manpower had probably more than tripled. They had never run such a lavish budget in their lives.
He took a puff from his cigarette, deciding he needed to discuss it with the two Advisors. If this continued, things would likely get out of hand.
"Where are Homura and Koharu? I haven't seen them in days."
Hiruzen asked into the air, his voice not loud, but enough for the shadows lurking in the dark to hear.
Not long after, an Anbu wearing a mask appeared like a phantom in the center of the Hokage's office.
"Hokage-sama, the two Advisors were taken by the Konoha Military Police Force several days ago and haven't returned yet."
Hiruzen was stunned for a moment. "Still haven't returned?"
He knew about the two Advisors being taken for questioning. Konoha Military Police Force's reply was that it was a routine investigation.
Because the matter was so significant, no one, from top to bottom, could be overlooked. It was even possible that the Hokage himself might need to pay a visit.
All of this was for the will of fire, passed down through generations in Konoha.
With Konoha Military Police Force having said that much, Hiruzen had no choice but to keep quiet.
Besides, he didn't think it was a big deal. It was just for questioning. Surely Konoha Military Police Force wouldn't be crazy enough to detain them too.
Everyone served Konoha, there had to be some decorum. But... it seemed they really were detained.
Could it be that they also had problems?
Hiruzen's heart sank.
Could it be that even Homura and Koharu had problems?
He suddenly realized, why did it seem like everyone around him was a bad person?
No, where the hell was anyone at all?
"Get out."
"Yes."
The office returned to dead silence.
After a brief silence, Hiruzen sighed.
He pulled open the bottom drawer of his desk and carefully took out a well-preserved old portrait. The paper was slightly yellowed, and on it were several spirited faces.
The man with white hair and red eyes in the very center was his teacher, the Second Hokage, Tobirama.
Surrounding his teacher were the elites of their generation.
His younger self, Kagami, Torifu, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu.
Hiruzen's fingers gently brushed over each familiar yet distant face in the portrait.
"What a pity. Now only I, an old man, am left."
"Kagami died young, Torifu sacrificed himself on the night of the Nine-Tails incident, and Danzo became a rogue ninja."
"Even Homura and Koharu are now thrown into Konoha Military Police Force's prison, and I don't know when they'll return."
A huge sense of loneliness and the sorrow of things changing wrapped around him tightly.
As Hiruzen was lost in melancholy, a clear, rhythmic knocking sound broke the silence of the office.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Kakashi entered. He looked very tired.
Hiruzen's first reaction was that the mission intensity was too high, overwhelming this genius ninja.
He said, "If you're too tired, go back and rest for two days."
Kakashi stood silently in front of the desk and said, "I have indeed been very tired lately."
Seeing him hesitate to speak, Hiruzen asked curiously, "Do you have something to say?"
"Hokage-sama, I want to resign from my Anbu position."
Hiruzen pinched his brow. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
After a brief silence, Hiruzen nodded. "Alright."
He then asked, "What are your plans after this?"
Kakashi said, "To be an ordinary ninja, completing missions like everyone else, that's about it."
"Kakashi, even if you leave Anbu, the village still needs your strength."
Hearing Hiruzen agree, Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief.
"I will follow Hokage-sama's arrangements."
Hiruzen waved his hand. "Go rest, or go to the hospital for a check-up. I feel like you've overexerted yourself. You can still handle the paperwork tomorrow."
"Yes."
Kakashi left the office and, contrary to what Hiruzen said, did not go to rest, but instead sought out Genma and the others. He explained that Konoha Military Police Force needed their help. They agreed without much hesitation.
The group arrived at Konoha Military Police Force, intending to meet with Satoshi.
"Satoshi went to see the Mizukage and we don't know when he'll be back."
"I see, then we'll wait for him to return."
Kakashi and the others had barely walked a few steps when they heard a series of hurried footsteps.
Turning around, they saw a blond boy carrying two large fish, running over, panting.
"I brought the fish that weird uncle wanted, where is he?"
"Inaho isn't here. Leave the fish, and I'll have him send you the money later."
"Alright then, you absolutely can't lie to a child, okay?"
"Don't worry, we Uchiha would never do something so shameless."
"Hehe."
Naruto waved his hand. "Next time you want fish, let me know in advance, okay?"
In the corner, Kakashi and the others were all dumbfounded.
When did Naruto get so close to the Uchiha?
Isn't this kid a Jinchuriki?
Naruto really liked this place. Although the people here looked fierce and didn't seem like good people, they were quite kind to him. The pancake seller, seeing he was a child, even let him taste a piece.
Even though he said "Go away, don't bother me," it still made Naruto feel warm inside.
He made up his mind that if a limited edition pancake came out, he would definitely buy two boxes to try them out.
Naruto walked aimlessly down the street, wanting to see how Sasuke was doing.
"He hasn't been here in so long, he can't be very sick, can he?"
He walked and asked around, finally finding Sasuke at a training ground.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto waved. "I finally found you."
Hearing the familiar voice, Sasuke looked up. He was breathing heavily, and the arm holding the kunai was even trembling slightly, clearly having trained for a long time.
He asked, "Dead last, what are you doing here?"
Naruto defended himself, "What dead last? I'm just a little bit behind in academics, but I'm really strong in actual combat, okay?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
Did "a little bit behind" mean often getting zeros?
Naruto leaned closer. "Sasuke, I heard you were sick, is it serious?"
Sasuke recoiled, showing a look of disgust. "Don't get so close to me, you idiot."
Naruto leaned closer again. "Did you go to the hospital?"
Sasuke completely broke down.
Why was this blond so annoying? They weren't even that close, why was he excitedly running over here?
"You're so annoying, dead last."
Naruto felt a surge of anger. Did this poker-faced guy know what was good for him?
He ran all this way to see him, and not only did he not say thank you, he was still complaining.
Damn it, he wouldn't come next time.
He rolled his eyes and turned to leave.
"Hey, Naruto."
Naruto angrily yelled back, "What do you want?"
"Let's fight."
Naruto was stunned for a moment, then clenched his fists. He had wanted to beat up Sasuke for a long time.
"Alright."
The two stood opposite each other.
"Here I come!"
On the training ground, the two figures collided.
The sound of bodies hitting each other occasionally echoed. After a long time, both of them collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.
Naruto asked, "Sasuke, why do you always have such a straight face? Did something unhappy happen?"
Sasuke's heart tightened, and he turned his head away, not speaking.
"Sasuke?"
Naruto stood up with difficulty. "You..."
He saw the genius boy in their class shed helpless tears for the first time.
"Sasuke... are you okay?"
Naruto didn't know how to comfort Sasuke.
Sasuke stood up, wiped the tears from his eyes, and fled the training ground without looking back, leaving Naruto standing alone, not knowing what to do.
"What the heck? He just ran off without explaining anything. What a headache."
Naruto grumbled to himself for a while, then shook his head helplessly.
"Oh well, I'll forgive him this time. Who told him to be sick?"
"Ouch, that hurts. That jerk really hits hard."
(End of Chapter)
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