"There is one last matter."
Seeing everyone's reaction, Kurenai Yuhi looked at the final content of the document in her hand and continued.
"Lord Hokage has been in office for a month, yet he has not selected a Hokage Guard Platoon."
The Hokage Guard Platoon?!
The crowd was immediately invigorated.
This was the Hokage Guard Platoon; it came with inherent voting rights for the Hokage, making one almost no different from a direct disciple of the Hokage.
Back then, the Fourth Hokage's Guard Platoon was taught the Flying Thunder God Technique. Unfortunately, Genma Shiranui, Raidō Namiashi, and Iwashi Tatami did not have high enough talent for space-time jutsu, so they could only join forces to use the Flying Thunder Formation Technique.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was also part of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju's, Guard Platoon...
Hmm?
The Second Hokage's Guard Platoon consisted entirely of his disciples.
Out of the six, Kagami Uchiha died early, and Torifu Akimichi had no interest in authority, remaining idle at home.
Of the remaining four, three had now been locked up...
Only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained retired at home.
But that Hokage... how should one put it...
After the whole mess with Danzō Shimura, if one were to say that Lord Hokage hadn't condoned it, the Jōnin present would absolutely not believe it.
After grumbling in their hearts for a moment, everyone cast hopeful gazes toward Kakashi, who sat calmly in the main seat.
They all hoped this young Lord Hokage would choose them.
Which of those present wasn't a Jōnin? They could all be called one in a thousand.
They all felt their strength was sufficient, completely qualified to become part of the Hokage Guard Platoon.
"Itachi Uchiha."
The first name caused the expressions of everyone present to turn subtle.
This was the eldest son of the leader of last night's coup d'état. Although they didn't know why he had managed to stay out of it, clearly, this Itachi Uchiha had a significant relationship with the Hokage.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
Itachi Uchiha, down in the audience, was stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected to be included, but he immediately stood up in excitement and bowed respectfully to Kakashi.
This was the Hokage Guard Platoon!
Itachi felt that everything he had done was not in vain.
Although he hadn't intended to get anything in return from the start—Kakashi agreeing to take Sasuke as a personal disciple after graduation had already moved him greatly—this outcome, being acknowledged by the person he admired through his own efforts, made it difficult for his heart to calm down for a long time.
"Hayama Shirakumo."
An unfamiliar name; the crowd was very unfamiliar with it.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
At that moment, a high-pitched voice full of excitement and disbelief rang out from a corner.
Everyone looked over to see a brown-haired youth of about seventeen or eighteen standing up with an excited face.
Hayama Shirakumo hadn't expected that he, a newly promoted Jōnin for whom attending this meeting was just a formality, would actually be favored by the Hokage. He felt as if a pie had fallen from the sky and smashed him dizzy.
This was someone Kakashi had selected long ago.
Although he possessed no Kekkei Genkai nor family secret techniques, he would become a solid elite Jōnin in the future, capable of wiping out two complete ninja squads solo using only his swordsmanship and various ninja tools.
His original Vacuum Sword technique was also commendable, and Hayama Shirakumo held Kakashi's late father, Sakumo Hatake, in extremely high regard.
Kakashi considered his current self; with the appearance of Purple Electricity, the amplification the White Fang swordsmanship provided him was becoming smaller and smaller. He estimated that he would need to further develop Yin Release in the future.
Aside from Yin Release, there were also Senjutsu and Yang Release waiting for him.
It would be a pity for this ancestral swordsmanship to be lost. Hayama Shirakumo had good swordsmanship and fine strength; he was a good candidate to inherit the White Fang swordsmanship.
With his talent, if he could use the White Fang swordsmanship to go a step further and achieve Kage-level strength, it wouldn't let down Kakashi's expectations.
"Alright, does anyone have any more questions?"
With the second member of the Hokage Guard Platoon confirmed, Kakashi spoke up proactively, looking somewhat exhausted.
Kakashi hadn't slept for a day and a night.
Although this was nothing for a ninja, if one could rest, who wouldn't want a normal sleep schedule?
Fin—finished?
The crowd below was somewhat surprised.
They didn't expect the Hokage before them to choose six guards like the Second Hokage, but he should at least choose three like the Fourth.
Who knew there would only be two?
But the facts were right before their eyes. The crowd could only cast glances of regret mixed with envy at the brown-haired youth sitting in the corner, looking hyper-excited.
Lucky kid.
With the dismissal of the Jōnin meeting, everyone retreated one by one.
Only Itachi Uchiha and Hayama Shirakumo remained.
In the hastily repaired Hokage's Office, there was only Kakashi and his two selected guards.
"Lord Hokage."
Looking at Kakashi before him, Itachi Uchiha felt slightly agitated.
One had to realize, he had originally planned to abandon the Uchiha Police Force and dutifully go home to develop the clan.
Who knew Kakashi would actually select him to be in the Guard Platoon?
"No need to say more, Itachi."
"You deserve this. Your hard work, your talent, and your heart, hot as fire—I have seen them all."
"Just accept it with peace of mind. However, the Uchiha clan has met with great misfortune. If you continue to hold full authority over the Police Force department, I fear it will attract criticism."
"You understand."
Faced with Kakashi's words, Itachi Uchiha naturally understood.
If the Uchiha clan, having done what they did, continued to maintain the status quo, they would be failing to appreciate the favor.
"I leave it entirely to Lord Hokage to decide."
Even if Kakashi were to completely take the Police Force away from the Uchiha clan, Itachi Uchiha wouldn't say a word.
"In short, the Police Force will still be the responsibility of the Uchiha. Considering the current situation, I will arrange for ninja from other clans to enter and work alongside the Uchiha. When the time comes, mediating the relationship between the two sides and allowing the Uchiha to better integrate into the village's work will be up to you."
Hearing this, Itachi Uchiha immediately nodded vigorously.
"I will absolutely not let down Lord Hokage's expectations!"
Faced with a clan that had attempted a coup, he did not implicate the innocent, and even afterwards, there was no sign of a purge. Now, he was even appointing him to the Guard Platoon and helping the Uchiha integrate better into the village.
Itachi Uchiha was so grateful he didn't know what to say to Kakashi.
One could only say that if the current Kakashi asked him to go chop down the Sage of Six Paths, Itachi Uchiha would slit his own throat on the spot without hesitation to charge into the Pure Land and duel the old man Six Paths.
"And you, Hayama..."
Kakashi looked toward the nervous yet excited Hayama Shirakumo at the side.
"Lord Hokage!"
Hayama Shirakumo was at a loss and could only immediately kneel on one knee.
He didn't understand a single word of what Kakashi and Itachi Uchiha were saying, but he knew that Kakashi had known Itachi Uchiha for a long time and highly approved of this Uchiha youth.
"No need to be so nervous. I naturally have my reasons for choosing you as a guard."
Kakashi stepped forward to help Hayama Shirakumo up, speaking in a steady tone.
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