The next morning, Sora changed into a clean Anbu uniform and put on his Green Snake mask. He arrived at the Hokage Building.
As an Anbu member, he had the right to request an audience with the Hokage directly within certain permissions, without going through cumbersome layers of notification.
The atmosphere inside the building was solemn. Ninjas coming and going were mostly in a hurry, their faces carrying the particular gravity of wartime.
Sora looked straight ahead without glancing sideways. He walked directly to the door of the Hokage's office and nodded to the two Anbu guards stationed outside. He said in a low voice,
"Anbu Squad C Five, codename Green Snake. I request an audience with the Hokage-sama."
One of the guards clearly recognized him. After a simple confirmation, the guard turned, knocked on the door, and entered the office to announce him.
A moment later, the guard came out and stepped aside to clear the way.
"The Hokage-sama will see you now."
"Thank you."
Sora said quietly. He took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
The scene inside the Hokage's office was not much different from his memory. There were piles of documents, a faint smell of tobacco, and the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, sitting behind the large desk, puffing on his pipe.
But this time, Nara Shikagure, who served as Hiruzen's advisor, was not present. He was alone in the office.
"Hokage-sama." Sora walked to the desk and bowed respectfully.
"Oh, it's Green Snake."
Sarutobi Hiruzen put down his pipe. A trace of appropriately warm smile appeared on his face, as if he were a kind elder.
"How is Grey Wolf's condition?"
"Thank you for your concern, Hokage-sama. Grey Wolf is out of the critical period and is resting in the hospital." Sora replied formulaically.
"That's good."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. He leaned back slightly and looked at Sora.
"You came specifically to see me. Is there something important? Is it a detailed report about the previous mission?"
"It is not a mission report."
Sora paused slightly before speaking.
"This subordinate has come this time regarding a private matter. I wish to request Hokage-sama's permission."
"A private matter?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyebrows raised slightly, seeming somewhat interested.
"Let's hear it."
Sora raised his head and met Hiruzen's gaze. He spoke directly.
"This subordinate respectfully requests that Hokage-sama, in the future, will allow the two children from the orphanage, Yumi and Ayumi, after graduating from the Ninja Academy, to serve in relatively safe departments such as the Medical Corps or the Intelligence Division. To avoid being directly sent to the front lines of the battlefield."
The moment his words fell, the air in the office seemed to freeze for an instant.
The warm smile on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face faded slightly. He did not answer immediately. Instead, he picked up his pipe, took a slow puff, and slowly exhaled the smoke. His cloudy eyes observed Sora through the smoke, as if examining this sudden request.
'He actually brought it up directly...' A thought turned in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind.
'Is it to repay the orphanage's upbringing? Or have these children become important bonds and weaknesses for him?'
He remained silent. His fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the desk surface, making a soft, steady sound.
If before, Sarutobi Hiruzen still had some doubts about whether Sora had true "bonds" in Konoha, those doubts had now vanished completely.
For him, Sora having clear attachments was actually a good thing.
This brief silence made Sora's heart lift slightly.
Sora had anticipated various reactions, but Hiruzen's deep silence was the most difficult to interpret.
'Is he weighing things? Weighing whether my value is worth him making this exception? Or is he thinking of a reason to refuse? After all, on the surface, all Konoha's children should be equal.'
Sora couldn't help but recall when he first came to Konoha. As an orphan from another village, he suffered no shortage of exclusion and disdain from the other village children.
The so-called "fairness" always had preconditions.
Just like Asuma. He was also a genin, but weren't his missions carefully selected? Even if he left the village, weren't there high-level guards secretly protecting him?
The Hokage's son, how could he truly be treated the same as the children of ordinary villagers?
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the silent Sora before him, quickly assessing in his mind.
Sora's talent and growth speed were indeed astonishing. Especially since he recently managed to escape from a six-man elite squad from Kumo. Hiruzen even speculated that Sora already had jonin-level strength. His overall strength had far surpassed Kakashi, who was a year younger.
In terms of potential alone, among the entire younger generation of Konoha, he was probably only second to Minato and Kushina, who was a jinchuriki.
Unfortunately, he was ultimately an orphan from another village. Discriminated against and excluded by the village children since childhood, coupled with Sora's mature mentality, although Hiruzen treated him equally on the surface, he himself knew that deep down, a trace of wariness always remained.
But precisely because of this, the importance Sora showed towards his orphanage companions appeared even more precious.
This was an anchor point that could be firmly grasped. It was also what he often spoke of—bonds!
Finally, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly spoke. His voice was even, not revealing joy or anger.
"Yumi and Ayumi... I remember them. They are children from Nonō's orphanage, right? They should be in second year now."
"Yes." Sora responded.
"During wartime, every Konoha ninja has the duty to dedicate themselves to the village. Genin are no exception."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone carried a trace of unquestionable authority. But then, his words shifted, becoming earnest and well-meaning.
"Konoha is a big family. In principle, all children should be treated fairly."
Sora sneered inwardly.
'Fair? Yes, fair by sending them to the battlefield as cannon fodder?'
Sure enough, Hiruzen's next words confirmed his thoughts.
"However, what you say also makes sense. They are indeed still young. Their talent is not particularly outstanding. Sending them directly to the battlefield, the possibility of sacrifice is very high. For the village, it is also an unnecessary loss."
"The Medical Corps and the Intelligence Division are equally important. They indeed require more meticulous and stable individuals. The village also needs to preserve seeds for the future."
He paused, as if making an important decision. Finally, he slowly nodded. His tone became firm.
"Alright, I agree. After they graduate, I will personally order their assignment to the medical training department under Konoha Hospital for study. That place is far from the front lines, sufficiently safe."
Hearing this, Sora's heart suddenly relaxed. But what surged up next was not joy, but a trace of surprise and deeper vigilance.
'He agreed just like that? So simply? Using a high-sounding reason like 'preserving seeds'?'
This was smoother than he had anticipated.
He had originally prepared himself for interrogation, even mentally prepared for rejection.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the silent Sora before him. Although he couldn't see the other's expression, he could sense a trace of astonishment beneath that mask.
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