Chapter 40: [Debriefing]
It was early in the morning, and Sasuke had just returned from his morning training with Guy and Lee.
Unlike before, he had even dragged Naruto, Shikamaru and Choji along with him in the morning to increase their physical strength- though Naruto was the only one who wore the green jumpsuit...
After returning home with Karin and changing into his Anbu uniform he made his way over to. the Hokage building instead of Anbu HQ.
For Anbu, their first mission will usually be assigned directly via the Hokage as a means to encourage them. Furthermore, Hiruzen would be able to explain what future missions would entail regarding any specific roles they had been assigned like Sasuke.
Before he realised it he was already in front of the Hokage Office, he knocked on the door before he got a reply from within.
"Come in," Hiruzen responded, his voice slightly muffled due to him being inside the room.
Upon hearing this Sasuke opened the door and made his way inside, finding the Hokage in his usual place smoking his pipe.
'I'm beginning to realise I've only ever seen this man in the Hokage Office both here and in my memories of the anime.
Does he not go home?
Though admittedly he has lost his wife and eldest child, he at least still has a grandson.'
"Ah, Sasuke. How are you finding your time at Anbu?" Hiruzen queried, curious about how Sasuke felt regarding his experience as a member of Anbu.
"It was definitely... eventful?" Sasuke answered as he struggled to prevent his face from morphing into a wince as everything he had gone through in these past two months flashed through his head.
'There was all that Anbu training, then that group of bandits, the strange lab along with a horde of White Zetsu...
Is this the real world?
I should have just stayed in the academy for a few more years, this is honestly stressing me out...'
"I'm very welcome to hear that." Hiruzen jovially responded as he leaned back on his chair before he asked Sasuke a rather odd question.
"Have you by chance, had anything strange happen to you during your induction mission?"
'Strange?
Surely it can't be...
Does he know about those Zetsu or Karin?'
Sasuke clenched his fists as he tried to calm down his racing heart, thinking that he had been exposed. However, it didn't take long for him to relax and realise what Hiruzen was asking for.
"Yes, Lord Hokage. During this induction mission, I had happened to awaken my Sharingan." Sasuke replied as he looked into Hiruzen's unsuspecting eyes as he displayed his Mangekyou and began to cast a Genjutsu.
"Wonderful! And a two tomoe Sharingan at that. I hope this will make this next mission easier for you." Hiruzen scrutinised Sasuke briefly, before joyfully congratulating the young Uchiha.
'So that's what he wanted to know.
Thankfully it wasn't what I had previously thought...'
Briefly after hearing Hiruzen's question, Sasuke understood that Hiruzen might be asking whether he had awakened the Sharingan.
He realised that it might seem a bit suspicious if he didn't awaken his Sharingan soon whilst considering his persona as a genius.
So Sasuke decided to pretend he had awakened a two-tomoe Sharingan in this mission, using Tsuki No Kage to make Hiruzen see his Mangekyou as a normal two-tomoe Sharingan.
"Well, let me explain to you what your future Anbu duties may entail.
Your current role is simply referred to as Himitsu No Mimamorisha, something you may have been told previously.
These missions of yours will take much longer than average Anbu missions and require gathering intel from a specific individual or group by monitoring them.
Usually, once you gain enough information to ascertain their guilt- you are to eliminate them.
Of course regarding your rather skills and your... unintimidating appearance?
You will also sometimes be asked to carry out assassinations or counterintelligence missions.
Any questions so far?"
Explained Hiruzen before he asked Sasuke whether he had any questions regarding what he had just said.
"Lord Hokage, how long will these missions be? Will there be any time limit for these missions?" Sasuke asked, wondering if these missions were long enough for him to carry out some of his other plans.
"Don't worry, most will only be a few weeks and I can't imagine any of them being longer than 2-3 months. You will get used to this after your first few missions, there is nothing to worry about.
Regarding time limits, it will be preferable to finish the missions as early as possible. But it is up to your discretion, but you must ensure not to forsake the mission simply to finish it quickly."
Hiruzen answered, attempting to comfort Sasuke who he'd think would feel slightly homesick from this whilst reminding him not to rush his missions.
"Well, your first mission is regarding a Land of Fire minister.
More specifically the Deputy Minister of Treasury.
Kazuki Yoshida
You will find more information regarding him in this folder.
However, do remember to destroy that folder once you finish reading it.
From what we found, he is expressly against the concept of One Village- One Nation.
He is adamant about having Konoha subject to the Daimyo's direct control and to ensure this he seems to be privately funding the civilian council in Konoha in an attempt to attain a greater influence here.
Your task is to monitor him and the people he comes into contact with.
Once you can find sufficient evidence of his association with any civilian council members, eliminate him and bring the evidence back here.
Understood?"
Hiruzen relayed the information to Sasuke. Then he rapped his knuckles on his desk as he asked Sasuke if he understood the mission details.
Sasuke nodded, as he received the dossier handed to him from Hiruzen, he was ready to embark on his first mission, however, his attention was arrested by Hiruzen's next question.
"So...
Who is the child you brought back with you to Konoha?"
Hiruzen no longer sat with his back hunched and sat up straight, staring right at Sasuke- intent on finding out the purpose of his actions.
"She was an orphan I had found captured by the bandits.
She was the sole survivor of a village after it had been raided by those bandits.
The only reason she was left alone was due to the bandits desiring to sell her off to make some extra money, confident that her exotic eye colour might interest a possible buyer.
I wasn't sure what to do with her and thought that I didn't have anyone at home whilst I was gone. So I thought it would be fine to have someone like her to take care of the house whilst I am gone.
Furthermore, as a Konoha shinobi, we must look after the weak and unfortunate- something we are compelled to do by following the Will Of Fire."
Sasuke carefully outlined why he brought Karin back to Konoha and looked unwaveringly into Hiruzen's eyes.
However, he did feel like chuckling as he used the Will Of Fire as an excuse to justify his reasoning for this.
'Oh, how the tables have turned...'
"I am glad to see that you understood the Will of Fire, but have you considered that she may be a spy?" Hiruzen stroked his beard, somewhat glad that at least someone had understood his painstaking efforts in spreading the Will Of Fire.
"Lord Hokage, I doubt that a child would be able to hide her secrets from my eyes." Sasuke replied, trying his best to emulate a 'proud Uchiha' look as he pointed at his eyes.
"Ah, forgive me. I forgot about those eyes of yours.
But next time you stumble upon something like this, you can simply hand the child over to the orphanage where they will be cared for and looked after.
Well, that is all I have to say.
You should get going now."
Sasuke gave a brief nod before he vanished from his spot, leaving Hiruzen alone in the office.
Hiruzen shoulders slumped as he puffed out a ring of smoke and squinted his eyes as he stared at the vacant space in front of him.
*Sigh*
"How much longer will I have to be dealing with all these political shenanigans...
If only you hadn't died, Minato"
Hiruzen spoke aloud to himself in a rather despondent tone as he turned his head to stare at a picture framing the wall beside him, in the picture was a young blonde man who wore a blue high-collared shirt.
"If I do retire who could even become the 5th Hokage?
Kakashi? No, he isn't exactly strong enough now.
Danzo? Never mind, I'm going to pretend I didn't say that.
Jiraiya? He doesn't even want it..."
As Hiruzen sifted through various names, he realised that there currently wasn't anyone in Konoha who could take up his mantle.
"If I do wait a few years, Sasuke wouldn't be a bad choice..."
Hiruzen thought about how Sasuke would make a good choice if he continued to grow in strength over the next few years and maintain his current mindset.
"Though it might become a bit messy if realises what Danzo had done regarding Itachi and his clan.
There might even be a civil war at that point..."
Massaging his temples, Hiruzen gave up thinking about the topic any further and took out a crystal ball from under his desk.
"Ahhh, being Hokage is truly a tiring ordeal.
Surely no one would fault me for relaxing?"
Soon several strange giggles began to echo from within the Hokage's Office...
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