After repeatedly scouring the Uchiha clan records, Shinji finally gave up.
"Mumei really isn't listed in the records."
Closing the genealogy, Shinji tapped the desk with his fingers, reorganizing his thoughts.
This time, his doubts centered on the name 'Mumei.' Normally, no one would name their child 'Nameless,' so 'Mumei' was likely a title or even a code name.
"Why erase her name?"
Shinji was puzzled.
A person's name signified their origin, belonging, and their parents' hopes and love.
If Mumei had grown into a Mangekyo Uchiha, the Uchiha clan would have no reason to erase her name.
"Unless…"
Shinji's expression darkened.
He knew the Uchiha clan's nature all too well. For instance, when the forbidden jutsu Izanami no Mikoto was developed, it sparked a massive clan conflict. If not for his grandmother creating Izanami to counter it, that disaster could have dragged on indefinitely.
So, if Mumei had awakened a powerful Mangekyo dojutsu, it wouldn't be surprising if the clan controlled or even exploited her.
But Shinji felt helpless. All he had was the name Yachihoko.
He began combing through Uchiha texts one by one, losing track of time until it was late at night.
An archive manager approached to remind him the archive was closing, but a figure appeared behind Shinji, stopping the manager.
After dismissing the manager, the figure stood beside Shinji, eyeing the stack of books on Uchiha history and asked curiously, "What are you looking for?"
Shinji glanced over, surprised. "Lady Tsunade?"
Undoubtedly.
The figure who appeared in the archive and sent the manager away was Tsunade, soon to officially assume the role of Fifth Hokage.
She flipped through the ancient texts on the desk. "Clan records, histories, and these scrolls—Shinji, are you searching for something?"
Shinji nodded. "I'm looking for someone."
Tsunade's interest piqued. "Looking for someone in these old records?"
Shinji asked casually, "Lady Tsunade, do you think there could be Uchiha clansmen who were never recorded in the genealogy, living anonymously in the shinobi world?"
Tsunade's smile faded, and she answered seriously, "Of course! Not just your Uchiha clan—our Senju clan, over its thousand-year history, has had many members choose to leave the family, abandon their noble name, and live in seclusion."
Shinji pondered. "So those people wouldn't be recorded in the genealogy, right?"
"Exactly!" Tsunade nodded, then continued, "If I'm not mistaken, you're looking for Akatsuki's 'A' and 'B,' aren't you? Your suspicion is on the right track. 'A' and 'B' can't have appeared out of nowhere, so we suspect they might be descendants of Uchiha who left the clan during the Warring States period."
"Uh…"
Shinji was momentarily speechless, tempted to blurt out, 'A' is standing right in front of you!
But on second thought, letting Tsunade assume he was investigating Akatsuki's 'A' and 'B' wasn't a bad thing—it could conveniently mask his search for Mumei.
Seeing Shinji stay silent, Tsunade said, "The intelligence team has already analyzed all the Uchiha records and found no useful leads."
Shinji tested the waters. "What if… they were sealed?"
Tsunade paused, then laughed. "Sealed? By whom? The Uchiha clan's way of dealing with traitors or deserters has always been relentless pursuit and elimination. Why would they bother sealing anyone? If it were our Senju clan, maybe there'd be a slight chance!"
"The Senju clan…"
In an instant, Shinji's mind opened up.
He had been puzzled why the Uchiha would go to the trouble of sealing Mumei. Tsunade's comment made him realize Mumei might not have been sealed by the Uchiha but by a rival clan from the Warring States period.
During that era, few clans could oppose the Uchiha, and even fewer were skilled in sealing techniques. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed that Mumei was sealed by the Senju.
This realization gave Shinji a new direction for his investigation.
Tsunade sat down. "Alright, enough about that! You probably have some idea why I'm here, don't you?"
Shinji replied casually, "You're here for…?"
Tsunade said, "During the Chunin Exam battle, your performance was outstanding. If not for you, Naruto and Sasuke might have been in danger. So, I'm honoring the Third's promises on behalf of the village. Starting tomorrow, you're an Anbu squad leader."
"Understood."
Shinji nodded lightly, grasping Tsunade's intent.
Clearly, as the soon-to-be Hokage, Tsunade was both fulfilling the Third's promises and trying to recruit Shinji.
His performance in the Chunin Exam battle was remarkable, especially leading a group of students to escape the pursuit of the First and Second's Impure World bodies, astonishing many Jonin.
Even seasoned Jonin facing the First and Second's Impure World bodies would barely survive, let alone students.
Hidden Cloud's Darui wielded Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and Hidden Mist's Ringo Ameyuri, wielding a Lightning Blade as a new member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, were impressive before the exams. Yet, against the Second's Darkness Technique, they couldn't even protect themselves. If not for Shinji's intervention, they might already be holding memorial services.
Thus, in Tsunade's view, Shinji, the First Chair of the Ninja Academy, was more than qualified to lead an Anbu squad.
As for letting him choose his team members, Tsunade saw no issue.
In Hidden Leaf's current predicament, fussing over such details wasn't the mark of a true leader.
Then Tsunade extended her olive branch. "If you're willing, you can become my personal Anbu!"
She smiled. "You've probably heard—soon, I'll take over the Hokage title from the Third!"
Shinji was slightly moved.
A personal Anbu under the Hokage—this gesture of favor couldn't be more obvious.