Three mornings later, in a small conference room at the Hokage Building, Konoha held its biweekly senior council meeting.
The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato; Konoha's "F4"; and the department heads discussed village affairs. As the meeting neared its end, Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses and spoke in a low voice.
"Before we adjourn, I have a proposal."
"Please," Minato said with a mild smile, gesturing for him to continue.
"It concerns Kokugetsu.
"To my knowledge, since joining the ANBU, Kokugetsu has never failed a mission—and completes them beautifully. Lately I've heard he's even made a name for himself across the shinobi world with his unique stealth-and-assassination craft.
"'Nightmare Shade Reaper'—that title honors him and honors Konoha.
"With such an exceptional shinobi, I believe his position should be raised."
Shimura Danzō's single eye brightened. "Root's reports confirm it. A promotion is due. I propose transferring Kokugetsu to Root as deputy commander—answering only to me. A blade that sharp realizes its greatest value in Root."
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned slightly. "Though Kokugetsu is only fourteen, he is steady, prudent, and brave. Promoting him is fine. Transferring him to Root is not. A shinobi like this should be groomed as the next ANBU commander, not merely wielded as a knife.
"I propose he be made captain of ANBU's Third Division. As it happens, I intend to bring Elephant to my side to help with various duties."
"I agree with Lord Hiruzen," Utatane Koharu said with a smile. "That kid has a shinobi's wisdom. He shouldn't be treated only as a weapon."
Danzō's face soured. Someone this gifted at stealth and killing fit Root perfectly—but too many were shielding him. Headache.
"Shinnosuke, your view?" Minato asked, turning to the masked man in a black coat on his right.
"I support promoting him to Third Division captain," Sarutobi Shinnosuke said simply.
His father and two elders were aligned. And as ANBU's commander, seeing such a name blaze out of ANBU's ranks brought him pride.
"Then it's decided," Minato concluded.
This was the reward for Kokugetsu's habit of earning the senior leadership's goodwill. With the right pretext, advancement met no resistance; age and tenure ceased to matter. As for other opinions—they weren't needed. ANBU was under the Hokage. Beyond the Hokage and the ANBU commander, only the three elders had standing to opine—and "half a Kage" still wasn't a Kage. If they disagreed with the Hokage, they stepped aside.
Word quickly reached Kageyama Kokugetsu from those eager to ingratiate themselves. A real promotion was worth celebrating. He declined colleagues' and subordinates' dinner invites for now; the treat would be on him after the official appointment.
That night, gifts in hand, he paid calls on Konoha's top brass. First was Mitokado Homura—the initiator deserved special thanks. Nothing extravagant, but something sincere: a carefully chosen pair of glasses, understated and refined, priced on the high side of modest—thoughtful without being crass.
Homura was delighted, and wouldn't hear of letting him leave without dinner.
He then visited Minato, Hiruzen, Koharu, Shinnosuke—even Danzō—bearing simpler gifts: fruit, pastries, baby items. A token of respect. Even Danzō could find no fault; knowing full well what Root was, Kokugetsu still came bearing courtesy. That was tact.
The formal order came fast—by the following afternoon.
That evening Kokugetsu hosted a dinner for peers and subordinates. The spread was first-rate; praise flowed.
Life returned to rhythm. Beyond missions, he poured time into his own craft—capabilities, taijutsu, fūinjutsu, ninjutsu. He was busy plenty, but he rested and played plenty too. Comfortable days.
Time slipped to October, Year 51 of Konoha.
On October 1—China's National Day—his Byakugan and Black Eye shed their skins again, growing stronger. The Byakugan's fundamentals all rose; the Black Eye gained a triangle, its ocular power surging.
…
The night of October 9, around 8:30.
In black pajamas, Kokugetsu was reading a sealing treatise in his living-room when a shadow flashed onto the balcony.
"What is it?"
As expected of Captain Night—he sensed me at once.
"Captain Night, the Hokage and Lord Third request you in the Hokage's office."
At this timing…
"Understood. I'll change and come."
"Then I'll withdraw." The ANBU vanished.
Kokugetsu changed into his ANBU gear, slipped out the window, and vaulted across rooftops to the Hokage Building. He knocked, heard permission, and entered.
Minato sat at the Hokage's desk working through files; Hiruzen, in civilian clothes with a pipe, stood at the window, looking out over Konoha's night.
"Hokage-sama. Lord Third."
They turned with easy smiles.
"We called you for an important assignment," Hiruzen said, solemn now.
"Please, Lord Third."
"No need to be so stiff. It's just the three of us. Be at ease."
Kokugetsu straightened from kneeling. In Konoha, a shinobi receiving a serious task before the high council typically knelt on one knee to show respect. When Hiruzen declared he would pass the hat to Minato, Minato had also answered on one knee.
"Kushina is about to give birth.
"As the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, her seal will be at its weakest during labor—she herself at her most vulnerable. Konoha must take it very seriously, but we cannot show that, lest we invite ill intent.
"So we are adopting a relaxed surface and a tight core.
"You have the Byakugan and excel at stealth and assassination—and above all, we trust you.
"You will therefore command the ANBU stationed outside the barrier at the delivery site."
Kokugetsu lifted his head in "shock." "So Kushina-nee is… I never could tell."
"I understand.
"If anyone tries to breach from outside the barrier, they'll have to step over my corpse before they disturb Kushina-nee's delivery."
Minato and Hiruzen were satisfied with his vow.
His subtext: if someone bypassed the barrier entirely, that wasn't on him. No one had decreed space–time techniques were Konoha's exclusive patent.
"Good. Report to the Hokage Building tomorrow afternoon to stand watch. Go rest," Hiruzen said with a smile.
They hadn't disclosed the delivery site—not yet. Cautious enough. Pity that with Black and White Zetsu assisting, Tobi's trick would still have the edge.
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