The next morning, Kokugetsu went to the Hokage's office to speak with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
As expected, Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed readily; joining ANBU or heading to the front were both fine.
As the most gifted of the Uchiha's younger generation, Hiruzen had long been observing Shisui.
He already had a clear sense of what kind of shinobi Shisui was.
Once the matter was settled, Kokugetsu immediately went to the Police Department beside the Uchiha compound on Konoha's edge.
The quicker you handle things like this, the more capable you look.
Uchiha Fugaku warmly invited Kokugetsu into his office, personally served fragrant tea, and summoned Uchiha Shisui.
Hearing he was being transferred into ANBU, Uchiha Shisui was delighted and thanked both the clan head and Kokugetsu sincerely.
As for heading to the battlefield, he wasn't the least bit afraid.
Seeing a task through to the end, Kokugetsu took Uchiha Shisui to ANBU to complete the procedures and explained ANBU rules and points of caution.
That made Uchiha Shisui very grateful.
After handling the miscellany, Kokugetsu finally rested easy.
Land of Rice Fields, Kumogakure forward camp, command tent.
The Cloud's senior officers at the front had gathered. Because Jiraiya had come to the front, Killer B didn't dare leave.
Dodai sat in the chief's seat, face solemn. "Intelligence today says Kokugetsu has gone back to Konoha on leave."
"Before he returns, we need a countermeasure. Any ideas?"
Everyone looked at one another. For a moment, no one spoke.
They had all witnessed the enemy's stealth assassination arts and his strength in frontal combat.
Too thorny. They truly couldn't think of anything effective, and even if they could, it would be far too passive.
"Cat got your tongues? Speak up." Under heavy pressure, Dodai urged them.
Prodded by Dodai, someone finally spoke.
"If only Kokugetsu would just stay on leave, or Konoha would transfer him back."
Everyone fell silent.
Daydreaming, are we?
How brainless would Konoha's top brass have to be to do that?
While the others were grousing in their hearts, a light flashed in Dodai's mind and he followed up at once.
"What did you just say? Transfer Kokugetsu back?"
The Cloud jōnin who'd spoken gave an awkward smile. "Lord Dodai, I wasn't thinking before I spoke."
"No, what you said actually reminded me. We can indeed find a way to have Kokugetsu transferred away." Dodai's face lit up.
"Huh?" Everyone gasped.
Come on, Lord Dodai, are you really taking Konoha's leadership for fools?
It was hard to keep a straight face.
Seeing the odd looks, Dodai hurried to explain. "Not by having Konoha's elders transfer him, but by having the Daimyō of the Land of Fire do it."
That was a line of thought, though the Fire Daimyō had no formal authority to move Konoha shinobi.
"Correct. In principle the Fire Daimyō cannot redeploy Konoha ninja. But he is Konoha's patron and holds an exalted station."
"If the Fire Daimyō were to strongly request that a single Konoha ninja protect him, Konoha's leaders likely wouldn't refuse him the courtesy."
"After this war, Konoha's recovery will need the Daimyō's robust support."
Eyes lit up all around. This just might work.
As the idea flowed, Dodai rubbed his chin and continued.
"We can dispatch elite ANBU to pose as brazen bounty hunters and 'assassinate' the Fire Daimyō."
"Not a real assassination, not even a scratch. The point is to give the Daimyō a constant sense that his life could end at any moment."
Dodai truly didn't dare lay a hand on the Fire Daimyō.
First, the nobles of every land, especially those of the Five Great Countries, have intermarried for countless years. However you trace it, you run into relatives.
Second, it is a massive taboo. Do it, and every noble and official in the shinobi world will come for you.
Money can make ghosts turn millstones, yet even with his standing in Kumo he could hardly keep his head.
And if anything happened to the Fire Daimyō, Kumogakure would face ferocious retaliation.
The Land of Fire's economy and overall strength top the shinobi world. If their Daimyō were harmed, who knows how much aid Konoha would receive.
Beyond that, if the Land of Fire gets serious and the price is right, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure could all be hired to fight.
Then Kumo would face Konoha's situation in the Third Shinobi World War, or worse, and village annihilation would be very possible.
Cannot provoke him. Absolutely cannot.
"We'll also use money to buy off people close to the Fire Daimyō, say his personal attendants, and have them speak of Kokugetsu's specialties, reputation, and strength."
"A shinobi adept at stealth assassinations is also adept at guarding against them. That's perfectly reasonable."
"A precious son does not sit beneath the eaves."
"Someone of the Daimyō's stature will demand airtight security and will very likely ask Konoha for personnel."
"We then make a show of pulling back a bit or easing our offensive. Knowing Konoha's leadership, they'll probably transfer him."
"That way, Kokugetsu gets pulled away, doesn't he?"
When they heard him out, smiles spread across their faces. The plan needed careful arranging, but the success rate seemed high.
"Hold up." Killer B raised his hand behind his sunglasses. "Senior Dodai, the plan's good, but there's a problem."
"Even if it works, it won't keep Kokugetsu away for long."
Faces froze. True. The Fire Daimyō surely couldn't keep him forever, unless Kokugetsu agreed to be a permanent guard.
Dodai smiled, confident. "The Land of Fire has more big shots than just the Daimyō."
"For example, the heir apparent. The Minister of Finance. One after another."
Grins returned all around.
"Hold up." Killer B raised his hand again.
"What if Kokugetsu exposes and kills the elite ANBU carrying out the mission?"
"We can't keep feeding ANBU lives into this, can we?"
Dodai frowned, thought a moment, then relaxed.
"First, between two evils, take the lesser. Kokugetsu is far more destructive on the battlefield."
"Second, we can spend money to hire bounty hunters and small ninja clans with no backing to reduce losses."
"Lastly, we can have ANBU stir up tensions between Iwagakure and Konoha and push Iwa to enter the war sooner."
"When Iwa joins, we keep a low profile and get that troublesome guy transferred to torment our mortal enemies instead."
Killer B raised his hand. "No more questions."
"This plan can be sent up to the village. Once approved, we implement."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
Voices rose one after another as the Cloud jōnin stated their positions.
"Good. Report it to the village at once."
That afternoon, the Fourth Raikage received the message. After consulting his secretary and two elders, he decided to proceed.
After five days of leave, Kokugetsu had brought Uchiha Shisui back to the front and barely stayed a few days before a transfer order arrived from the village.
As it turned out, Dodai understood Konoha's top brass all too well.
Before leaving, Kokugetsu promoted Uchiha Shisui to squad leader, the fastest promotion possible in the short term.
Kokugetsu didn't resist the transfer order.
Unless he revealed his true strength and crushed the Cloud forces at the front, promotion would be next to impossible in the short run.
If it is a bodyguard they want, then a bodyguard it is. It will not be the real body anyway. Let the Elephant-Transfer Clone handle everything.
The real body can go wherever it pleases and do whatever it wants.
Also, letting the Elephant-Transfer Clone get familiar with the Fire Daimyō's court can only help, never hurt.
Who knows, perhaps a graceful, elegant princess will fall in love with her bodyguard.
Or perhaps a mature, lonely Daimyō's wife will fall for her bodyguard.
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