Asuma's choice was not of much concern to Yuuki; after all, an Elite Jonin was insignificant to the current Yuuki.
He just found it amusing; arrogant people truly exist everywhere!
They always feel indispensable and extremely important, but the outcome is already predetermined.
Similarly arrogant people also existed within the Uchiha Clan.
Ever since Itachi left the Anbu and joined the Military Police Force, he had been diligent in his work.
Yuuki naturally valued him greatly, first having Itachi join the joint forces of Konoha and Hidden Mist to gain experience.
After leaving, his position in the Military Police Force rose sharply.
Yuuki also thought highly of Itachi, entrusting many overt matters to him.
Itachi did not disappoint Yuuki, proving himself worthy of being the Ninja Hiruzen Sarutobi praised as having the mindset of a Hokage.
Over the past three years, Itachi had made significant contributions in many areas.
While Yuuki's own plans were paramount to his deep connection with Konoha Ninja and Villagers, Itachi played a crucial role in the specific execution of those plans, making immense contributions.
Initially, Itachi was unaware of the true purpose behind Yuuki's plans.
All of Yuuki's actions, to varying degrees, strengthened the Konoha Ninja's power and increased the Konoha Villagers' income.
It was only after more than a year, when the Village's atmosphere clearly shifted, that Itachi understood Yuuki's deeper motives.
During that time, Itachi struggled and hesitated.
But in the end, seeing Konoha grow more prosperous day by day, Itachi chose to wholeheartedly dedicate himself to the Military Police Force.
As Konoha improved, Yuuki's influence also grew daily.
Finally, in front of all the Villagers, Yuuki forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to abdicate and choose a new Hokage.
Yuuki became the Fifth Hokage!
Itachi disliked Yuuki because Yuuki was not a Ninja at all.
No matter what he did, Yuuki made sure everyone knew, and he would even exaggerate.
This was completely contrary to Itachi's Ninja Way; a Ninja should quietly protect everything he wishes to protect from the shadows.
The greater Yuuki's influence, the more transparent Hiruzen Sarutobi became, and the deeper Itachi's admiration for Hiruzen grew.
The Sandaime was what a Ninja should be, the true Hokage.
However, reality would not change according to Itachi's will; Yuuki became the Hokage, the Hokage supported by all Konoha families, all Ninja, and all Villagers.
Itachi tried to understand Yuuki; although he disagreed with Yuuki's methods, the changes Yuuki brought to Konoha genuinely strengthened its power.
After the Sandaime stepped down, Itachi secretly went to see him once.
Itachi was returning to report; he was a spy placed in the Military Police Force by the Sandaime, and Itachi's existence was not even in the Anbu's records.
However, Itachi was indeed an Anbu under the Sandaime.
Now that Yuuki had become Hokage and the Anbu had been disbanded, Itachi felt his mission was over.
From now on, he just needed to diligently contribute to Konoha in the Military Police Force.
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to Itachi's thoughts but did not agree to his request.
"Itachi, Uchiha Tomoki is the most skilled at disguise I have ever seen; do not be deceived by his actions and words. Continue to lie in wait; you will discover his true face one day!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi then spoke with a tone like entrusting a child.
"When that day comes, perhaps I will have already passed away, but Itachi, you will need to resolve it yourself then. You are the true inheritor of the will of fire!"
Itachi felt Hiruzen Sarutobi was exaggerating a bit; although he disagreed with Yuuki in his heart, Yuuki had been doing very well.
However, Itachi did not refuse; seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi, old and frail yet still worrying about the Village, Itachi could not bear to refuse the old man.
Itachi continued to diligently perform his duties in the Military Police Force.
Until one day, Gengetsu and Ryusuke found Itachi and gave him a secret mission.
At the end of the month, they were to accompany two elite teams from the Military Police Force to blockade the Sarutobi Clan's compound and kill any Sarutobi Clan Ninja who emerged.
"Captain Gengetsu, Captain Ryusuke, this mission doesn't seem to follow procedure. Where is the mission scroll?"
Everything in the Military Police Force was conveyed by explicit order; such a secret mission could not exist.
Itachi immediately questioned the authenticity of the mission.
"Itachi, this is not a Military Police Force mission; this is a Clan mission. Because of your performance in the Military Police Force, and the Clan Head's high regard for you, you are qualified to receive partial intelligence before the operation!"
Gengetsu explained to Itachi.
Itachi immediately felt something was off and was about to say something when Ryusuke directly interrupted him.
"Itachi, don't ask anymore. What needed to be told has been told. You do not have permission to know the remaining details; they will be told to you on the day of the operation!"
Afterward, Ryusuke snorted and left with Gengetsu.
Itachi recalled Hiashi's actions against the Sarutobi Clan using the Military Police Force, and combined it with today's inexplicable secret mission.
A certain conjecture suddenly emerged in his mind.
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