Iruka asked, "By the way, what are your plans for the weekend?"
Shinji shook his head and said, "What plans could I have? Just train as usual."
Even though he had been a teacher for the past few years, he would train whenever he had a day off.
Hearing this, Iruka couldn't help but sigh with emotion, "You really are persistent."
"Come on, train while we can. Otherwise, who knows when even we will be sent out on missions."
Shinji had only just realized this in the past few days, as in the original story, there seemed to have been several instances of severe ninja shortages for missions.
Even Jonin like Kakashi would sometimes be split up to perform solo missions.
"Ah?"
Iruka was a bit confused, and his voice unconsciously grew louder.
The other teachers in the office heard him and turned to look.
Shinji quickly covered Iruka's mouth and apologized to the teachers.
Then he whispered, "Don't be so startled."
Fortunately, when he spoke just now, only he and Iruka could hear clearly, otherwise a group of people would have gathered around.
Iruka scratched his head a little awkwardly and said, "I was just a bit startled."
"Alright, it's just a guess." Shinji waved his hand and leaned back in his seat.
In his mind, he was pondering this matter. After all, after the Uchiha clan's extermination, the mission quotas originally belonging to the Uchiha clan would be returned to the entire Konoha.
No, it was more likely that the Konoha Council would first divide a portion of it. After all, missions like escorting high-ranking officials and some financial groups could be said to be easy pickings. This was an astonishing fortune.
The Senju had declined, but the Uchiha were at their peak.
And the high-ranking officials and financial groups of the Land of Fire were very fond of the Uchiha, as their strength was undeniable.
This was also why Danzo and Hiruzen had always strictly guarded against the Uchiha, wishing they couldn't stay in the village.
If another person like Madara were to appear in the Uchiha, Konoha would not have the ability to produce another Hashirama to suppress them. After all, the Ninja World was only so big.
Konoha occupied the best geographical location and had the financial support of the Land of Fire's Daimyo, but many things had to be handled by the village itself.
Talent nurturing and various village expenditures were all significant sums of money.
And once the village operated at a deficit, the respective clans would naturally have to make their own arrangements. As long as one clan emerged that could overpower the village, the other clans would inevitably have other ideas.
Otherwise, Tsunade wouldn't have been so troubled after taking office as the Fifth Hokage.
Shinji looked out the window, where the conspicuous Hokage Building stood tall.
...
Inside the Hokage Building at this moment, Hiruzen was puffing on his pipe, and after a long while, he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. The entire Hokage Office was already filled with smoke.
Koharu, sitting opposite him, frowned. She waved her hand to disperse the smoke, and looked at Hiruzen, saying, "Hiruzen, the Uchiha clan has monopolized the duties of the Police Force, and now the clan leader's son is preparing to join the Anbu. Aren't you afraid that they will become increasingly powerful?"
Homura nodded and said, "That's right, and the Uchiha are preparing to join the Anbu. You didn't even tell us about this. You know, we are Hokage Advisors with advisory power."
Listening to these words, Hiruzen frowned. He hadn't expected that right after asking Danzo to stop his actions behind the scenes, Danzo would immediately send his two old friends to his door.
No matter how helpless he was, Hiruzen could only gently explain to Koharu and Homura, "Koharu, Homura. Regarding Itachi joining the Anbu, I have my considerations. And he is currently part of my exclusive Hokage Anbu, so there's no need to worry."
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances upon hearing this.
What Danzo had told them before they came here was not this outcome. The Anbu was divided into two parts.
One of them was the Hokage's exclusive Anbu Guard Squad. The only person these individuals obeyed was the Hokage. And the funds for their training also came from the Hokage's own treasury.
Logically speaking, if Itachi had indeed joined the Hokage's Anbu Guard Squad, the two of them had no right to criticize. At this point, the two of them were a bit stuck.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the entire Hokage Office became awkward.
After a long while, Homura finally stood up and said, "Then we'll take our leave, Hiruzen. Also, smoke less, it's not good for your health."
Hiruzen just sat in his seat and nodded, indicating that he understood.
Seeing this, Koharu and Homura could only turn and walk out of the Hokage Office.
Whoosh—
Hiruzen, still seated, didn't exhale another puff of smoke until they left. Then, he stood up and went to the window.
Looking at the scattered houses in Konoha, his eyes were momentarily lost in thought.
Not only had his old classmates and teammates changed, but he himself felt that he no longer seemed like the young him when he had first taken office.
"Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade…"
For some reason, he felt a bit nostalgic. However, all three had now left Konoha.
Orochimaru had become a rogue ninja. Jiraiya and Tsunade had not sent any news.
A few years ago, when the Fourth Hokage was still alive, Jiraiya would at least come to visit him. But ever since the Nine-Tails attack, he had never heard any information about his disciple. Even the Anbu sent out specifically to call Jiraiya back couldn't find any trace of him.
"I really am old."
He sighed almost imperceptibly, then turned around to continue handling official business.
— — —
Ding... Ding...
The bell for dismissal rang, and the students, who could no longer hold back, each picked up their schoolbags and ran towards the school gate.
Naruto, who was ready, also immediately got up and ran to wait for Shinji outside the teachers' office.
Facing the teachers who came out one by one, with their undisguised gazes, Naruto paid no attention, he just waited quietly.
After a long while, Shinji and Iruka returned from patrolling the classrooms.
Shinji saw Naruto standing outside the office and said with a smile, "Have you been waiting long, Naruto?"
"Shinji-sensei, no."
Naruto immediately said happily when he saw Shinji, and instinctively greeted Iruka, who was standing beside Shinji.
"Iruka-sensei, hello."
Iruka, who was originally preparing to walk back to his office, was startled when he heard Naruto greet him.
Then he said with a cheerful laugh, "Naruto, hello."
"Iruka, I'm leaving with Naruto first. I'll leave it to you to lock up later."
Shinji didn't even go back to get his documents, but put his arm around Naruto's shoulder and strode out, ready to leave.
"Okay."
(End of Chapter)
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