Chapter 59: Konoha's White Fang Drops the Load
"..."
"The ANBU mobilization order?"
"Sakumo!!"
The scroll was small, but its significance was extraordinary.
The order to mobilize the entire Konoha ANBU organization.
It could be said that having this was equivalent to being able to mobilize the entire ANBU.
Of course, if the Hokage wanted the ANBU to do something, he didn't need this.
As the ANBU Captain, Hatake Sakumo naturally controlled this item.
But no one expected Hatake Sakumo to take this out.
Does this mean he's stepping down from ANBU?
"Hatake Sakumo, you...?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen had pretty much guessed Hatake Sakumo's intention.
His eyes were complicated. He didn't expect this incident would make Hatake Sakumo give up his ANBU authority.
"Sorry, Lord Hokage, I may be unfit to serve as the ANBU Captain!"
After saying this, Hatake Sakumo looked relieved.
"Wait! Sakumo! You..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was a bit hesitant.
After all, Hatake Sakumo's strength was there.
And with Hatake Sakumo's consistently cautious personality, no matter what mission, Hatake Sakumo would complete it.
Hatake Sakumo's existence was truly Sarutobi Hiruzen's right-hand man.
From the very beginning,
Sarutobi Hiruzen's goal was only to damage Hatake Sakumo's reputation.
He never intended to lose Hatake Sakumo.
But before he could finish his words of comfort, Hatake Sakumo smiled, shook his head, and interrupted him.
"I've thought it through. For the next period of time, I want to rest well and teach Kakashi!"
After speaking, Hatake Sakumo no longer hesitated.
He turned and left.
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared blankly.
What does this mean? Does it mean Hatake Sakumo won't even accept missions anymore?
His most capable assistant, gone just like that?
Sarutobi Hiruzen began to doubt whether what he did was right from the start.
But, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, at the side, wouldn't give Sarutobi Hiruzen time to regret.
After watching Hatake Sakumo leave, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura said directly,
"Hiruzen, the position of ANBU Captain is so important, someone must inherit it!"
"Right! In my Mitokado Clan, there is an excellent ninja who can take on this position!"
"Nonsense! To tell you the truth, there is a Jōnin in my Utatane Clan who is exceptionally outstanding!"
Are you kidding? This is the ANBU Captain!
Able to mobilize the entire ANBU at will.
It's not an exaggeration to say 'second only to one, above ten thousand'.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura both had status but no real power.
How could they not be tempted by the ANBU?
Although Danzō knew that since he had 'Ne', wanting the ANBU as well was unrealistic.
But he still had to fight for it.
"The ninja of my Shimura Clan are also outstanding!"
One ANBU Captain position, all three elders fought for it!
"Enough!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was getting a headache listening to them.
He slammed the desk, interrupting everyone's argument.
This bunch of idiots, they only see the position.
Didn't they realize Hatake Sakumo might stop being a ninja altogether?
"The position of ANBU Captain... I will find someone else to inherit it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't stupid.
This ANBU could be given to anyone, but absolutely not to any ninja clan or these elders.
Hatake Sakumo could hold the position before, besides his strength,
it was mostly because the Hatake Clan basically had no one else.
"Hiruzen! You..."
Utatane Koharu and the others wanted to argue.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't listen anymore.
"Enough! I'm tired. You may leave!"
"..."
Words like this left Utatane Koharu and the others speechless. He was clearly telling them he wouldn't waste any more breath.
Helpless, they could only leave the Hokage tower.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were a bit unwilling.
After all, that was the ANBU.
But the two of them were clearly lacking something.
So, after leaving the Hokage tower, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura both went to find Shimura Danzō.
"Danzō, don't you have any ideas about the ANBU authority?"
"Idiots!"
Danzō gave them a cold look and turned to leave.
It's impossible to have no ideas, but Danzō has 'Ne'. If he also got the ANBU,
wouldn't Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, exist in name only?
Danzō knew that Sarutobi Hiruzen would rather die than give the ANBU authority to him.
Only these two idiots would be fantasizing.
"Danzō! What do you mean!"
Being directly called idiots,
Utatane Koharu was indignant.
Just as she was about to say something,
she was stopped by Mitokado Homura.
"Koharu! Endure it!"
"I...!"
She had to endure it. Among the four Konoha higher-ups,
only the two of them had no power and only empty status.
...
Soon, everyone in Konoha knew that Hatake Sakumo had given up the position of ANBU Captain and would no longer accept any missions.
Konoha's guardian deity of a generation, Hatake Sakumo,
faded into silence just like that.
At this time, no one dared to gossip anymore.
<><><><><><>
Read Advanced Chapters on: patreon.com/Amiii_
~Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]