Who is suitable for the Anbu Vice Commander position?
This question was essentially directed at Danzō.
With Root losing its functions, and under pressure from Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzō had given up the position of Anbu Commander, on the condition that Lynx become the Anbu Vice Commander.
Unexpectedly, this Vice Commander couldn't hold his position and directly died in the Land of Grass.
Although Danzō had left the Anbu, his influence over it remained significant.
Mitokado Homura immediately wondered: Did Sarutobi Hiruzen want to completely eradicate Danzō's influence in the Anbu?
Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Danzō, should the Shimura clan provide another Elite Jōnin to serve as Anbu Vice Commander?"
Shimura Danzō was unusually silent.
He made it sound as if the Shimura clan had several Elite Jōnin to spare, ready to send one out.
Danzō hesitated.
The Shimura clan had suffered heavy casualties over the past six months. Tokubetsu Jōnin, Jōnin, Elite Jōnin... they died one after another.
Within the clan, only one Elite Jōnin remained: Shimura Kōko.
If Shimura Kōko were to die as well, then the Shimura clan would have no high-level combat power left.
Elite Jōnin are not cabbages; they are the true gold remaining after the great waves.
Mitokado Homura spoke up:
"The Anbu Vice Commander represents Konoha's high-level combat power in the darkness."
"The Anbu Vice Commander can die in battle, but not so easily. That is a heavy blow to Konoha's deterrent power."
"Anyone who mentions the Anbu must feel fear, otherwise how can Konoha operate?"
"My suggestion is that the next Anbu Vice Commander must be carefully considered."
"With the Wildcat Squad Leader dead, the remaining three squad leaders – Black Ant, Golden Eagle, Fox – and even other Elite Jōnin from the village can be considered."
"Golden Eagle is good; he excels in reconnaissance, at least he's not easy to kill."
"Fox is also good; his survivability is extremely high, and he is skilled in defensive secret techniques."
"There's no need to make a decision today. Let's wait until the mission in the Land of Rain is concluded. What do you think?"
Danzō did not refute this and stood up to leave the Hokage's office.
Utatane Koharu felt great sympathy for Danzō; his losses were too heavy.
The Anbu must constantly kill, and killing carries the risk of being killed. The position of Anbu Vice Commander is very dangerous.
When Yellow Dog was Vice Commander, he assigned dangerous missions to Fox, so Fox effectively shared Yellow Dog's risks.
When Lynx became Vice Commander, no one shared his risks, and he himself was insufficient to deal with terrifying S-Rank Rogue Ninja.
If there were an Elite Jōnin who could hold their own against any S-Rank Rogue Ninja for a few moves, ensure a fifty-fifty fight in the short term, or at least escape, that would be perfect.
The Anbu needs a sharp blade, a blade unafraid of being broken.
Orochimaru also left the Hokage's office.
He thought to himself, When Fox returns alive, you won't just be surprised by his defensive ninjutsu.
He watched Danzō's back disappear around the corner of the staircase.
Lord Danzō, how many forbidden techniques from the Scroll of Seals will you exchange for the Hashirama Cell transplantation technology?
Land of Rain.
Yōkō stood in the rain, waiting for it to wash away the scent of the Land of Grass from his hood.
Next, it's time to deal with Uchiha Madara.
The village having the Uchiha clan deal with Uchiha Madara is like driving a tiger to swallow a wolf. No matter who dies, Konoha doesn't lose.
A day later, Yōkō saw a messenger hawk.
The Anbu ninja used the hawk to inform the Anbu in the Land of Rain about the events in the Land of Grass.
After wandering outside for several days, ensuring he carried no trace of the Land of Grass, Yōkō met up with the others from the investigation mission.
As Yōkō had estimated, Uchiha Madara simply didn't want to bother with them.
Uchiha Madara's primary goal was to lay plans for after his death; he had no interest in a world without Hashirama.
Yōkō said to everyone with a grave expression, "I've received news, unfortunate news."
"Uchiha Madara's subordinate, the rogue ninja Sarutobi Kanenosuke, killed Anbu Vice Commander Lynx, Squad Leader Wildcat, and two Anbu squads."
Everyone looked at Fox in shock.
This news was too horrifying.
Could an Anbu Vice Commander be forcefully killed by a rogue ninja like this?
Uchiha Kane and Uchiha Tōka exchanged a glance, thinking, Ancestor, please stop now. This has gone too far, way too far.
Won't all these charges be pinned on the Uchiha clan?
If the village can't deal with Uchiha Madara, can't they still deal with the Uchiha clan?
"The situation has become even more severe," Yōkō said:
"We must find Uchiha Madara before Sarutobi Kanenosuke returns to the Land of Rain to join him!"
"If we have to face Uchiha Madara and Sarutobi Kanenosuke at the same time, we are doomed!"
Everyone nodded in agreement; that was indeed true.
Yōkō said, "It seems hopeless to search for Uchiha Madara directly."
"The last time we encountered Uchiha Madara was because the Anbu found the whereabouts of an Uzumaki remnant named Uzumaki Nagato."
"Uzumaki Nagato is a subordinate being trained by Uchiha Madara and is highly valued by him."
"Around 9 years old, red hair, long bangs covering his eyes."
"Uzumaki Nagato has two companions, similar in age, a boy with orange hair and a girl with blue-purple hair."
"Let's change our investigation direction and start the second round of searching."
The others quickly nodded.
As expected of the Anbu, their intelligence was much more well-informed than others.
A combination of three 9-year-old children with red, orange, and blue-purple hair would be very conspicuous.
Yōkō followed behind the Uchiha group, pondering how to utilize the Uchiha clan ninja.
The village's intention was that this mission wasn't just about investigation; they needed to at least make Uchiha Madara and the Uchiha clan meet, to test Uchiha Madara's attitude towards the clan.
It was unknown how much sentiment Uchiha Madara still held, or whether he would show mercy to the Uchiha ninja.
In the post-Madara era, the Uchiha clan was internally divided into three factions.
The first faction was the Neutral Faction, led by Uchiha Kane's father, Uchiha Hikaku.
This faction had the most members. They believed they should stay away from war and live peacefully within Konoha.
No matter how bad life in Konoha might be, it was better than being on the battlefield year after year and making enemies everywhere.
The second faction was the radical Militant Faction, led by Uchiha Madara's former staunch subordinate, Uchiha Setsuna.
The Uchiha clan's poor reputation was largely contributed by the Militant Faction.
Uchiha Setsuna had even been imprisoned in Konoha's prison by the Second Hokage himself, who personally set up sealing techniques, and he still hadn't been released.
The Uchiha who possess great love, once corrupted, become even more radical.
Some Uchiha from the Neutral Faction, after losing loved ones, would also turn to the Militant Faction, becoming extremely dissatisfied with the village and its leadership.
The third faction was the Surrender Faction, represented by Uchiha Kagami.
The Surrender Faction believed the Uchiha clan should completely abandon its past glory, integrate into the village, become part of it, and give their all for the village.
The era of the second great shinobi clan of the Warring States period was long gone; clinging to these titles was meaningless.
The Senju clan was the first great shinobi clan of the Warring States period, and look at them now?
Past glory is meaningless; relying on Konoha is the only way out.
These three factions were riddled with conflicts, held together only by the Neutral Faction's efforts to bridge the gaps.
If Uchiha Setsuna were here, he might actually be able to talk to Uchiha Madara.
But Uchiha Kane? Forget it.
After Uchiha Madara became a rogue ninja, Uchiha Hikaku succeeded him as clan head. He demanded that no clan member follow Uchiha Madara.
Among the four Uchiha Jōnin present on this mission, Uchiha Kane and Uchiha Tōka were from the Neutral Faction.
Uchiha Mizukiku, the son of Uchiha Kagami, was from the Surrender Faction.
The other Jōnin, Uchiha Michi, according to Anbu intelligence, was a Militant Faction member who thought he was well-hidden.
Uchiha Michi was extremely dissatisfied with the current Konoha leadership.
The biggest problem the Uchiha clan posed for the leadership was its unpredictability.
Even the seemingly most obedient members of the Surrender Faction, after some刺激, could suddenly change temperament and become extreme Militants.
Someone was looking at him. Yōkō turned and found it was Uchiha Mahiru.
Back when Uchiha Mahiru was recommended by the Uchiha clan for promotion to Jōnin, it was Fox himself who went to the Uchiha Police Force to arrest him, accusing him of causing the tragic death of a war orphan at the Police Force headquarters.
Uchiha Mahiru was still a Tokubetsu Jōnin.
Uchiha Kirika, because of his brother's incident, also held a grudge against Fox.
It was only because Fox was an Anbu squad leader that the brothers couldn't make a scene.
Would there be any unexpected issues with this pair of Uchiha brothers?
***
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(End of Chapter)