The answer Natsuhiko gave ended up satisfying both Hokage.
In its own way, that was a small but meaningful achievement.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi's response—his statement that he had no objections and that Natsuhiko could judge the matter himself—it also revealed the Third Hokage's real stance.
He truly didn't oppose it.
But at the same time, everything would depend on Natsuhiko's performance.
After all, up to this point, both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze had behaved as if they didn't fully understand the current state of the Senju clan or Natsuhiko's position within it.
Whether that ignorance was real or merely an act didn't matter.
As long as everyone accepted it, it became the truth.
Which meant that if Natsuhiko chose none of his clan members for his division, that would actually create the biggest problem.
On the other hand, if he brought in too many people without restraint instead of carefully selecting the most suitable ones, his own life wouldn't be easy either.
The ANBU wasn't his ANBU.
Hiruzen Sarutobi allowing this wasn't simply because he trusted the information Natsuhiko had provided.
More likely, the Third Hokage simply wanted to observe how Natsuhiko handled the situation.
Still, it was enough.
At least now I have something to report back with, Natsuhiko thought. He and Kakashi were sitting in a quiet corner of the ANBU lounge.
Resting his chin against his hand, Natsuhiko quietly mulled over the situation.
Whether Hiruzen's words were a promise, a favor, or merely a way to cover certain traces didn't really matter.
What mattered was that Natsuhiko now had an answer to give Senju Shoma.
He hadn't forgotten the conversation they had that night.
He had said he would do everything within his power.
Of course, "within his power" meant there was always uncertainty. Success or failure could go either way.
Still, Natsuhiko wanted to handle this matter properly.
Now that he had a reasonable response, he could finally feel a little relieved.
That said, another issue was giving him a headache.
Who exactly should he choose for his division?
When Natsuhiko thought about it carefully, he realized that throughout his life, he had actually had very little contact with members of his own clan.
He didn't even know where most of them lived or what their circumstances were.
They only met occasionally during certain gatherings.
However, the image Natsuhiko had built for himself worked in his favor.
Even if he wasn't particularly close with them, his relationships with clan members weren't bad either.
At most, they were the kind of acquaintances who could exchange greetings if they happened to run into each other.
Natsuhiko's "public persona" was quite effective.
Whether someone knew him well or not, it was hard to dislike the gentle, warm smile he always carried.
First impressions mattered a great deal.
As the saying went: you don't slap a smiling face.
And Natsuhiko understood that principle perfectly.
"I just hope the people they send over are smart," he muttered to himself.
He rubbed his chin, feeling slightly troubled that he barely remembered the children he had grown up with in the clan.
Though in truth, that wasn't entirely his fault.
The Senju clan no longer lived together as a unified community.
Most of them were scattered throughout the village.
Some people technically still belonged to the Senju bloodline, but mentally they had already stepped beyond the idea of "clan identity."
Because of that, Natsuhiko had very limited contact with them when he was younger.
After all, if you rarely even saw someone, how were you supposed to build a relationship?
And once he joined the ANBU, things became even worse.
He was constantly busy.
On top of that, Senju Shoma had deliberately hidden much information from him to ensure that if Natsuhiko were ever investigated or interrogated, nothing compromising would be revealed.
So even if Natsuhiko found the situation troublesome, there was little he could do about it.
"Captain… you seem a bit distracted today."
Kakashi's voice suddenly broke his train of thought.
The silver-haired boy spoke quietly from beside him.
"Is it because the results come out today?"
"Hm?"
Natsuhiko blinked, snapping out of his thoughts.
Then he shook his head with a faint smile.
"No. I'm thinking about something else."
"Thinking about something else?" Kakashi glanced at Natsuhiko curiously. "Aren't you nervous, Captain?"
"Nervous?" Natsuhiko tilted his head slightly. That question was actually a bit difficult to answer.
Not being nervous at all would be strange.
But since he already knew the likely outcome, he honestly didn't feel much tension.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, might not be someone he trusted—but Natsuhiko didn't believe the man would do anything inappropriate at a moment like this.
If some kind of "accident" really happened, it would only make Natsuhiko lose what little confidence he had left in Hiruzen.
And at the same time, it would completely cut off any future intelligence Natsuhiko might have been willing to pass along regarding the Fourth Hokage.
Of course, the truth was that Natsuhiko had never truly trusted Hiruzen in the first place.
And the intelligence he had provided so far wasn't exactly "reliable" either.
To put it simply, it was heavily sanitized information.
Maybe because he already had that kind of history, Natsuhiko found it easier to stay calm.
In all likelihood, none of that would happen anyway.
Deep down, he still had a certain degree of confidence.
"I wouldn't say I'm nervous," Natsuhiko said with a smile as he looked at Kakashi.
"I have some confidence, after all.
"If I fail, then it simply means I'm not qualified to be a division commander yet.
"But if I succeed, it means I prepared well enough. In that case, the position is something I've rightfully earned.
"And I'll be grateful to the Hokage for giving me this opportunity. I'll make full use of it to serve Konoha.
"At the same time, it will be my way of repaying the Hokage for recognizing my talent. I'll fulfill my duties as a division commander properly.
"Because being a commander isn't just an honor—it's also a responsibility."
Natsuhiko spoke quickly and smoothly, his words flowing without the slightest hitch. Most importantly, the entire speech sounded flawless.
The other ANBU resting in the lounge naturally heard him. Even though he wasn't speaking loudly, they had been paying close attention to this man who might soon become a division commander.
When they heard his words, they almost immediately looked at him with admiration.
No matter how you looked at it, Natsuhiko's sense of duty seemed far greater than theirs.
No wonder he's so successful.
No wonder he received the Fourth Hokage's recommendation.
At that moment, many of them even found themselves thinking—
Even if Natsuhiko wins the position, it would only be natural.
In fact, none of them even paid attention to the part where he mentioned failing.
Perhaps, deep down, they had already assumed his success was inevitable.
The commander of the First Division had also heard the speech. His gaze shifted toward Natsuhiko.
He hadn't expected that the moment he stepped out after receiving a notice, he would hear something like that.
It was true.
Being an ANBU captain wasn't merely an honor.
It was a duty and a responsibility.
The mission of the ANBU was to remain loyal to the Hokage, protect Konoha, and safeguard their home.
And yet Natsuhiko—only a squad leader—already understood that principle.
He even possessed the same conviction.
That realization made the division commander, who had already held a favorable impression of Natsuhiko, regard him even more highly.
As for the incidents involving Kakuzu and Kakashi… well, the people Kakuzu killed weren't from the First Division anyway. And Kakashi joining the squad wasn't something Natsuhiko had any control over.
With that thought, the commander slowly walked toward Natsuhiko.
The moment he moved, every ANBU member resting in the lounge instinctively stood up.
"Commander."
They greeted him in unison.
The commander simply nodded as he continued forward, stopping only when he reached Natsuhiko.
Kakashi looked at the approaching man with a hint of nervousness.
There were only two possibilities for why the division commander had come.
Either he was here to announce the results, or he had come to assign a mission.
What Kakashi didn't expect, however, was that the commander slowly raised his hand and removed the mask covering his face.
His face was utterly ordinary—so plain it was almost forgettable—and his expression was usually as cold and distant as stone.
But at this moment, a faint smile appeared on it.
"Congratulations, Captain Nightingale," he said.
"Commander, you..." Natsuhiko froze for a moment, then asked with obvious surprise, "You mean…?"
"That's right," the commander said calmly. "Division Commander Nightingale."
...
With the First Division commander's acknowledgment—and the official appointment letter in hand—Natsuhiko had, at that moment, formally become an ANBU Division Commander.
For many people present, it was undoubtedly good news.
Especially for members of the First Division.
After all, someone from their own division had risen to the rank of Division Commander. No matter how you looked at it, that was something worth being proud of.
Even if the position Natsuhiko would be taking was the leadership of the Third Division.
Kakashi, in particular, felt sincerely happy for him.
To Kakashi, Natsuhiko had become an incredibly important person. When Kakashi had been at his lowest, it was Natsuhiko who helped him through it.
When he had been lost—confused about life and uncertain about the future—it was Natsuhiko who had pulled him back.
Kakashi still remembered every word Natsuhiko had spoken at the Memorial Stone.
Especially the words:
"There is only one heroism in the world: to see the world as it is, and to love it."
And—
"Carry their will, and live on while protecting their dreams."
Those words had been engraved deep in his heart.
Moreover, Natsuhiko had once been his classmate. Somewhere along the way, Kakashi had begun to see him as the person he wanted to catch up to.
Yes, Natsuhiko had taken another step forward today—becoming one of the most authoritative Division Commander in the ANBU, second only to the Commander.
But Kakashi didn't feel even a hint of jealousy or discouragement.
What he felt instead was genuine happiness and heartfelt congratulations.
...
As the congratulations poured in from all sides, Natsuhiko looked genuinely pleased.
But in truth, he knew very well why he felt happy.
This promotion meant he had moved one step closer to his ultimate goal.
And after the excitement faded, he understood something even more clearly—there was now a mountain of work waiting for him.
For one thing, he needed to reorganize his new division.
The Third Division consisted of nine squads.
Each squad had a maximum of four members.
In other words, Natsuhiko could potentially command thirty-six ninja under him.
However, during the mission previously led by Kusunoki, three entire squads had been wiped out by Sasori.
As for how many survivors there were—or what condition they were in—Natsuhiko had never even asked.
Beyond that, he also needed to understand his subordinates.
And more importantly…
He had to find a way to turn them into his own people.
None of these matters were simple.
And on top of it all, Natsuhiko hadn't forgotten about his personal plans.
Even back when he had only been a squad leader, he had been thinking about the Ryūmyaku sealed away by Minato Namikaze.
But at the time, he had little autonomy. Even leaving the village was a troublesome affair.
Of course, becoming a division commander didn't make leaving the village any easier.
But now he possessed something he had never had before.
The authority to choose missions.
Aside from missions directly assigned from above, he could select many tasks himself.
Some of those missions could be delegated to his subordinates.
Others—depending on their importance—he could personally handle.
Which meant that Natsuhiko now had far greater freedom.
If he planned carefully, he could find opportunities to leave the village and take care of certain matters.
Even if he had to bring subordinates along, he could still choose who he wanted to take.
First, I need to bring Kakashi over.
Natsuhiko thought quietly.
My former division commander probably doesn't want to keep that hot potato either.
...
After the celebrations ended, Natsuhiko quietly left the tavern by himself.
Because of his promotion, the ANBU members who were off duty that night had decided to hold a small gathering to celebrate.
But for Natsuhiko…
The real work had only just begun.
Natsuhiko didn't refuse the celebration.
From an outsider's perspective, he seemed to maintain good relationships with nearly everyone in the ANBU.
If he suddenly rejected their congratulations, it would damage the image he had carefully built—and that was the last thing he wanted.
Hopefully… someday we'll truly be on the same side.
A gentle night breeze brushed past.
Natsuhiko walked quietly along the street alone, the moonlight stretching his shadow long across the ground.
It was already late, and the district where he lived was somewhat remote.
The streets were empty.
Aside from the occasional sound of cats yowling or dogs barking in the distance, the night was silent.
He moved calmly down the road, his figure almost blending into the darkness itself.
As he walked, his thoughts drifted back to his fellow ANBU members.
In truth, they weren't really walking the same path.
The core of the ANBU was firmly controlled by the Third Hokage.
Those occupying the key positions continuously guided the organization from top to bottom, shaping its ideology.
Combined with years of internal indoctrination, the ANBU had essentially become a place where Hiruzen Sarutobi's will was law.
Natsuhiko also knew something else.
Even if Minato Namikaze had acted more forcefully and used his authority as Hokage to appoint Natsuhiko directly as division commander, it wouldn't have mattered much to Hiruzen.
Having subordinates who were alienated from you was never a good thing.
And Natsuhiko couldn't simply remove everyone at once. Doing that wouldn't just destabilize the ANBU—it would shake the entire political structure of Konoha.
Such a move would essentially turn the ANBUinto the battleground for a power struggle among Konoha's leadership.
It would also signal a complete rupture between the Third and Fourth Hokage.
That was something Natsuhiko didn't dare do—and Minato would never allow it either.
"So this is the most troublesome stage," Natsuhiko muttered with a quiet sigh. "Still… a road has to be walked step by step, and things must be handled one at a time. Who knows—maybe I'll find a way for certain people to… disappear naturally."
Knowing the future gave him opportunities.
But most of his ideas were still rough outlines. Turning them into reality would require careful planning.
As he approached his home, Natsuhiko slowed down. After a moment of thought, he turned away from his street and headed in another direction.
Toward Senju Shouma's residence.
He had decided it would be better to report in person.
"Besides the ANBU reorganization," Natsuhiko thought as he walked, "I also need to think about my own strength."
His overall combat ability was already quite strong.
But the awkward part was that it was only strong in combination. Individually, some areas still had room for improvement.
Fortunately, he already had a few plans in mind.
For instance, he wanted to investigate the Ryūmyaku.
And aside from that…
He also had another experiment in mind.
The Sealing Seed he had obtained by chance had already given him a potential method he wanted to test soon.
And then there was something even more important.
The piece of flesh from Hashirama Senju.
Ever since he obtained it, Natsuhiko had hidden it carefully.
He didn't dare take it out lightly.
He was afraid it might be detected by someone with a keen nose, a Byakugan, or even those annoying tracking insects.
If he managed to find a mission that allowed him to leave the village—especially one heading toward the Land of Wind—he planned to study that piece of flesh properly.
Of course, he had no intention of imitating Madara Uchiha by cutting open his body and sewing it inside himself.
But burying it somewhere…
Watering it…
Seeing if it would sprout…
That might not be a bad idea.
And if his earlier theory proved correct, he might even try inserting it into a tree.
Who knew? Maybe he'd end up cultivating the seed of Wood Release.
Lost in his wandering thoughts, Natsuhiko soon arrived in front of Senju Shoma's house.
He subtly greeted the ninja guarding the area before stepping inside alone.
Senju Shoma hadn't gone to sleep yet.
Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that he couldn't sleep.
He sat alone at a table, quietly drinking tea.
The moment he saw Natsuhiko enter, he immediately asked,
"Well? How did it go?"
"Elder," Natsuhiko said, giving a slight bow.
His face still carried that same warm, gentle smile.
"I'm a division commander now."