If it were in the past, Shikaku wouldn't worry, but now with the Uchiha Clan massacre, Sasuke has lost all elders overnight. There's no one to guide Sasuke on how to use his power, and the teaching resources of the Uchiha Clan have been lost. This is a tragedy for Kekkeigenkai Ninjas.
Konoha is now in desperate need of combat power. If Sasuke can be trained, he could become a huge asset for Konoha in the future.
This is Shikaku's thought.
Hiruzen began to consider.
Shikaku's idea isn't something he can't understand, but the truth of the Uchiha Clan massacre isn't as simple as the public perceives. It involves the 'darkness' of Konoha's upper echelons, which Hiruzen doesn't want to be exposed.
He's afraid that one day Sasuke will discover the truth of the massacre, and at that time, instead of becoming a Konoha's asset, he'll become a blade piercing Konoha's heart.
Sasuke is a avenger.
He's no longer a naive child.
Carrying a deep sea of hatred, such people are most likely to become extreme, pursuing power like Orochimaru who left Konoha...
Hesitation.
This kind of hesitation appeared more than once in his heart, causing Hiruzen's mindset to gradually age.
If he had been more resolute in dealing with the Uchiha Clan's matter, maybe there could have been a turnaround.
This is all caused by his incompetence and hesitation.
Compared to blaming Danzo's rash decisions, now he regrets his own incompetence and hesitation more.
Then, Hiruzen's gaze became firm.
Now is not the time for hesitation.
The Land of Demons has started interfering in the matters of the Land of Waves and the Land of Rain, both small countries adjacent to the Land of Fire. If the Land of Demons' forces settle in, it's not good for the Land of Fire or Konoha.
This pressure is no less than the time of the Third Ninja War, simultaneously facing the pressure from Hidden Rock and Hidden Sand.
His indecision has already led the Uchiha Clan to a dead end. If his hesitation continues to let Konoha decline further, he would be ashamed to face the past Hokages.
Furthermore, he had long decided to pass down the mantle of Hokage. Before Jiraiya can sway Tsunade's will, he must leave her a stable foundation to prevent Danzo's opportunistic meddling.
"I understand, I will tell Kakashi about this."
Hiruzen decided resolutely.
"Kakashi?"
Shikaku was taken aback.
"The Security Team and Anbu matters have stabilized temporarily, many things do not require Kakashi's direct involvement. Kakashi used to be in the same team with Uchiha Ninja, understanding the Sharingan more than most ninjas in the village. Furthermore, when the time is right, I hope to recruit Sasuke into the Anbu."
Hiruzen explained.
With Kakashi's guidance, hopefully, some of Sasuke's inner hatred can be resolved, emphasizing the bonds within the village to prepare him for joining Anbu in the future.
Only this way can he use Sasuke at ease.
When Tsunade becomes Hokage, there won't be a shortage of capable people to rely on.
"Is that so?"
Having Kakashi, the Minister of Anbu and acting Security Team Captain, personally teach and arrange Sasuke's future entry into Anbu, Shikaku looked at Hiruzen with a resolute expression.
This Hokage has indeed changed somewhat compared to the past.
But this change, earlier would have been better.
Now, hopefully, it can still turn things around.
Shikaku sighed in his heart, Konoha has missed too many opportunities.
Since the Fourth Hokage took office, opportunities have been losing continuously. To recover now, with both internal and external pressures, even as the Jonin Squad Leader, he feels heavily burdened.
Of course, there was one more thing Hiruzen didn't say.
Which is letting Kakashi teach also to reassure Itachi outside, showing that Konoha will not mistreat Sasuke and will provide his brother with the best education.
In this way, Itachi will work harder to be loyal to Konoha.
Even as a Renegade Ninja, he will die for Konoha.
◎
"Hokage-sama, you really gave me a bothersome task."
In the office of the Anbu Headquarters Tower, Kakashi's somewhat lazy voice sounded.
The Hokage's orders are absolute.
For ninjas accustomed to working within the Anbu, this rule is absolutely unbreakable. Even the Minister of the Anbu can't break it.
Therefore, the moment the Hokage's order came down, Kakashi knew that he couldn't slack off in the near future.
With difficulty, he barely managed to handle the affairs of the Anbu and Security Team. As long as the work of the two departments gets on track, each day he needed only to deal with a certain amount of paperwork, then he could stroll around, read novels, practice White Fang Swordsmanship, and continue living leisurely.
But now, going to teach one-on-one the orphan of the Uchiha Clan of Konoha, not that he couldn't understand the Hokage's intentions, but doing this means he won't have much time to enjoy Jiraiya's new work in Icha Icha Paradise.
Really, just at such a critical moment, his leisure time may reduce further in the future.
"Just teaching a child, for the Minister, should be a piece of cake, right?"
Standing in Kakashi's office was another Anbu Ninja who laughed as she spoke to Kakashi.
Uzuki Yugao.
Although just an eighteen-year-old girl, she's already a Special Jonin in the Anbu.
Proficient in Konoha Swordsmanship.
If an ordinary Jonin isn't careful, they would fall victim to her swordsmanship assassination.
She's a swordswoman ninja hiding in the shadows, waiting for the opportunity to strike with lethal precision.