"Chiba, your achievements and strength are more than sufficient. I am promoting you to Special Jōnin."
The Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a slow drag from his pipe, a genial smile on his face. "I intend for you to join the ANBU. You will lead a new special operations squad. What do you think?"
You've already arranged everything down to the last detail, and you're still going through the motions of asking my opinion. You're something else, really. I'm touched.
Chiba inwardly grumbled, but kept a respectful smile on his face. "It would be an honor. Thank you for your faith in me, Lord Third. I will not disappoint you."
To be fair, the Third was offering a lot. Chiba was essentially jumping from a grunt straight to a commander in the secret police.
"Hmm, good." Sarutobi nodded, satisfied, and began outlining his vision for the new squad. "I want you to lead a team with rapid medical support capabilities. You will be responsible for providing emergency medical aid to key personnel affiliated with the ANBU… and for disposing of their bodies when necessary."
(In the shinobi world, to prevent intel leaks, the corpses of certain important ninja must be traced and destroyed.)
"No problem, Lord Third!" Chiba's eyes lit up, and he agreed without hesitation.
Providing medical support to important ANBU-affiliated figures? That sounded like a perfect channel for farming rewards!
He'd take this job even if he had to pay for it himself!
"Good. The ANBU is short-handed at the moment, so have Gukisuke and Nawaki assist you temporarily," Sarutobi continued, clearly having planned this all out. "As for the final member… we'll fill the slot with Nonō Yakushi from the Intelligence Division for now. Her medical and combat skills are both excellent."
Nonō Yakushi?!
The sudden mention of the white-stockinged beauty's name caught Chiba off guard. He forgot to respond for a moment.
"What? Surprised I know so much about one of Danzō's people?" Sarutobi glanced at him, his tone meaningful. "While certain matters are delegated to Danzō… I am the Hokage. Do you understand, Chiba?"
"I understand, Lord Third." Chiba's heart tightened. The message was clear: in Konoha, you needed to know who was really in charge.
"Good. You are, in a way, my disciple's disciple. There's no need to be overly formal with me." Sarutobi waved a hand, the genial smile returning. "Before your new squad is officially formed, there is one more mission I need you to undertake."
"Suna will be establishing formal diplomatic ties with Konoha. Given the Kazekage's favorable impression of you, I intend for you to serve as one of Konoha's envoys to Sunagakure."
"Lord Third, my abilities are lacking…" Chiba began to protest, but Sarutobi cut him off, speaking as if he hadn't heard.
"Danzō has full authority over this matter. He is in the adjoining office. He will brief you on the specifics." Sarutobi smiled.
Chiba: "…Understood, Lord Third."
I really, really don't want to see sexy sun-bro until I can pop a Susanoo!
Despite the profound reluctance in his heart, after leaving the Hokage's office, Chiba had no choice but to knock on the door to Danzō's office.
"Enter."
A cold voice came from within. Chiba took a steadying breath and pushed the door open.
This was his first time, since arriving in this world, laying eyes on the man known as the Darkness of the Shinobi, the First Lord of the Pot. And he had to admit—the intimidation factor was maxed out.
Shimura Danzō simply sat there. His single visible eye swept over Chiba once, and it felt like being sized up by a venomous snake. A sense of acute danger, far sharper than anything he'd felt upon first meeting Orochimaru, prickled at the back of his neck.
THUD.
The door slammed shut behind him. Chiba's head whipped around, heart leaping into his throat, half-expecting a few dozen Root operatives to pour out from behind the screens and relieve him of his newly acquired Sharingan.
"There are no outsiders here, so I will speak plainly." Danzō continued sorting through documents on his desk, not even looking up. "I have reached an agreement with the Third Kazekage. Under the pretext of this diplomatic envoy, we will assist him in launching a… 'restructuring' within Sunagakure. To remove Chiyo and her faction."
Why is Shimura Danzō telling me this? It can't be…?!
Chiba's pupils contracted. A terrible premonition dawned on him.
Danzō's next words confirmed it, shattering Chiba's composure on the spot.
"I hear you are on good terms with Chiyo's grandson. Once in Suna, you will find a way to infiltrate Chiyo's inner circle. You will act as the Third Kazekage's inside man. Follow his orders."
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