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"What is the procedure, or rather, the standard for expanding the Hokage's bodyguard team?" Kurenai Yuhi reacted quickly, fully embracing her role as secretary. Before, she would have worried about the increase in numbers affecting her position. But now, she was the Hokage's secretary, so she had nothing to worry about.
"How about this: you draft a list of commoner ninjas," Sasame thought for a moment. "As for the major ninja clans, have them submit their own recommendations." As Hokage, he had to maintain a semblance of fairness. In reality, he already had his candidates in mind. He just needed to strengthen them. It was a shame the Konoha 12 had not yet graduated. Speaking of which, after they graduated, Might Guy would probably not have time to serve in the Hokage's bodyguard team. They were short on people. Sasame wondered if he should bring in a couple from other ninja villages.
"Okay," Kurenai Yuhi nodded. "Is there anything else?"
"I plan to reform the mission hall," Sasame said. "The current system for taking missions is a bit troublesome. I have a wireless radio bracelet that will make it easier for ninjas to perform missions." The ninja world had wireless radios. In the original story, when Gaara was captured, Naruto Uzumaki and his team were equipped with wireless communication devices. Therefore, using a wireless radio bracelet to conceal the Heavenly Net Communicator was a plausible excuse. Even if some ninjas were suspicious, they wouldn't ask the Hokage about it.
"A wireless radio bracelet?" Kurenai Yuhi was a little confused. "Wouldn't it be difficult to receive signals if you're too far away?"
"This one can handle it," Sasame said, taking out the Heavenly Net Communicator. "Take it and familiarize yourself with it for a few days. Then you can make the arrangements."
"Alright," Kurenai Yuhi took the bracelet, glanced at it, and said.
"That's all for now," Sasame waved his hand. Kurenai Yuhi nodded and turned to leave. Her movements were swift, and she quickly spread the news. It caused quite a stir in Konoha Village. Of course, this was about the Hokage's bodyguard team. Everyone knew its significance. It was just one step away from becoming Hokage. Even if they couldn't become Hokage, they could at least become a high-ranking official of Konoha. Especially since Sasame was still young and had plenty of time. It was not like Minato Namikaze, who died young, causing his bodyguard team to also lose power. Since the various ninja clans had their own nominations, no one came to bother Sasame.
Kurenai Yuhi arrived at Orochimaru's hideout.
"Anko?"
"Kurenai, long time no see," Anko Mitarashi, holding a skewer of dango, smiled brightly upon seeing her.
"It has been a long time since we last saw each other," Kurenai Yuhi said with a hint of emotion. After she became the Hokage's secretary, she no longer went on missions. Her time with her peers had been significantly reduced. But she didn't regret it. To receive the treatment she was getting now, this price was not too high.
"Did you come to see our teacher?" Anko Mitarashi took a bite of dango, then asked, as if she had just remembered something. "You're the Hokage's secretary now. Does Hokage-sama have a mission for him?"
"Yes," Kurenai Yuhi didn't hide anything. "Hokage-sama wants to establish a research department and have Orochimaru-sama lead it."
"I have a feeling Teacher will like that order," Anko Mitarashi's eyes lit up, but then they dimmed. "But if that's the case, it will be even more difficult to see Teacher in the future."
"A student must eventually learn to stand on their own," Kurenai Yuhi said comfortingly. "Besides, Orochimaru-sama is still in Konoha Village. You can still see him if you want to."
"True," Anko Mitarashi said with a smile. "I was about to go on a mission anyway, so it's normal that I wouldn't see him." She was a special jonin and had the Heavenly Cursed Seal, so her strength was decent. Missions were unavoidable. Unless Orochimaru said otherwise.
"Perhaps you can try out for the Hokage's bodyguard team," Kurenai Yuhi had a flash of inspiration. "Hokage-sama is planning to expand it. If you succeed, you can stay in Konoha Village."
The Hokage's bodyguard team? Anko Mitarashi was a little surprised. That seemed like a good idea. As a member of the Hokage's bodyguard team, her main mission would be to protect the Hokage. Therefore, she wouldn't have to go on missions everywhere.
"I'll ask Teacher," Anko Mitarashi, after thinking for a bit, decided to ask Orochimaru for his opinion first.
"Then I'll leave the matter with Orochimaru-sama to you," Kurenai Yuhi said, taking out an official order.
"No problem," Anko Mitarashi agreed readily. With this order, she could see Orochimaru openly. Sometimes, when he was busy with his experiments, she would be left to herself, and no one would pay her any mind.
After Kurenai Yuhi left, Anko Mitarashi summoned a snake and sent it to notify Orochimaru. She waited with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Not long after, Orochimaru appeared.
"Teacher!" Anko Mitarashi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly called out to him.
"Yes," Orochimaru looked at her. "Sasame's order." Sasame had given him maximum support, allowing him to conduct his research with peace of mind. He didn't want to change the status quo, so he took Sasame's orders seriously.
"Here," Anko Mitarashi handed him the order. Orochimaru read it and was quite satisfied. This would make his future experiments more convenient. He naturally wouldn't refuse.
"Teacher, one more thing," Anko Mitarashi explained the situation with the Hokage's bodyguard team. Orochimaru was slightly taken aback. With Sasame's strength, did he really need a bodyguard team? But it had nothing to do with him.
"If you want to go, then go," Orochimaru glanced at her. He was quite concerned about Anko Mitarashi. There was no harm in her joining the Hokage's bodyguard team. After all, with Sasame's strength, it was hard to say who was protecting whom. But no matter what, her safety should be guaranteed.
"Okay, Teacher," Anko Mitarashi smiled. "Should we have lunch together?"
"I haven't finished my experiment," Orochimaru turned and left. Anko Mitarashi sighed but had no other choice. That was just Orochimaru's personality.
The Land of Waves Daimyō's palace.
"Busy again?" A familiar voice made Uzumaki Ena look up and smile. Sasame appeared in front of her. He reached out, ruffled her head, and asked, "Didn't I tell you to cultivate a few successors?"
"I don't feel comfortable with that," Uzumaki Ena squinted her eyes, like a cat, enjoying her master's massage. She knew about Yugito Nii, so she had subconsciously started to imitate her.
"This is going to be a problem," Sasame said with a smile.
"What's wrong?" Uzumaki Ena looked up, confused.
"I'm planning to fully take over the Land of Fire," Sasame said, picking her up and sitting down on the chair. "You'll be even busier then."
"It's fine," Uzumaki Ena said without hesitation.
"You're very obedient," Sasame took her hand, intertwining their fingers.
"Are you asking me to become the Daimyo of the Land of Fire?" Uzumaki Ena realized his intention and became a little flustered. "I'm not sure I can do that." She had only ever been in business. If he suddenly asked her to manage politics, she wouldn't be confident. Sasame chuckled. "I'll have someone else be the Daimyo. You'll still be in charge of the Sunny Day Merchant Guild." Economics was very important. He needed someone he could trust to manage it. No one was better suited than Uzumaki Ena.
"That's good," Uzumaki Ena not only didn't feel like she was losing power, but she was relieved. If she were to become the Daimyo and mess up Sasame's plans, she would feel even more guilty. She was a good woman who didn't fight or vie for power. This was related to her past experiences.
"I'm having lunch here today," Sasame said.
"Okay!" Uzumaki Ena immediately smiled, got out of his embrace, and said, "I'll go prepare it now."
"..." Sasame wanted to say something but held back. He couldn't ruin Uzumaki Ena's sincerity. He had originally planned to relax first. But it was fine. Sasame walked towards the backyard. He opened the door. Yugito Nii was very cooperative and came to him. She looked up at him. Ever since Matatabi's betrayal, she seemed to have accepted her fate and had no other thoughts. After all, with an informant inside her, she wouldn't be able to escape anyway. She might as well be a cat.
Sasame picked up the black cat and sat on the sofa. He gently caressed her face. "Do you want to go to Konoha Village?" he asked. Yugito Nii looked puzzled. What does he mean by going to Konoha Village? But she had always been confused about one thing. Sasame was the Hokage. And she was a prisoner of the Cloud Village. Logically, she should have been sent to Konoha Village. But she was in the Land of Waves.
"How about you join the Hokage's bodyguard team?" Sasame looked down at her and asked. Yugito Nii instinctively wanted to refuse. In her current state, she definitely didn't want to show her face. And being a member of the Hokage's bodyguard team was a joke. A jinchuriki from the Cloud Village was now a high-ranking official of Konoha? If the Fourth Raikage, Killer B, or Karui were to find out, she would never be able to clear her name. Thinking of this, Yugito Nii was a little dazed. Could she ever go back? She knew she couldn't stop Sasame's decision. Yugito Nii secretly sighed and nodded.
"Don't worry," Sasame stroked her head. "I'll get a mask for you." Yugito Nii joining the Hokage's bodyguard team with her real identity was a problem. He didn't fear the Cloud Village's reaction. But it would be difficult to explain internally. It was too troublesome, so he decided not to tell anyone. He would just have her be an Anbu, just like Shisui Uchiha. Yugito Nii felt a little better. In her current situation, being in the Hokage's bodyguard team might be better. She was bored all day in the room, wearing a catgirl outfit. Going to Konoha Village, a bigger place, might not be so bad.
"There's still some time before lunch," Sasame said, pinching Yugito Nii's chin. "Let's play a game." He thought of a game from his previous life called Nekopara. It was a cat-themed shooting game. It was quite fun. After a long while, the black cat lay curled up on the sofa, tears still on her face. Uzumaki Ena pushed open the door and was stunned. "It's easy to get sick like this," she said. Yugito Nii, however, remained still. She was simply too weak. Uzumaki Ena went to the room, got a blanket, and covered her.
"Where's Sasame?"
"He's with Karin," Yugito Nii said, a little embarrassed.
"Get some rest," Uzumaki Ena said, patting her shoulder. "Sasame is actually a good person."
"..." Yugito Nii was speechless. In her opinion, besides that one aspect, everything else about him was terrible. Thinking of her previous reaction, she blushed even more. Uzumaki Ena smiled, probably guessing her thoughts.
"We're all sisters now," she said.
"You..." Yugito Nii was about to say, Did the same thing happen to you? But that would be wrong. She could see that Uzumaki Ena genuinely liked, or rather, deeply loved Sasame. She was nothing like her. Yugito Nii was convinced that she could never do something like that.
Uzumaki Ena left the room. Karin was now eleven years old. Because she was spoiled, she was a troublemaker in the Land of Waves. She and Tayuya would cause trouble all day. But everyone knew who they were, so they just turned a blind eye.
When Sasame saw them, they were scolding a group of little kids. The kids were crying hysterically. He was a little stunned. My goodness! It's gotten to this point?
"Big Brother Sasame!" Karin saw him and ran over, hugging him. Tayuya also stopped what she was doing. But she wasn't as direct as Karin; she just stood there, looking at him with a conflicted expression.
"What are you doing?" Sasame pointed at the kids and asked.
"They were bullying a classmate at school. I found them and gave them a beating," Karin said, clenching her fists. The school was the Land of Waves University. It was established by Uzumaki Ena. Its purpose was to provide education to the members of the Thousand Sunny Merchant Guild and their children. The classes were all related to economics.
"I see," Sasame said, stroking her head. "Well done."
"Tayuya too!" Karin didn't forget her good friend and waved to her. Tayuya hesitated, then walked closer. Sasame reached out, but she dodged him. She snorted softly. "I was just helping Karin. It has nothing to do with you."
"But you told me you missed Big Brother Sasame," Karin said, exposing her tsundere nature.
"That's... that's not true!" Tayuya's face turned crimson, all the way to her ears. With her red hair, she was even more like a steam princess than Hinata Hyuga. Sasame saw this and couldn't help but laugh. This little girl really didn't inherit Uzumaki Ena's personality. She was a bit like him. Sasame reached out and pinched Tayuya's cheek. She didn't move. She lowered her head, not daring to look at him. Uzumaki Ena's arrival finally saved her from the embarrassment. Otherwise, she would have fled.
"Dinner's ready," Uzumaki Ena said with a smile.
"Is my favorite, okonomiyaki, ready?" Karin asked, hugging Sasame.
"Yes," Uzumaki Ena said, stroking her head, then holding Tayuya's hand. The four of them walked towards the Daimyō's palace.
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if you want more updates == supports with power stones
Power Stones==Bonus Chapter