"Lord Eisuke, Genya has already taken Deidara out of the village!"
An Anbu ninja quickly added, after hearing Eisuke's angry words. This was also the latest information the Anbu had just learned—Deidara had been arranged to leave the village!
"Huh? He left the village?" Eisuke was shocked. When he arrived, there was no such news. He had been keeping an eye on Genya from the beginning, so he shouldn't have missed this: "How come I didn't know?"
"According to the investigation, Uchiha Genya took Deidara to a lake outside the village, an isolated, uninhabited area on the outskirts of the village!"
The Anbu ninja explained the situation, especially emphasizing the desolate place where Genya had arranged for Deidara to stay.
"It seems... that brat from the Uchiha clan still knows the rules. He understands that person is trouble and made him leave Konoha!" Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with some satisfaction in his eyes.
In his view, Genya was being considerate by taking care of Deidara. At least he was being mindful of the villagers.
However, standing beside them, Kakashi frowned, his face darkening. If Deidara was near Konoha, with a message from Genya, Deidara could reach the village in no time.
This was clearly a backdoor left by Genya, and Kakashi believed that anyone Genya valued must be quite powerful or talented.
"Genya found another companion, and didn't tell me? Let me see if he's fit for Taijutsu training?" Might Guy rubbed his chin, seemingly deep in thought. His ninja-like pondering was evident.
At first, he thought the path of Taijutsu might come to an end. After all... in Konoha, there was almost no one who could surpass him in Taijutsu, except for a few from the Hyuga clan. But after meeting Genya, he had encountered several Taijutsu prodigies!
Although there was the slow-to-develop Lee, the others' talents were strong, and the future of Taijutsu seemed promising.
Eisuke felt a bit disappointed. He had hoped to make a move on the Uchiha Police Force's matter, stoking the public's emotions against the Uchiha clan. Unfortunately... the opportunity was missed.
If the Anbu had come earlier, he would have made sure to deal a heavy blow to the Uchiha Police Force and half of the Uchiha clan. Too bad!
"Alright, I understand!" Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped dwelling on the issue with Deidara. To him, Deidara was just a clown. If the Rock Village truly valued him, he wouldn't have been exiled.
Thinking this, he signaled for the Anbu operative to leave and turned his attention back to Kakashi and Guy.
"Kakashi, do you know why I called you two here?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, gazing at Kakashi.
"I don't know," Kakashi replied, shaking his head. Though he had a vague idea, he still shook his head.
It was probably something related to Hayashi.
"You should know that there's another Wood Style user now, and that this user has already attracted the attention of several forces!" Sarutobi Hiruzen said, his eyes still locked on Kakashi.
"I've heard. Does this have something to do with the mission we're about to undertake?" Kakashi replied, maintaining eye contact with Sarutobi Hiruzen, his eyes showing no emotion. This was his usual way of speaking with the Third Hokage.
"Huh? Kakashi, is this Wood Style user like the First Hokage?" Guy, who had been listening quietly, scratched his head in confusion.
It seemed like he didn't fully understand the conversation. He looked puzzled and even a bit shocked.
After all, as far as he knew, after the death of the First Hokage, there hadn't been any Wood Style users, so how was another one suddenly appearing now?
That was the source of his confusion!
"You don't understand, so just keep quiet!" Kakashi shot Guy a glance, his face twitching. "Wait until the Third Hokage assigns the mission. I'll explain it to you later."
"Oh, okay!" Guy immediately stopped talking.
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, knowing that Guy was confused. That's why he had been addressing Kakashi all along.
"Hokage-sama, please continue!" Kakashi turned his gaze back to Sarutobi Hiruzen, his face showing a hint of apology. "What exactly is the mission this time?"
"The Wood Release ninja has appeared. If other villages capture him, he might face great danger. Your mission is to bring that Wood Release ninja back to Konoha. Only in Konoha can we ensure his safety!" Hiruzen spoke with a sense of great righteousness, almost like a savior.
It seemed that only he could save the village!
"Rescue the Wood Release ninja?" Kakashi murmured softly, his head lowering, his eyes filled with uncertainty.
The Third Hokage was becoming more and more hypocritical. Acting with righteous words, even claiming he was doing it for the sake of the ninja who carried the Will of Fire?
Heh, it seems Genya was right. If the Hokage truly brings the ninja to Konoha, who knows what inhumane treatment he will face!
"Your mission, along with Might Guy, is to find the Wood Release ninja and bring him back to Konoha!" Hiruzen finally gave the order. "During the mission, other ninjas will assist you."
"One more thing, what if the Wood Release ninja refuses to come back with us?" In the serious atmosphere of the meeting room, Might Guy spoke up again, instantly making the room go completely silent.
"Hmph, then you will force him to come!" Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "The Wood Release ninja has special significance for our village. We cannot let him fall into the hands of other villages. Furthermore, once he arrives in Konoha, he will understand our good intentions!"
"Force?" Might Guy slightly frowned upon hearing Hiruzen's cold words but chose not to press further, falling silent instead.
There were things he didn't understand, so he would ask Kakashi once they were outside.
"Kakashi, you will lead this mission. It will be you, Might Guy, and also Kurenai Yuhi. You three will set out tomorrow!" Hiruzen's tone became serious.
"Understood!" Kakashi nodded.
Seeing Kakashi's serious expression, Hiruzen nodded as well. "Remember, the mission must succeed!"
Kakashi nodded, then left the office with Might Guy, who still had some lingering confusion, to make the necessary arrangements.
Inside the office, watching Kakashi and Guy leave together, Shimura Danzo, who had been silent in the corner, suddenly spoke up: "Is it fine to leave it to them, along with Kurenai Yuhi? Should we include two more top-tier ninjas?"
"No need!" Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and slowly replied, "Kakashi's mastery of ninjutsu, his sharp senses, combined with Guy's brute strength and Kurenai Yūhi's genjutsu... As long as the Wood Release user has any weakness, the three of them will be able to counter it!"
The reason he suddenly added Kurenai Yūhi was because Hiruzen feared the Wood Release user might be too powerful, so adding someone with Genjutsu skills would help.
He was sure that if these three couldn't take down the Wood Release user, sending anyone else would be pointless.
Outside, Guy and Kakashi stepped out of the office.
****
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