"Ao Yagami will assist the two elders..."
Kakashi Hatake and Naraku Shihouin talked for a long time before their meal ended.
After reluctantly paying for the meal, Kakashi Hatake was finally allowed to leave by Naraku.
"That's not right, he got promoted, so why did I have to pay?"
Walking home, Kakashi finally realized, "I even helped him understand his new job. Forget it, next time I'll make Yamato treat me."
After returning home and washing up, Kakashi lay in bed and recalled his conversation with Naraku.
"Naraku is too outstanding; those people can't wait to snatch the Medical Emergency Team."
As Naraku Shihouin's peer, Kakashi Hatake understood his excellence very well.
If, when they were younger and both geniuses, people thought Kakashi had the upper hand, then as they grew up, Naraku Shihouin completely caught up and surpassed him.
Especially due to the suicide of his father Sakumo Hatake, the deaths of his teammates and comrades Obito and Rin Nohara, and his master Minato Namikaze and master's wife Kushina Uzumaki who died during the Nine-Tailed attack.
This series of blows completely plunged Kakashi Hatake into despair, and his strength had not improved for many years.
At the same time, Naraku Shihouin, who became Tsunade's direct disciple, grew at an astonishing speed, quickly becoming a pillar of Konoha Village.
When Tsunade left, Naraku Shihouin directly became the sole person in charge of Konoha Village's Medical Emergency Team.
After taking office, Naraku Shihouin vigorously developed the Medical Emergency Team, leveraging his experience of having run a hospital in his previous life.
The discovery of new types of herbs, hospital reforms, and the development of medical technology quickly made Konoha Hospital a renowned existence in the Ninja World.
Later, not only Ninja and civilians from Hidden Leaf Village, but also Daimyo and nobles from the Land of Fire frequently came to Konoha Hospital for treatment and recuperation, and even Daimyo and nobles from other countries began to come, drawn by its reputation!
Although the Medical Emergency Team was a subordinate agency of the Medical Department, under Naraku Shihouin's control, everything seemed to be reversed; the Medical Department instead served him.
Before Naraku Shihouin took over the Medical Emergency Team, Konoha Village had to invest a large amount of funds into the Medical Department each year, as the cost for their own Village's Ninja and civilians to receive treatment and hospitalization was very low, and the Village had to bear these costs.
But after Naraku Shihouin took over Konoha Village Hospital, with the arrival of foreign Daimyo, nobles, and wealthy merchants, the Medical Department turned losses into profits, earning a large amount of funds that were submitted to the Village's treasury.
And this was the reason Danzo and the two elders wanted to seize the Medical Emergency Team.
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, who managed the Administrative Department, were originally responsible for relations with the Land of Fire and financial transactions. Now, the Medical Department had broken their monopoly on power, which was, of course, intolerable.
And Danzo's Root Organization used to be able to openly receive funds from the Village to maintain its development, but after Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered its disbandment, it could no longer do so.
Maintaining the Root Organization in secret required a large amount of money, and furthermore, Danzo Shimura was secretly supporting Orochimaru's experiments, all of which required considerable funds.
Coupled with Danzo's never-abandoned dream of becoming Hokage, if he could establish contact with the Daimyo through the Medical Department, that would also be a good thing.
Therefore, the three united to challenge Naraku Shihouin and seize his position.
Most importantly, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was also unwilling for Naraku to control the Medical Department for too long, because that would mean a large amount of money and numerous connections falling into Naraku's hands.
At least until Hiruzen Sarutobi was willing to step down from the Hokage position, he didn't want to see Naraku's power grow too quickly.
...
The next day, Anbu headquarters.
"This place isn't even as big as the Root Organization's place..."
Naraku Shihouin shook his head, wondering how much of Anbu's budget Danzo had embezzled.
"Don't say that."
Kakashi Hatake walked up from behind him. Today, he seemed to be in a rare good mood, and there was no longer any sleepiness in his dead-fish eyes.
"Anbu isn't as wealthy as the Medical Emergency Team; having a base like this is already quite good."
"It's still your fault, Captain. If you don't have money, ask the Third Hokage for it. Where does all the money our Medical Emergency Team hands over every year go?"
"Alright, the matter of applying for funds will be left to you from now on."
Kakashi Hatake casually replied, then spoke seriously:
"Your appointment has been issued, and Hokage-sama just now gave some instructions."
"Let's talk as we walk..."
The two entered the Anbu headquarters. After a brief introduction to the general layout of the base, Kakashi relayed Hiruzen Sarutobi's words to Naraku.
"Why is it so empty? Where are the people?"
After greeting the few Ninja still at the Anbu headquarters, Naraku was a bit puzzled.
"There are missions!"
After finishing his greetings, Kakashi Hatake led Naraku to the office prepared for him.
"The information has been prepared for you, and the documents are on the table."
Pointing to the table, Kakashi said, "Anbu personnel should be mostly gathered tomorrow. I will introduce you to everyone then."
"Although no one won't know you, a formal introduction is still necessary."
Naraku Shihouin didn't care about the appearance of the office. He sat directly at the desk, picked up the documents, and began to scan them.
However, after only a few glances, he put down the documents and grabbed Kakashi Hatake, acting as if he wanted to strangle him.
"What are you doing?"
Kakashi Hatake dodged to the side, still as calm as if nothing had happened.
"What's wrong with this list? Why are there so many former Root Organization members among the subordinates assigned to me?"
Seeing Naraku's fierce expression, Kakashi could only explain:
"You're more capable; I think you can keep these people in check."
Seeing Naraku still wanting to make a move, Kakashi spread his hands, looking like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water. "Actually, not all of these Root Organization members are loyal to Danzo. Some can still be won over. I believe in you."
Naraku glared at Kakashi, "When you were injured on your last mission, half-dead, I was the one who personally healed you. Now you're playing this game with me."
"I can't help it; this was Hokage-sama's decision."
Kakashi Hatake was also very helpless. In fact, he didn't want to hand such a big problem to Naraku, but the Third Hokage ordered it.
After carefully re-reading the names on the document, Naraku didn't think much of it and decided to accept this trouble, but there was one exception among the candidates.
"Keep Yūgao under your command; there's no need to specially assign her to me."
"Hmm?"
"I specifically arranged for Yūgao Uzuki to be assigned to you. Has something happened between you two..."
Seeing Kakashi's curious expression, Naraku was speechless:
"There's no problem at all; we're still in a relationship."
"That's why I want to put Yūgao under your command. Can't you see what the Third Hokage means..."
Naraku held up the document in his hand, a thoughtful look on his face:
"Although there's a lot of trouble, none of these people are weak."
"The Third Hokage's reason for doing this is only one: he must be planning to have me responsible for those dangerous external missions, right?"
Anbu, Assassination Tactics Special Force!
The missions Anbu is responsible for are always extremely harsh and dangerous, but there are still some relatively safer ones, such as protecting the Hokage under normal circumstances, monitoring important figures, and so on.
As long as no accidents occur, these missions are not particularly difficult.
However, more dangerous missions, such as assassinating foreign personnel, gathering intelligence, etc., are also handled by Anbu.
And now, Hiruzen Sarutobi handing over a large number of excellent Ninja from Anbu to Naraku's command clearly meant something.
"Actually, you can refuse. Hokage-sama might not insist on you being responsible."
Kakashi Hatake also became serious. He thought for a moment and said,
"You've just arrived at Anbu and aren't familiar with it, so it's normal not to want to accept missions in this area."
"I can go talk to Hokage-sama too!"
"No need!"
Naraku Shihouin shook his head decisively, "I'll take this on!"
Starting from Anbu, and rising step by step!
This was Naraku's goal, so he was very satisfied with his current position.
Danger was nothing; this way, he could quickly establish himself in Anbu and then get promoted.
That's right, Naraku also had his eyes on the position Kakashi Hatake currently held.
Captain!