After a while, Hatake Kakashi brought Kirito to the Hokage's office.
"Hokage-sama," Kirito said respectfully, dropping to one knee, using *Kyoka Suigetsu* to create an illusion of him kneeling.
Kakashi greeted Hiruzen and then took his leave.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as usual, was smoking his pipe. Seeing Kirito and Kakashi arrive, he put out his pipe, showing a warm and kind smile. "Kirito, you're here. Please, stand up, there's no need for such formality."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Kirito responded, maintaining the respectful illusion as he stood.
Sarutobi began to show concern for Kirito, engaging in small talk. He rambled on for a while, testing Kirito's loyalty and mindset. Though Kirito was internally impatient, he kept up his respectful act, appearing to hang on every word of the Hokage.
After nearly half an hour of meaningless conversation, Sarutobi finally got to the real reason for the meeting.
"Kirito, do you remember the Nine-Tails attack from six years ago?"
"Of course, Hokage-sama. My parents died in that disaster, and I was powerless to save them." Kirito used *Kyoka Suigetsu* to create a look of deep sorrow and anguish, his eyes reddening as if on the verge of tears.
Seeing Kirito's reaction, Sarutobi felt a sense of pride, knowing his manipulation was working. "Actually, Kirito, it wasn't a natural disaster. It was a man-made calamity."
"A man-made calamity?" Kirito feigned shock.
"Yes," Hiruzen said gravely. "The Nine-Tails was being controlled by someone. The only people capable of controlling the Nine-Tails, aside from the First Hokage with his Wood Release, are those with the Sharingan."
"Hokage-sama, are you suggesting that the Uchiha Clan was responsible?" Kirito asked, putting on an expression of fear.
"There is no conclusive evidence," Hiruzen replied, "but we cannot rule out the possibility. The Uchiha Clan's Mangekyō Sharingan is the only thing that can control the Nine-Tails."
"Kirito, you are a smart young man, so I think you understand what I'm implying."
"I am ready to dedicate my heart and soul to Konoha and to you, Hokage-sama," Kirito said solemnly, pressing his fist to his chest, giving the exact response Hiruzen had hoped for.
"Good," Sarutobi said, nodding approvingly. "From today onward, I am assigning you to the Anbu. Your task will be to monitor the Uchiha Clan. I also need you to act as an undercover agent. You will infiltrate their ranks, and at the right moment, you are permitted to share minor bits of information to gain their trust. Report back to me on their activities."
Hiruzen's tone became serious as he added, "This is a top-secret mission. No one else must know of this."
Kirito didn't answer right away. Instead, he hesitated, displaying a look of uncertainty.
Sarutobi noticed and asked gently, "Kirito, is there something troubling you?"
Kirito nodded. "If the Uchiha Clan is truly responsible for the Nine-Tails incident, I hope that only those directly involved are punished. I ask for leniency for innocent members of the clan, especially the civilians."
"Ah, is this about Uchiha Izumi?" Sarutobi's expression softened, clearly pleased with this revelation.
He had been concerned that Kirito had no weaknesses, no ties to manipulate. But this—Kirito's affection for Izumi—was exactly what he needed.
"You care about that girl, don't you?" Hiruzen asked.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. She, too, lost her parents in the Nine-Tails attack, just like me," Kirito replied.
Sarutobi nodded seriously. "I give you my word that Uchiha Izumi will not be harmed, no matter what."
Of course, Sarutobi added to himself, *unless the Uchiha clan does something to endanger the village*.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Kirito said, though inwardly, he didn't trust Hiruzen in the slightest. He knew better than to believe this man. After all, he had seen what happened to Sasuke in the original story. If it weren't for Itachi threatening Danzo, Sasuke likely would have been eliminated.
Hiruzen then called for an Anbu operative. The masked ninja entered and knelt before the Hokage.
"From today, Kirito is a member of Anbu. Take him to complete the necessary registration," Sarutobi ordered.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the Anbu member replied, before escorting Kirito out.
Once Kirito was gone, Shimura Danzo, along with Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, entered the room. Danzo got straight to the point.
"Hiruzen, did the boy agree?"
"Yes, though he made one condition: that we ensure the safety of Uchiha Izumi," Sarutobi said, sitting back in his chair and lighting his pipe once more.
"I knew the boy had attachments to the Uchiha. It seems his loyalty is not as pure as we had hoped," Danzo said with a slight sneer.
Though Danzo spoke these words, there was no real anger behind them. He was relieved. Kirito's demand to protect Izumi meant that the boy would never be a true candidate for Hokage, eliminating him as a rival to Danzo's ambitions.
Koharu Utatane offered a different perspective. "Having attachments makes him easier to control. A person with no weaknesses is far more dangerous. Someone who has a heart can be guided."
Homura Mitokado nodded in agreement. For once, the four elders were in complete agreement.
Meanwhile, the Anbu ninja led Kirito to the registration area.
"This will be your personal locker from now on," the ninja said, gesturing to one of the storage units. "Your Anbu gear has also been prepared. You can collect it from the window over there."
(End of the Chapter).(Updated Till-48).
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