Konoha's Tatsuya

"Lord Hokage." Shikaku Nara entered the Hokage's Office and bowed respectfully to the Third Hokage behind the desk.

"Shikaku, this is a classified request just received from ANBU. Take a look," the Third said, waving his hand dismissively and handing an intelligence scroll to Shikaku Nara with a grave expression.

"Yes, sir." Shikaku Nara respectfully accepted the scroll, then unrolled it and began to examine it closely. Gradually, Shikaku's brow furrowed deeply.

"Lord Hokage, who issued the mission request mentioned in this report?" After reading it, Shikaku Nara looked up and asked the Third.

The Third shook his head. "We don't know. The other party refuses to reveal their true identity. They only made a verbal request, hoping we might dispatch elite shinobi to assist them."

"They won't even reveal their identity? Could this be a trap?" Shikaku asked, his voice grave.

After thinking for a moment, the Third took out several more intelligence scrolls and handed them to Shikaku. "Here's some more intelligence regarding Kirigakure. Look these over."

Shikaku showed slight surprise but silently took them and began reading through them one by one. After finishing, Shikaku fell into deep thought. Amidst the silence, the Third also waited quietly, puffing on his pipe. In Konoha, the Nara clan's intellect had always been the sharpest. The Third hoped Shikaku could offer him better advice amidst this complex situation.

After a long pause, Shikaku finally spoke. "Lord Hokage, based on the intelligence ANBU has gathered on Kirigakure, the request is likely genuine."

The Third nodded. "Mm! I believe so too. But they refuse to reveal even basic identifying information. If we rashly send an elite team, I fear they could face extreme risks."

"Yes, Lord Hokage," Shikaku acknowledged. "However, the situation in Kirigakure is a powder keg ready to ignite. If the village's gamble pays off this time, it could greatly improve our relationship with Kirigakure. We would have leverage over the other party, so we wouldn't need to worry about them reneging on any deal afterward."

The Third asked gravely, "So you advocate sending a team?"

"Correct! Compared to the potential gains, taking this risk is worthwhile," Shikaku Nara affirmed with a serious nod.

Hearing this, the Third frowned, remaining silent. Wisps of curling smoke filled half the room as both the Third and Shikaku Nara lapsed into silence. After pondering for a moment, the Third spoke again. "Shikaku, which team do you think is suitable for this mission?"

Shikaku replied, "None of the existing ninja teams are suitable! Under Kirigakure's long-term oppressive regime, everyone there has become paranoid and vicious. Ordinary ninja teams sent there could easily meet with misfortune. Neither the existing standard teams nor the ANBU squads are sufficient for such a heavy responsibility."

The Third said nothing in response, merely staring at Shikaku with a furrowed brow, waiting for him to continue.

"Lord Hokage, I suggest reforming ANBU Squad 11," Shikaku stated clearly, meeting the Third's gaze.

Hearing this, the Third's brow knitted together tightly. Kirigakure was once a very powerful shinobi village, home to many strong ninja clans possessing Kekkai Genkai. Such as the Kaguya clan, the Hōzuki clan, and others. However, under the long-term oppressive rule of the Bloody Mist Policy, many of Kirigakure's ninja clans were persecuted. After the Third Shinobi World War, Kirigakure's strength plummeted, and it now ranks near the bottom among the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Even so, it was still one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, and its ninja were extremely cruel and belligerent. Ordinary ninja teams were indeed incapable of handling such a mission.

Shikaku Nara's suggestion to reform ANBU Squad 11 was indeed the best solution. After all, ANBU Squad 11's power and renown were entirely sufficient to intimidate the turbulent Kirigakure ninja.

But completely reforming ANBU Squad 11 was impossible! Of the original four members of ANBU Squad 11, aside from Might Guy who had recently recovered from his injuries, the other three had already left ANBU. There might still be room for persuasion with Kakashi, but dealing with Shisui and Tatsuya was problematic. Shisui had served as Captain of the Military Police Force's Third Division for many years; Fugaku Uchiha would absolutely never allow Shisui to rejoin ANBU. As for that thorn, Akimichi Tatsuya, the Third couldn't think of any good reason to persuade him to join ANBU. Over the past two-plus years, the Third had seen all of Tatsuya's flagrant slacking off at work with his own eyes. Trying to persuade that guy to reform was basically impossible.

"Lord Hokage, reforming ANBU Squad 11 doesn't actually require all four original members. As long as two or three of them are present, it guarantees sufficient combat power. They can be supplemented with two other ANBU members. Furthermore, Squad 11 could function as a standing, ad-hoc ANBU team. They wouldn't be needed for regular missions, only stepping in when urgent and troublesome tasks arise," Shikaku Nara suggested again, seemingly noticing the Third's dilemma.

"Shikaku, are you trying to transfer Tatsuya out of the Military Police Force?" the Third asked, staring intently at Shikaku.

"Yes, Lord Hokage! Your original purpose in transferring Tatsuya to the Military Police Force was to have him counterbalance the Uchiha. But as things stand now, that goal can no longer be achieved. Since that's the case, it would be better to completely separate him from the Military Police Force," Shikaku Nara nodded. Facing the Third's question, Shikaku didn't hide his intentions. Regarding the Third's original arrangement, the three families of the Ino-Shika-Cho combination had also grumbled slightly among themselves. In some people's view, the friction between Tatsuya and the village's upper echelons stemmed from this very decision.

"You all know Tatsuya's personality. Getting him to leave the Military Police Force and rejoin ANBU now won't be easy," the Third said with a wry smile, his voice low.

Shikaku Nara said, "Lord Hokage, Akimichi Kyoko and Mitarashi Anko have both improved incredibly fast over the past two years and already possess the strength of official Jōnin. However, both women still lack sufficient mission accomplishments. Why not assign them both to mission teams, let them go out on more missions, and build up their merits!"

"Akimichi Kyoko and Mitarashi Anko?" Hearing this, the Third became thoughtful, murmuring the names under his breath. Opposite him, Shikaku Nara smiled silently.

A short while later, Shikaku Nara left the Hokage's Office, his expression calm. Inside the room, behind the Hokage's desk, the Third sighed softly, summoned an ANBU operative, and instructed, "Here is an appointment document and a mission scroll. Deliver them swiftly into the hands of Chouza Akimichi."

"Yes, sir!" The ANBU operative immediately accepted the command and departed.

Within the office, the Third's soft sigh echoed. "That kid is probably going to hate me even more now!"

Akimichi Clan Compound. When Tatsuya finished reading the two scrolls brought by Chouza Akimichi, the expression on his face changed instantly.

That insidious Third Hokage!