Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki

In the lobby, Sakumo smiled as he watched Kazuyama twist left and right, clearly in pain. His good mood was unmistakable.

"Kakashi, did you see that? Learn from your father more often. This One Thousand Years of Death technique is enough to let you roam the Ninja World with ease."

Kazuyama winced as a sharp tremor ran through him, the pain unbearable. Yet, his face remained defiant as he stared at Sakumo.

He thought: This old man really has a fiery temper! His One Thousand Years of Death truly lives up to the White Fang's reputation. How can the same technique hit so differently?

Nearby, Kakashi clutched his backside, completely speechless. His thoughts were a chaotic mess: What the heck is going on right now? Kazuyama just wrecked me, and now my dad's taking him down too.

Poor kid... it's just not his time to shine yet.

Turning his attention elsewhere, Sakumo poured a cup of tea and handed it to Pakura. "Pakura, how have you been feeling these past few days? Has Konoha been better than you expected?"

Pakura accepted the tea, noting Sakumo's approachable demeanor despite her status. "Well… it's very prosperous and peaceful. The scenery is beautiful—very different from the Land of Wind," she replied, taking a sip. "Huh? This tea is quite tasty."

Sakumo chuckled. "Haha, that's good. Although you were brought here against your will, I hope you'll consider joining Konoha. Of course, the decision is yours. But if your wish is to return to Sunagakure… that's not likely to happen."

Pakura nodded quietly. She understood that returning to Sunagakure wasn't an option. As a ninja, she had learned to endure. Besides, her time in Konoha had been unexpectedly pleasant. At the Gekkō residence, Ebisami kept her entertained with amusing stories, and Kazuyama had even taken her out to see the sights around the village. It had been years since she'd felt this at ease.

Suddenly, Sakumo addressed Kazuyama. "Kazuyama, I called you here because I want your opinion on something."

Still nursing the lingering pain, Kazuyama blinked in surprise. "Huh? My opinion? You're not joking, are you? You're the White Fang of Konoha."

Even Pakura raised an eyebrow at his bluntness. Watching him, she noticed something new—Kazuyama held grudges and was very narrow-minded.

"Hahaha, you're quite the hothead, aren't you? What, did you think you were still in the Land of Wind?"

"Well, to be honest, I've already submitted my resignation as Anbu Commander to Lord Hokage. I might just go teach at the Ninja Academy, like you."

At these words, the room fell silent, and all three listeners were visibly stunned.

Kakashi stared at his father, wide-eyed. To him, Sakumo had always been the unshakable pillar of Konoha—his idol. He couldn't comprehend why his father would make such a drastic decision.

Pakura's pupils contracted. As a kunoichi from an enemy nation, she knew better than most how renowned the name "Konoha's White Fang" was. If the Kage symbolized the supreme power of a village, then the White Fang was Konoha's second Kage. His strength was terrifying.

Kazuyama, on the other hand, had an entirely different reaction. His first thought was: Has this guy lost his mind? His second thought was: This guy is practically untouchable!

To him, as long as Sakumo lived, Konoha would retain two Kage-level powers on its surface, solidifying its foundation in the looming Third Shinobi World War. In Kazuyama's previous life, he'd always believed that if Sakumo had been present during the war, the Battle of Kikyō Pass—a brutal conflict near Konoha—would never have occurred.

But what could have prompted such a powerful man to consider retirement?

Sakumo spoke again, this time directly to Kazuyama. "To be honest, when you forced me to retreat, I was completely at a loss. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't understand why someone like me, who wouldn't hesitate to face thousands of enemies, hesitated when it came to choosing between my teammates and my mission."

He paused, then continued, "After I returned, I spent a lot of time thinking. I realized I'm not as young as I once was, and I've lost the decisiveness I used to have. That's why I've chosen semi-retirement. And for that, Kazuyama, I owe you my thanks. It was because of you that I didn't make a decision I would regret."

Sakumo handed a cup of tea to Kazuyama, an unexpected gesture that left him momentarily at a loss.

The issue Sakumo mentioned weighed heavily on Kazuyama. In the original story, this very problem—his inner turmoil—had led to his downfall. Despite being as powerful as a Kage, the White Fang's heart was fragile.

Sakumo continued, "As for my retirement, Lord Hokage has already approved it. Once the new Anbu Commander is in place, I will officially step down. From then on, I'll just be an ordinary ninja. Teaching feels like the right path for me."

His gaze shifted to Kakashi, and for a moment, his expression softened. Time seemed to slip through his fingers. Unconsciously, he realized his son would soon be six years old. How time flies.

"Huh? If someone like you steps down, can the ANBU even stay the same?" Kazuyama blurted out. "I'm not saying this lightly, sure, the ANBU might sound impressive now—but without a sharp blade like you, they're not really capable of much."

Sakumo nodded at his words, but the faint, cryptic smile that appeared on his face the next moment sent a chill down Kazuyama's spine.

"So," Sakumo said, "I recommended you to Lord Hokage."

Kazuyama froze.

"You will join the ANBU and start from scratch."

I knew it! Kazuyama thought, his mind spiraling. Ever since I walked in, my right eyelid has been twitching. I thought it was because of the One Thousand Years of Death, but now I see I was wrong!

Pakura stared at him, raising a skeptical eyebrow. This kid? ANBU material? She scoffed inwardly. Ridiculous!

Kakashi, meanwhile, perked up at the mention of ANBU, his eyes gleaming. ANBU? Can I join the ANBU too?

"No! Lord Sakumo, wait a second!" Kazuyama protested, his voice nearly cracking. "Didn't you just say I helped you? Saved you even? How can you repay me like this?"

He stumbled through his excuses, "I'm just an ordinary ninja—fine, maybe a promoted Jōnin—but my combat skills are basically zero! I'm only good at running away! Isn't it absurd to send someone like me to the ANBU?"

Kazuyama was on the verge of losing his mind. What's going on lately? Why does everything feel so wrong?

"Don't be so hard on yourself, kid," Sakumo replied calmly. "You're already strong enough to overwhelm a standard Jōnin. While you're not quite an elite Jōnin yet, you're getting close—and don't forget, you're still young."

He chuckled, trying to ease Kazuyama's panic. "Don't worry, the work in ANBU isn't as intense as you think."

Before Kazuyama could protest further, Sakumo added, "Besides, there's another advantage to joining the ANBU."

Sakumo turned his gaze to Pakura, who blinked in confusion before pointing at herself hesitantly. "Me?"

"Yes," Sakumo confirmed. "After all, you're a ninja from Sunagakure, and in Konoha, your status is that of a prisoner. Ordinary ninja can't interact with you freely."

"If Kazuyama is to remain your observer, ANBU is the best choice. Otherwise, if your identity is discovered by someone, he may not be able to protect you."

Kazuyama slumped in defeat, his thoughts racing. What's next? Danzō Shimura's going to walk in here and hand me my ninja number?