Konoha Notes

Chapter 371 Ordinary and Extraordinary
Kakashi Hatake's dreary, monotonous office life began to brighten with the arrival of Itachi Uchiha.

After confirming that the eldest son of the Uchiha clan leader was indeed as efficient, meticulous, and never complained as rumored, Kakashi immediately added a new desk to his office.

Since the current Hokage can take turns serving, someone like him, a lowly member of the secret service, can naturally find someone to share the workload.

"Kakashi-senpai, these are the documents that I need you to review today. They have been sorted and organized according to their urgency."

Itachi placed a stack of folders on the corner of Kakashi's desk.

"Just leave it there," the silver-haired Jonin said calmly. "Compared to the work in the Anbu, can you adapt to life in the Secretariat?"

“No problem,” Itachi replied succinctly. “Thanks to your guidance, even within the Anbu, I don’t have many field missions.”

"It's mostly doing some simple paperwork."

For example, screening and vetting members of the Uchiha clan who join the Anbu.

Kakashi silently gave a thumbs-up to the guy who was probably still cleaning up the mess in the Land of Waterfall.

Although I still resent that guy's attempt to shift the blame, at least the people he prepared were very useful.

It was so useful that Kakashi started to seriously consider some things that were still somewhat distant from his current situation.

When it comes time to take over the responsibility, who should one turn to to share that burden?

Who can be someone like Shuuji is to Tsunade, someone you can completely trust, entrust with important tasks, and even take turns to stand guard and support each other when necessary?

Kakashi wasn't without people he was willing to trust. He even had a childhood friend he could entrust his life to. However, getting Might Guy into the Hokage's office...

An image flashed through my mind: Kai, perhaps wearing that green bodysuit, doing a handstand next to a desk piled high with documents, shouting, "Youth is about burning brightly to complete today's official duties! If I don't finish, I'll run five hundred laps around Konoha on my hands!"

Kakashi felt that his nerves would break before the ninja world achieved peace.

As for Itachi, his bias is quite obvious, judging from his handling of the reform of the Uchiha Police Department.

More importantly, he enjoyed Xiu Si's deep trust.

In Konoha, this is practically a pass these days.

However, the Uchiha surname and the influence of the clan it represents are factors that cannot be completely ignored when considering sensitive positions such as Hokage assistant or rotating Hokage.

"How's your younger brother, Sasuke, doing lately?" Kakashi suddenly asked. "He must be quite active at school."

Itachi seemed surprised that the topic had turned to this, and paused for a moment before answering, "Yes, he is fine."

However, with Konoha elites like Hyuga Neji, as well as powerful outsiders like Gaara from Sunagakure and Deidara from Iwagakure gathered in the special training class, failures and setbacks are probably commonplace.

As for Sasuke... he never asked him for help, nor did he even bring it up himself.

As an Uchiha, he could understand Sasuke's choice.

But as the older brother, when he is no longer one of the options his younger brother can confide in or rely on when he encounters setbacks, a sense of loneliness inevitably arises in his heart.

"It sounds like you've encountered quite a few problems. It would be so helpful to have a companion at this time..."

As he spoke, he shook his head.

"However, I don't really have the right to say such things." After all, Kakashi remembers very clearly what he was like at that age.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door. The person who entered was Bi, the resident person in charge of the Joint Affairs Bureau for Kirigakure.

He is said to be the oldest elder of Kirigakure and a confidant of Master Gen.

"Kakashi, excuse me," said Violet. "There is something I need to formally inform Konoha and the secret service about."

"Please speak." Kakashi sat up straight, and Itachi quietly stepped aside, assuming a posture of listening and taking notes.

"Lady Terumi Mei has decided to depart for Kirigakure tomorrow." Aoi stated her purpose directly. "The itinerary is set, and the accompanying guards have been arranged. This is to report in accordance with procedure."

Kakashi's eyes flickered slightly. The only reason for leaving at this time could be that Takigakure had been attacked.

“I understand.” The silver-haired Jonin pondered for a moment. “I understand Mei Terumi’s concerns, but could you please ask her to postpone her trip for two days?”

Bi asked, puzzled, "Kakashi, what do you mean?"

Kakashi said, "Although it is clear that the target is the Jinchūriki."

"However, under the current circumstances, important high-ranking figures in each ninja village, especially those who know core secrets or are closely connected with matters related to the tailed beasts, may become targets for the other side to try to break through or deter."

"After all, they possess techniques that even the most skilled sensory ninjas cannot detect. Before these techniques are cracked, ensuring the safety of the ninjas who have access to the core secrets is the best way to protect their respective villages."

He suggested, "The support team sent by Konoha to Takigakure is expected to return in the coming days. Could you ask Jonin Terumi Mei to wait a day or two, and then the secret service can coordinate to escort her back safely?"

After a moment of contemplation, Bi nodded: "This concerns Lady Terumi Mei's safety, so your consideration is very necessary. I will immediately relay this matter back to her for her decision. I will notify you as soon as I receive a reply."

"Good work."

Bi Lei decisively took his leave. Silence returned to the office, but the tension from their conversation seemed to linger in the air.

Itachi stepped forward again and asked in a low voice, "Kakashi-senpai, do you need me to prepare a coordination plan and a list of backup guards for this matter?"

"Yes, let's prepare first, just in case," Kakashi said. "Akatsuki's actions are faster and harder to defend against than expected. This will likely make the atmosphere at subsequent joint meetings even more delicate..."

Before he could finish speaking, there was another knock on the door, and this time the knocking was much more urgent.

This time, it was Wenya who came in.

"Kakashi." He even skipped the usual polite greetings. "I just received a message from the village via the emergency channel—the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi, has been confirmed missing."

"The secret agents guarding Lao Zi have also lost contact."

Having said all that, the conclusion is almost self-evident.

Wenya stared intently at Kakashi: "The Tsuchikage has requested an emergency meeting of representatives from the Five Kage and high-ranking officials from the villages involved, to address the ongoing attacks on Jinchuriki and their security."

"The location... we hope to decide on Konoha as soon as possible. We need an answer, Kakashi."

Kakashi took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. The relaxed atmosphere that had been painstakingly built up in the office because of Itachi's arrival had vanished completely.

"I understand. This matter is of great importance. I will report to the Hokage and Shuji immediately."

"The meeting proposals are accepted in principle by Konoha. We need to hold urgent consultations regarding the specific time, location, and agenda, and then give your village a formal response as soon as possible."

(End of this chapter)