Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

"However, Danzo just said you're fine, so let's make an exception this time."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe and announced, "Genkatsu Shimura, in the name of the Hokage, I appoint you as the captain of the Third Battalion of the Anbu, primarily responsible for the border defense and barrier security of Konoha Village, as well as dealing with spies from other villages."

"Um..." Shimura Gengetsu stroked his chin, "I wanted to ask, is Kakashi in the Third Division?"

"If they're not here, could you please switch me to another team?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips twitched. At this moment, Danzo spoke up, "Kakashi Hatake is currently the squad leader of the second squad of the third battalion, and his prestige is not low."

"Many people thought he would be the next battalion commander, but this position is yours now."

"If you feel your subordinates aren't loyal enough, you can bring a few people from Root over. I believe... with the Hokage's magnanimity, he wouldn't refuse such a small matter, right?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply.

He's already been put in this position, how can he still refuse?

The Root and Anbu do not interfere with each other. What is Danzo trying to do? Is he trying to take over the Anbu, which is directly under the Hokage's command?

However, Gengetsu Shimura shook his head.

"I believe no one would dare to defy me, but let's forget about the Root people."

"However, as for the third generation of elders, I want to have Uzuki Yugao and Yuhi Kurenai join the Anbu. Is that alright?"

"no problem."

The Third Hokage smiled and nodded, "The two of them will be promoted to Special Jonin after the war, which will be enough for them to join the Anbu."

"Xuan Yue, is there anything else you want? Just tell me, and I'll grant you anything I can."

"Uh... no, actually."

Gengetsu Shimura shook his head.

What he wanted, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't give him; but what Hiruzen Sarutobi could give him, he could get himself.

“Alright then.” Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said something polite, “If you have any difficulties in the future, you can come to me anytime.”

"but..."

He looked troubled. "Because of the war, there are a lot of routine missions backlogged in the village. For the time being, you will have to lead your squad to take on more missions as an ordinary ninja before you can join the Anbu."

"what?"

Gengetsu Shimura's face fell. "I was thinking of taking a vacation first."

Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly said, "Once this busy period is over, I'll give you a two-month vacation."

"alright."

Thinking about having to endure another period of hardship, Shimura Gengetsu sighed, "I'm going back now."

"Wait!" Hiruzen Sarutobi called out to Gengetsu Shimura as he was about to leave, "We haven't finished talking yet."

"Could you hand over that Samui to me as a bargaining chip?"

"impossible."

Gengetsu Shimura looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi warily, then complained to Danzo Shimura, "Old man, what did you tell me before? Didn't you say that ninjas could dispose of their spoils as they pleased?"

"This old man stole my things and you're not going to do anything about it?"

"Hiruzen, you've gone too far." Danzo coldly confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi. "What do you want Gengetsu's prisoners for? They're his spoils of war. Do you intend to return them to Kumogakure?"

"After all, he was the Fourth Raikage's student."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave his reason with a troubled expression, "But the envoy from Kumogakure will be here soon and will definitely redeem Samui."

"I'm doing this for peace."

"Sarutobi!"

Even Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu couldn't stand it anymore. "What are you thinking? We are the victors!"

"What kind of victorious nation would eagerly fawn over the defeated nation?"

"Even if it's a peace negotiation, Kumogakure would need to pay compensation, but you're thinking of appeasing them?"

"I..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was momentarily speechless. He only wanted to lessen the hostility of Kumogakure towards Konoha and did not want the hatred between the two sides to continue.

It's just a prisoner; what's the big deal if we give him to the other side?

"You can chat all you want. Anyway, Samui is my spoils of war, and I'm not going to hand him over. If you're not afraid of death, you can send people to snatch him. Let's see if I dare to kill him."

Shimura Gengetsu gave a cold laugh, issued his ultimatum, and left the office.

"Ugh..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, realizing he had upset the little guy again, and could only give up on the idea altogether.

Seeing that Danzo also had a cold face, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew he needed to make amends, so he immediately asked another question to divert Danzo's attention.

"Let's wait until Yunyin arrives before discussing negotiations. There's still one problem we need to solve."

"The Uchiha... have gone too far this time."

Upon hearing this, Danzo indeed put the matter behind him, and the other two advisors also focused their attention.

The Hyuga clan mobilized almost its entire force this time, and other ninja clans also contributed manpower and resources.

Only the Uchiha clan sent two underage ninjas; none of the other ninjas appeared on the battlefield.

This attitude shows that they don't consider themselves part of Konoha at all, and is undoubtedly a challenge to the authority of the Konoha F4.

"Danzo, the task of suppressing the Uchiha is entrusted to you..." Hiruzen Sarutobi said quietly. Danzo, unusually, did not contradict him and silently nodded in agreement.

"Don't worry, I won't let them get away with this..."

"Xuan Yue!"

On the other side, after leaving the Hokage Building, Shimura Gengetsu intended to go home, but was stopped by Hyuga Hizashi.

"Hizashi-sensei?"

"You don't have anything else to do right now, do you?"

"No, what's wrong?" Shimura Gengetsu shook his head and asked in confusion.

"Come with me first."

Hyuga Hizashi looked around and then led Shimura Gengetsu to the Hyuga clan's territory.

The two entered a quaint and elegant tea room, where someone was already inside.

Hiashi Hyuga sat there with two children, Neji Hyuga and Hinata Hyuga.

Hyuga Hizashi closed the door, knelt down beside Hyuga Hizashi, and under the astonished gaze of Shimura Gengetsu, the two adults and two children performed a dogeza (a traditional Tibetan kowtow).

Hiashi Hyuga said sincerely, "Gengetsu-kun, thank you for your help to the Hyuga clan, and thank you for saving my brother."

"Without your intervention, Hizashi would definitely have done something foolish, and this war would not have ended so smoothly. If it dragged on and we lost, the Hyuga clan would truly become the sinners of Konoha."

“From now on, whenever Lord Xuan Yue gives orders, Ri Xiang will not dare to disobey.”

Hizashi was also completely convinced. "Neji, remember, you must listen to Gengetsu-kun from now on. He saved me and also saved your future."

"I understand, Father," Hyuga Neji replied in a childish yet firm tone.

Hinata opened her little mouth, imitating her father's manner, and prepared to kowtow. At this moment, Shimura Gengetsu also reacted, instantly appearing in front of Hinata, picking her up and holding her in his arms.

"Alright, it has nothing to do with you, no need to thank me."

"Xuan, Master Xuan Yue."

Hinata, who was being held, was already steaming.

Fortunately, Gengetsu Shimura quickly put the girl down, preventing her from fainting, and helped the others up as well.

"So that's why Mr. Hizashi pulled me over here so mysteriously, he had this all planned."

"I'll accept your thanks this time, but don't try that again."

Gengetsu Shimura felt he was fully entitled to this great gift, because he had indeed saved the entire Hyuga clan.

The longer the war drags on, the more the villagers will blame the Hyuga family. If they had chosen to sacrifice themselves, things wouldn't have turned out this way.

At that time, the two brothers might have had to commit seppuku in order to salvage the family's dignity.

The villagers of Konoha are really that stupid; Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang of Konoha, is the best example.

"I'm not really used to being this serious every day," Hizashi said with a smile. "We'll see how things go from here on out."

Hiashi Hyuga nodded silently. The fact that the two had expressed their stance basically meant that the Hyuga clan had sided with Gengetsu Shimura.

The choice made by the Third Hokage this time was truly heartbreaking. Like an ungrateful wretch, no matter how compliant the Hyuga clan may appear, they will always just be a pawn that can be sacrificed at any time.

Hiashi Hyuga coaxed the two children away, and then he was about to tell them some secrets that children shouldn't hear.

"Xuan Yue Jun, I heard... that the Third Hokage intends to make you the captain of the Anbu?"

Gengetsu Shimura nodded. "It wasn't intentional. I've already been appointed. I'll take up my post after I finish my tasks for this period."

Having already chosen a side, Hiashi Hyuga spoke much more frankly.

"This is not a good job. Although the Anbu has great authority and only needs to follow the Hokage's orders, it is actually a constraint for you because the Anbu's missions are too secretive and cannot improve your reputation in the village."