Naruto: From Spy to Hokage

...

When Sawara Kiri heard his name being called, his body instinctively froze.

However, it wasn't because of the young girl's voice.

In the center of his vision, above the girl's head, there was a faint white halo.

[Shallow Heart Knot]

At this moment, his heartbeat quickened by half a beat. Finally, after a whole day, it appeared!

"Ahem."

"Captain Sayuri."

Before the young girl could say anything more, another slightly older female shinobi couldn't help but speak up to remind her, carefully tugging at her clothes from the side.

Only then did Uchiha Sayuri remember she was still on duty. She immediately tensed her face and turned slightly sideways, seemingly not wanting him to see her intimidating Sharingan.

Her tone returned to its initial cold calmness, though there was a slight unnatural pause when she spoke "Um... your inspection is complete."

"If we need any further cooperation, please come to the Uchiha Police Force for follow-up investigation when you receive the message."

The girl's tone was official, but not official enough. There were subtle, barely noticeable emotions mixed in.

"...Captain Sayuri?"

The female shinobi beside Uchiha Sayuri slowly emphasized her tone.

You just took a casual glance, didn't you?

Meanwhile, she stared at Sawara Kiri with her intimidating Sharingan.

Uchiha Sayuri turned her head, secretly pouting, but still let out a soft sigh. Under her deputy's supervision, she walked to Sawara Kiri's side, activated her Sharingan to take a few more looks, and then spoke rather helplessly

"Alright."

"Sorry for the disturbance today, please return to your work."

Sawara Kiri looked at the still-burning fire on the ground, the charred corpses, the bodies lying on the ground, the blood splattered everywhere from slit throats...

Even though he needed [Heart Knot points], he knew this wasn't the place to talk.

Moreover, in his peripheral vision, that female shinobi who appeared to be in her early twenties was standing beside Uchiha Sayuri, watching his every move with the suspicious gaze of someone watching a thief, as if ready to execute him at any moment.

"Well then, thank you for your hard work..?"

"Mm."

The young girl maintained her official, cold demeanor in front of everyone, giving an almost imperceptible nod. However, as they passed each other,

"I'll treat you to a meal next time."

Uchiha Sayuri tilted her head and whispered in his ear.

Sawara Kiri smiled seemingly indifferently, took one last glance at the faint white halo above her head, and then walked downstairs under the murderous gaze of the other female shinobi.

However, once he was out of sight of the Uchiha Police Force group, he seemed to casually glance into the distance, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. Earlier, when the Fire Release jutsu appeared, 'Kojima-kun' had already disappeared.

His reaction was quite quick.

...

After catching a glimpse of Sawara Kiri's figure disappearing into the hallway, Uchiha Sayuri finally let out a secret sigh of relief.

However, when she glanced again at the scorched marks on the ground left by her Fire Release jutsu earlier, she couldn't help but grind her teeth in frustration.

Damn it!

Isn't Kiri's office on the second floor?!

Although she thought her entrance with the Fire Release jutsu was quite impressive at the time, now thinking about how Kiri had seen her flashy display, Uchiha Sayuri's cheeks couldn't help but burn.

The image she had maintained for so long when they were on the same team was definitely ruined!

At this thought, a heavy dark cloud seemed to hover over Miss Sayuri's head, her swelling Yin Release chakra seemingly making the tomoe in her Sharingan spin faster.

Uchiha Sayuri, 15 years old.

Fire Release Expert, Special Jōnin.

Current Captain of the Third Squad, First Division of the Uchiha Police Force.

The 'thieving cat' according to Miss Sawara Yukie.

Until two years ago, she was a Genin teammate of Sawara Kiri.

During their three-year stint as teammates, she had always tried to maintain the image of a gentle, cheerful, lively, and kind ninjutsu-type teammate.

Creak—

Someone's back teeth suddenly made a faint grinding sound.

However, what had happened couldn't be undone, and being angry now wouldn't help.

"Huff."

The young girl let out a long breath, suddenly turned her head to the other side, instantly reverting to her earlier stern demeanor. Her crimson Sharingan swept toward a shinobi at the end of the crowd who was trying to slip away, and she barked

"Who said you could leave?"

"Everyone line up! Hold out your shinobi tool pouches and scrolls for inspection! No one hiding anything!"

"ANBU members may leave and report to the Third Hokage."

"Rinko, Gen! Check the remaining people! Tekka, Yuna, come with me to examine the traces."

"Yes!"

A wave of groans and complaints filled the air.

After all, the Intelligence Division wasn't the only department working overtime lately - everyone had been extremely busy.

With today's inspection, they would definitely be getting home late again.

Unfortunately, the other Uchiha weren't as accommodating as Sayuri was with people she knew. When their Sharingan activated, they naturally carried an extraordinary Yin Release intimidation, and they were thorough in searching the staff.

Of course, these steps were necessary.

Seeing this, Namikaze Minato in the crowd let out a relieved sigh.

Even the Uchiha Police Force didn't have the authority to inspect ANBU members — though due to some unmentionable upper-level conflicts, both sides would occasionally confront each other for various reasons.

Resolving things peacefully like today was a good thing.

However, before leaving, Minato instinctively turned to look at the corpses on the ground, somewhat uncomfortably gripping his Three-Pronged Kunai.

He had an inexplicable worry.

Even for death squads, these people's resistance... seemed too weak.

He wasn't the only one with such doubts.

Uchiha Sayuri bent down, carefully observing the remaining chakra reactions on the corpses with her Sharingan, her brows furrowed.

Had the real big fish not surfaced yet?

...

Afternoon, at the Udagawa riverbank.

Having just finished his lunch, Sawara Kiri placed his empty lunchbox and disposable chopsticks on the railing. He rested both hands on the riverside railing, gazing at the great river that separated the Nara clan district from the central street, looking straight across to the opposite shore.

In his hand, grains of rice mixed with small paper balls scattered into the river.

From a distance, he looked like any ordinary person casually feeding fish.

If only the fish catching these rice grains and paper balls beneath the surface weren't specially trained summoning fish.

Only three of the pieces contained correct intelligence written entirely in code that needed to be deciphered using special methods. The rest were just diary entries of a rebellious teenager's pointless complaints, things that shouldn't be seen by others.

This was a double safeguard.

And so, the intelligence stolen from the sealed archives was silently transferred to his superior's hands.

However, this wasn't the most important matter.

Sawara Kiri, leaning on the riverside railing, maintained the appearance of resting with his eyes closed.

Yet, his 'Six Eyes' were watching the figure of 'Kojima-kun' who had escaped from the Hokage building after several disguise changes.

Just as he had said before.

Even if it was for gaining [Heart Knot points], Sawara Kiri couldn't keep hiding like before.

Whether it was to gain more 'bonds' or to break free from the burdensome undercover spy and gain greater autonomy for independent action, he needed to demonstrate his 'true ability' to some extent.

From very early on, Sawara Kiri understood.

In this cruel world centered around Shinobis, nothing was more important than the word 'strength.'

As long as one was strong enough, even a fool could become Hokage, control a nation, and achieve seemingly unrealistic wishes.

However, for an ordinary Chūnin working in the Intelligence Division, even with sufficient strength, one had to be more cautious.

To avoid alerting enemies and exposing an even more important alternate identity.

For this, he had to wait for the right opportunity.

For example.

This 'Kojima-kun' was very suitable to play the role of a villain.

'Your worth must be greater than what I've estimated...' Sawara Kiri thought to himself.

...