Hiruzen grabbed his smoking pipe and got up from his seat. He looked outside the window, staring at the Hokage faces as he thought, 'This brat is indeed good at giving headaches. No wonder Shikaku was so annoyed by him. So many plans I had made… All are useless now.'
His mind rapidly calculated what he could do next. After a few minutes, he concluded, 'Without him being in the Anbu, I can't increase his influence among the younger generation. And from his words, it looks like he doesn't intend to take missions unless they are compulsory to take. The only way I can increase his reputation now is if I tell everyone what his achievements are. But…'
A frown appeared on Hiruzen's face as he continued thinking, 'But he wants to keep all his achievements a secret. Exposing them could make him resent me. And I can't casually say that he is the Spectral Swordsman without facing a diplomatic disaster.'
Even though everyone knew and believed that Fujin was the Spectral Swordsman, the smaller countries around Konoha didn't act against Konoha. They were already facing threats from other major villages and if they offended Konoha as well, they would face a lot of problems. So they wanted to bury the whole thing as much as Konoha did. As long as 'The Spectral Swordsman' didn't act openly against them, they wouldn't say a word.
But, if Hiruzen was to openly admit that Fujin was the Spectral Swordsman, then those smaller countries would have no choice but to act against Konoha and restrict their ties with Konoha due to pressure from their own nobles and ninjas. So Hiruzen couldn't do that.
He sighed again and muttered, "The only way for him to become popular quickly now would be a war. As long as he kills several ninjas at Juzo's level in a war or kills hundreds of enemy ninjas in an open battle, his reputation would increase in no time at all. But until such a war happens, he won't be able to compete with Kakashi for my seat even if he becomes stronger than Kakashi.
Leave it. Until a few years ago, I hadn't expected Fujin to become so strong. By killing Juzo, he has pretty much announced that he is a rank S ninja. As long as he doesn't completely slack off, he will reach around my level by the time he grows up.
Having such a ninja is very beneficial for Konoha, irrespective of how reputed he is or which post he has. And with his strength, gaining reputation won't take a long time once he decides to build some.'
Hiruzen decided to stop worrying about Fujin. He knew that strength was far more important than reputation. Though Fujin foiled his plans by quitting Anbu, Hiruzen could still make use of his strength when needed. In fact, he had already thought of one method to increase Fujin's fame within Konoha immediately. He deactivated the seals and got back to work.
As for the person who had just given Hiruzen a lot of headaches, he was chilling in his Anbu room, waiting for his teammates. Since he had nothing to do, he wondered, 'Why was Hiruzen so desperate to keep me in the Anbu? My first guess was that he just wanted someone who could keep taking missions non-stop like how I was doing and how Kakashi was doing before me.
But that last offer gave me a lot of advantages. To take long training breaks while in Anbu would have allowed me to go through the reserves of Elemental Crystals. Did he have any other intentions?'
Fujin thought for a bit, but couldn't think of any good reason. So he just kept thinking while waiting for his subordinates to arrive. In a few minutes, Yugao, Fumito and Bunjiro arrived and saw Fujin sitting without his mask and in deep thought.
Fujin looked up and noticed them. He smiled and said, "You guys are finally here. Sit down. I have a few important announcements."
Yugao and Fumito immediately guessed what it would have been about. After all, their last mission was a bit strange. They immediately sat down.
As they expected, Fujin said, "We have been working as a team for the last year. During this time, I have carefully observed your progress. And, I am very impressed by it.
Especially you, Bunjiro. Your abilities and mission awareness have improved several times over the last year. You are now a full-fledged Anbu ninja. However, you still need more experience and still need to improve the speed and scale of your Wind and Water jutsus."
Bunjiro nodded and replied, "Thank you, Captain. I will keep working on it."
Fujin looked at Yugao and Fumito and said, "Both of you were already very close to the Anbu Captain level a year ago. I have judged that both of you are ready to be the Anbu Captain right now. I have already talked with Lord Hokage. Both of you will be given Anbu Promotion missions soon."
Yugao and Fumito were immediately excited by the news. They said in unison, "Thank you, Captain."
Fujin nodded, looked at Bunjiro and said, "Don't be discouraged. I'm sure you'll be able to take this mission in less than 2 years."
Bunjiro replied, "I understand, Captain. Don't worry, I will keep training under you."
However, Fujin shook his head and said, "Our team will be disbanded. I am quitting Anbu. Eagle will assign you a new squad."
Fujin's words shocked his three subordinates. Just like Hiruzen, they didn't see any signs of Fujin retiring from the Anbu. In fact, they had the front row seats as they saw Fujin fight with opponents who were famed throughout the world and create one trouble after another. So this sudden announcement caught them off guard.
Bunjiro asked, "Why?"
Fujin shrugged and replied, "I had some time to think about what I wanted to do during our training break. After thinking for a while, I decided to quit."
All three were left speechless and looked at Fujin with a deadpan expression. Though Fujin had answered, it was equivalent to not saying anything.
Fujin chuckled and said, "Don't worry. Take care of yourselves. Next time, I won't be around to back you up."
Everyone nodded. Knowing that they won't be meeting very frequently in the future, Yugao, Fumito and Bunjiro asked all the queries they had. Fujin answered all of them patiently. Around half an hour later, no one had anything more to say.
Fujin said, "Though we won't meet up much in the future, you all know where I live. Feel free to visit if you need anything. Good luck with your future missions."
Yugao, Fumito and Bunjiro said their farewells and thanked Fujin once again. All three took their leave. As he left, Bunjiro thought, 'I was dreaming about becoming Anbu Captain before I turned 16. To think that Fujin would quit Anbu at my age. Did he quit because the Anbu missions weren't challenging him?'
Bunjiro had a lot of excitement in following Fujin's footsteps and becoming an Anbu Captain. But he wasn't sure about it anymore. However, he still had the determination to become as strong as Fujin.
Fujin packed up all his stuff from the room and thought, '3 years… I spent 3 years in the Anbu. During this period, my strength has increased from Jounin level to rank S. Though fighting other rank S ninjas will be fun, I have some things to do before that..'
Fujin left the Anbu Headquarters and walked on the streets as he decided, 'Now that I am rank S and have also become a Fuinjutsu Grandmaster, I can start implementing my ideas one by one. How successful I am in implementing them will indicate how much farther I can go.
Once I am successful, I can begin taking advantage of the future events that I know will happen. Even though I did mess up with Suna badly, which could have some effect on Konoha crush, the events regarding Akatsuki shouldn't be influenced much.
Though I did kill Juzo, he was supposed to die anyway. Kisame should join up with Itachi. Unless the one who killed Juzo can also kill Kisame, it won't have any effect on their activities.
Anyways, for now…'
Fujin looked at the Ichiraku ramen stall and entered. He thought, 'Though I don't need to eat due to the soldier pill, there is no harm in eating to treat myself.'
As soon as he entered, Ayame noticed him and said, "Fujin, come in. What do you want to eat?"
Fujin sat down and replied, "Just the usual 3 bowls."
Ayame said, "Coming right up."
She immediately went to assist her father in making the Ramen.
Within a few minutes, the first bowl was ready. Ayame delivered it and Fujin began eating. Fujin ate, enjoying the delicious taste and the peace and tranquillity.
Suddenly, a certain someone came running into the stall and sat on the stool next to Fujin's and shouted, "2 Miso Ramens for me!"
