Inside the Hokage's Office in the Hokage Building.

Chiba met Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo.

Chiba took out the scroll Orochimaru had given him and handed it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hokage-sama, this is what Orochimaru-sensei asked me to give you. It's a summary of the current situation in the Land of Hot Springs."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took the scroll and began to read it.

At this moment, Danzo looked at Chiba and said, "I heard that you led four Uchiha in the Land of Hot Springs to carry out a mission?"

Danzo's voice immediately gave off a feeling that he was about to do something bad.

Chiba nodded and said, "Danzo-sama, yes, by Orochimaru-sensei's order, I, as the captain, led four Uchiha Ninja."

Danzo narrowed his eyes, looked at Chiba, and asked, "Only because of Orochimaru's order?"

Chiba said again, "Yes, only because of Orochimaru-sensei's order."

Danzo was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What do you think of the Uchiha?"

Chiba looked at Danzo in confusion.

Danzo asking him this question almost certainly meant he was trying to confirm his stance.

But for a Jonin like him to express his views on the Uchiha here, whether positive or negative, would be inappropriate.

Danzo said expressionlessly, "I remember you seemed to have a deep conflict with the Uchiha clan. Since you accepted the mission to lead four Uchiha Ninja, has the conflict been resolved?"

Chiba calmly replied, "It's not about resolving conflict. We are all comrades of the same village. Personal conflicts are completely insignificant compared to the village."

As a shrewd person, Danzo naturally understood Chiba's implied meaning.

Chiba's conflict with the Uchiha clan had not been resolved; he only led the team because it was a mission.

Danzo's lips curved, "Chiba, you're quite good. Have you considered joining my Root?"

Chiba was startled. Danzo was trying to recruit him to Root right in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi?

Isn't that a bit much?

And he didn't want to join Root right now.

Just as Chiba was thinking about how to politely decline Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi had finished reading the scroll in his hand and said with a smile, "Danzo, Chiba is now a pillar of our Konoha. He needs to remain active on the battlefield and cannot join your Root. The current situation in the Land of Hot Springs is very stable, and the situation on other battlefields is also quite good. We can now accumulate strength and send a large number of Genin to the battlefield to gain experience and enhance their strength."

Danzo snorted, "Don't be too optimistic. According to the intelligence gathered by my Root Ninja, that old geezer from Hidden Stone Village has already dispatched Ninja to make contact with the Hidden Mist Village. You sent so many Ninja to the Hidden Mist Village and were turned away, but the Hidden Mist Village met with the Hidden Stone Village Ninja. This means there's a high possibility that Hidden Stone Village will form a cooperation with the Hidden Mist Village. Once the Hidden Mist Village explicitly cooperates with Hidden Stone Village, the alliance of the three Ninja Villages—Hidden Stone Village, Cloud, and Hidden Mist—will certainly attack our Konoha directly."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said helplessly, "Of course I know this situation. It's been suppressed for so long; it's rare to get some good news, so let's be a little happy. As for the cooperation between Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Mist Village, there's no need to be so pessimistic."

Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in surprise, "What news did you get?"

The smile on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face disappeared, and he said seriously, "You should know about the Bloody Mist created by the Third Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village, right?"

Danzo nodded, "I do know. It's a policy enacted to select powerful Ninja, right?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe and said, "That's right. According to the intelligence our Ninja gathered by infiltrating the Hidden Mist Village, this policy of the Hidden Mist Village has indeed selected many powerful Ninja, but the death rate of other Ninja is too high. If this continues, the Hidden Mist Village is very likely to fall into a dilemma of lacking external military strength."

Danzo frowned, "You think the Hidden Mist Village won't cooperate with Hidden Stone Village?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, "No, as long as there's profit, cooperation between the Hidden Mist Village and Hidden Stone Village is inevitable. But if the Hidden Mist Village lacks external military strength, it's also an opportunity for us. Do you think Ōnoki and Ay are the types to suffer losses?"

Danzo understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning, "You mean Ōnoki and Ay will kick out the Hidden Mist Village, and then we can turn the Hidden Mist Village to our side?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "No one knows how the future will unfold, but the Hidden Mist Village could very well be a breakthrough point for us. Moreover, Ōnoki is not a peaceful fellow either, so I believe our Konoha's current situation doesn't need to be overly pessimistic. We still have many opportunities."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Chiba again, "Sorry, Chiba, we were so engrossed in chatting that we forgot about you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a scroll from a drawer and handed it to Chiba, "This is your transfer order to the Land of Grass battlefield."

Chiba took the scroll and bowed, "Thank you, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen Sarutobi then asked, "There's one more thing. Orochimaru said that you don't plan to take three Genin this time, but instead plan to directly take on a disciple?"

Chiba gave the prepared answer, "Yes, Hokage-sama, because my mobility is suited for solo action, it's really not suitable for leading a three-person squad. So I plan to take on a disciple and teach him directly on the battlefield."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said kindly, "Hmm, that's fine too. The Ninja Academy graduation exam is in two days. At that time, you can choose a graduating Genin as your disciple."

Chiba lowered his head slightly and said, "Yes. Then, Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama, I won't disturb you any longer. I'll take my leave now."

"Go on."

Chiba left the office, letting out a long sigh.

He hadn't expected to suddenly encounter Danzo in the office this time, and that Danzo would directly try to recruit him, which caught Chiba completely off guard.

Although it was their first meeting, Danzo's notorious reputation was deeply etched in Chiba's mind.

Chiba frowned slightly. Now he must have officially entered Danzo's sights; he was being targeted by him.

Danzo was a person who truly resorted to any means to achieve his goals.

In the future, he would have to be wary of Danzo when carrying out tasks.

After Chiba walked out of the Hokage Building, a smile appeared on his face as he walked towards Mito Uzumakis Residence.

Meanwhile, inside the office.

Danzo said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Do you think he's suitable?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't react immediately, "What are you talking about?"

Danzo said with a grim expression, "Of course, the Uchiha clan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression immediately hardened, "Danzo, Konoha needs the Uchiha's strength right now! It's not the time to resolve their problems."

Danzo reminded him, "What about after the war ends? The Uchiha are so actively participating in the war now, aren't they just trying to regain their place in Konoha's center of power? You must be aware of the dangers of the Uchiha, so you need to start considering this as soon as possible."