Chapter 199
Haruto Saito tentatively asked the question. He wasn't sure whether Hiruzen Sarutobi had already made up his mind and was merely going through the motions of asking for his opinion, or if he genuinely wanted his input. As the Third Hokage of Konoha, Hiruzen had the authority to assign any ninja to any unit.
"It seems you don't want to join the Anbu," Hiruzen said, looking at Haruto seriously. "You can refuse, but I still suggest that you join. It will be greatly beneficial for you! The Anbu is not just the intelligence core of Konoha; it is also where elite ninjas are cultivated. Many of Konoha's secret techniques, even forbidden jutsus, are only accessible to Anbu members!"
"Although you are my student, I will not break the rules for you. I will teach you what I am allowed to, but for things I cannot teach directly, you will have to earn them yourself."
"This..." Haruto hesitated. The Anbu certainly offered great benefits. As Konoha's elite force, it was the closest organization to the core of power. If he wanted to grow stronger through conventional means, joining the Anbu was a logical choice. However, Haruto had a shortcut—he could grow through training while also gaining abilities through killing. Balancing both was possible, but if he joined the Anbu, his free time would be severely restricted.
"What are your concerns?" Hiruzen asked directly.
"Hmm... not enough freedom!" Haruto answered honestly. "I would rather be a mission ninja like Tsunade, free to do whatever I want when I'm not on a mission."
Hiruzen was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Haruto to have such a "laid-back" mentality.
Though Haruto was known for being restless and often causing trouble, Hiruzen knew he was also extremely hardworking.
Clearly, he didn't understand the true reason Haruto needed more free time.