9 Entrance Of Kushida Uzumaki

Hiruzen dismissed the Headmaster with a wave. "Alright, that's enough. You can head back. I'll find the boy myself and give him his Konohagakure headband."

The Headmaster bowed deeply. "Of course, Hokage-sama. I'm sure Shun Uchiha won't disappoint." With that, he vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Hiruzen alone in his office.

A thoughtful silence descended upon the room. Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Find Shun Uchiha," he commanded, his voice echoing in the emptiness. "Bring him here. Immediately."

Four figures materialized from the shadows, Anbu agents as silent as the night itself. They acknowledged the order with a curt nod and vanished just as quickly, dispersing to search different corners of the village.

Meanwhile, Shun, already anticipating this turn of events, was making his way towards the Hokage's office. He figured the news would get back to Hiruzen fast, and he wasn't wrong. Unlike what the Anbu expected, Shun didn't need to be hunted down. He pushed open the familiar office doors and knelt before the Hokage.

"Shun Uchiha greets Lord Hokage," he said, his voice calm and respectful.

Hiruzen, surprised to see the child here already, scrutinized him with a keen eye. Though only seven years old, a maturity beyond his years shone in those crimson eyes. His expression was an unreadable mask – no trace of excitement, nervousness, or anything else. It piqued the Hokage's curiosity.

"So," Hiruzen began, "the Headmaster tells me it's time for you to graduate and become a Genin."

Shun kept his poker face intact, merely dropping his gaze to the floor. "I accept becoming a Genin, Lord Hokage," he finally spoke, "but on one condition."

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. Conditions from a fresh-faced academy graduate? This was unexpected. "And what might that condition be, Shun?"

"I don't wish for Mikoto Uchiha to graduate early," Shun stated plainly. "It's too soon for her to enter the harsh world of Shinobi."

Hiruzen found himself nodding in agreement. He didn't relish the idea of throwing a young girl into the battlefield just yet. Shun's situation was unique, but Mikoto could wait and graduate the traditional way.

"You were raised by Miyuki Uchiha and Kansuke Uchiha, weren't you?" Hiruzen inquired, studying Shun's reaction.

Shun remained impassive. "If Lord Hokage wishes to speak of them, I will listen," he replied evenly. "But I won't pry into classified information. I understand the importance of secrecy in missions."

Hiruzen sighed. This child's maturity and stoicism were both impressive and unsettling. He wasn't sure how to respond to such unwavering composure.

"There's one thing you should know," Hiruzen finally said, his voice grave. "Miyuki Uchiha and Kansuke Uchiha… they are no longer with us."

Shun kept his gaze fixed on the ground, his face an emotionless canvas. He had already steeled himself for this news. "Did they die with honour, Lord Hokage?" he asked in a quiet voice.

The Hokage hesitated. This wasn't a conversation he wanted to have. "There are things I cannot tell you about that mission, Shun."

Shun dipped his head in understanding. "I see," he murmured. "Then I will not ask further."

He knew pushing this topic wouldn't yield any answers. It was a heavy silence that settled between them, a silent exchange of grief and unspoken questions.

Soon, The Hokage rummaged through his drawer, finally pulling out a well-worn headband.

It was well-worn, bearing the faint scars of past battles etched as fine lines on the fabric. It wasn't pristine, but there was a certain undeniable aura about it.

"This," Hiruzen explained, tossing the headband towards Shun, "is the only one I have on hand right now. It belonged to Lord Hashirama himself."

Shun's mask of stoicism crumbled for the first time. He stared at the headband, the weight of its history settling on him. This wasn't just any headband; it was a symbol of the legendary First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, the undisputed strongest shinobi the world had ever seen.

"Lord Hokage," Shun began, his voice tinged with awe, "why would you offer me something so… precious? I don't deserve the honor of wearing this, the headband of Lord Hashirama."

Hiruzen smiled faintly. "Nonsense, my child. You deserve it more than you know. Did you know Madara Uchiha and Lord Hashirama were once close friends? Before… well, before things went wrong." He trailed off, the weight of history hanging heavy in the air.

"Lord Hashirama," Hiruzen continued, "always envisioned this headband adorning a worthy Uchiha, someone who embodied the true spirit of Konohagakure."

A glimmer of understanding dawned on Shun's face. This wasn't just a headband; it was a symbol of unity, a bridge between the Senju and the Uchiha, a dream of a village where both clans worked together. And perhaps, Hiruzen thought, a flicker of the Will of Fire, the unwavering loyalty to Konoha, had finally ignited within this young Uchiha.

"A perfect mission has come up, Shun," Hiruzen declared, hoping to divert Shun's attention from the weight of the headband. "A vital one."

Shun's ears perked up at the word "mission." He knew as a Genin, his assignments would likely be low-level, D-ranks or maybe the occasional C-rank.

"It's a C-rank mission," Hiruzen continued. "You'll be escorting a young girl from the Konohagakure gate to the Uzumaki compound within the village. Her name is Uzumaki Kushina. She has fiery red hair, so you shouldn't miss her."

Shun simply nodded, his expression unreadable once more. With a silent farewell, he vanished from the Hokage's office in a blur of Shunshin, the Body Flicker Technique.

Hiruzen wasn't surprised by the technique. After all, if Shun could master the Shadow Clone Jutsu, a basic jutsu like Shunshin wouldn't be much of a challenge.

But what did catch the Hokage's eye was the single hand sign Shun used. That indicated mastery – something even some seasoned Chuunins hadn't achieved.

A satisfied smile spread across Hiruzen's face. He felt like he'd unearthed a diamond in the rough, a potential prodigy. Maybe, just maybe, this young Uchiha could rise to the heights of legends like Madara and Hashirama.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and the four Anbu agents returned, their heads bowed in shame.

"We apologize, Lord Hokage," their leader rasped. "We failed to locate Shun Uchiha. We are prepared to accept any punishment."

Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, his voice turning steely. "From now on," he declared, "this team will have a new member, tasked solely with guarding the Hokage Tower. The rest of you will continue searching for Shun, but this time, within the village walls."

Confusion rippled through the Anbu ranks, but none dared question the Hokage. After all, he wasn't called the "God of Shinobi" for nothing. His wisdom and strength were legendary, the cornerstone of Konohagakure's defence. It was a reminder that despite their elite status, they were still answerable to him.

Hiruzen watched them leave, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. Maybe, he thought, relying solely on the Anbu for everything wasn't the best strategy. Perhaps, it was time for a change. And perhaps, this young Uchiha might just be a part of that change.

~~

Shun zipped through the bustling streets of Konohagakure, his dark eyes scanning the throngs of people for a fiery splash of red. He reached the village gates in record time, muscles barely breaking a sweat. A figure stood out amidst the crowd, a lone girl staring towards the Hokage monument with wide, curious eyes. Her hair was a blazing crimson, matching the description perfectly.

Shun approached cautiously, blending into the throng until he stood just a hair's breadth away. The girl, however, remained blissfully unaware of his presence. Perhaps lost in daydreams of ninja adventures under the watchful gaze of the Hokage faces.

Just as Shun cleared his throat to announce his arrival, a flash of silver materialized in front of him. A cold metal sensation grazed his throat, sending a shiver down his spine. A gruff voice barked out, "Hold it right there! Don't even think about getting any closer!"

Shun didn't flinch. He calmly met the worried gaze of a burly man, presumably the girl's guardian, his grip on the katana unwavering. "There's no need for such hostility," Shun said with an even tone that belied his young age. "I come in peace. Lord Hokage entrusted me with escorting a young woman with red hair to the Uzumaki compound."

He blinked innocently, adding, "Though, I wasn't expecting said young woman to be… so young."

The girl, finally alerted to the commotion, spun around. Her fiery hair swished with the force of her movement. When her eyes landed on Shun, they widened in surprise. She spotted the headband proudly adorning his forehead, the symbol of a Genin ninja. A gasp escaped her lips.

"You… you're a Shinobi?!" she sputtered, pointing an accusing finger at him. "But you're practically the same age as me, dattebane~~!"