The Shadow Hokage [DISCONTINUED]

CHAPTER 4: RISE OF KITSUNE (EDITED)

"I'm sorry, what?" Naruto exclaimed, his disbelief evident in his voice. Just two years ago, he had been an ANBU member, and a year ago, he became a captain. He couldn't fathom what he had just heard.

"I, Drago, will step down as the commander and appoint Kitsune as the new commander," Drago stated, kneeling before Naruto.

Naruto turned to Hiruzen, his face revealing his confusion. "Old man?" he said, unable to maintain his Kitsune facade due to the shock.

Hiruzen nodded and calmly replied, "I agree with Drago." This was met with a resounding "WHATTTT?!?!?" from Naruto. He had just achieved a record-breaking progression in his career: ANBU at the age of 6, captain at 7, and now, at 8, the commander.

Drago spoke up once again, breaking the silence. "Consider it my birthday gift to you. I have witnessed your exceptional skills, maturity, and strength even at such a young age. By the time you reach your prime, you will have already surpassed Hokage-sama."

"The commander position shouldn't be handed out as a birthday gift!" Naruto exclaimed in frustration.

"Stop shouting!" Hiruzen interjected, causing Naruto to immediately fall silent.

Kitsune was known as a calm, cold-blooded, and merciless ANBU member, solely dedicated to protecting those deemed worthy. However, Naruto's true self, hidden beneath the Kitsune mask, was a mix of emotions: a weeping mess, an icy killer, and a cheerful individual. He had multiple sides, each surfacing at different times.

Naruto's expression turned serious as he asked, "What is the real reason behind this decision?"

"Similar to what Kakashi once said when he appointed you as a team leader, I also sense an immense untapped potential within you. Being a commander is a challenging role. You make decisions from the shadows, carrying out deeds unknown to the public. That's what sets ANBU members and shinobi apart. However, ANBU operates at a higher level as they handle top-ranking missions. Being a commander means being a Hokage without the paperwork. You decide whom to send on dangerous missions, bearing the risk of losing them. That's the essence of being a shinobi: risking one's life for the sake of the country. As the commander, you will have more responsibilities than when you were part of a team. Your subordinates already recognize you as the strongest, most intelligent, and above all, the most trustworthy individual to lead them," Drago explained.

Naruto muttered, "I'm fortunate that I had my clones read the entire library; otherwise, I'd be overwhelmed with information and collapse." Steam escaped from his ears as he wiggled like a jelly. Despite being a strong ANBU member, everyone had their weaknesses, even if they seemed trivial.

Both Hiruzen and Drago chuckled at the sight of the usually composed Kitsune behaving so amusingly.

Hiruzen turned to Drago and asked, "Shall I assign you to Special Team Red?" Drago nodded, and Hiruzen responded with a simple "Very well, you are dismissed."

~

"Itachi, can you believe it? He became the commander before you even became a captain!" Shisui taunted.

"Watch your words, Shisui. You're still stuck as a subordinate!" Itachi retorted, causing Kakashi and Naruto to burst into laughter.

"Don't forget, Itachi, you're a subordinate too, so you can't insult me!" Shisui shot back. The two of them then engaged in a playful argument, while Kakashi and

Naruto could only sigh. They had grown accustomed to witnessing these bouts between the two.

"This is our daily life as members of Team Red," Naruto murmured.

~~~

HEEEEEE YOU ARE PRESENTED WITH ANOTHER SHORT ONE SORRY! The next chapters may seem boring but please don't skip it unless you want to be confused of the future chapters ^^