Chapter 53: ANBU Assembly

Chapter 53: ANBU Assembly“I’ll use... hmm, what should my codename be?” Hatake Sakumo frowned slightly, clearly unsure about what to choose.

But Mochizuki Hui cut in with a suggestion. “Your weapon is a white short blade, sharp like a fang. Why not call yourself ‘White Fang’—Konoha's White Fang?”

Hatake Sakumo was startled for a moment before a smile spread beneath his mask.

“My codename is White Fang. I specialize in kenjutsu using my chakra short blade. I can use ninjutsu across several elements, taijutsu, and a bit of genjutsu, though I’m not particularly skilled in any of them. My chakra reserves are limited. As for my strength... I’d say I’m at the Tokubetsu Jōnin level.”

With his introduction complete, the three others turned their attention to Takahara Shuhei.

Feeling a bit awkward, Takahara Shuhei's lips twitched beneath his mask before he spoke. “I’ll go with ‘Hunter’ as my codename. I’m good at sensory and tracking techniques, and I can use Earth Release ninjutsu. I’m bad at taijutsu, genjutsu, and I can’t use kenjutsu at all... As for my strength, I’m a bit lacking since I’m only an elite chūnin.”

His voice grew quieter toward the end.

Takahara Shuhei had thought his rank as an elite chūnin would put him in the upper middle ranks within ANBU. S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

But nothing could have prepared him for joining a squad like this!

Look at his squadmates—what kind of monstrous team was this?!

A squad leader who was barely eleven or twelve years old, already a jōnin-level all-rounder.

An old hand in the squad, skilled in three elemental releases, at the Tokubetsu Jōnin level!

And the other newcomer? A master of kenjutsu, also a Tokubetsu Jōnin!

A jōnin and two Tokubetsu Jōnin in a single squad? Was this really just an ANBU team?

“Alright, since we’ve gotten to know each other a bit, we’ll meet at the ANBU base entrance at 6 AM tomorrow. If there’s nothing else, you’re dismissed,” Mochizuki Hui said, glancing at his three teammates.

Lightning shrugged, indicating he had no issues. Hatake Sakumo and Takahara Shuhei also expressed their agreement.

Mochizuki Hui nodded at Sakumo, acknowledging the recognition between them before leaving with Den.

Sakumo smiled beneath his mask, realizing that this “Light” was indeed the same “Light” he had once fought alongside. His decision to join ANBU seemed to be paying off.

“Well, I’ll head back too. See you tomorrow!” Sakumo said to Takahara Shuhei, then vanished in a flicker using the Body Flicker Technique.

This left Takahara Shuhei standing alone, feeling conflicted.

“But still... at least having strong teammates should make missions much easier,” he muttered to himself after a long pause, before heading off as well.

Meanwhile, on the path back, Mochizuki Hui teased Lightning, “Such a shame... I was expecting them to ask for a little sparring session to ‘get to know each other better,’ don’t you think?”

Lightning immediately understood that Hui was poking fun at their first meeting, where Hui had used shurikenjutsu to defeat him in their sparring match.

With a nostalgic smile, Den replied, “Brat, you still remembering that, huh?”

“Of course. That’s something I’ll never forget,” Mochizuki Hui laughed. If Bear and Wind were still around, they’d surely be teasing Lightning about that moment too.

“Tomorrow’s mission day, huh? I better go say goodbye to Tsunade. See you tomorrow, single guy!” Mochizuki Hui said with a smirk before disappearing with the Body Flicker Technique.

Lightning was left standing there, dark lines forming on his forehead as he shouted at the direction Hui had vanished into.

“Damn brat! You’re not cute at all!”

...

The next morning, at 6 AM, before the sun had risen.

Many people were still sleeping, but a few stood diligently at attention in the open space outside the entrance to the ANBU base.

The ANBU base was carved into a massive mountain, and to enter it, one had to traverse a long tunnel. Blue-green lights lined the tunnel, casting an eerie glow.

At that moment, on the open ground outside the base entrance, all the ANBU members stood in orderly rows, their eyes fixed on the steps above where the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, stood.

There were far more ANBU present than just seventy members.

As previously mentioned, ANBU was divided into four divisions, each consisting of four squads, with four members per squad.

This meant each division, including its captain, comprised seventeen people, for a total of sixty-eight across the divisions, plus the ANBU commander and deputy, making seventy in total.

But now, the ANBU numbered in the hundreds!

This was because, due to the special wartime circumstances and Senju Tobirama's efforts to train more ANBU, the organization had expanded to eight divisions. Each division now had ten squads, with four members per squad.

So, eight divisions, including their captains, amounted to 328 people, plus the two ANBU commanders, making 330 in total!

Gathered here were 330 elite ninja!

It was also thanks to this mass recruitment that Hui’s Fourth Squad now consisted of members with families and clans, leaving only him as the orphan...

From the high steps, Senju Tobirama surveyed the ANBU members below with a satisfied nod before speaking.

“These are your mission scrolls. Inside, you’ll find the targets for your assignments.

“Remember, your mission is simple: in order to avoid exposing Konoha, you are to use any means necessary to destroy your targets!”

As he spoke, Tobirama’s tone turned cold, carrying an unmistakable edge of killing intent.

The chill in his voice, coupled with the orders themselves, made it clear to every ANBU member present that their upcoming missions would be soaked in blood.

Having delivered his instructions, Tobirama used the Flying Thunder God Technique to disappear, leaving the rest to the ANBU commanders.

Once Tobirama had departed, the ANBU commander stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below.

The ANBU deputy began distributing mission scrolls to each division captain.

Once all the captains had their scrolls, the commander spoke again.

“The details for your missions are in your scrolls. Review your assignments and create your plans. All squads are to depart by noon. Dismissed!”

With those final words, all the ANBU members disappeared in a flurry of Body Flicker Techniques.

Of course, they didn’t just scatter—each division went to their respective gathering points.

The First Division’s meeting point was in a certain section of the forest behind the ANBU base—a secluded area, much like the ones used by the other divisions for their own gatherings.

The purpose of this assembly? To discuss the mission details assigned to each division, and to break down the tasks for each squad.