Although Jie Uchiha and Fugaku Uchiha had entirely different motivations, the matter of Jie joining the Anbu was finalized.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was overjoyed when Jie agreed to the arrangement. He immediately ordered Kakashi to escort the boy to the Anbu headquarters.
The Anbu—officially the Assassination Tactics and Special Purpose Forces—was established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and operated directly under the Hokage's command. Had Kakashi not been leading the way, Jie would never have believed that the headquarters of the Hidden Leaf's prestigious black-ops division was located beneath a public bathhouse.
They entered the bathhouse and slipped through a concealed door. After winding through a labyrinthine corridor and passing through several Genjutsu barriers, the scenery before Jie shifted entirely.
Operatives in standard-issue Anbu uniforms and animal masks moved in a constant stream, handling classified intelligence at every turn. Yet, the entire base was eerily quiet. Aside from the necessary whispers of exchanging information, there was no noise whatsoever.
The moment Kakashi and Jie arrived, an Anbu operative wearing a Tengu mask materialized before them.
"I am under orders from the Third Hokage to bring him in for registration," Kakashi said calmly, pulling a signed authorization slip from his vest.
The Tengu-masked ninja inspected the document. Upon verifying its authenticity, he waved his hand. Immediately, a female operative wearing a rabbit mask stepped forward to guide Jie deeper into the facility.
Along the way, Jie noticed the woman's striking red eyes and felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
'Red eyes, but not from the Uchiha clan...' Jie mused. 'Why does she remind me of that unlucky girlfriend of the guy with the thirty-million-ryō bounty?'
However, he searched his memories and couldn't recall Kurenai Yuhi ever joining the Anbu. He quickly dismissed the thought. After all, his knowledge of the original plot didn't cover every single obscure detail of this world. Besides, with the porcelain mask obscuring her face, he couldn't be entirely sure if it was actually Kurenai.
"We're here," the operative announced.
After traversing a long corridor, a massive training facility opened up before him.
"This is the training and selection ground for Anbu reserves," the Rabbit-masked operative said softly. "You can rest here for a bit. Someone will be along shortly to go over standard Anbu protocols with you. If you want to become an official operative, there's a unified assessment the day after tomorrow. Pass the test, and you'll be a true member of the Anbu."
Jie gave a slight nod, indicating he understood.
"Also, as someone who has been through this... let me give you a piece of advice." Just before leaving, the operative hesitated for a long moment before speaking up again. "You're still too young. You'll be at a severe disadvantage against recruits who have been training here for years. I don't know what your motivations are, but I strongly advise you to skip this upcoming assessment. The Anbu isn't child's play; even in a standard exam, people can die."
After delivering her warning, she glanced around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, then turned and headed back toward the main hall.
'It's rare to find someone that kindhearted in the Anbu,' Jie thought, shaking his head with a faint smile.
Just for that little warning, if their paths ever crossed in the future, he'd be sure to save her life. Or, at the very least, grant her a quick death.
He didn't have to wait long. Soon, another operative led Jie into a large classroom. A few other recruits were already seated inside.
"Fill out this application form, and come up with a codename for yourself," instructed the Cat-masked Anbu who had brought him in. "Names are meaningless in the Anbu. Only your codename will follow you here. By the way, my codename is Kenzaki."
'A codename?' Jie pondered for a moment before a fitting title surfaced in his mind.
"I've decided. My codename will be Heavenly Fiend!"
It was a little edgy, sure, but it undeniably sounded cool.
"Heavenly Fiend?" Kenzaki chuckled. "It's an arrogant title. We'll see if you have the strength to back it up."
While Jie filled out the paperwork, Kenzaki briefed him on the fundamental rules and precautions of the division. Once the briefing was complete, Kenzaki collected the forms and headed for the door.
"Hey, kid," he called back over his shoulder. "I've got a good feeling about you. Do me a favor and don't die in the assessment the day after tomorrow."
With only two days left until the exam, Jie couldn't be bothered to return to the Uchiha compound. He decided to just crash at the base. Even as a mere reserve, the facility had plenty of dormitories available for him to use.
Bored out of his mind, he took a stroll around the underground complex and stumbled upon an interesting location.
The Armory!!
It was a specialized department dedicated to forging weapons and armor for the Anbu operatives. The timing was perfect. During his last system settlement, Jie had been rewarded with Hatake Kenjutsu, but he hadn't yet acquired a proper blade to use it with.
Since he was already here, he figured he might as well see if the Anbu armory had anything suitable in stock. Because Hatake Kenjutsu functioned as a specialized form of Nintaijutsu, his ideal weapon would naturally be a high-quality blade forged from Chakra-conductive metal.
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