Tenten agreed and then dashed out excitedly.
"Aunt Mine! My brother got into the Anbu! My father is inviting you to dinner this weekend!"
"Uncle Tensuke, my brother got into the Anbu! You and Aunt Yourui should come over for dinner this weekend!"
"Uncle Takatou, my brother…"
Outside the window, Tenten's excited shouts echoed through the neighborhood, carrying her joy to everyone she met.
With Kazuki's sharp perception, he could still hear her loud voice from several hundred meters away. He sighed, rubbing his forehead.
He never expected that simply joining the Anbu would cause such a commotion in his family.
As for the fact that he once turned down the Hokage… well, it was best not to bring that up. No need to give them another shock.
Not long after, Tenten came running back, out of breath but still beaming.
And right behind her, a stream of people started arriving at their doorstep.
"Oh, Takeshi! Congratulations, congratulations! They say a tiger father has no weak sons—Kazuki really takes after you! Not only did he become a ninja, but he even made it into the Anbu! That's incredible!"
"Takeshi, as soon as I heard from little Tenten, I rushed right over! I didn't have time to prepare a proper gift, so I just brought some freshly fried tempura from home—let Kazuki have a taste!"
"Brother Takeshi, my boy Jiichiro keeps talking about becoming a ninja. I don't suppose Kazuki has some time to give him a little guidance? With our brotherly bond, name your price—I won't be stingy!"
One after another, the neighbors poured in, chatting and celebrating. Kazuki watched as his father, Takeshi, got swept up in the lively conversations, his enthusiasm growing by the minute.
Suddenly, Kazuki felt an impending sense of doom.
He caught sight of Tenten glancing at him with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Their gazes locked. In an instant, they understood each other perfectly—run!
Without hesitation, they bolted.
That night, Kazuki lay on his bed, flipping through a document Kakashi had handed him earlier that day. It contained a detailed introduction to the Anbu—its structure, protocols, daily routines, and responsibilities.
Further into the text, he found his assigned Anbu identification number and the official codename registration form.
This was his first true step into Anbu life, and he was already realizing that it wasn't just about combat. There was far more to learn—ciphered communication, secret codes, intelligence gathering, and covert operations.
Every Anbu member had to undergo a period of adaptation before they could truly handle their responsibilities.
Of course, being in Anbu had its perks.
First, all necessary ninja tools for training were provided for free. The mission rewards were significantly higher than those for regular shinobi. And if an Anbu ninja fell in battle, the compensation paid to their family was multiple times that of an ordinary ninja's.
It wasn't without reason that Anbu were sometimes called "ninja civil servants"—the benefits were exceptional.
Not that Kazuki cared much about these things.
He already had plenty of ninja tools, and money wasn't an issue for him.
The second major perk, however, was something far more valuable—access to Konoha's classified archives.
As an Anbu, he could read intelligence reports on other nations and villages, classified documents, and historical records usually restricted to high-ranking officials.
And then there was the greatest benefit of all.
Anbu members were granted entry to Konoha's secret ninjutsu archive, where they could study and master any jutsu ranked B-level or lower, including ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu.
For this privilege alone, countless shinobi risked their lives to join Anbu, despite the grueling missions and constant danger.
For someone like Kazuki, who came from a civilian background, this opportunity was everything.
B-rank ninjutsu alone were techniques that most elite ninja—the backbone of the shinobi world—spent their entire lives mastering. To have free access to them was an incredible advantage.
Of course, not all B-rank jutsu were created equal.
A technique wielded by an ordinary Jōnin and the same technique in the hands of a Hokage-level shinobi—like the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi—were leagues apart in power.
But that didn't matter.
What mattered was that Kazuki now had the key to power—and he intended to make full use of it.
To a certain extent, a shinobi's overall combat ability is determined by the balance between their ninjutsu proficiency and personal strength—both are indispensable.
"My strength is decent now, but the variety of ninja tools I've revealed to others is still limited. Some tools need the right moment and justification to be introduced. This ninjutsu scroll serves as the perfect excuse."
Kazuki muttered to himself after reading the document.
"And learning more about ninjutsu might also help me develop my own ninja tools."
The Next Morning
Kazuki donned the Anbu uniform he had brought back the previous day. After securing his fox-mask in place, he left his home.
Following the coordinates marked in the document, he navigated his way through Konoha's hidden passages until he arrived at an underground entrance.
The Anbu headquarters, concealed beneath the Hokage Building itself, was a covert stronghold. Though Anbu operated in multiple branches scattered across Konoha, all units ultimately reported to this central hub. The strategic layout allowed the Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi—to issue commands to Anbu instantly via the interconnected passageways.
As Kazuki stepped inside, an eerie, chilling air swept over him. Being underground, the Anbu facility was dimly lit, creating a somber atmosphere.
Masked figures clad in standard gray Anbu armor and black cloaks moved swiftly past him, their presence exuding quiet menace. Some spared him a fleeting glance, but most ignored him entirely.
These were Konoha's elite operatives—hardened by countless battles.
Kazuki continued forward until a masked figure approached him and spoke in a low voice:
"Mink?"
Mink—his designated Anbu codename.
"Yes," Kazuki responded.
"Follow me."
The Anbu operative was curt, leading Kazuki deeper into the headquarters.
"Over there is the mission center—where assignments are posted and reports are submitted."
"That area supplies rations, ninja tools, medicines, and other provisions—free for Anbu personnel."
"And beyond that is the archive containing scrolls on ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. You are permitted to access them as needed."
As they walked through Anbu's corridors, Kazuki gained a deeper understanding of the division. While he had read about Anbu in the past, experiencing it firsthand revealed far more than any written account could.
Anbu was Konoha's last line of defense—its deadliest sword.
Every operative in the unit was at least an elite Chūnin in strength, if not Jōnin-level.
At last, his escort led him to the Anbu Commander's office.
"Lord Captain, Mink has arrived."
"Understood. You're dismissed."
As the other ninja exited, only Kakashi Hatake and Kazuki remained.
Kakashi, clad in his black Anbu armor, observed him with a cold gaze.
"Mink, I reviewed your profile. Under normal circumstances, Academy graduates like you wouldn't qualify for Anbu."
His tone was sharp, indifferent.
"Though Hokage-sama personally arranged for your recruitment, that doesn't mean I acknowledge your strength."
Kazuki tilted his head slightly, studying Kakashi with intrigue.
"Do I need your approval?"
Kakashi: "…"
For a brief moment, silence filled the office.
Kakashi's expression darkened. He could already tell—Kazuki was not one to blindly follow orders.
After a short pause, Kakashi spoke again, his voice colder than before:
"You don't need my approval.
But you will need to prove yourself to the rest of Anbu."
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