Early the next morning, the nineteen new Genin who had passed the assessment arrived early at the spectator stands of the First Training Ground, waiting with nervousness and anticipation for their fate to be assigned.
Soon, one Special Jonin or Jonin after another came to the edge of the field, called out names, and the called Genin immediately stood up, excited or nervous, and left with their future mentor.
The crowd gradually thinned.
Finally, only four people remained in the spectator stands… Toneri, Yusuke, Ai, Sato.
Sato fidgeted uneasily, muttering softly, "What's going on? Only the four of us left? Does no one want us?"
Ai also looked nervous, wringing her hands together.
Toneri sat with his eyes closed, seemingly unmoved.
Yusuke sat straight, his gaze calm beneath his silver hair, silently waiting.
Just then, the branches of a large tree nearby rustled slightly. Hikari's figure appeared soundlessly on the trunk like a falling leaf, looking down at them from above.
"Otsutsuki Toneri, Suzuhara Ai, Saionji Sato." She called out the three names coolly, "Come with me, to the Second Training Ground."
The three were startled, then immediately stood up, their hearts filled with both excitement and apprehension. Saionji and Ai instinctively glanced at Yusuke, who remained seated, a hint of confusion in their eyes, but they quickly followed Hikari and disappeared from the field's edge.
Now, the empty spectator stands held only Yusuke.
The sun rose gradually, time passed bit by bit.
From early morning until nearly noon, Yusuke maintained his straight sitting posture, motionless, like a silent statue.
Only the occasional soft rumble from his hungry stomach betrayed a hint of inner anxiety.
But he still waited patiently, his gaze unwavering.
Just as the noon sun was at its most intense, a tall, oppressive figure appeared like a ghost in the shadow behind Yusuke, without any warning, completely blocking the light behind him.
An indescribable pressure, mixed with the scent of blood and powerful Chakra, instantly enveloped Yusuke!
Yusuke's muscles tensed instantly. Almost instinctively, his hand went to the hilt of the training short sword at his waist, and he spun around!
What met his eyes was a face as ferocious as a shark's, a grinning mouth with serrated teeth, and a huge, strange sword tightly wrapped in bandages on his back.
Kisame looked down at the silver-haired boy who had instantly entered a state of alert, a trace of imperceptible satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
He grinned, his voice low and hoarse:
"Kid, getting impatient waiting?"
"My name is Hoshigaki Kisame. From today, I am your Jonin Instructor."
"And also your direct superior in the Anbu."
"Now, don't just stand there. Come with me, to where you belong."
Yusuke's pupils contracted slightly, 'Anbu!'
The full name, Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai (Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai), was the most elite unit of every Ninja Village, also the one with the heaviest responsibilities!
Yusuke instantly understood the meaning of his wait and felt the weight and darkness of the path ahead, so different from what he had imagined.
Without the slightest hesitation, he released the sword hilt, stood up, and bowed solemnly to Kisame.
"Yes! Hoshigaki-sama!"
No unnecessary questions, no cowardly retreat, only absolute calm and obedience.
This temperament made the smile on Kisame's face widen a bit more.
"Heh… interesting. Let's go, rookie."
The Second Training Ground was smaller than the First, but its environment was more complexly simulated, with forests, water areas, and small rocky zones.
After bringing Toneri, Ai, and Sato here, Hikari dispensed with pleasantries and directly took a scroll from her tool pouch.
"This is your team's first mission." She tossed the scroll to Sato, who stood at the front, "C-Rank extermination mission. The target is to clear out an armed group in the deep mountains of northern Demons County."
Sato fumbled to catch the scroll and hurriedly opened it with Ai and Toneri to check.
The scroll contained detailed mission intelligence:
This armed group was a remnant force of the former Land of Demons' Daimyo. After the Daimyo's government was overthrown, they fled into the steep, deep mountains of the north with some wealth and loyalists, relying on their familiarity with the terrain to repeatedly evade police-organized purges from Demon County.
Originally, they had been lying low, but the past winter's food shortage forced them to emerge recently, attacking and looting two remote villages, causing casualties and loss of supplies.
The Demon County's police initially thought they were ordinary bandits and sent special police forces to suppress them.
However, during the firefight, they found the enemy unusually tough, well-equipped, and combat-experienced.
After several encounters, the police paid a significant price to kill a few and capture one.
From the captive, they learned that the leader of these remnants was the illegitimate son of the former Land of Demons' Daimyo, guarded by at least three skilled rogue samurai, and, most likely, had also hired Rogue Ninja.
"Therefore, the mission difficulty is on the higher end of the C-Rank spectrum." Hikari's cool voice sounded, interpreting for them, "If the presence of multiple Rogue Ninja is confirmed, the mission rank may be temporarily raised to B-Rank. For you three greenhorns, it's just right. You can experience real combat and bloodshed without facing enemies you can't handle at all."
This mission was the only one Hikari could find among the many tasks that was below B-Rank but still challenging.
If there were no Rogue Ninja, a few rogue samurai and some hardened bandits wouldn't require her intervention.
Sato looked at the words on the scroll describing 'attacked villages', 'casualties', etc., his crimson pupils burning with anger, his fists clenching, "These damned noble remnants! How dare they still come out to harm people!"
Ai's small face also paled slightly, not from fear, but from sadness and anger for the victims. She subconsciously touched her medical pouch.
Toneri frowned slightly, his white eyes unconsciously activating as he scanned the surroundings, seemingly simulating reconnaissance in a mountainous environment.
"The mountainous environment is complex, not conducive to large-scale searches, but favorable for small, elite raids and concealment. We need to formulate a detailed infiltration and attack plan."
Hikari looked at the three's reactions, relatively satisfied, "You have half an hour to familiarize yourselves with the scroll's intelligence and discuss preliminary tactics. We depart for Demon County in half an hour. During the mission, I will not intervene easily unless an unforeseen circumstance beyond your capabilities arises. Understood?"
"Understood!" The three responded in unison, their expressions becoming serious and focused. They immediately huddled together and began discussing.
Meanwhile, Kisame led Yusuke through the bustling streets of the Star City to an ordinary-looking warehouse on the outskirts of the military district.
Two guards who seemed lazy but had sharp eyes stood at the door. Seeing Kisame, they immediately saluted silently and opened the warehouse's door.
Inside the warehouse were stacks of ordinary building materials. Kisame walked to the innermost wall, seemingly casually formed a few hand seals, and pressed his palm against a specific spot on the wall.
After a slight Chakra Fluctuation, the wall slid open silently to the side, revealing a downward, brightly lit metal staircase.
"Follow." Kisame walked down without looking back.
Yusuke took a deep breath, suppressing his curiosity and tension, and followed closely.
The staircase was long, leading deep underground.
At the bottom, the view opened up.
It was an extremely vast underground space with astonishing height, its overall style cold and efficient, primarily made of metal and reinforced stone.
Soft Chakra Lights were embedded in the ceiling and walls, providing illumination.
The space was divided into several areas: training grounds, equipment depot, intelligence analysis room, rest area, mission briefing room, etc.
Many figures shuttled back and forth, busy. Most wore black Anbu's uniforms or casual clothes. Although many wore animal masks, most didn't cover their faces completely or had their masks pushed up on their heads. They occasionally exchanged a few words in low voices. The atmosphere, while serious, wasn't lifeless… instead, it had a tense feeling of efficient operation.
This was completely different from the oppressive, blood-scented Anbu Base Yusuke had imagined.
"Hoshigaki-sama!"
"Commander!"
"Sir, you're back."
Anbu members passing by stopped or nodded in greeting upon seeing Kisame, their tones carrying respect.
Their gazes also curiously swept over the youthful yet calm-faced silver-haired boy behind Kisame.
Yusuke tried hard to suppress the urge to look around, keeping his eyes forward as he followed Kisame.
Kisame seemed to have eyes on the back of his head, his hoarse voice sounding, "No need to be so tense, rookie. Since you're here, look around openly. From today, you are also a member of the Anbu, with Level 1 clearance here. You have access to most equipment and areas, as long as you don't foolishly touch those marked as dangerous restricted zones."
Yusuke was startled, then relaxed slightly and began observing his surroundings cautiously.
He saw people in the training grounds practicing high-speed moving target shooting, others practicing silent assassination techniques, and even some wearing more advanced Chakra-powered armor than his, undergoing adaptive training.
In the intelligence analysis room, huge screens scrolled with complex data streams and map information.
"The Anbu is the shield of the Land of Stars, and also the blade hidden in the shadows." Kisame introduced as he walked, using his unique voice, "Main responsibilities are protecting important national figures, preventing and eliminating external threats and infiltration, scouting enemy intelligence, and… carrying out some special tasks not suitable for public disclosure, including assassination."
He paused, then added, "Different from the Anbu of other villages who only follow orders and become pure killing tools. Shura-sama said, Anbu's Ninjas are first and foremost people, Ninja of the Land of Stars. So here, for every mission, we clearly know why we are carrying it out, who the target is, the cause and effect. What we need to do is understand the meaning behind the mission, then execute it, not become puppets swinging blades with blindfolds on. Remember this firmly."
Yusuke listened seriously, engraving these words deeply in his heart.
This philosophy gave him a strange sense of reassurance and identification.
The two arrived at a door marked [Equipment].
Kisame pushed the door open and said to a staff member inside who was cleaning tools and wearing a tanuki mask, "The usual. A standard set for the rookie."
"Well, Commander, brought in another new one?" A voice, slightly aged but vigorous, came from behind the tanuki mask as he looked Yusuke over, "Kid, lucky you, to be personally brought by Hoshigaki-sama. Come here, let's get your measurements."
Soon, a brand-new set of matte black Type-2Chakra Armor, along with matching tight combat fatigues, a tool pouch, communicator, and other equipment were handed to Yusuke.
After changing into it, he felt his body become lighter, and his strength seemed to have increased somewhat.
Finally, Kisame pointed to a row of various animal masks hanging on the wall, "Anbu's members all have their own code names and masks. Pick one, rookie. From now on, in many situations, it will be your face and name."
Yusuke's gaze swept over those ferocious, mighty, cunning animal masks, finally settling on one that looked inconspicuous, even somewhat plain… a bird mask.
It looked like a young bird, not yet fully grown, slightly immature.
He reached out, took down that mask, his voice calm but firm, "Since you call me rookie, then my code name will be [Rookie]."
Kisame was taken aback for a moment, then let out a low laugh, "Heh… suit yourself."
From then on, the Anbu had a new member with the code name [Rookie].
In the following days, Yusuke, under the code name Rookie, began the high-intensity training and life in the Anbu, completely different from that of ordinary Ninja.
Due to the heavy and dangerous nature of Anbu's missions, although he was a Genin, he was thrown into trials far exceeding those of his peers.
Initially, the missions he carried out were mostly protecting important officials and escorting confidential supplies.
But even these 'relatively safe' missions required him to maintain the highest vigilance at all times and be familiar with various contingency plans.
At the same time, he had to undergo a large amount of additional training: infiltration, tracking, counter-tracking, torture and anti-torture, cryptography, disguise, and proficiently mastering the various functions and application scenarios of the Chakra Armor.
Every day, his time and energy were pushed to the limit.
But he never complained. Those black pupils beneath his silver hair always maintained calm and focus, hungrily absorbing all knowledge, honing all skills.
He knew that here, slowing down meant the risk of death, and not being strong enough meant being unable to protect anything.
Star City, underground level of the Military Research Zone, a heavily guarded laboratory.
Menma stood before a workbench. The metal tabletop was covered with various sealing formulas.
His fingertips condensed highly concentrated Chakra, carefully guiding these formulas, finally perfectly inscribing an extremely complex, powerful binding technique, the [Cage Seal], onto a specially made blank scroll.
As the last formula settled, the entire scroll emitted a faint glow, then drew inward, looking like an ordinary scroll.
Menma let out a soft breath and picked up the scroll, carefully sensing it.
"Success. It activates as soon as Chakra is injected, instantly forming a powerful sealing barrier… however, it's still far inferior to the scientific ninja tools from Boruto that even ordinary people can use." He murmured to himself.
"It ultimately requires Chakra as a key to drive it. Those without Chakra can't use it even if they get it."
This sealing technology, developed by Menma based on the scientific ninja tool, the Chakra Capacitor, researched by Tono Katasuke in Boruto, was still far from true 'scientific ninja tools'.
But it was sufficient for now.
"Tono Katasuke is still too young now-" His gaze became deep as he looked out the laboratory window at the seemingly endless underground passages, his vision seeming to pierce through layers of rock, projecting towards the distant Land of Fire.
After encountering Katasuke by chance before, he had considered whether to recruit him, but never had a good opportunity.
However, as the Night of the Massacre drew closer, Menma felt that perhaps he could use that night to not only take away the Hyuga Clan's branch family and the Uchiha Clan's remnants but also try to recruit Katasuke.
"I remember, besides Tono Katasuke, there's another scientist in the [Kara], what was his name? Amado?" Menma rubbed his chin with his right hand, frowning in deep thought, trying hard to recall memories from over twenty years ago.
Thinking of the Kara inevitably led to thinking of Jigen, this [Vessel] of Otsutsuki Isshiki.
Menma hadn't watched much of Boruto, and it was intermittent.
He only knew it was the story of Naruto's son, Boruto, and the antagonists were a group called [Kara]. Its leader, Jigen, was the [Vessel] of Otsutsuki Isshiki.
A thousand years ago, Isshiki was ambushed by Kaguya, and half his body was even fed to the Ten-Tails.
As Isshiki was dying, Jigen happened to pass by. Isshiki shrank his body, entered Jigen's body through his ear, and gradually took control of Jigen's brain in a parasitic manner, transforming him into his [Vessel].
But Jigen was even better at hiding than Black Zetsu. It was only after the Fourth Great Ninja War that he gradually began to establish Kara, or perhaps he had established organizations before but hadn't found a suitable [Vessel] like Kawaki.
As a result, even after Menma founded the Land of Stars and multiple intelligence agencies spent years gathering information on Kara and Jigen, they found not a single trace.
"How did Jigen find Amado again? I think Amado's daughter died of illness, and Jigen lured Amado with the promise of resurrection?" Menma continued digging into his deep memories.
'I vaguely remembered that Amado's secret base was in... Amegakure?'
'If Amado was in Amegakure, then Jigen, who had long had his eye on Amado, was likely also lurking in Amegakure.'
'It was even very possible that Jigen was behind the death of Amado's daughter.'
"Isshiki still has a second Ten-Tails… it might be the key for me to break through to the Six Paths-level…" Menma recalled more memories about Boruto and Isshiki.
"Tch, it seems I need to find an opportunity to go to Amegakure." A map of the Ninja World appeared in Menma's mind.
'This Amegakure, located at the center of the Ninja World, really was a place of extraordinary people.'
'Nagato and Konan of the Akatsuki, Black Zetsu, Obito, and Amado and Jigen, who were even better at hiding than Black Zetsu...'