With the document in hand, even though Hikaru had expected it, he still couldn't help feeling genuinely happy.
This meant he could finally leave the village openly—no sneaking around, no excuses—and do the things he'd wanted to do for a long time.
But now wasn't the time to get carried away.
He still had to decide who to bring, and more importantly, he needed a way to separate from whoever came with him. If a teammate stayed glued to his side the whole trip, some of his private plans would be impossible.
And no—he had zero intention of "solving" that problem by killing his own people.
"Whatever. I'll take it step by step. For this mission, Kakashi alone is enough. Old classmate, old subordinate—he'll follow my instructions better than anyone."
After deciding, Hikaru found Kakashi before leaving the division compound. He didn't explain the details of the mission—only told him to prepare that night and depart the next morning.
Kakashi didn't ask a single question.
He'd already lived under Hikaru's command long enough. And ANBU life had trained him into a professional: orders first, questions later.
That reaction pleased Hikaru.
Then he found Trout and gave him a simple briefing.
"While I'm gone, you'll hold the Third Division. Follow headquarters' orders. Patrol rotations are already arranged—stick to them."
"I understand, Commander," Trout answered obediently, then hesitated. "But… only you and Captain White Fang going? Isn't that too few?"
"It's enough. The Third Division is still fragile."
Hikaru shook his head, refusing the suggestion.
"Newcomer training is the priority. Taking rookies out won't help—if anything, it'll just increase casualties. Your assignment is the most important one: make them qualified ANBU. Understood?"
"Yes, Commander."
Trout didn't push further.
And frankly, he agreed. The Third Division was basically rebuilt from the ground up. Hikaru handing him training authority wasn't just "trust"—it was also practical. Hikaru's usable manpower was limited, and Trout was capable.
Besides, Trout had watched the commander selection process himself.
He'd been eliminated early.
Hikaru had fought from the first round to the last—without even using that monstrous summon—and still made it to the end.
And then there was the real shock: Flying Thunder God.
Trout admired that kind of strength. He also respected it.
After finishing the instructions, Hikaru left the office—but not the compound.
He went to the lounge, found the lockers belonging to the four Senju members assigned to his division, and left a short note inside.
Then he went home.
Again, his room had been cleaned.
It was starting to feel strange.
"Whatever. Whoever it is, it doesn't matter. I don't have any bad habits to hide."
He was curious, sure—but not alarmed.
There were no signs of rummaging, no hostile presence in his senses, and honestly… after years in ANBU, Hikaru had developed a habit of keeping anything truly important on his person.
Documents? Read, then burned.
No traces.
He packed what he needed, checked the time, then formed a one-handed seal.
Chakra stirred.
And his body vanished.
A moment later he reappeared in a forest near his neighborhood.
"Commander."
Four figures stepped forward immediately, respectful and tense.
They were the four Senju selected to join ANBU under Hikaru's banner.
"I won't waste your time. I'll be direct."
Hikaru turned to face them—no mask, a warm smile on his lips.
"I'm leaving Konoha tomorrow. I don't know how long I'll be gone. This is confidential—very few people know."
"While I'm away, you will follow Captain Trout's orders. Understood?"
His words were fast, clean, and unmistakable.
But the four of them still froze for a beat.
A young man—around eighteen—finally asked carefully, "Commander… does that mean even the Elder doesn't know you're leaving?"
"Yes."
Hikaru's smile didn't change, but to them it suddenly felt… unsettling.
"The Elder doesn't know. I told you: my departure is classified."
Their faces tightened. Sweat beaded at their temples.
They were smart—that's why they'd been chosen.
And they understood exactly what this meant: something that secret, something so few people knew… and now Hikaru had told them.
That wasn't a gift.
That was a chain.
One of them swallowed hard and tried again, voice strained. "Commander… for this operation, should we—should we go with you? That way—"
"You're questioning my decision?"
Hikaru interrupted with a gentle smile and stepped closer.
He didn't raise his voice.
He didn't leak killing intent.
He didn't even let his chakra flare.
And yet, all four of them felt their hearts drop at the same time—as if a blade had quietly slid against the back of their necks.
"I don't care who you are," Hikaru said softly, "or who stands behind you."
"But remember one thing."
"Once you enter the Third Division…"
"You obey me. And only me. Understood?"
That night, Hikaru showed his fangs.
He didn't know which faction each of those four belonged to—if any at all—but it didn't matter. He had the authority, and he had the power.
Flying Thunder God.
A summon that could turn battlefields upside down.
A chakra breakthrough that could happen at any time.
Intermediate Sage Mode.
Every advantage—seen and unseen—meant he now had the right to make choices that lesser men couldn't.
And from his conversations with Senju Shōma, he had a rough understanding of the clan's ceiling.
That only strengthened his resolve.
He wanted to pull the Senju out of the mud.
But he would do it his way.
That required power. Real power.
ANBU Division Commander was a rare opening—an opportunity fate had finally placed into his hands.
If he wasted it, then there was no point thinking about anything else.
The next morning, on the road to the Land of Wind, Hikaru replayed the encounter in his head.
"If they're smart, they'll forget last night happened."
Even if they faked obedience, even if they hated him inside—they wouldn't dare report it.
Because they had no choice.
The moment they stepped into ANBU, their "fate" had already been sealed. Hikaru held their lives in the schedule, the assignments, the margins of survival.
If they grew disobedient… he wouldn't need to execute them.
ANBU casualty rates could teach lessons far more quietly.
Hikaru hadn't started this life as a monster.
But six years in ANBU had changed him.
He still had humanity, still craved bonds, still understood gratitude—
—but he would never tolerate anyone undermining his will inside his domain.
Those four were pieces now.
And if their destiny couldn't be changed, then what difference did it make who moved them?
"Captain, what's wrong?" Kakashi asked suddenly from behind. "You've seemed distracted all day. Something off?"
Hikaru came back to reality, shook his head, and smiled.
"Not distracted. Just thinking."
He glanced toward the third person walking behind them: Yashamaru, head lowered, chakra sealed tight, senses suppressed—barely more than a walking prisoner.
"I'm thinking about what we'll run into. I'd like to believe we won't be unlucky…"
"But don't forget: we've probably squeezed a lot of secrets out of him."
Kakashi looked back at Yashamaru.
The man had no visible wounds. No blood. No scars.
But Konoha had plenty of ways to extract information without leaving marks.
Genjutsu.
Mind techniques.
Interrogation methods that didn't touch the skin.
Yashamaru might not even know how much he'd already revealed.
And with his senses sealed, he couldn't hear their conversation anyway.
That was why Hikaru and Kakashi could speak openly.
Kakashi's gaze returned forward, expression tightening.
He understood what this escort mission really meant.
On the surface: diplomacy.
Underneath: danger.
Kakashi was ANBU. Hikaru was an ANBU division commander.
And Kakashi was also the Fourth Hokage's disciple.
Even if Sunagakure wouldn't attack openly, shadow tactics were another matter entirely. Sand ANBU could easily get involved.
After hesitating, Kakashi asked quietly, "Then why take the risk yourself? And… wouldn't bringing more people be safer?"
"More people would be worse."
Hikaru smiled and shook his head.
"Too many. Too many rookies. Too many losses—doesn't fit my plan."
"And don't forget, I have Flying Thunder God. If needed, we can split up."
Then he paused, and his smile turned faintly… mysterious.
"Besides…"
"This mission isn't just about returning him."
"I want more. More interesting intelligence."
He didn't elaborate. Instead, he shifted the topic with surgical precision.
"Your teacher didn't tell you everything for a reason. He doesn't want you sunk too deep."
"But Kakashi… you're a squad leader now."
"Sooner or later, you'll have to shoulder responsibility."
He glanced at Kakashi from the corner of his eye.
"Have you noticed something?"
"The Hokage's influence inside ANBU is… extremely low."
"Even after you joined, the hostility you expected never really settled on you, did it?"
Kakashi fell silent.
Those things—he'd noticed them long ago.
And he remembered messages Hikaru had once made him pass along… messages with layers beneath the words.
Kakashi wasn't stupid.
He was a genius.
Even without being told directly, he could feel the shape of the truth forming.
"Captain… are you saying—" he started carefully, "that this mission is a chance to build merit, and use the Third Division to support my teacher—"
"What are you talking about?"
Hikaru cut him off instantly, voice light and almost amused.
"I didn't say anything."
"All we're doing is staying cautious—"
"—and if we get the chance…"
"…we avenge Captain Namiki. Understood?"
Kakashi pressed his lips together, then nodded reluctantly.
"I understand, Captain."
For a moment, he honestly felt like his commander had become a moral vacuum.
And yet, strangely…
His trust in Hikaru only grew.
Because in this world—especially in ANBU—
the person who could speak without saying anything at all…
was usually the one who understood the board best.
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