ANBU missions were always like this.
You might be "on standby," but you never knew when an assignment would drop.
Nor would you know exactly what it was.
Secrecy was absolute.
Except for Kakashi, everyone in Hikaru's squad were veterans who had spent years in ANBU. They were already used to this rhythm.
The previously crowded training hall emptied out in moments. Soon, every ANBU operative stationed at the compound had gathered in the front lounge.
They stood silently, arranged by squad, without a single wasted movement.
At moments like this, ANBU discipline showed itself in full.
"Everyone present?"
The battalion commander swept his gaze across the room before speaking coldly.
"There is an urgent mission. Target location: a border outpost in the northwest."
"Squad leaders will receive the detailed coordinates. Your objective is to intercept and eliminate all foreign shinobi attempting to attack the outpost."
"Remember—all of them. Understood?"
"Yes, Battalion Commander!"
Every ANBU answered in unison. Hikaru included.
This kind of mission was nothing new.
Especially after Konoha signed the peace treaty with Iwagakure, border raids like this had grown more frequent in just a few short months.
Hikaru himself had carried out similar operations several times already.
They weren't as clean as counter-intelligence assassinations, but they weren't unfamiliar either.
After receiving the preliminary orders, Hikaru prepared to move out.
But just as he finished collecting the standard-issue equipment with Kakashi and the others, the battalion commander stopped in front of him.
"Battalion Commander," Hikaru said immediately, his posture straight and respectful.
"Nightingale. For this operation, you will once again execute the mission together with kakashi—alone."
The commander's voice remained flat as his eyes shifted briefly to the other two.
"As for Gray Cat and Heron—you will be transferred to Second Battalion. Fifth Squad and Ninth Squad."
"You will serve as acting captains and are responsible for rebuilding those units. Understood?"
"Yes, Battalion Commander."
They answered without hesitation.
Gray Cat and Heron were Shinichi's and Yaya's ANBU codenames. The Second Battalion was another operational branch within ANBU.
ANBU itself was divided into several departments—Intelligence, Interrogation, Operations, Reserves, and so on.
Each department coordinated with the others and was further split into multiple small squads, none of them particularly large.
The Reserve Department hardly needed explanation. It was ANBU's manpower pool—and the place all newcomers were sent first.
Recruits trained there until they were deemed qualified.
Because of the war, Hikaru had only stayed there for a month before being pushed into active duty. In a sense, he'd "graduated" early.
The Operations Department, however, was the second-largest branch—and the most important.
It consisted of three battalions, each with more than ten squads. Altogether, around forty to fifty operatives.
Every single one of them was elite.
Even if their overall strength didn't quite reach jōnin level, each had at least one area where they matched—or surpassed—a jōnin.
"Congratulations, you two," Hikaru said with a warm smile once the commander left. "I never thought I'd raise two captains."
"Captain, don't say it like that," Shinichi said awkwardly, then sighed. "Looks like those two squads were completely wiped out."
"Yeah," Yaya added, rubbing his head. "This one's going to be rough."
Assigning new captains and rebuilding squads meant only one thing:
The original teams no longer existed.
Hikaru didn't know what kind of trouble the Second Battalion had run into, but the outcome was obvious.
He let out a quiet breath.
Neither Shinichi nor Yaya wanted to dwell on it either. With missions waiting, there was no time for more conversation.
They soon parted ways.
After collecting their gear, Hikaru led Kakashi straight out of the village.
Sometimes, Hikaru wondered if he had a cursed tongue.
He'd just said, "I don't know how long we'll stay together."
And now the team had already been split apart.
Still, he didn't think much of it.
To him, changing teammates wasn't a big deal.
Over the years in ANBU, he'd seen plenty of turnover.
Some died in missions.
Some were reassigned to the frontlines because experienced hands were needed.
Others were transferred, just like today.
He had never personally killed a teammate.
At most, he had "chosen to abandon certain teammates in order to complete the mission."
Interestingly enough, that decision had never earned him punishment.
On the contrary—because he was considered decisive and efficient, he'd eventually been promoted to squad leader.
Shinichi and Yaya hadn't been with him long—only a few months.
But Hikaru's gentle demeanor, solid strength, and calm judgment in combat had earned their complete trust.
Among all the teammates he'd had over the years, they suited him best.
"Captain… about the squad being split…"
Once they were well outside Konoha's borders, Kakashi finally spoke.
Hikaru glanced at him.
The ANBU mask hid Kakashi's expression, but that hardly mattered. Even without it, Kakashi's face was always half-covered.
Still, the question made Hikaru raise an eyebrow slightly.
It seemed that his earlier, probing words had had some effect after all.
This time, though, Hikaru could tell it wasn't the battalion commander deliberately targeting Kakashi.
Some things lost their effect when pushed too far.
And squad wipes in ANBU weren't exactly rare.
The commander wouldn't fabricate something like this—anyone could verify it with a single inquiry.
Besides, Kakashi had the Fourth Hokage behind him.
Even if Minato couldn't fully control ANBU, securing a squad leader's post wouldn't be difficult.
"The squad needed manpower. We obey orders," Hikaru said with a faint smile. "This kind of thing happens all the time in ANBU."
"I've lost count of how many teammates I've changed. You get used to it."
"So that's why…" Kakashi turned to look at him. "That's why you said you didn't know how long we'd be together?"
He hesitated, then suddenly asked,
"Captain… may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
Kakashi paused for a heartbeat.
"Have you ever… personally killed your own teammate?"
◇ I'll drop one bonus chapter for every 10 reviews (leave a review/comment!)
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon: patreon.com/KageNaruto