Konoha.
Anbu.
Hatake Sakumo brought Hyūga Hizashi to the base.
"Here, pick a mask you like, okay? Think of a code name too."
"Since Lord Third asked me to bring you into the Anbu, you'll be in my squad for now."
"Regarding work and rules, I'll tell you some basic principles in a bit, and tomorrow there will be a systematic training class..."
Hatake Sakumo sat on a stool, humming an unknown tune with a Warring States period samurai style, carefully wiping the chakra short sword in his hand with sword oil.
Its name was 'White Fang', which was also the origin of his title 'Konoha's White Fang'.
"Un, understood..."
Hyūga Hizashi stood dizzily in front of a row of masks.
The experience of this day was like a dream to him.
First, there was a war-level exchange of fire in the village, then he was pushed out by the Main House to report, then he suffered inner torment under everyone's complex gazes, and the result was joining the Anbu!
Even now, he hadn't quite reacted.
Joining the Anbu...
Previously, the Hyūga Clan had no precedent for this.
Would the Main House elders agree?
"Lord Sakumo, I have a situation I need to report to you..." Hyūga Hizashi stammered: "Our clan's situation is special, you know that, right?"
"I couldn't refuse Lord Hokage, and I myself really wanted to join the Anbu..."
"But regarding the Main House, I really don't know how they will react. My rash agreement won't affect the relationship between the village and the Hyūga, will it?"
After Hyūga Hizashi finished speaking, his face turned slightly red.
He really felt he wasn't manly enough. Since he had already agreed, why back out halfway?
But the heavy inertia of being a Hyūga Branch House member made it impossible for him not to think about problems in this aspect...
"I don't understand what you mean."
Hatake Sakumo looked up in confusion: "Why do you think so much? Wasn't it Lord Third who invited you directly?"
Hyūga Hizashi was speechless.
Although it was Sarutobi Hiruzen who actively invited him, what if Lord Hokage didn't know the Main House's thoughts?
"I've heard about the matters between your Main House and Branch House. The millennium-old noble clan Hyūga..."
"I've also heard about the Hyūga's stance, 'a village within a village', 'absolute neutrality'. It's not like there are no rumors in the village." Hatake Sakumo continued to polish the White Fang in his hand:
"I'm not wrong, am I?"
Hyūga Hizashi's eyes startled. He thought the Main House's thoughts were a secret; he didn't expect them to be widely circulated in the village already?
"What's with that surprised look in your eyes?"
Hatake Sakumo finally fixed his gaze on him, as if trying to see through Hyūga Hizashi:
"You Branch House members are too closed off in the clan grounds and have too little contact with the outside world. The village has been established for so many years; even a Chūnin should know some gossip and secret talks."
"One of the duties of the Anbu is to collect this public opinion."
"You haven't completely joined the Anbu yet. If you decide to quit, there's still time. As a Squad Leader, I have the power to deem your assessment unqualified, even if you were invited by Lord Third."
Hatake Sakumo said indifferently: "I hope you speak your doubts completely. If they can be resolved, naturally that's good; if not, then quit."
"If you leak secrets one day, the end won't be good."
At this moment, the White Fang short sword refracted a cold glint under the light.
"I..."
"I'm worried, what if the Main House doesn't agree to my entering the Anbu? If the Main House asks me about Anbu matters, what should I do?"
Hyūga Hizashi took off his forehead protector, revealing a green cross mark.
"This is the Caged Bird Seal. With just a thought from the Main House, my brain and eyes will become a pile of paste. For a thousand years, no one has been able to resist!"
"Death would be fine, but the Main House can also use this mark to punish us. That is a punishment more terrible than death!" Speaking of this, fear appeared in Hyūga Hizashi's eyes.
That was pain that consciousness could not contend with.
When he was a child, he had tasted this flavor because he contradicted a Main House member.
"I want to join the Anbu, want to protect the village together with Lord Sakumo and your colleagues, want to use these Byakugan to discover and repel enemies harming the villagers..."
"I worry that I will encounter difficult moments. I consider myself a man, but in front of this Caged Bird, I dare not confirm whether I have this qualification."
Hyūga Hizashi rubbed the green mark on his forehead hard: "After saying it to you, I feel much more comfortable in my heart. Please assess me most strictly according to your standards!"
Hatake Sakumo nodded, looked Hyūga Hizashi up and down, and smiled.
"Very good, you passed. Welcome to the Anbu, Hyūga Hizashi."
"As for the problems you mentioned, they are not problems for the Anbu."
Hatake Sakumo said slowly: "Your experience in the Hyūga clan grounds is too little, and you haven't established some understanding of the village yet."
Hyūga Hizashi blinked. Although he was very happy with Hatake Sakumo's affirmation, he didn't understand the meaning of his words: "Can you... can you explain it to me?"
"As Anbu, you are a unit directly under the Hokage, an extension of the Hokage's will."
"In Konoha, who dares to interrogate the Anbu? No matter how powerful your Hyūga Main House is, they wouldn't dare." Hatake Sakumo said amusingly:
"Even the Uchiha Clan hasn't thought of confronting the Anbu head-on, at most cursing secretly a few times."
"Does the Main House want to rebel?"
Hearing this, Hyūga Hizashi felt as if struck by lightning.
A pair of Byakugan suddenly activated, veins popping around the eye sockets, eyes staring round.
"What, does your Hyūga Clan also have Uchiha attributes?" Hatake Sakumo asked curiously: "Stimulated by emotions, the eyes react?"
"I'm sorry, Lord Sakumo, I was just too excited..."
At this moment, Hyūga Hizashi suddenly realized.
That's right, so what if the Main House agrees or disagrees? He is already Anbu, the Hokage's man!
Interrogation naturally wouldn't exist, and even censure wouldn't happen, right?
After all, he heard that the Anbu had the power to report directly to the Hokage...
Hyūga Hizashi's thoughts raced. After being enlightened by Hatake Sakumo, his IQ regained the high ground: "Not to mention punishment, I don't have to do those jobs serving the Main House usually either, right?"
"The Anbu serves the Hokage!"
Hyūga Hizashi was so excited his body went a little limp.
As a Branch House member, how could he not have yearned for freedom?
It was just that the barrier of the Caged Bird was too thick, no one could fly over it, and after it became a habit, he stopped thinking about it.
Like a butterfly trapped in a glass jar.
Hitting the wall too many times, even if the jar opening was open, it no longer had the thought of trying...
But unexpectedly...
For a thousand years, no Branch House member had ever enjoyed freedom, yet it just smashed onto his head like this!
Although the Caged Bird wasn't broken, although the bound Byakugan still had a one-degree blind spot...
But so what? The most crucial freedom was already here!
Hyūga Hizashi wished he could perform a set of Gentle Fist on the spot to express the unspeakable excitement in his heart...
"No wonder Lord Third asked me to bring you into the Anbu first, instead of letting you go through the normal training process..."
Hatake Sakumo said faintly: "If I told Assistant Danzō this, leaving aside whether you could enter the Anbu, your Hyūga Clan would definitely receive his attention."
The so-called 'Root', fully named 'Anbu Training Division'.
Shimura Danzō, as the leader of Root, was responsible for training personnel newly entering the Anbu.
In Hatake Sakumo's view, although Danzō's training was too strict, it was indeed very professional and necessary...
But the problem was, 'Root' gradually became a private armed force in Shimura Danzō's hands, no longer maintaining a high degree of loyalty and purity to the Hokage.
Hatake Sakumo had mentioned this matter to Sarutobi Hiruzen several times, but it had always been shelved.
Until now, the Anbu and Root finally merged.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen's speech today finally made Hatake Sakumo understand.
Or rather, by a strange combination of circumstances, it answered his doubts.
— Not dealing with it before wasn't the Hokage blindly indulging Danzō, but doing research, preparing for a systematic reform of the entire village.
The previously silent Sarutobi Hiruzen actually made his heart feel a bit cold.
Loyal to the Hokage, not hesitating to offend the powerful and extremely senior Danzō, yet he seemed to be put in cold storage, never receiving a response or explanation for the reason for leaving 'Root' be.
"Lord Hokage thinks far ahead after all..."
Such a thought crossed Hatake Sakumo's mind: "Sure enough, the village is still good... I was too impatient!"
Hearing the name Danzō, Hyūga Hizashi's excitement instantly dissipated by half.
This person, with the title of Darkness of the Ninja World, wasn't just blowing hot air...
Internally and externally, he had a high degree of deterrence.
Hatake Sakumo explained the department rules and origin to Hizashi, the new team member: "Anbu, fully named Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai (Special Assassination and Tactical Squad), the missions and data involved are top secret."
"Someone will naturally teach you the rest of the rules tomorrow. There are only two most important points."
"One, absolute loyalty to the Hokage; two, leaking secrets means death."
Hyūga Hizashi listened seriously.
At this moment, he had an unparalleled sense of belonging to this Anbu job.
No matter what, he had to do it well, keep doing it, and protect this hard-won freedom.
"Received, Lord Sakumo!" Hyūga Hizashi stood straight.
"As for your specific squad, we'll arrange it after the assessment... You have to be prepared."
Hatake Sakumo stood up leisurely: "Assistant Danzō is very strict."
Hyūga Hizashi's face turned slightly bitter.
But immediately it became resolute: "I will definitely pass the training with excellent results!"
Hyūga Hizashi's palm reached for the 'Ox' mask.
The so-called Branch House must bear the burden of the Main House willingly like an 'Ox'; this was a sentence the Main House elders of this generation often loved to say.
But he was different now...
His gaze shifted to the 'Hawk' mask, an animal symbolizing freedom...
"No, still 'Ox'!"
Hyūga Hizashi gripped the edge of the mask tightly, thinking secretly in his heart: "As long as I can have this freedom, being an 'Ox' for the village is something I do willingly!"
"Good, put on the mask, put on the clothes. Now I'll take you to execute the first mission."
"This is Lord Hokage's first mission, don't mess it up."
Hatake Sakumo put on his mask, wore a white flak jacket over his clothes, and draped the beige trench coat symbolizing his status as a Squad Leader.
Hyūga Hizashi nodded repeatedly, carefully changing into the Anbu uniform, as if afraid of damaging it.
"Target, Hyūga clan grounds."
"Mission: Tell the Main House that you joined the Anbu, and convey Lord Hokage's concern for them. If they have any thoughts in the future that are inconvenient to report directly, they can convey them through you."
Hatake Sakumo patted Hyūga Hizashi's shoulder: "You are the protagonist of this mission."
Hyūga Hizashi was stunned at first, then overjoyed.
He was just thinking, how to tactfully and elegantly tell the Hyūga Clan that he was an Anbu member?
Unexpectedly, did Lord Hokage even consider this layer?
As the saying goes, having wealth and not returning home is like walking in brocade clothes at night!
Wasn't this mission a stage specially built for him by Lord Third?
Otherwise, with the special nature of the Anbu, he wouldn't be able to wear these clothes back to the clan grounds and openly display his current identity...
"Remember, you are Anbu."
"What posture, what tone you should have, don't lose face, Hizashi."
Hatake Sakumo strapped the White Fang short sword to his waist.
Although the Anbu identity was theoretically confidential, at his level, everyone knew as soon as he made a move...
The best way to keep a secret was to kill the other party.
A moment later.
Hizashi and Sakumo arrived at the clan grounds.
A Main House member happened to be asking the patrolling Branch House member at the gate, his tone quite dissatisfied: "Why hasn't that brat Hizashi come back yet? The Old Master is waiting anxiously!"
His name was Hyūga Kō.
He didn't have much talent; he was a typical example of being designated as Main House because he was born early.
He was quite domineering, believing that even if his talent was insufficient, being Main House meant ancestral protection, and he was born to manage and command the Branch House.
"Let him go see the situation. Taking so long and still not back! Does he think being Hiashi's younger brother means he can be lawless?"
"As a Branch House member, he has no rules at all!" Hyūga Kō vented his anger.
Beside him, two Hyūga Branch House members looked at their noses, and their noses looked at their hearts, not making a sound.
"Truly strange, the internal state of the Hyūga Clan is actually like this... How are these ninja? These are nobles and slaves, right?" Seeing this rare scene, Hatake Sakumo also sighed with emotion in his heart:
"If not for the domineering Caged Bird, the Branch House and Main House would have probably killed each other long ago, right?"
And at this moment.
Hyūga Kō turned his head, his whole body shuddering.
Two Anbu wearing masks had appeared silently in front of him at some point.
"You two, is there something?" Hyūga Kō put a smile on his face.
He didn't want to offend the Anbu, especially after seeing Hatake Sakumo's beige trench coat of a Squad Leader...
This was a big shot.
"Lead the way, to see the Hyūga Clan Leader."
Under the mask, the corners of Hyūga Hizashi's mouth rose high, but his voice was very cold: "By order of the Hokage!"
——————