Chapter 66: ANBU Team Eleven
Two days later, Konoha ANBU Headquarters.
Ryuya and Might Guy arrived to report for duty under the guidance of an ANBU member.
The one responsible for receiving them at the base was an ANBU ninja wearing a cat-faced mask. The familiar figure made Ryuya recognize him at a glance—it was Kakashi.
"Hey, Ryuya, don't you feel like this guy looks kind of familiar?"
Along the way, Might Guy stared at Kakashi for a long time before asking in a low voice.
"Yeah. He does feel familiar. Probably some kind of show-off,"
Ryuya nodded seriously.
"Show-off rice? What's that supposed to mean?"
Might Guy looked completely confused.
"It means someone who pretends to be aloof and mysterious,"
Ryuya replied loudly, without the slightest restraint.
"Cough, cough! Ryuya, badmouthing others behind their backs isn't something a Konoha jōnin should do."
Up ahead, Kakashi stopped and looked back at Ryuya.
Ryuya shrugged.
"I'm not badmouthing you behind your back. I'm saying it to your face."
At that moment, Might Guy finally recognized the voice and said,
"You're Kakashi?"
Kakashi took off his mask.
"Guy, Ryuya—welcome to the ANBU."
"Kakashi! It really is you! That's great! We can go on missions together again!"
Guy said excitedly.
Ryuya, however, immediately ruined the mood.
"What's so great about that? I don't want to go on missions with such a gloomy guy."
"Let's go. I'll take you to register first."
Kakashi smiled wryly and gestured for them to follow.
After entering the ANBU base, Kakashi completed their registration and had them receive their ANBU equipment and uniforms.
Every ANBU member wore a special mask. Ryuya chose a Heavenly Oni mask, while Guy chose a White Bear mask. Their ANBU code names were Tenki (Heavenly Oni) and White Bear, respectively.
Once registration was complete, Kakashi led Ryuya and Guy to the Hokage's office.
Upon arriving, Ryuya was surprised to find that Shisui was already there.
After a brief thought, Ryuya understood—the four of them, Kakashi, Guy, Shisui, and himself, were likely being assigned to the same ANBU squad.
Sure enough, the Third Hokage soon confirmed it. Looking at the four of them, he said,
"Kakashi, Shisui, Guy, and Ryuya—starting now, the four of you will form a squad, designated ANBU Team Eleven. Kakashi will serve as the captain. Do any of you have objections?"
Kakashi and Shisui had clearly already discussed this beforehand. Ryuya had also anticipated it. None of the three showed any change in expression and immediately nodded in agreement.
Kakashi, Shisui, and Guy were all ninja Ryuya admired the most in the past. He knew their character and strength well, so naturally he had no reason to refuse joining a team with them.
Guy, after a brief moment of surprise, also readily accepted the appointment.
Among the four, he was probably the happiest about the formation of ANBU Team Eleven.
Kakashi and Ryuya were both familiar faces whose strength he knew well. As for Uchiha Shisui, Guy didn't know him as well, but the name Shisui of the Body Flicker resounded throughout the ninja world—his strength was certainly no less than Kakashi's or Ryuya's.
Becoming teammates with three such young powerhouses meant more opportunities to spar in the future. How could Guy not be happy?
"Very good! Since none of you object, ANBU Team Eleven is officially established. There just happens to be a mission for you to carry out."
Seeing their unanimous response, the Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction.
"Please give your orders, Hokage-sama!"
Ryuya, Shisui, and Guy all remained silent, leaving Kakashi to step forward and respond.
The Third Hokage took a few puffs from his pipe and spoke slowly:
"The battle between the village and Kumogakure has entered a stalemate. The frontline forces led by Jiraiya and Orochimaru are under tremendous pressure. The village has just gone through the Nine-Tails Incident and has yet to recover from its heavy losses—this is not the time for a prolonged war.
"Therefore, I intend to send you to infiltrate the Land of Frost and the Land of Lightning to create trouble from within and sever Kumogakure's logistical and food supply lines.
"This is an S-rank mission. You may face relentless pursuit from Kumogakure ninja, and you must be prepared for long-term operations. Do you have confidence?"
"Hokage-sama, please rest assured. We guarantee completion of the mission!"
Hearing this, all four felt their hearts tighten. Infiltrating deep behind enemy lines during a conflict between major villages was no simple task.
Still, Kakashi immediately spoke on behalf of ANBU Team Eleven.
The Third Hokage nodded.
"Good. This mission may last a long time. You'll have three days to prepare. Set out after three days."
"Yes!"
The four immediately took their leave and returned home to make preparations.
None of them dared to underestimate this mission.
To put it plainly, the nature of this mission was very similar to the Kannabi Bridge Battle during the Third Shinobi World War—both involved penetrating deep into enemy territory to cut off supply lines.
The difference was that this mission was less urgent and far more prolonged.
Uchiha Clan Compound
At the residence of Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head.
"Clan Head, the Third Hokage has assigned me to ANBU Team Eleven. In three days, we'll be heading to the battlefield."
Shisui knelt in the hall and reported the situation of Team Eleven as well as the mission given by the Third Hokage.
"Infiltrating the Land of Frost and the Land of Lightning to sabotage Kumogakure's supply lines? Isn't that too dangerous? Sending a newly formed ANBU team on such a mission…"
Fugaku frowned deeply after listening.
If not for the presence of Kakashi—a direct Hokage-lineage genius—in Team Eleven, he would have suspected the Third Hokage of deliberately sending Shisui to his death.
"Please rest assured, Clan Head. Although Team Eleven is newly formed, its strength is formidable,"
Shisui explained.
"Your strength and Kakashi's are indeed impressive. But what about Might Guy and Akimichi Ryuya? Are they really capable of handling such a mission?"
Fugaku's brow remained tightly knit.
"Clan Head, both Senior Guy and Ryuya are very strong. Even if I fought them, I wouldn't have a guaranteed victory,"
Shisui quickly said, seeing Fugaku's obvious disdain.
"Oh?"
Fugaku raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.
Within the current Uchiha clan, Shisui was unquestionably the strongest of the younger generation. His genjutsu and taijutsu were both top-tier.
If not for limitations of age and physique, even the older generation of the clan might not be able to defeat him.
Fugaku simply couldn't believe that Konoha's younger generation had someone who could rival the Uchiha.
"Clan Head, Senior Guy has already mastered his family's forbidden technique—the Eight Gates. The Third Hokage once said that Guy's taijutsu talent even surpasses that of his father. If he goes all out, I have no confidence of certain victory."
"Eight Gates…"
Fugaku's expression grew solemn.
Any ninja who successfully cultivated the Eight Gates could not be measured by ordinary standards.
During the recent Third Shinobi World War, the terrifying feat of the Konoha genin Might Duy single-handedly confronting the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—killing four and severely injuring three—was not widely known among the masses, but the higher-ups of most factions were aware of it.
That was already power beyond the Kage level.
Against such a life-for-life fighter, even Fugaku with his Mangekyō Sharingan would have no choice but to flee.
Throughout ninja history, only a handful had ever opened all Eight Gates. In recent decades, only the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama and Might Duy were known examples.
And with the Third Hokage stating that Might Guy's potential surpassed his father's, his strength and future were self-evident.
"And what about that Akimichi kid?"
After a moment of silence, Fugaku asked again.
Shisui replied,
"I'm not fully certain of Ryuya's current strength. According to ANBU intelligence, he possesses a powerful snake summoning and seems to have already learned Senjutsu."
"Enough. I understand the situation. Go and make your preparations—and be very careful."
Fugaku waved his hand.
As Shisui left, Fugaku felt a heavy weight settle in his chest.
The stronger the Hokage faction became, the more difficult the Uchiha clan's situation would be.
That was precisely why Shisui had said what he did.
Ever since the Uchiha clan had been marginalized by Konoha's upper leadership, voices calling for a coup and seizure of power had begun to surface within the clan.
After the Nine-Tails Incident, when the Uchiha became targets of suspicion, those voices only grew louder.
Shisui's goal was to exaggerate the strength of the Hokage faction and extinguish the clan's rebellious ambitions.
Of course, Fugaku did not yet know that Shisui had already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, nor that he possessed the forbidden technique Kotoamatsukami.
Otherwise, he might have immediately forced Shisui to use Kotoamatsukami to launch a coup.
After leaving Fugaku, Shisui went with Itachi to their usual training forest and practiced kunai throwing.
"Brother Shisui, will this mission be dangerous?"
After training, as they walked back to the Uchiha compound side by side, Itachi asked worriedly.
"Don't worry. My teammates are all very strong—we'll be fine. While I'm away, you need to work harder too and strive to contribute to the village as soon as possible,"
Shisui said with a smile, ruffling Itachi's hair.
"Don't worry, Brother Shisui! I'll catch up to you!"
Itachi puffed his cheeks slightly, his expression firm.
"And keep an eye on the clan's situation. If anything happens, send me a message immediately,"
Shisui said after a brief hesitation.
"…Okay."
Itachi paused for a moment, then nodded firmly.
Over the next day, the four members of ANBU Team Eleven all made thorough preparations at home. Ryuya also took out his savings to purchase large quantities of soldier pills, ninja tools, and sealing scrolls.
For long-term missions, such consumables had to be prepared in advance.
One day later, the newly formed ANBU Team Eleven departed from Konoha, heading toward the rear of the battlefield between Konoha and Kumogakure.
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