Naruto: Konoha Silver Wolf - Chapter 12

“Code name! Password!”

As Kakashi arrived at a hidden entrance behind the Hokage building, an Anbu member wearing a dog-face mask appeared before him instantly. Kakashi would never have guessed it if the Third Hokage hadn’t informed him beforehand that this was the Anbu headquarters’ entrance.

At this moment, Kakashi was already wearing the Anbu uniform, complete with a mask. This was why the Anbu member asked for his code name and password.

“Hello, I joined the Anbu today, so I don’t have a code name yet. The password is ‘Konoha Matchstick,'” Kakashi quickly explained and provided the correct password.

“Go ahead. Walk straight to the end, then turn left and continue to the end. The Hokage should have assigned you a captain. You’ll meet him there,” the Anbu member said with a smile, then vanished. Without revealing himself, Kakashi couldn’t determine where the Anbu member had hidden.

“Anbu members are indeed masters of concealment,” Kakashi admired their skill. This advanced stealth technique was something he needed to learn.

“I wonder how strong the captain assigned by the Hokage is,” Kakashi pondered as he made his way inside. “And I also wonder when I’ll be transferred to Danzo’s ‘Root’ division.”

Anbu was divided into two parts: one directly under the Hokage’s command and the other created by Danzo, known as “Root.” In the original story, Kakashi eventually left “Root” because he had once been one of Danzo’s subordinates.

Thinking of Danzo, Kakashi felt no fondness for him. This man had dedicated his life to Konoha yet never gained the villagers’ acceptance. Ignoring Danzo’s actions in the original story, Kakashi disliked him for his ominous aura and, more importantly, for being a significant factor in his father’s death. Having taken over Kakashi’s body, he couldn’t serve his father’s killer.

Though the original Kakashi served Danzo in the Anbu, it was because he didn’t know that Danzo had driven his father to suicide. The current Kakashi understood this and had no intention of serving Danzo. He hoped to speak with his teacher to avoid being assigned to “Root.”

“I’m joining the Anbu to hone my skills, not to serve that old man Danzo. I need to talk to Sensei about keeping me out of ‘Root,'” Kakashi resolved. As for avenging his father, he would consider it when he had the strength.

Following the directions, Kakashi soon reached his destination, where he saw an Anbu member with his back turned. Like his own, the member’s silver hair and the sword on his back surprised Kakashi.

Most Anbu members carried a sword.

“I am ‘Ryuu,’ your captain,” the member said, facing Kakashi. Though wearing a mask, Kakashi sensed a robust and deadly aura from him.

“Yes, Captain!” Kakashi responded promptly, acknowledging ‘Ryuu’s’ superior strength.

“As an Anbu member, you must understand responsibility and honor. We are entirely loyal to the Hokage, protecting him, Konoha, and eliminating threats to the village. These are our duties as Anbu,” ‘Ryuu’ explained.

“Konoha’s current strength owes much to the Anbu’s efforts. Though we remain unseen, we are Konoha’s shadows, its unsung heroes, essential to the village’s existence…”

‘Ryuu’ continued, teaching Kakashi the Anbu’s principles, likely standard for all recruits.

Kakashi listened but wasn’t swayed by Ryuu’s rhetoric. Being a hidden hero held no appeal to him; he wanted to be known throughout the ninja world.

After half an hour, ‘Ryuu’ finally finished speaking.

Kakashi felt relieved. If he had been the original Kakashi, he might have been thoroughly indoctrinated. Luckily, he wasn’t and had disregarded ‘Ryuu’s’ speech entirely. He might have been furious if ‘Ryuu’ knew Kakashi’s thoughts.

“From now on, in the Anbu, forget your past identity. Your code name will be ‘Wolf,'” ‘Ryuu’ said at last. Though Kakashi wasn’t sure if this was his original code name in the Anbu, he accepted it.

Despite his annoyance with ‘Ryuu’s’ lengthy speech, Kakashi was quite satisfied with the code name ‘Wolf.’

“Now, I’ll show you around the Anbu headquarters and teach you the most important stealth techniques,” ‘Ryuu’ concluded.

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