CH_182-184

The Second Hokage's improved 【Water Dragon Missile Technique】 required only four hand seals, while the "standard version" needed forty-four.

More importantly, each jutsu's documentation also compared it with similar techniques, and even included the development思路 behind it… It offered both horizontal comparisons and guidance for further vertical, in-depth research.

"Precious high-level material!" At that moment, Tōji couldn't help but think—was this what it meant to be one of Minato's trusted people?!

As a beneficiary, Tōji, for once, didn't bother complaining about those who "controlled the resources."

Who would've thought someone like him could leap from the bottom to gain access to upper-tier resources? Could he not defend the big shots now? He could play the part of a scholar just fine.

After all, Tōji had been diligently training with the 【Water Dragon Missile Technique】 Kenji gave him for a long time—and all he'd achieved was making the hand seals incredibly smooth and fast. But the number of seals wouldn't come down.

It simply wasn't something effort alone could change.

No wonder the important figures close to the Five Kage could cast jutsu so effortlessly.

Tōji mentally named a whole list—Zabuza, Kisame, and others who were powerful but never got along with their home villages.

Unable to hide his inner joy, Tōji sprawled out on his back. "Gotta calm my mood down."

Clearing his thoughts, he knew that from the moment he got his hands on these ninjutsu scrolls, his future jutsu training—and even jutsu development—would take far fewer detours.

Yet the growing drowsiness surged in like an unstoppable tide, and he had no choice but to reluctantly put the scrolls away.

He really had worn himself out today.

Collecting his thoughts, Tōji decided to get a good night's sleep first, then sort through his existing ninjutsu knowledge from scratch another day—and re-plan his shinobi career path.

Thanks to his quality as an excellent shinobi, even with complicated emotions, Tōji quickly fell asleep.

That night, for the first time in a long while, Tōji slept soundly.

The next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, Tōji woke up.

He reached out to turn off the alarm before it rang—but his attention was caught by the photo of him and his parents on the nightstand.

『Now that I've joined the Anbu, my family shouldn't have any objections, right.』 Tōji thought to himself—though the Anbu identity couldn't be casually disclosed.

Last night, he hadn't bathed, not wanting to wake his parents. But today he'd officially join the Anbu, so he washed up carefully.

Finally done, Tōji felt much more energized and presentable.

At that moment, smelling the faint scent of body wash on himself, his mindset had never felt lighter—as if today was the start of a new life.

Once again, Tōji left only a note and headed out, not waiting for his parents to wake up and have breakfast together.

Naturally, he went to Natchi's house first.

…

As a large shinobi village, Konoha had long since set the tone for the day's lively, prosperous atmosphere, with many people up and about early.

Tōji chose the green, healthy mode of travel—Body Flicker—and quickly arrived outside Natchi's house.

Considering Natchi lived with several family members, it wouldn't be good to knock or shout early in the morning. So Tōji made two light leaps to the side-rear of the yard, arriving at Natchi's window.

Tōji knocked on the window.

A moment later, Natchi sleepily pulled open the curtain, pushed open the wooden window, and when he saw Tōji, his eyes went wide.

"Tōji… morning. Why are you here so early?" Natchi asked with a yawn.

Tōji lightly hopped up and sat on the windowsill, smiling broadly. "Morning, Natchi. There's something important I need to tell you."

Natchi rubbed his eyes and poked his head out to glance at the sky. "This early—what's so urgent?"

Tōji lowered his voice. "The past few days—especially last night—do you remember?"

"Huh? Why are you asking like that…" Natchi looked confused.

183

“I really can't seem to remember!” Natchi said after thinking for a moment.

Then he added, “But it's so strange—last night I feel like I had a dream, but I can't remember what it was about. I just remember that whatever happened in the dream was really… really weird!”

“Heh.” Tōji gave a dry laugh, confirming that Natchi's memories had been sealed, and that Natchi believed the whole experience was just a dream.

So Tōji pulled out his prepared explanation. “A couple days ago, Lord Minato gave you a temporary mission—to catch up and help me. You got ambushed on the way and passed out. Luckily it was nothing serious—just seems your head got knocked around a bit.”

Natchi scratched his head, bewildered.

“Anyway, you ended up fine, and our mission was completed excellently. Congratulations—there's good news~” Tōji was relieved his friend Natchi was so easy to handle.

“The two of us—you and me—starting today, we're Anbu shinobi. From now on, we take orders directly from Lord Hokage Minato!”

Natchi froze for a moment, then his face lit up with surprise. “Really? The Anbu?!”

Tōji nodded. “That's right. This afternoon we report to the Fourth Hokage's office. Once you're changed, we can go pick up our Anbu gear anytime.”

With that, Tōji showed the two Anbu registration notices he'd received last night—one bearing Kazamatsuri Tōji, the other Izuno Natchi.

Natchi was so excited he nearly jumped like a big kid. “Great! Let's head out right away!”

“At least change your clothes and wash up first?” Tōji facepalmed—Natchi had none of that mysterious, calm, reliable Anbu vibe.

Natchi finished up in a flash, and the two didn't delay—they immediately set off for the Anbu equipment pickup. They didn't even bother with breakfast.

Along the way, Natchi couldn't contain his excitement, constantly whispering questions to Tōji about the Anbu.

Good thing they took the sparsely populated back roads—otherwise Tōji really wanted to smack Natchi. Didn't he know Anbu identities needed to stay secret?!

Arriving at the Anbu building, they smoothly received their Anbu-exclusive gear.

Pure black cloaks, dark gray tight-fitting shinobi suits, silver-white metal light armor, specially made Anbu masks—plus permission to request various common ninja tools to their own specifications.

The mask Tōji received had two medium-length thick tusks painted at the corners of its mouth. Inside the mask was a small slip of paper reading "Inoshishi" (Japanese)—meaning the Anbu shinobi wearing this mask would use "Inoshishi" as their codename.

Natchi's was like a cat-face mask, but instead of a "king" character on the forehead, it had blue lines resembling an "S." Inside was a slip reading "Yamaneko" (Japanese).

『Masks I've never seen in the original Naruto, and Anbu codenames I've never heard of.』 Tōji silently compared them against his "past life" memories.

Before they'd even left the equipment window, Natchi couldn't wait to throw on the cloak and mask, striking a cool pose. “Tōji—do I look like a real Anbu shinobi?”

Tōji laughed. “The outfit looks right, but your vibe doesn't quite match, hehe.”

From inside the equipment room, a middle-aged man's cold voice cut in. “Hey, hey—you two rookies, stop clowning around in here. I've seen your notices—you're not registering at the Anbu building. The Hokage filled out your registration forms himself. Stop bothering me and leave as soon as you've got your things.”

Tōji and Natchi quickly stopped laughing, letting the traditionally mysterious and solemn Anbu building return to silence.

The two signaled to each other to talk outside, and quickly walked out of the Anbu building together.

Outside the Anbu gate, Natchi spoke first—he wanted to go eat at the Akimichi barbecue place. Tōji naturally agreed.

184

Just after lunch, Natchi couldn't wait any longer and dragged Tōji to the Fourth Hokage's office.

"Come in." Minato's voice came from inside.

The two of them straightened their brand-new Anbu summer combat gear, walked into the office, removed their animal masks, and knelt on one knee in a respectful salute. "Lord Hokage!"

Tōji stole a glance around. Minato was just about to set down his pen, his gaze still on the documents on his desk. The small sofa the Third usually sat on was now empty.

So Minato knew to keep the "retired emperor" away too. Which meant—even if there were other Anbu shinobi in the Hokage Tower, they had to be Minato's people.

On the wooden desk, behind a pile of documents that wasn't stacked particularly high, Minato looked up at them, a gratified smile appearing on his face. "Starting today, you are Konoha's Anbu shinobi. Inoshishi, Yamaneko—don't let me down."

Tōji and Natchi spoke in unison once more. "Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Minato continued, "Next, I'll personally brief you on your first mission. Orochimaru-sensei is preparing to go to the Land of Water to gather intelligence. You'll be responsible for covertly protecting him along the way, until the Land of Fire's border."

At that point, Minato shot Tōji a look. "Inoshishi already knows what to do. Yamaneko, coordinate well with Inoshishi. Also—Orochimaru-sensei's itinerary isn't fixed, so the timing is uncertain. Once your escort is complete, I'll arrange new missions for you. Understood?"

Tōji and Natchi exchanged a glance, their eyes full of resolve. This was their first Anbu mission—and its danger level was hard to define.

Sure, the Land of Water was where the big villain of the shinobi world sat—but they didn't need to go there.

Unfortunately, the one they were "protecting"—Orochimaru—was also a future big villain. Though they wouldn't need to meet him face-to-face, Orochimaru would surely sense their presence from afar.

Did Orochimaru not know that this so-called "escort" was surveillance?

The only certainty was that he wasn't yet ready to completely break ties—otherwise, Tōji wouldn't dare touch this hornet's nest. The other hope was that the Fourth had truly settled things with Orochimaru—at the very least, ensuring Tōji and Natchi wouldn't be "disposed of" by him.

Tōji also understood Minato's intent perfectly. If other Anbu shinobi had been sent and Orochimaru was displeased, they'd be even more likely to be quietly eliminated. But these two rookies—because Minato had already made clear to Orochimaru that he'd protect them—were actually safer.

Orochimaru's promises still carried weight.

"Alright—go. You can start by finding out Mitarashi Anko's movements. Orochimaru-sensei will be taking her along. As for your Anbu files, I've just finished processing them." Minato waved the two forms in his hand—the very documents Tōji had seen him filling out when they'd entered.

Tōji and Natchi bowed, put their Anbu masks back on, and turned to leave without hesitation.

"We don't know when Orochimaru's setting off, and we have to find Anko ourselves. Looks like we'll be working in shifts, Yamaneko."

Outside the Hokage Tower, Tōji and Natchi stood at the entrance discussing.

"That's right. For now, let's find Anko together. Then you watch during the day, and I'll watch at night." Natchi, with his "cat traits," automatically took the night shift.

"Good." With that, Tōji led Natchi toward the mission center. Konoha's mission center was right next to the Hokage's office building. "Since Lord Minato didn't directly say where Anko is, let's first check at the mission center—see if Anko's taken any missions recently. That'll make her easier to find."

"You're so smart, Tōji."

"Call me Inoshishi! When you're wearing the mask, remember to use codenames."