Hunter leaned back in his chair, the glow of the SHIELD directory still flickering across the screen. The tangled web of files, names, and blurred histories it revealed hadn't left his mind for hours. Finally, he reached for his secure communicator and activated the line.
Hunter: "Azmuth, I need you to monitor the safehouse in Rome. The one where Ezio and Ghost are hiding out. Discreetly. No traces."
For a moment, static hissed before Azmuth's calm, clipped voice filtered through.
Azmuth: "Understood. I'll cloak my systems. You'll have full surveillance around the safehouse within the hour. No one will know I'm watching."
Hunter's gaze hardened. "Good. I don't like how many pieces are converging. Keep me posted on even the smallest irregularities."
Azmuth: "Consider it done. And Hunter—be careful. The more you dig, the more eyes turn toward you."
The line clicked dead, leaving only the hum of servers around him. Without wasting another moment, Hunter composed an encrypted message to Ezio and Ghost:
Hunter: "Rome is compromised. Extract yourselves quietly. Keep your movements unpredictable and leave no trail. Rendezvous instructions will follow."
He hit send and leaned back again, exhaling. Not long after Q's holographic interface flickered to life beside Hunter's desk.
Q: "Hunter, you should know—Sakumo Hatake arrived at the Grand Moon Café three hours ago. He hasn't moved since. He's ordered nothing. He's just…waiting."
Hunter paused mid-stride.
Sakumo Hatake.
If he was waiting, couple of days before the agreed meeting… it wasn't by accident.
Hunter: "Any others?"
Q: "Negative. He's alone. No other ANBU signals detected within a two-block radius."
Hunter nodded once. "Keep overwatch. Feed me anything that changes."
Q: "Always."
Grand Moon Café – Late Evening
The café's warm yellow lights spilled onto the quiet street, but the interior felt strangely still—
Hunter stepped inside. The soft bell chimed, but only one figure acknowledged him.
Sakumo Hatake sat in the far corner, back to the wall, in the only seat that offered a clear view of both entrances. His white hair caught the lamplight like a silver blade. His presence didn't dominate the room, yet it was impossible to ignore—calm, restrained power wrapped in a veteran's poise.
He opened his eyes as Hunter approached.
Sakumo: "You sure took your time."
Hunter: "You've been early."
Sakumo offered a small, easy smile. "Old habits. When you survive too many ambushes, you stop taking chances."
Hunter pulled out the chair opposite him and sat. No waiter approached. No one dared interrupt.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Sakumo exhaled softly. "I've spent the last few days walking this city."
Hunter raised an eyebrow. "And what do you think?"
Sakumo's gaze sharpened with a quiet seriousness.
Sakumo: "There's something brewing here. Something bigger than what you told the others. This world… it's crowded with power. Too many strong individuals walking unnoticed, carrying themselves like they've seen war—or caused them."
Hunter remained silent, letting him continue.
Sakumo: "Every street corner has something that don't belong. And I assume more will be arriving."
He leaned back slightly, voice lowering.
"Some of them will not be easy to handle."
Hunter's jaw tensed. "That's why I need cooperation. I don't want unnecessary conflict."
Sakumo chuckled—quiet, but not mocking.
Sakumo: "You're trying to unite shinobi. That alone is harder than any war."
His gaze softened.
"But… I've watched you. And I've watched them."
He paused, choosing his next words with care.
Sakumo: "You're not coercing anyone. You're not manipulating or threatening. You're trying to do the right thing—even when the right thing looks impossible."
He leaned forward, elbows resting on the table.
Sakumo: "So hear me clearly, Grant. I will cooperate with you."
The weight of that declaration settled between them.
Sakumo Hatake—the White Fang—wasn't offering blind loyalty. He was offering trust born of observation, judgment and his experience,
Hunter didn't hide his exhale. "I appreciate it."
Sakumo raised a hand gently.
Sakumo: "I'm not doing this out of obligation. I'm doing it because if strong individuals are gathering in this world… if forces unknown are converging… then I won't sit back and wait for disaster."
He looked Hunter directly in the eye, unwavering.
Sakumo: "Tell me what you need. I'm here."
Hunter continued, "It's reassuring that our vision aligns. Anyway's, glad to hear it. Let's meet in this café on agreed day"
Couple of days ago…
The sky over Manhattan was dimming, painted in violet as the city lights flickered awake.
High on an abandoned rooftop, a figure stood alone—Kakashi's.
He raised a hand to his earpiece, voice low.
Kakashi: "The signal checks out… If this is who I think it is, speak."
A soft static crackled. Then—
Shisui's voice: "Kakashi-senpai… it's really you."
Kakashi's visible eye curved as he smiled. "…Shisui"
Before either could say more, a third voice slipped into the channel—calm, quiet, unmistakably composed.
Itachi: "I've confirmed both signatures. This communication is secure. It's really us."
For a moment, the three of them—legends, ghosts, prodigies—shared silence. Only the hum of the city filled the gap.
Shisui laughed lightly. "What are the odds? Summoned to another world and still running into the same two guys."
Kakashi sighed. "This world is really a small place."
Itachi spoke next. "We should gather. Compare what we know. Staying isolated benefits no one."
Kakashi nodded, even though they couldn't see it.
"Agreed. There's something off here. Someone summoned ANBU from every village… that's not small-scale. We need to understand the summoner."
"And the threats moving around this world," Shisui added, more serious now. "I've sensed strong… unusual chakra."
"It's not chakra," Itachi corrected softly. "But it's power nonetheless. Some individuals here are beyond normal."
Kakashi closed his earpiece. "Then we work together. The three of us."
A rare smile touched Shisui's lips. "Feels nostalgic, huh?"
Itachi's voice softened. "We move at sunrise. Meet at the designated café. Hunter seems intent on a full gathering."
The three jumped into the night—silent streaks across a foreign skyline.
Agreed Day — Grand Moon Café, Upper Floor
Grant Enterprises had quietly reserved the entire upper level of the Grand Moon Café. The room was spacious, softly lit, with dark wood tables arranged in a long arc.
One by one, 32 ANBU operatives entered—silent as shadows, each taking a seat without a sound.
Different villages. Different histories. Old grudges wrapped in masks.
But all of them obeyed the summons.
As they settled in, the waitress entered:
A voluptuous woman with deep cleavage and tight-fitting clothes that highlighted every curve—clearly intentional.
Her smile was warm, her steps graceful.
But beneath that charm… she was a Black Widow operative.
She balanced trays with elegance, moving between the ANBU with effortless poise.
Widow Waitress: "Here you go, sweetheart—matcha cake for the quiet one."
Her wink was playful.
The stoic Kiri ANBU froze.
She turned. "And a dark roast for the tall, brooding one… oh—there are so many of you."
Several ANBU exchanged glances.
Some shifted awkwardly.
Some tried to ignore her.
A few blushed beneath their masks.
Her charm was a tactical weapon—and it worked flawlessly.
Cakes, coffees, pastries, espressos—she served them all with a mesmerizing softness, completely unbothered by their stoic silence.
Even Itachi's eyebrow twitched.
Shisui whispered to Kakashi: "Are we… allowed to enjoy this?"
Kakashi didn't look at him.
"I'm not answering that. My father is sitting beside me."
Hunter Arrives
The door at the back opened.
Hunter stepped in—alone
No Jiraiya.
No Aizawa.
No escorts.
Just him.
His presence didn't crack the tension—but it pressed against it.
Quiet authority.
Confidence without arrogance.
He walked to the head of the table and sat.
The Black Widow waitress glided over, leaning just slightly forward as she set a steaming cappuccino in front of him.
Widow Waitress (softly): "Here you go, sir."
Hunter gave a small nod.
"Thank you."
He took a slow sip. Silence filled the room.
Thirty-two ANBU watched him—eye to eye, unreadable.
Hunter set the cup down gently.
Then he looked at all of them, meeting their eyes one by one—
Hunter: "So," he said calmly,
"I want to hear your decision."
No preamble.
No speeches.
No persuasion.
Just a man asking a room of deadly ghosts whether they would stand with him… or not.
The air tightened like a drawn blade.
And then—
A chair shifted.
Sakumo stood first.
"Let me start"
Sakumo stepped forward, white hair catching the warm café lights.
His calm voice filled the room.
Sakumo Hatake: " As per my observations, this world… is not what it appears.
On the surface, it looks peaceful. Predictable. Governed by rules we can understand.
But when you look deeper…"
He paused, eyes narrowing.
"…it's chaos wrapped in order."
Several ANBU nodded.
A Kumo operative added quietly,
"We sensed individuals whose strength isn't chakra-based… but rivals kage-level presence. It was quite difficult to move close to them without getting detected"
A Suna ANBU spoke next.
"There are beings here who call themselves gods. And mutants—humans twisted with unnatural power."
Another joined in.
"This world is unstable. Too many unknown forces. Too many threats."
Shisui crossed his arms.
"Even walking down a street… you feel watched. Not by ninja. By something else."
Itachi's tone was calm, analytical.
"If we stay isolated, we will be consumed individually—by the politics of this world, or its monsters."
Kakashi gave a small nod.
"Working together is our best chance."
Hunter listened silently, absorbing every word.
For the first time, every ANBU in the room agreed on something.
Kiri ANBU:
"We'll cooperate. Staying together increases our survival."
Tsuchi ANBU:
"This world is too big and too dangerous to navigate alone."
Konoha ANBU (quietly):
"And… you're the only one among our acquaintances who seems to understand the full scale of it."
Hunter's expression remained steady, but there was a subtle shift behind his eyes—as if he'd expected this answer, but still respected the gravity of it.
Hunter: "Thank you. This world is dangerous… and unpredictable.
Every one of you felt that the moment you explored beyond the surface."
He straightened.
"Welcome… to AEGIS."
The room reacted—not with cheers, but with a quiet, unified acceptance.
A silent vow.
Hunter's next words carried more weight.
Hunter: "From today onwards, you operate under my organization.
Not as scattered remnants from different villages… but as one unit."
He looked at Sakumo.
"Sakumo Hatake will serve as the overall commander of the ANBU division."
A ripple of respect passed through the room.
Even the strongest operatives bowed their heads slightly.
Hunter's voice sharpened.
"If anyone has objections… speak now."
Silence.
Not the awkward kind—
but the silence of unanimous acceptance.
Itachi closed his eyes.
Shisui exhaled softly.
Kakashi smirked behind his mask.
The others—Kumo, Kiri, Suna, Iwa—stayed perfectly still.
No one spoke.
No one opposed.
Hunter gave a single nod.
"Good."
Hunter lifted his cappuccino again, taking another calm sip as if the fate of thirty-two elite shinobi had not just been decided.
Hunter: "Then… let's begin."
The ANBU straightened in unison.
From this moment forward, they were no longer scattered survivors.
They were AEGIS.
And the world—mutants, gods, monsters, and all—had no idea what was coming.